Trying to decide b/w 2 stones and Whiteflash setting question

[mhdousa]

Hi all,

This is my first time posting. I am absolutely grateful to all of you who have put this site together and have posted to these forums. I have only (hopefully) one chance to buy an engagement ring, and I want to get it right. I think I will, thanks to all of you.

I''m trying to decide between these two stones and I''m hoping some of you could help. Both of them are within my budget, so that''s less of a consideration than quality. Also, has anyone here had their stone set in a platinum setting from Whiteflash? They assured me that their craftmanship was top-notch, but if anyone could confirm this, I would appreciate it. Here are the two stones, both of which are from Whiteflash, with attached Idealscope images:

1)Report: AGS
Shape: A Cut Above H&A
Carat: 1.215
Color: H
Clarity: VS1
Depth: 60.4
Table: 56
Crown Angle: 34.8
Crown %: 15.3
Pavilion Angle: 40.8
Pavilion %: 42.9
Girdle: Faceted 1.0% to 1.7%
Polish: Ideal
Symmetry: Ideal
Culet: Pointed
Fluorescence: Negligible
Measurements: 6.93-6.96X4.20
HCA: 1.3
Price: $7400 (with PS discount)

2)Whiteflash Expert Selection
Report: GIA
Shape: Round Ideal Cut
Carat: 1.22
Color: I
Clarity: VS1
Depth: 61
Table: 55
Crown Angle: 34.9
Crown %: 16
Pavilion Angle: 40.8
Pavilion %: 43
Girdle: Thin to Medium-Faceted
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Very Good
Culet: None
Fluorescence: No
Measurements: 6.92-6.95X4.23
HCA: 1.4
Price: $6300 (with PS discount)

 

[mhdousa]

Idealscope for stone #2

 

[belle]

either one of those stones will be amazing. the idealscope image of #1 is sublime

there are many here who have settings from wf... here is a link devoted to custom pieces by wf.

 

[Kaleigh]

I agree both stones will be great, but the ideal scope of #1, is a winner in my book!!!!

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 7/28/2005 5:37:16 PM
Author: kaleigh
I agree both stones will be great, but the ideal scope of #1, is a winner in my book!!!!

Yep.
If you want to save a few bucks the second one isnt bad by any means but the first is a little closer to perfect.

 

[OldBride]

I just received my Ering and band from Whiteflash and they are beautiful and the work looks great to me.

here''s the link to the photos:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-ring-is-here.31632/

Deborah

 

[jellybean]

I bought my ring from WF and they set my diamond in their platinum 4 prong tiffany setting. I had taken my old ring (also set by WF) to a local jeweler to have the diamond set higher and he told me it was a good quality ring and the diamond was set fine. I had wondered b/c to me it looked like the diamond had been set on an angle but he assured me it wasn''t.

Out of your two stones, if $$ is not an object then I would go with the first one.

 

[noobie]

I doubt that you could could tell the difference between these two stones if I handed you them one at a time.

Buy the first one if you want a perfect H&A pattern and all of the other attributes ACA stands for. Buy the second one if you want to save some money or need to fit a budget.

 

[mhdousa]

Thanks to everyone who has replied. To those who prefer the first one, do you think there are physical attributes of it that make it more desirable, or is it more the idea of the idealscope image? Do you think the idealscope differences translate to a better stone in a setting?

Thanks.

 

[sxn675]

Given the price difference, I''d be inclined to go for the second one and save that money for the wedding band . Good luck!

 

[Mara]

I would also get stone #2....

Your eye will not pick up differences between the two stones most likely...and that is a big price difference from one stone to the other. Also having had a H and a J ...I think an I will be a great color.

My two cents. Both of them are PRIMO stones, so whatever you decide will be great, but if you wanted to save a bit of $$, I say go with stone #2 and put the $$ towards the setting or similar.

I also have had WF do custom work for me and they are top notch. Good luck!

 

[Praxi]

I agree with noobie. I doubt that you could tell the difference between the stones if you saw them one by one or even together. I would get the second stone.

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 7/29/2005 11:35:06 AM
Author: mhdousa
Thanks to everyone who has replied. To those who prefer the first one, do you think there are physical attributes of it that make it more desirable, or is it more the idea of the idealscope image? Do you think the idealscope differences translate to a better stone in a setting?


Thanks.

Depends on the lighting.
In a lot of conditions there wouldnt be much difference in others the optical symetry of the first will add that little extra POP!.

 

[bojack]

Those both look beautiful, anybody would be lucky to have either of those.

Does WF provide Idealscope images for all of their diamonds? I was on their site today and couldn''t find them. Do you have to specially request them for a particular diamond and then they provide it for you?

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 7/29/2005 2:31:01 PM
Author: bojack
Those both look beautiful, anybody would be lucky to have either of those.


