Should I Purchase a J Color RB if it isn't XXX? Check specs.

[ErikaD]

Hi All,

I have been drooling over large J-color diamonds all day. I have to say that this website has really helped me in choosing a better (budget friendly) diamond that is exactly what I want. At first I wanted to stay with the G-H color diamonds. I was afraid of anything lower. But I recently went to a jeweler and he showed me an I color. I was amazed at it's brilliance and could care LESS about the color. ( I couldn't even tell the difference anyway)... So I went onto James Allen and started perusing the I's and J's. I can see no difference between an I and a J. I know if it sits next to an F all bets are off...regardless...I like what I can get in size when going down one or two color grades.

Soooo... here is the scoop. After reading everyone's posts, I got a little concerned about our potential diamond purchase. It is an EXCELLENT cut but does not have excellent polish or sym ? Is that something that I should be concerned about? Here is the link to it (currently on hold but not sure if FI is def. purchasing)

It's a 4.0 on the HCA and i know that isn't great but when looking at the diamond in the virtual loupe it looks nice? I know VERYYYY LITTLE about HCA though...It was referred to me and I use it but I'm weary as I am told by the GIA it is an "excellent cut"


http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/2.32-carat-j-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-243860

Here are the specs in case you can't see it

Carat weight:2.32
Certificate:GIA
Color:J
Shape: Round
Clarity: SI1
Cut: Excellent
Depth %:62.60
Girdle: Thin-Slightly Thick
Table %:57.00
Culet:None
Polish:Very Good
Symmetry:Very Good
Crown ∠: 35.5
Pavilion ∠:41.0
Fluorescence:None
L/W/D (mm): 8.42*8.47*5.29

PLEASE HELP!

Thank You

 

[teobdl]

Re: Should I Purchase a J Color RB if it isn't XXX? Check sp

The combination of angles of that diamond are not well-liked by the HCA (steep-deep). You may want to consider posting specs (price, size, color, clarity) that are acceptable to you, and have the PS folks find 2 other diamonds to compare. JA will provide IdealScope images for people here to review and pick the best one from there.

 

[TC1987]

Re: Should I Purchase a J Color RB if it isn't XXX? Check sp

First, you'll see more tint in J than an I. I is a narrow color range, and there is not a high I and a low I; they are all more or less the same. J is a wider range, and does have high/low, so a low K might be close to a K in color. But that's okay if you like the color.

I don't have time to run the numbers to see why it gets a low HCA. Extra depth might be part of it. People will say "Ask for the ASET" as the next step.

Look up the thread that I started yesterday about the Good Old Gold video. Jon made a great comparison video of diamonds ranging GIA "good" cut grade to the cream-of-the-crop of GIA #x that Jon would choose for his signature H&A. Watch the video, and the difference in appearance and light performance. That might give you some idea of can you settle for less than a superideal H&A stone.

 

[MissGotRocks]

Re: Should I Purchase a J Color RB if it isn't XXX? Check sp

Don't know how this compares in price but I like the numbers and clarity plot much better - plus it's an I color: http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/2.23-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-216631

 

[RockyRacoon]

Re: Should I Purchase a J Color RB if it isn't XXX? Check sp

Check these out, if you can go to K (both are stellar cuts):

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/2.161-k-vvs2-round-diamond-ags-bl-104061006025

http://highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=view-id-diamond-infinity-new&id=924

 

[TC1987]

Re: Should I Purchase a J Color RB if it isn't XXX? Check sp

^ But on the other hand, look for a taller crown, smaller table, steeper crown angle, if you want more fire. Stones with a large table tend to have fire around the rim of the stone but have more brilliance (white light) in the table area. Crown and pavilion angles are inversely related to each other: Increase one, and you have to decrease the other in order to get optimum light reflected back instead of leaking out.

This thread [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/preferred-specs-cheat-sheet-for-rounds.88548/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/preferred-specs-cheat-sheet-for-rounds.88548/[/URL] gave the very tight range of values that many PS people choose for their hearts & arrows stones. Todd Gray who used to run Nice Ice might have been the first one to state these as a preferred range to use for a start at picking diamonds sight unseen. After that, there are variations that the cutters can do with the minor facets that effect the personality and character of the diamond. Good Old Gold has good tutorials and videos. Even with the GIA 3x and AGS 000, not all of them look alike. Fat arrows, thin arrows, table size, etc can vary. You have to decide what look you want.

 

[ErikaD]

Re: Should I Purchase a J Color RB if it isn't XXX? Check sp

Its so hard to use HCA as a guideline...

Why is it that GIA grades excellent cuts so leniently? Am I not really getting an "excellent" cut if I were to purchase this? Am I not going to see brilliance and sparkle in this diamond? Will it be that noticeable?

 

[ErikaD]

Re: Should I Purchase a J Color RB if it isn't XXX? Check sp

MissGoRocks.....I LOVE WHAT YOU POSTED for James Allen, and I, too, like the color etc. But the price range is out of range.

This current potential purchase is $16,800 ! It feels like a really good deal for what I'm looking at but I'm not sure. I'm trying to weigh all the factors and make the best purchase.

Basically, I would like to find...

A large stone 2+ carats (and larger if it's a lower color grade)

Eye Clean

Nothing below a J

 

[ErikaD]

Re: Should I Purchase a J Color RB if it isn't XXX? Check sp

Has anyone looked at the virtual loupe from James Allen on this stone? I feel like that would help you see what I see...(See link above in my first post)

 

[ErikaD]

Re: Should I Purchase a J Color RB if it isn't XXX? Check sp

Thank you TC. I will definitely keep this sheet handy. I look at Good Old Gold video tutorials all the time. They are my life saver with understanding color, size, and maybe I should go check out cut right now

 

[MissGotRocks]

Re: Should I Purchase a J Color RB if it isn't XXX? Check sp

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2936493.htm

Here's another. I know this stretches your budget beyond but it maximizes cut, clarity and color. At your price point, I think something will have to give but I certainly wouldn't want it to be cut quality.

 

[ErikaD]

Re: Should I Purchase a J Color RB if it isn't XXX? Check sp

MissGotRocks

It is beautiful but definitely over budget. I found a beautiful tacori setting (from here thank you very much price scope!) and that setting is over $3500. The combined purchase is going to already be stretching it at $17500 (Max diamond budget). Thank you so much for looking. Let me know if you see anything else worth taking a look at!

 

[MissGotRocks]

Re: Should I Purchase a J Color RB if it isn't XXX? Check sp

I would consider calling some of the PS vendors to see what they can come up with for you. It's very difficult to find a well cut 2+ carat stone at your price point so I'd ask folks that have access to many stones to see what they can do. You might also consider IDJewelry - he has done wonderful things for folks!