Thoughts on these 2 round-cuts - which is the better diamond?

[iddi916]

Hey there,

New to the forum but was hoping for folks to weigh in on which diamond is the overall superior diamond?

https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD09554279

OR

https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD08490761

There are so many minor (or not so minor) trade-offs:
-Fluorescence: Faint vs Strong
-Table 56% vs 57%
-VS1 vs VS
-Gridle thickness is a 3.5% on one and 4% on the other
-one has needles the other has knots

My head is kind of spinning so any thoughts on which one is the overall better choice for brilliance and quality would be greatly appreciated!

 

[mrsgreeneyes]

Do you need the color to be this high? Because if I were in the market for a diamond with this budget, I would definitely be looking at a Whiteflash ACA in an H/I...

 

[rockysalamander]

Flour is only an issue in the very rare case it makes the diamond milky/hazy (very rare and very strong), but it can be perceived as undesirable in high color diamonds. It tends to be more visible in high colors as the diamond lack body color to neutralize it. But, flour is really a 'cool party trick' that to me is very desirable (if my diamonds had it, I'd walk around with a black light). The difference in girdle thickness is negligible between the two you posted and nothing I'd worry about. I avoid knots in most cases. While I prefer the smaller table of LD09490761, the black inclusions would be a "mind clean" issue for me.

But, I like this bit more assuming F is as low a color as you'll go, but does have strong flour.
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD03913361

If you go to a G.
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3801977.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3936465.htm {budget bump though}

Beautiful H
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3858601.htm

BN seems to have better prices at this size/range. But, they won't provide IS images, so that leads me to want you to stay well into the 'safe' ranges for diamonds, like LD039133961. If you have any budget flexibility or will consider the G or H, I would personally go with WF. Its a super-ideal diamonds, the offer 100% of the cost toward and upgrade, have exceptional customer service and have a larger variety of settings.

 

[iddi916]

Thank you for all the tips!

I was looking to stay F and up and Vs1 and up.

What is “mind clean”? Shouldn’t I be concerned with the needles and such?

Thanks again!

 

[iddi916]

Also is the milky hazy diamond because of fluo something you can see from the BN photos or is that not something you can determine until you’re in-person?

 

[Gussie]

Thank you for all the tips!

I was looking to stay F and up and Vs1 and up.

What is “mind clean”? Shouldn’t I be concerned with the needles and such?

Thanks again!

"Mind clean " is something diamond crazed folks have to have in order to enjoy their stone, seek perfection while staying in budget! Lol

 

[rockysalamander]

"Mind clean" in this case is, for me, would be knowing there were black specs and being ok with them. I also, however, routinely examine my jewelry under my work dissection scopes. Up until I hit 45, *ahem*, I had exception better than normal close acuity.

Is the high color and clarity cultural or did your girl say she wanted such a high color? I ask only because it is quite difficult to see the difference between F and G for most. I color is when I find most viewers can see tint from the side (not from the side). On clarity, again, does it need to be VS1. VS2 (even SI1) can be equally as invisible to the viewer who does not carry around a 10x loupe. You can certainly keep these it this high, but doing so will limit your choices and the size.

You can't evaluate if the flour will impact a stone from any online vendors video. It has to be viewed under strong UV...so a black light or strong sunlight. You can see stones selected to highlight this cool effect here. But, even these, need the right light to see it.
https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/brian-gavins-blue-diamonds-with-fluorescence/

Even if the flour does no cause a milky or haziness, with strong or very strong and a diamond of D,E,F color -- you will see if more than a diamond of H,I,J all else being equal. This slight blue tint is why it is considered less desirable by some, especially in certain cultural contexts, as the diamond can be viewed as "less pure". However, these same contexts often only consider TypeIIa diamonds, which have little to no nitrogen in the crystal, but often do so as a huge price and often poorer cut.

 

[iddi916]

She’s very color sensitive (thought I without knowing it was an I) thought it was s not yellow.

All things equal is it better to go to a vs2 less fluo then strong blue vs1? Or is it more w the color? I was hoping to stay F or higher