Three Marquise ASETs from James Allen. Please help!

[JanesJewels]

Hi, I am thinking of buying a marquise diamond for a right-hand ring, to be set at a later date. I chose three from JA, from 1.04 to 1.22 carats. They are F, H and I.

I am not very good at reading ASETs. I read the information but am not very clear what I'm looking for. In addition, there is a thread today about the limitations of ASET. It's all a bit confusing!

If any expert here could look at these images and tell me anything, I'd be hugely grateful.

Thanks so much!

Jane

 

[Niel]

Can I get the links too?
Right now I'm thinking the third one bit I wanna actually look at them.

 

[JanesJewels]

Thanks so much, Niel!

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/marquise-cut/1.04-carat-f-color-i1-clarity-sku-324178

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/marquise-cut/1.19-carat-h-color-i1-clarity-sku-353373

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/marquise-cut/1.22-carat-i-color-i1-clarity-sku-326764


I do know that they're included but this isn't an engagement ring and I'm not so concerned about clarity. I've explained to JA that I'm OK with being able to see inclusions as long as the diamond doesn't look as if it's got measles, and as long as they're not smack-you-in-the-face obvious. The images are so magnified that I thought the inclusions might not show so much in real life. So, at the moment I'm the most interested in performance, and then I'll evaluate the inclusions further, if that makes sense.

Thanks again, Niel!

 

[Gypsy]

I think it's this one for me: www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/marquise-cut/1.19-carat-h-color-i1-clarity-sku-353373

 

[Niel]

No judgment here!
I bought an i1 marquise (sense a gift to my mom) and I wore that feather proudly! Sure I can see it at 6inches but ilk be damned if it wasn't one of the prettiest rings I've ever seen!

Anyways, the last one is clearly a pass, which aset goes to which of the first two?

 

[drk14]

If you don't mind me chiming in, I agree that the 1.22ct-I (the last link, and second ASET) is a no-go. However, I slightly prefer the 1.04ct-F (the first link, and first ASET) over the 1.19ct-H (second link, third ASET). Based on the 360 view, I'm guessing that the F might be slightly less bright, but have more scintillation throughout the MQ body.



P.S. Niel, in case you didn't see it, there's a thread about pear diamond shopping that could benefit from your input:
https://www.pricescope.com/communit...a-diamond-building-an-engagement-ring.204896/
OP, Sorry for the thread jack!

 

[JanesJewels]

No judgment here!
I bought an i1 marquise (sense a gift to my mom) and I wore that feather proudly! Sure I can see it at 6inches but ilk be damned if it wasn't one of the prettiest rings I've ever seen!

Anyways, the last one is clearly a pass, which aset goes to which of the first two?

Thanks Niel. Do you mean the I color? I guess the ASET is bad?

 

[JanesJewels]

No judgment here!
I bought an i1 marquise (sense a gift to my mom) and I wore that feather proudly! Sure I can see it at 6inches but ilk be damned if it wasn't one of the prettiest rings I've ever seen!

Anyways, the last one is clearly a pass, which aset goes to which of the first two?

Just seen this part - sorry!

The first image is the F, 1.04
The second image is the I, 1.22
Third image is the H, 1.19.

 

[JanesJewels]

Thanks so much for everybody's responses!

The JA rep said the gemologist prefers the 1.04 F, which is the first ASET. Also the most expensive at $3,080. (Others are 2.9 and 2.6k - the I is the cheapest.)

I'm leaning toward the H because it's a ratio of 2.15 whereas the F is 2.25 and therefore its width doesn't quite reach 5mm. I don't want it to look like a sliver! Having said that, I'm planning on this bezel setting, so perhaps this will give it width:

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/14k-white-gold-bezel-solitaire-engagement-ring-marquise-center-item-3266

 

[Niel]

hmmm hmm hmm....

i understand your concern about how thin the F is, but did they elaborate a bit as to why the F was there favorite? I have things i prefer about the H and things i prefer about the F.

 

[JanesJewels]

Thanks Niel, Gypsy, and drk!

Here is what the gemologist sauid:

"I am happy to tell you that the gemologist found the 1.04 carat-F-I1 (diamond 324178; $3,080) to be his personal favorite of the three. It has a good amount of brilliance (white light return), fire (dispersion of color) and sparkle that is well balanced and symmetrical. It is the most lively option of the three and is also the whitest; being a bright, "icy" white color. The inclusions in the diamond blend well and the gemologist feels that only a keen eye would pick up on. The 1.19 carat-H-I1 (diamond 353373; $2,920) and the 1.22 carat-I-I1 (diamond 326764; $2,690) are both beautiful options; however the inclusions in them are pretty noticeable and they do not face up "eye clean". Also, the "I" color shows the most warmth of the three; while the "H" color diamond is a nice white. "

 

[Gypsy]

<akes sense to me.

Neil if you see the file number on the ASET it corresponds to the item number on JA. That's how you can match them up.

