Totally clueless, but narrowed it down to 3- which one would you take?

[love_sparkles]

We''ve been looking for a diamond for seemingly forever! Here are three candidates- we know the basics, but are clueless when it comes to nuance. Which one looks best to you?

Diamond 1
1.53
H
VS2
AGS Ideal Cut (Hearts & Arrows)
Shape: Round
Depth %: 61.6
Table %: 55
Polish: Ideal
Symmetry: Ideal
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 7.38*7.46*4.57
Crown Angle: 34.6
Pavilion Angle: 40.7
$12,924.00

Diamond 2
1.62
H
VS2
GIA Ideal Cut ------> is there a huge difference between this & H&A?
Depth: 62.0%
Table: 56.0%
Crown Angle: 35%
Pavilion Angle: 40.8%
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Girdle: Thin
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 7.48*7.56*4.66
$12,740

Diamond 3
1.54
H
SI1
AGS Ideal Cut (Hearts & Arrows)
Polish: Ideal
Symmetry: Ideal
Fluorescence: None
Culet: None
Lab Report #: 9855403
Width: 7.44mm
Length: 7.45mm
Depth: 4.59mm
Table Percentage: 55.50%
Depth Percentage: 61.60%
Crown Ú: 34.10‹
Crown Depth: 15.10%
Pavilion Ú: 41.00‹
Pavilion Depth: 43.40%
$12,812

Number 2 is what we''re leaning towards, but the plot for clarity looks a little scary...it can''t be too bad if it''s a vs2, right?
Two of these are online vendors whose opinions we''ll have to trust- what questions should we ask? The other is a Dimend Scaasi (Chicago) stone so we would go to see it in person.
Right now we''re going based on the 4 C''s & HCA scores.

Please help! We are ready to buy, but want to make the best decision possible! THANK YOU!!

 

[stone-cold11]

There is a difference between H&A and ideal cut. GIA ideal cut has a very broad range as you would have know if you use the HCA to check on the diamonds. Also notice that stone 2 has only very good symmetry, you will not be able to get a H&A pattern out of that. So not the question is do you want a H&A pattern, if so, I would go for stone 1, if not probably stone 2.

 

[love_sparkles]

Hi Stone-cold,

Thanks for your reply! We did plug all of the numbers into the HCA & stone #2 still came up within both GIA & AGS ideal range, so my hope is that even without the H&A it will be a pretty good option.

I''m not sure if I am answering this correctly, but here is what I think I have for girdles:

Stone 1: Faceted- 1.1-3.7%
Stone 2: Faceted thin - medium
Stone 3: Faceted- 1.2-3.3%

I have NO idea what any of that means.

 

[stone-cold11]

Yes I know, Just to tell you not to trust GIA excellent cut by just their word. Is there a good return policy on all 3 stones?

Girdle thickness is needed to determine if a lot of stone weight is just hidden in the girdle. But once I think about it again, for the two H&A stones, for them to be graded H&A, it is unlikely they will have those hidden mass. Which is why I edited off the question, guess you saw if before I did that. :p Those Girdles numbers are all in the ideal cut region so you have nothing to worry about there.

So, basically all three stones are fine on the numbers. The 1.62c stone will just loose out on the symmetry and polish, so just a slight degrade in performance that non-professions should not be able to notice unaided by the eye. And there probably will not have the Hearts&Arrow pattern present in that stone because of non-ideal symmetry, this is what you are paying for in a H&A stone basically.

 

[love_sparkles]

Can anyone else share their thoughts? If there's any other information I can share, I'd be happy to do so!
How much of an effect will the very good polish & symmetry have on performance?
The first two diamonds both come up ex-ex-ex-vg on the HCA.

 

[stone-cold11]

So which diamond have you seen in person? Any other information for diamond 2 like IS or ASET photos? diamond 1, and 3 too, woulld be nice too.

 

[love_sparkles]

We haven''t seen any of them in person yet. We have an appointment to go see #1 next Saturday in the city.

As for #2, we wrote to the online vendor on Friday night & asked for IS images. Should we ask for ASET as well?

Diamond #3 has the attached ASET.

 

[love_sparkles]

Stone-cold, you seem to be the only one who likes my thread, so thanks! I realize we are probably comparing some pretty comparable stones here, but that''s why I am most confused!

