Thoughts on this Brian Gavin Signature Round?

[komodo]

Hi Everyone!

My boyfriend and I are currently shopping for a ring and love the classic style half round solitaire setting at Brian Gavin. We're trying to decide on a diamond, and although the "official" budget for the rock was around $9500 USD, I really like the look of this one and the BF says we can get it if it's perfect (even though it's closer to $11k):

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.073-f-vs1-round-diamond-ags-104086279070/?build=ring

So I put it on reserve.

My specs are that I'd like 1 carat or more, F colour if possible (I'm really colour sensitive and at B&M stores, have loved the Fs) and ideally VS1. That said, obviously cut is the most important!

What do you guys think? Are there any other BG diamonds that we should consider?

Thanks so much in advance!

 

[wildcat03]

Hi Everyone!

My boyfriend and I are currently shopping for a ring and love the classic style half round solitaire setting at Brian Gavin. We're trying to decide on a diamond, and although the "official" budget for the rock was around $9500 USD, I really like the look of this one and the BF says we can get it if it's perfect (even though it's closer to $11k):

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.073-f-vs1-round-diamond-ags-104086279070/?build=ring

So I put it on reserve.

My specs are that I'd like 1 carat or more, F colour if possible (I'm really colour sensitive and at B&M stores, have loved the Fs) and ideally VS1. That said, obviously cut is the most important!

What do you guys think? Are there any other BG diamonds that we should consider?

Thanks so much in advance!

Some people really are color sensitive, but when you mention looking at F stones at B&M stores, were those stores with GIA/AGS certed stones? If not, it may be worth it to take a look somewhere, as other labs can be quite unreliable in grading color and often the stones in brick and mortar stores are overgrazed.

 

[komodo]

Yes, all GIA stones. Of course, they were next to G's and H's for comparison and won't be in real life, but I don't want a huge diamond anyways so I think we'd rather spend the budget on an F if possible

 

[wildcat03]

It looks great

There is one comparable stone on Whiteflash that is a little less:
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3466458.htm

And there's this one, which is close but is an E instead of an F:
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3328832.htm

 

[kb1gra]

I'm curious why you bypassed this stated eyeclean 1.06 F/SI1 that was in budget for your over a carat requirement.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.060-f-si1-round-diamond-ags-104059065004

or this eyeclean F that is almost 1.2, if you're going to blow the budget, at least you'd get some additional size, but this one is very close to your original budget.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.194-f-si1-round-diamond-ags-104077631003#!prettyPhoto[gallery2]/2/

 

[komodo]

I'm curious why you bypassed this stated eyeclean 1.06 F/SI1 that was in budget for your over a carat requirement.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.060-f-si1-round-diamond-ags-104059065004

or this eyeclean F that is almost 1.2, if you're going to blow the budget, at least you'd get some additional size, but this one is very close to your original budget.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.194-f-si1-round-diamond-ags-104077631003#!prettyPhoto[gallery2]/2/

Those both look beautiful, but I was a bit wigged out about the inclusions. I know that they say they're eyeclean, but have also heard that "eyeclean" is measured from quite a distance. If you're up close to it, will you see the inclusions? We're first time (probably only time!) buyers so we're just trying to make the right decision. Thanks for your help!

 

[wildcat03]

I'm curious why you bypassed this stated eyeclean 1.06 F/SI1 that was in budget for your over a carat requirement.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.060-f-si1-round-diamond-ags-104059065004

or this eyeclean F that is almost 1.2, if you're going to blow the budget, at least you'd get some additional size, but this one is very close to your original budget.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.194-f-si1-round-diamond-ags-104077631003#!prettyPhoto[gallery2]/2/

Those both look beautiful, but I was a bit wigged out about the inclusions. I know that they say they're eyeclean, but have also heard that "eyeclean" is measured from quite a distance. If you're up close to it, will you see the inclusions? We're first time (probably only time!) buyers so we're just trying to make the right decision. Thanks for your help!

You should call BGD and ask. Unlike Blue Nile and other drop-shippers, BGD has all of their signature stones in house and can inspect them and advise you as to how eye-clean and from what distance. That is part of what you pay for when you pay the higher prices that super-ideals command, so might as well take advantage!

 

[komodo]

It looks great

There is one comparable stone on Whiteflash that is a little less:
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3466458.htm

And there's this one, which is close but is an E instead of an F:
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3328832.htm

I love both of those, thank you! My only hesitation is that I prefer the BG setting over the WF ones, and I'm not sure how complicated it would be to source the diamond from WF and then have BG set it.

 

[komodo]

I'm curious why you bypassed this stated eyeclean 1.06 F/SI1 that was in budget for your over a carat requirement.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.060-f-si1-round-diamond-ags-104059065004

or this eyeclean F that is almost 1.2, if you're going to blow the budget, at least you'd get some additional size, but this one is very close to your original budget.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.194-f-si1-round-diamond-ags-104077631003#!prettyPhoto[gallery2]/2/

Those both look beautiful, but I was a bit wigged out about the inclusions. I know that they say they're eyeclean, but have also heard that "eyeclean" is measured from quite a distance. If you're up close to it, will you see the inclusions? We're first time (probably only time!) buyers so we're just trying to make the right decision. Thanks for your help!

You should call BGD and ask. Unlike Blue Nile and other drop-shippers, BGD has all of their signature stones in house and can inspect them and advise you as to how eye-clean and from what distance. That is part of what you pay for when you pay the higher prices that super-ideals command, so might as well take advantage!

Thanks, will do!

 

[komodo]

One other question - the BG videos don't make the diamonds look as sparkly as the WF videos. But that's just lighting, right? Would you expect the first one I posted to be super sparkly in real life?

 

[kb1gra]

One other question - the BG videos don't make the diamonds look as sparkly as the WF videos. But that's just lighting, right? Would you expect the first one I posted to be super sparkly in real life?

All superideal rounds are 'super sparkly'

I forget what BGD uses as their standard for eyeclean but it is pretty stringent if I recall. Their buyers are picky

I would stay in budget if at all possible - you're getting a superideal stone and the setting you really like, so if it's possible to get what you want within budget, I'd try to. I know some people ascribe to the "mind clean" thing and I have an eagle eye, but I would be okay with a stone that Brian told me was eyeclean at 12". Realistically it's very difficult to spot inclusions with the light return on a superideal anyway.

I'm going to throw in a dark horse here. http://highperformancediamonds.com/shop/f/HPD7737/?shop=yes 1.04 F/VS2 CBI