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0.5 ACA or 0.7 BN - What would you do?

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MrsDiamondHeart

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 29, 2021
Messages
56
Analysis paralysis has struck. I am having a DBTY style single pendant in platinum made here in London, UK so a diamond shipped from vendors other than Blue Nile means a 20% hit on VAT. My priority is cut, and I will go to a J and SI1 to maximise size.

Budget for the diamond is £1000 so factoring in the import taxes on a WG or BGD to add on, gives me approx $1060 with a US vendor. I'd love some advice on whether I should go for an ACA, or go for the biggest best cut from BN.

I adore seeing the beautiful ACAs on this forum. I've enquired about a 0.57 J SI1 ACA and waiting to hear whether it's eye clean. It's 5.34mm.

For the same price, and just for example, I can get a 0.7 J VS2 measuring 5.76mm at Blue Nile. Proportions look good - cr 35, pv 40.8, table 56, depth 61.3 and it's an HCA 1.4.

Will that 0.4mm be noticeable? Is an ACA going to look markedly different in a DBTY pendant? I keep changing my mind and would love your thoughts. I know @mrs-b has bought some beautifully cut stones from BN (and she gave me excellent advice a few years ago on my new ER setting) so I'm hoping for some pearls of wisdom from you experts. Thank you!
 
We would need to see both stones to know. But yes .4 will be noticible.
 
Thanks @lovedogs

This is the BN stone - one of about 12 I’ve shortlisted. https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/18088226

This is the ACÁ - bit nervous about sharing this as it’s the only one in the size and I haven’t been able to put ot on hold!
www.whiteflash.com

Diamond | 0.57 ct J SI1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond GIA Certified | 4419933

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 0.57 carat J color SI1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). | 4419933
www.whiteflash.com
 
Hmmm, for a pendant it's tricky because you won't see it as up close as a ring. So usually I'm 100% all about cut, but in this case bigger and "good but not 10/10" cut might be better.
 
Are you open to other vendors?
 
That’s my dilemma! Open to other vendors but will have the same issue of 20% tax on a loose stone if it’s not BN (I suspect). The brilliant goldsmith who’s making the pendant can also get some stones in for me to look at in person, and I completely trust him but I’d just be using my eyes - and what do I know?!
 
Well tbh you will also only be using your eyes to evaluate the pendant once its around your neck, so what matters most is how the pendant looks to you :D

Personally for a pendant I'd be maximising face up size, no question, and BN will give you the biggest bang for the buck, likely even more than your goldsmith would. That 0.4ish mm size bump will definitely be visible. Not sure about that specific stone, but in general I'd be maximising size for a pendant.
 
Do you think that’s a safe bet for performance? Really trust the opinions of experts like you! Presumably if it’s on other vendor’s sites then it’s possible it’s not actually one that BN have exclusively and might not be one I can secure?

Open to other suggestions too.
 
I would definitely go for a larger, well cut JA stone instead of a smaller ACA.
 
I think I’ll need to stick with Blue Nile - I’ve been looking at JA and found some nice ones but realised that although they convert to GBP. their exchange rate is horrible and I would still need to pay the 20% on top, making it a similar premium to the ACÁ (which I’d prefer!). BN include VAT which makes it clearer to work out what’s affordable.

You’re so lucky to have a lot of choice in the US!
 
Hi there, @MrsDiamondHeart -

I would buy that BN stone in a HEARTBEAT. The clarity of the faceting and the hearts and arrows pattern would be competitive with the ACA in real life - *especially* in a pendant, and for an extra .4mm (which you will *definitely* see!), I wouldn't hesitate.

Now that you've posted on PS and others can see it, snatch it up before someone else does!

BTW and ETA - that BN stone isn't a big "compromise". You're not settling for a second rate diamond with that one. That's a beautiful diamond by anyone's standards. Something you might find interesting - I have been buying and selling and trading in and up for years now. I have sold more than one BN diamond to well known PS vendors, and had those vendors re-list my BN stones on their sites as their Signature level stones. There are stunning diamonds to be had on BN; I believe the one you've found is one of them. The extra clarity grade is a bonus.
 
Last edited:
MrsDiamondHeart said:
Thank you so much @mrs-b
I posted 3 stones, I’ve reserved this one, is that the one you like? https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/18088226
Click to expand...

That's the one. The other 2 are good examples of nice BN diamonds that aren't really that close to super ideals. Good utilitarian diamonds that have excellent stats - but are only "nice" when seen put together.

Anyway, I think you've found yourself one of the BN needles in a haystack. Great choice! Do come back and tell us what you think of it when it arrives!

:wavey:
 
Bump
 
mrs-b said:
That's the one. The other 2 are good examples of nice BN diamonds that aren't really that close to super ideals. Good utilitarian diamonds that have excellent stats - but are only "nice" when seen put together.

Anyway, I think you've found yourself one of the BN needles in a haystack. Great choice! Do come back and tell us what you think of it when it arrives!

:wavey:
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for your generous advice and for taking the time to help me. I’m ordering it today and I will certainly come back and let you know how it looks in real life. Exciting!!
 
MrsDiamondHeart said:
Do you think that’s a safe bet for performance? Really trust the opinions of experts like you! Presumably if it’s on other vendor’s sites then it’s possible it’s not actually one that BN have exclusively and might not be one I can secure?

Open to other suggestions too.
Click to expand...

None of these are ones BN has exclusively. If you're interested put it on hold asap
 
It’s ordered! Will share when it arrives next week. Thanks for your help everyone.
 
Did Blue Nile confirm it’s yours? Normally you order, then they confirm with the vendor that it’s still available. I just really want to make sure you’ve got it!!
 
I’ve had the emails completing the order, confirming the payment, and a third from ‘service’ which says:

Congratulations! This email is confirmation that your order is now fully paid and in production.

If you ordered a loose diamond, expect your tracking number in the next 3-7 business days, with delivery soon afterward.

I’ve only ever ordered jewellery from BN before so I’d assumed this is confirmed but maybe not?!
 
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