Without having seen them, Diamond 1 is the easiest because we can get to it & actually see it. It''s got the ideal proportions, VS2 which makes me a little more confident and it''s hearts & arrows. It''s also the most expensive and we would have to pay sales tax on it...which bumps the cost up more.

2 is a James Allen stone. We know people have had good experiences with JA, but they provide the least amount of info. We like this one because it''s just a tad bigger and also VS2. Also the cheapest option of the 3.

3 is a GOG stone. I have read over & over how Jon hand picks his stone so I''m sure it''ll be gorgeous. Love that it''s H&A but it''s also SI1...previously we only looked at SI1 stones but we were thrilled to see there were a few VS2 options. I just really like GOG''s customer service and the amount of pictures/info they provide upfront.

All of this is so confusing! My bf and I want to pull the trigger already...

We''ve been looking together for 8 months & we have someone ready to make the setting as soon as we give the go with the center stone.

 

[stone-cold11]

Others will probably chip in sooner or later, alot of new posts during the weekend and your thread got buried.

Stone 2 is a good stone, just that you will not be able to see those pretty shapes of H&A. No harm in asking for an ASET, if they have them, they will probably sent it.

GOG stone is very good, looks relatively eye-clean to me. You have asked them if it is eye-clean right? The only other stone they have in your price range and size is a J VS2 stone, quite alot cheaper though. Not sure if you want that color grade, but should be very white since it is a very well cut stone.

Hope this help.

 

[stone-cold11]

http://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/Round-Ideal-Cut-cut-diamond-1204644.htm

Try this stone. 1.67c H VS2, with VSB fluor at 11715. Think this definitely can be a ACA H&A stone of WF except for the VSB fluor. If I am in the the market and have the budget for this size, I would definitely take this. I love strong blue fluor. Just make sure to check with WF that there is no oily or hazy look in the stone which happens to a very small number of these VSB stones.

Hope I didn''t make you more confuse...

 

[Lorelei]

By the way, where it says GIA Ideal Cut, that is probably a vendor applied label as there is no GIA Ideal, Excellent is their highest cut grade. Also a well cut diamond may show a strong arrow pattern but this doesn't necessarily mean it meets the strict standards to be considered a true H&A stone.

LS, they all look like lovely diamonds, do you have Idealscope images for them? Check the SI is eyeclean to your standards by asking Jon at GOG.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 9/19/2008 10:14:38 PM
Author: Stone-cold11
There is a difference between H&A and ideal cut. GIA ideal cut has a very broad range as you would have know if you use the HCA to check on the diamonds. Also notice that stone 2 has only very good symmetry, you will not be able to get a H&A pattern out of that. So not the question is do you want a H&A pattern, if so, I would go for stone 1, if not probably stone 2.

Actually SC you could see an arrow pattern with VG as it is optical symmetry which is concerned with this patterning, not the 'physical' symmetry of a diamond.

http://diamonds.pricescope.com/symm.asp

Nice explanation from Rhino here which I quote " When it comes to symmetry grading the labs look at the exterior symmetry of the diamond and check those things that apply to external symmetry grading (meeting of facet points, sloping of table, how centered the culet and table is, etc.) so slight deviations in that type of symmetry is not detectable to the eye. The type of symmetry that impacts the beauty of the diamond most is it's 3-dimensional symmetry (as observed through an H&A viewer in the critical analysis).

I have seen certain H&A type brands with symmetry as low as "good" on the GIA report yet would be some of the most beautiful diamonds you'd ever see. So if we are to compare 2 diamonds, both were GIA "Very Good" or GIA "Good" for symmetry, the 3d symmetry will affect the appearance and beauty of the diamond WAAAAY MORE than it's external symmetry grade as given by the labs."

 

[stone-cold11]

Ok, I stand corrected. Sorry for the mis-information there just that I haven't seen one yet.

 

[love_sparkles]

Thanks, Lorelei- So if I''m hearing you correctly, the vg symmetry/polish doesn''t have to be a deal breaker? I think my bf really likes that stone. We''re going to ask for IS & ASETs tomorrow if we can get them.

That stone shows as a VS2 but here''s the plot...does this seem weird for a VS2? What should we ask James Allen when we call?

 

[Lorelei]

No VG does not have to be a deal breaker, unless you want higher. Also you can''t tell much by the plotting diagrams, it is likely to be an eyeclean diamond but check with JA that it is to your standards, also JA do Idealscope but not ASET so you should be able to get an IS image easily enough.