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Why is this diamond not sparkling as much PART B answers

cinnamonstick

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Jun 14, 2009
Messages
572
Good evening to anybody still hanging with this conversation. I am not sure everybody is as excited as I am at the moment to FINALLY have an answer!! I am so much more at peace!!! Still not a billion % sure this is the diamond for me...but man, is it close!

High end store (great diamond selections, best of best in area):
Didn't tell the man too much to avoid influencing. Fully expected him to try to "sell me his" (he was not actually too pushy considering). I simply said "I don't know if this diamond was singing to me and wanted to see more options". ZERO comments on what I felt any issues were.

Left and came back with diamonds:
1) G, SI2, GIA XXX, 2.10, SB
2) J, SI1, GIA XXX, 2.15 , medium fluro
3) "I", SI1, 2.35 or so.....Color was fine. Slightly more warm. Didn't bother me. Too much $24k!!

He took another look at my "H" before he showed me his diamonds. He commented it had a VERY,VERY slight haze. He said it was subtle. ---YEP! This is the +1 for me. I could see it and mentioned it on my earlier post! I purposely didn't mention any issues with clarity to see what he would say (and expecting him to bash it a bit). I asked him "why" he felt the "H" had a slight haze. He said each diamond is made up differently (referenced wood? or trees?) and said it could just be the makeup of the diamond. He didn't think it was necessary the wisps.

He pulled out the J first. It was very nice. I could see the difference between the clarity of the "J" and my "H". SUBTLE difference. Mine looked SLIGHTLY hazy. Slight. Splitting hairs, but it is there. It was a nice colored "J". No can do "J". Good looking though. SPARKLED just like my "H". That is the -1 for me. This "J" was not any more sparkly than my "H" in any lighting situations in the shop. BELIEVE me, I looked. My memory was either wrong (as vender suggested), or the "J" was just crazy. I think my memory is wrong.

Next he pulled out the "G". Interesting. Near same measurements for the diameter at my "H". Didn't study the angles, cuts, crown, etc. More interested in the "personality"/sparkle/clarity. Again, this stone was "clearer" than my "H". SIGHLY. My "H" has a super faint haze. FAINT. I honestly feel most people would not see it. The "G" sparkled, but no more than my "H" in any lighting. Was a SB. Never saw a SB before. Nice diamond. Only real difference to me was it was a bit "clearer".Same sparkle volume and sparkle pattern actually. Looked almost identical BUT, I could pick mine out. We mixed them up a few times and lined the "G" with the "H". I could pick the H bc of the SUPER FAINT haze each time. Had to look hard. It was not very obvious. They were both cleaned on occasion so it was not dirt I was seeing. I was sure the playing field was level. Had him clean my "H" each time he cleaned his diamonds, LOL! ;)

Any curiosity:

"G" (crystal is main inclusion and has "clouds not shown")--eyeclean
http://www.gia.edu/cs/Satellite?reportno=2158168912&childpagename=GIA%2FPage%2FReportCheck&pagename=GIA%2FDispatcher&c=Page&cid=1355954554547

My H:
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/2.09-carat-h-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-468329

So, would I pay $3k more for the "G" I saw today? I don't think so (stores prices). Will I ask my vendor to locate another SI2, H color(or SI1, I maybe) which is more clear? **Probably**. I need to talk to I D J and find a way to view one last "best choice" for me beside the "H", w/o going to NYC. Will I return this "H" tomorrow. No.

That's it! Wrong about the sparkle, right about the clarity bit fuzzy (tad). I have a picture of the "G" and "H". In the picture they look the same. I could not snapshot the difference to show the slight variance in clarity. Nor can I see it in a videos I took.
 
Any haze would not be ok with me.
 
Doesn't matter if you are picky - you don't like the haze - however slight - so this stone needs to go back. I'd rather start from square one than try to make myself accept something I wasn't 100% comfortable with. I think that is where you are going with all of this but at least you have some peace of mind about why you made this decision.
 
H on right. Pics show nothing....look a tad warm. They are not IMO.

Haze....yah, not good. :( Even as slight as it is. :( I will talk to vendor. At least I am ok with staying SI2 based on what I saw today. And honestly? The "I" shade was ok also. High "I", I'm thinking. Didn't ask.....
This will be figured out. You all were a huge helpd so was today! My eyes hurt! I am so excited to get that diamond on my finger!

Punched the "G" in the HCA. It's a 2. I was curious. By the end , I really had to take a couple looks to tell the difference between the two. Ultimately though, each time after looking for a sec, I could figure it out based on clarity (face up). Both SI2. Drop of haze

20150908_3.jpg

20150908_155447-1.jpg
 
PS....I actually think the "I" that was sooo $$ was only a VG. Looked fine to me. Didn't study as long bc of price. I pretty much only took a quick look at of clarity compared to the "H".