 

[JanesJewels]

Gypsy, do you still prefer the H? Or do you think the gemologist is on the money with the F?

If anyone thinks that none of these are great picks for the money, I could always wait.

To complicate matters, there is a very nice ring in a local jeweler here. It's a pear, 0.76 H si3 (eyeclean I1) and has nice finger coverage. It's only $1850 for the finished ring whereas this would be about $3.5k.

How large do you think these marquises would look on the finger, with the bezel setting? It's so difficult when you can't see in person.

I have no large diamonds, so I'm prioritizing size, after performance of course. Hence the I1 clarity.

 

[drk14]

I'm leaning toward the H because it's a ratio of 2.15 whereas the F is 2.25 and therefore its width doesn't quite reach 5mm. I don't want it to look like a sliver! Having said that, I'm planning on this bezel setting, so perhaps this will give it width:

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/14k-white-gold-bezel-solitaire-engagement-ring-marquise-center-item-3266

If 5 mm is a preference for you, then I really don't think 4.97mm will look any different from 5mm. And if the bezel width is at least 0.6mm, then the effective L/W ratio of the F will drop to 2.0 or lower:

(11.16 + 2*0.6)/(4.97 + 2*0.6) = 2.0

I'm guessing the bezel is more like 1mm in width, in which case the bezel shape gets a ratio of 1.89:

(11.16 + 2*1.0)/(4.97 + 2*1.0) = 1.89

If it helps, I just bought a 11.08*5.01 mq (2.21 ratio), and there are some "real life" pictures of it on the bottom of page 7 of my thread:
https://www.pricescope.com/forum/post3727477.html#p3727477

 

[Niel]

heres my MQ that was approx the same size and my finger is a 7.5 (if this helps you visualize )

 

[endless_summer]

heres my MQ that was approx the same size and my finger is a 7.5 (if this helps you visualize )

I can't help much in picking diamonds, but I'd err on the side of the icy F to avoid color in the tips - the bezel would widen your perceived l/w ratio, making it a good choice And, I have to say, those rings are gorgeous!

 

[Gypsy]

The F is a very nice stone. And it's higher color which with a marquise is nice.

Personally I'd ask which one (F or H) is cleaner to the naked eye and pick that one.

I would not keep looking. You have two marquise that are really well cut right there.

I originally picked the H because I prefer the facet pattern in the center over the F. But I didn't look at the color difference. Given the color difference, and especially if the F is cleaner, then that would win.

 

[JanesJewels]

Wow, thanks so much, everyone! Thanks for your input, Gypsy, and thanks for posting pics, drk and Niel!

I forgot to mention that the pear in the local jeweler has a halo, which is partly why the finger coverage is so good. Basically, I'm looking for a large-seeming right hand diamond ring but only have about 3.5k to spend, max 4k. I'm not married to the idea of the marquise, although I think it would look fab in that bezel setting. I think I need to look at the local pear again. Of course, getting a loose diamond from JA with ASETs etc would probably mean a better-cut diamond than the uncerted pear. But the pear's a good deal. Hmm.

Got a 550-mile round trip tomorrow for business (by train) so I'll be back Thurs. Thanks again so much for your help everyone!

 

[JanesJewels]

Hi all,

OK, I've asked JA to take the I-color diamond off hold.

I have one further question: In the favored diamond below, the F, there seems to be a large oblong black mark on the diamond's right side, which actually isn't an inclusion. It seems to be the light. If you click on the link below, can you see what I mean?

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/marquise-cut/1.04-carat-f-color-i1-clarity-sku-324178

Also, I prefer the measurements of the H, given that it's slightly bigger. However, the F is a better color and the inclusions are less noticeable, so it seems like the F is the better deal. (Here's the H again for ref

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/marquise-cut/1.19-carat-h-color-i1-clarity-sku-353373

Will I see much difference on the hand between:

H measurements: 11.38 x 5.29

and

F measurements: 11.16 x 4.97?


Thank you so much for your help.

 

[Niel]

That black you see in the videois just a little obstruction or reflection of that large black camera in front of it. I wouldn't worry about it, it actually gives more life to the stone.

 

[drk14]

I have one further question: In the favored diamond below, the F, there seems to be a large oblong black mark on the diamond's right side, which actually isn't an inclusion. It seems to be the light. If you click on the link below, can you see what I mean?

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/marquise-cut/1.04-carat-f-color-i1-clarity-sku-324178

Yes, that is just a reflection of something dark in the environment (probably the camera that was used to take the picture). If you click-and-drag in the 360-view, you can spin the diamond around, and you'll see that this virtual facet is dark only over a small range of angles, then it turns light. This means that in real life, this facet will scintillate (turn on and off), it will only look like a dark spot if you hold your ring perfectly still and stare at it from a specific direction.

 

[JanesJewels]

OK, thanks. That's very helpful.