Does WF provide Idealscope images for all of their diamonds? I was on their site today and couldn''t find them. Do you have to specially request them for a particular diamond and then they provide it for you?

All of the ACA diamonds and the vast majority of the ES diamonds have idealscope images up.
If they dont they are available.
If it says contact us for availability (or words to that effect) on the diamonds page then it isnt in their stock and they would have to call it in to get the data and images.

 

[Dancing Fire]

both are beautiful stones.

#1.....ACA brand,one color grade higher,skinnier arrows plus hot spots near the arrow shafts = more but, smaller flashes?.

#2.....fatter arrows= fewer but,bigger flashes,looks better in dim lights?

 

[ame]

#1''s scope looks cleaner but the price difference lends me to think#2 because you can go with a more ornate setting (or not, simple is good) OR put it towards a really great w-band.

I, too, own WF work and it is perfection. Sometimes I inspect it just to look atthe neato arrows.

 

[hawaii 5-0]

i can vouch for WF's platinum work... i think they did a great job on a custom (but very simple) setting for me...
i took parts of different rings that i liked and put them together... and they made it exactly how i wanted it... heres some pictures...

oh yeah and i like #1 scope better...

 

[mhdousa]

Unfortunately, I was leaning towards the A Cut Above and it was sold today. It seemed to be a great price for an H&A of its size and quality.

My hesitation with the Expert Selection one is mostly with the color grade. They told me that it faces up white, but I''m planning to get a Tiffany-style 6 prong setting and I worry that the color will show through that. Anyone have thoughts on this?

Anyone know how often new stones get put on the ACA or Expert Selection lists?

Hawaii 5-0, those are some great pics. If you don''t mind me asking, how much did that setting run? It''s similar to what I would be doing. I don''t love their Tiffany-style settings, but I thought putting a couple designs together would work.

Thanks for the input.

 

[belle]

ah..you have just learned the lesson of potential diamond posting...if you post it, it will be sold

seriously, with any diamond you are considering, you should put it on hold. especially if they look as good as the ones you posted. they don''t last long.

as far as the color, the ''i'' will face up very nice and white, but depending on how color sensitive you are, you may notice some ''warmth'' in certain lighting conditions.

put the diamond on hold!

 

[fire&ice]

I think FATE has decided for you. Save the 1300.00, buy the availabe I, especially since WF said it faced up white.

My only suggestion is if you are not sold on that stone - consider an H/I combo in VS2/SI1.

 

[valeria101]

Date: 7/30/2005 11:22:37 AM
Author: fire&ice

My only suggestion is if you are not sold on that stone - consider an H/I combo in VS2/SI1.

Same here. Unless there isn''t any VS2-Si1 that you find acceptable.

The IS image of the ACA looks perfect because that is what the stones are cut for. If there is any noticeable difference in favor of the first (that''s gone) no idea...

Perhaps WF made that ''expert selection'' too good for the sake of their own ACA brand ?

They have another I-SI1 ACA online: this and one I-VS2 (here). and there is your ES I-VS1. Given the current selection, it comes down to $500 and trading the difference between VS1 and SI1 for the ''ACA'' thing. Given that the respective SI1 looks rather clean, I wonder if I would be able to tell these three apart in person - all are nicely cut, show arrows and are I color. Perhaps I would not be able to see inclusions without a loupe. Of course, I have not seen them - just trying to imagine that desirable direct experience insofar impossible online

 

[valeria101]

On a different line of thought, if your budget gets up to $7400, why not G-Si1 ? This one that is

Among the other choices, it wasn't the SI-VS1 part that got me thinking but the color, unless you have seen some and decided it is not worth the trouble to move away from I. In a reasonably closed setting (such as the Tiffany-like one) I wouldn't think there would be much of a difference either. The clarity plot of this DCD one also seems to recommend it. But agan... give the nice and rather similar cut, between these four choice is a matter of cost or just throwing the dice, IMO

 

[Mara]

Date: 7/30/2005 11:40:35 AM
Author: valeria101


Perhaps WF made that 'expert selection' too good for the sake of their own ACA brand ?

Sometimes I wonder this too Val but there seems to be a market for both, case in point that this ACA sold while the ES is still available! I love their ES stones and would hands down want to buy from there over ACA anyday if it was a precisely cut stone. But ACA's are nice too.

oh and mb (original poster); hawaii's ring that you admired is set with a 2c J WF stone if you want to look for color. Personally having gone from an H to a J stone myself, I do see tiny changes but nothing to write home about, I adore my J and it allowed me to get a bigger stone.

 

[hawaii 5-0]

i dont know if maras post was talking about my stone... but if she was, just to clarify... my stone is a ACA H SI1 and not a 2carat

its actually a 1.295, heres the link...
http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/diamond_Details.aspx?itemcode=AGS-6044101

also... the setting was from WF and it was about $1200 or $1150 i think... sorry bad memory

well i hope this helps and good luck