Goes to show that shopping for a diamond by paper maybe isn't always the right answer. :)
 
Thank you all!
 
MissGotRocks|1441761713|3925327 said:
Doesn't matter if you are picky - you don't like the haze - however slight - so this stone needs to go back. I'd rather start from square one than try to make myself accept something I wasn't 100% comfortable with. I think that is where you are going with all of this but at least you have some peace of mind about why you made this decision.
+1
 
Diamond choices should not be OK they should make your heart sing and bring a smile to your face every time you look at them

I think you need to choose another vendor this one seems to be insistent on trying to change your mind a good vendor would except what you see in a stone and move on with another choice or tell you sorry I do not have what your looking for at this time this one just wants your money it seems
 
I'll second that thought. Not trying to convince you to change vendors, however, know that it's an option that's perfectly acceptable.
I had to do that, and I'll be honest that at first I felt really bad because I really liked the first vendor personally and they had been really nice, but I returned the stone and they refunded my money minus the round trip shipping costs. It wasn't cheap but it was the right thing in the end, I had to remind myself that I was looking for a diamond, and not be so worried about hurt feelings from the first vendor. They didn't have what I wanted and someone else did. It's business.
 
Ohh I am SUPER happy that your trip was so helpful, and that you got some answers!!!

This has been a very interesting journey to follow, thank you for sharing it with us! And now - what about your final choice!? :bigsmile:
 
Thank you Yessie. It really was so helpful studying the diamonds in person. Clarified EVERYTHING. Also, will never to return to the same IA. I asked her point blank about clarity/haze. I should ask for my $50 back!!! (I won't, just saying my eye is better than hers and that is a bit of bull).

I know I am splitting hairs, but this is my forever. I was looking hard on PS today. Videos are really all I can go by for the most part which limits what I can try to find. Most vendors have "sample photo" or still shot. I just pray that the "H" is not as good as it can get for my wallet. I sent it back!! I took ONE LAST look at the diamond before hand. Its not as clear as I want it to be. Eye-clean yes, but not perfectly "clear" (the SI2 G was clearer at the store, so they are out there).

I am walking around the house trying to find things to sell on Ebay! Made $30 extra today LOL! ( do really love selling on Ebay BTW). Upped the budget $1,300/$1,400 from the "H". There HAS to be something out there for me!!??

I will be back to bug all of ya when the time comes :) :naughty: Probably sooner than later :lol:

Till then, MILLE GRAZIE!!!
 
You made the right choice!
 
You made the right choice! Your diamond is out there. This was not it!
 
good luck on your quest and I am SO glad you saw a few in person, nothing beats it when it comes to finding something so specific. I know it helped me immensely on my search. You will absolutely find the stone for you, at the price you want- I say be patient because it may take longer than you want but it will def be worth it. Sending PS dust you way!
 
Tourmaline- Thank you. My GUT says I did. My heart says its sad and my eyes dropped a tear. :(
I would rather up my budget a tad....so I did. I'm trying to find that balance.

MissGotRocks- Hi :) I am still at the $17,00/$17,500 mark. I see a lot at the $20K mark that look nice to my eye w/o added info. I just cant go to $20K. Not yet. Hopefully not ever. Wow-$20K was my first year salary as a teacher in 1995!!! LOL! Scary!!! LOL!

I saw this earlier:
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/2.16-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-611400
SOLD--It doesn't look very warm, for an "I", great size, VS2, XXX. Something maybe was wrong? I didn't punch out the HCA since it sold. I am not saying I would buy this diamond (no info/specs, IS etc)....
Just thinking maybe could drop to an "I" to help offset the price if it was "upper". There was another "I" I saw that was not very warm looking either by video compared to others. Just thinking. I'm not sure where I need to give to get. I feel I am SO CLOSE to what I want. So close!!! Maybe going up the $1400 will help. Maybe not.
 
cinnamonstick|1441930407|3926294 said:
Tourmaline- Thank you. My GUT says I did. My heart says its sad and my eyes dropped a tear. :(
I would rather up my budget a tad....so I did. I'm trying to find that balance.

MissGotRocks- Hi :) I am still at the $17,00/$17,500 mark. I see a lot at the $20K mark that look nice to my eye w/o added info. I just cant go to $20K. Not yet. Hopefully not ever. Wow-$20K was my first year salary as a teacher in 1995!!! LOL! Scary!!! LOL!

I saw this earlier:
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/2.16-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-611400
SOLD--It doesn't look very warm, for an "I", great size, VS2, XXX. Something maybe was wrong? I didn't punch out the HCA since it sold.
Just thinking maybe could drop to an "I" to help offset the price if it was "upper". There was another "I" I saw that was not very warm looking either by video compared to others. Just thinking. I'm not sure where I need to give to get. I feel I am SO CLOSE to what I want. So close!!! Maybe going up the $1400 will help. Maybe not.

Sorry - I was thinking you were right at the 20k mark. The crown angle on that last JA stone is a bit shallow - might have attributed to the price. Have you personally contacted some of the vendors and asked for their recommendations? They might come up with something - or know of an available stone not published on their website - that might fit the bill. Wouldn't hurt to have a couple of vendors looking for you!
 
Hummm.....
 
Ditto MGR I'm afraid, at least for you, specifically, cinnamon. It's a perfectly nice stone - in this size I'm not worried about the shallower crown as it relates to chipping risk, especially with the sl thick girdle, but you said in your original post that what you loved most about your J was all the big flashes of coloured light it threw off, and this flavour of proportions is pretty much the opposite of what you should be aiming for that type of light output remains your priority :(sad You'll want a small table, steep crown, shallower pavilion to compensate.
 
TY Yssie,
I keep all of this information and keep little notes for the future. The link was just more of a reference of the color thinking aloud while tying to figure where the wiggle room should be....or if 17.5 K is not enough money for what my heart desires. I would think staying in SI2 would keep my budget where it needs to be. I guess the difficulty is finding one that isn't compromised by the clarity. I'm not sure if it is a matter of patience or a matter of my budget. I don't need a perfect stone obviously. I just don't want one that's too warm (for me) forever so slightly hazy. They were both so close!
 
Update to close the thread (copied)


I returned the H that was slightly hazy. TY all for your support and encouragement to return it. I do believe that was the RIGHT choice based on my hesitation. Follow the gut PS'ers said!! I had moments of doubt where I almost called the vendor to send it back!! After the returned diamond was received, I was sent a new H, 2.16, SI2 , 3x, GIA, that had a "different type of inclusion than wisps". Cloud, crystal....more....but still eye clean. Plot looked a mess!!!!! I was sweating BIG time it bc I could see the inclusions in the magnified photos with EASE. Trust with IDJ came in to play. They were very up front with what to expect. I was so, so worried. Thankful for the great return policy....I knew I would be ok if it didn't work. :)

BIG TIP for anybody shopping online--you cant beat a 30 day return policy if you are OCD as I am. I needed TIME with every diamond.

There was a slight trade off with the inclusions...I gave up a SUPER EYE CLEAN, 100% no inclusions visible w naked eye diamond, but with a slight bit of haze (or VERY slight lack of crispness), for a diamond that if I tilt a certain way in duller light, I can see a tiny spec of dark crystal if I concentrate (comes and goes with turning the diamond). I REALLY need to look for it.

Husband and I both agree this new (and final) one sparkles MORE than the last H with the wisps. Like the super old origional J. Performance is a knock out. Wow! There is a difference my eye can pick up.

Sometimes it takes time to find the perfect diamond the budget can afford. It was a little song and dance, but worth the struggles. Bouncing ideas and thoughts off of all the PSers made this possible.

:) TY!
 
Your persistence paid off, I would have never been happy with a hazy diamond, so I think you made the right decision!!!
 
Agree! Slight lack of crispness may be a better term. Either way...I can see deep in the soul of keeper :) <3 crisp!
 
Congrats! :bigsmile: :appl:

I can't wait to see some pictures of your keeper!! ::)
 
cinnamonstick|1445003724|3938863 said:
Agree! Slight lack of crispness may be a better term. Either way...I can see deep in the soul of keeper :) <3 crisp!
Congrats cinnamon,
Finding the right diamond is a journey for many, and deliberation, collaboration, and persistence pays off. I also like the term "crispness" in reference to slight variations in transparency. It is often very subtle and takes some sensitivity to pick up on, but it is a very important factor to be aware of.

To an extent I feel there is too much emphasis placed upon "eye-clean" and not enough appreciation for the role of transparency. A well cut and crisply transparent diamond can be absolutely beautiful even with a small birthmark technically visible to the eye. Observers may never be aware of it. All they see is a dynamic sparkler. And even if they do, few people expect diamonds to be flawless. It really is more of a mind-clean thing. But maybe it is better to think in terms of mind-crisp :wink2:
 
Great news!! You must be thrilled you found "the one", lol. Cannot wait to see your stunning diamond!
 
Yes, lol, and equally important IDJ did not dump me for being too picky. We are in the process of designing the setting. I will update in "show me the bling" when done.

Texas, never in a million years would I have thought that I would have chosen a diamond with a very, very small inclusion (at a certain angle) vs 1000% eye clean. You hit the nail on the head with your write up IMHO!! I love your term "dynamic sparkler"! :)

Seriously I never could have done this without you guys! Nor even had the nerve to buy a diamond online!! Saves a lot of $$ (guessing $3k?). Worth it!
 
I am delighted to hear you found the perfect diamond. :appl:
 
The suspense is killing me! I can't wait to see this diamond, especially hand shots!

Congratulations on finding the one!
 
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