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2.3 carat RBC dilemma - WF ACA with lower color/clarity OR "compromise" cut with JA?

I'm so happy you're able to take the time out to compare a few stones to assess your tolerance!

Just don't forget to bring us photos!;)2;)2
 
Drizzle said:
Guys!!!! The curiosity got the best of me...and I ended up placing an order for WF ACA too. :snooty: I know it's such an overkill...but I've been lurking on Pricescope for ages, and WF ACA is the very first "Super Ideal" I've ever heard of, and I've always wanted to see them in person! I feel like if I'm going through all the effort to be thorough, I would regret not giving WF ACA a chance too.

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3905123.htm

I just got off the phone with the WF rep and they confirmed they will overnight it to me, and I should have it by tomorrow!!

Plus, we found out couple of days ago that the JA diamond had actually shipped (despite the original expectation that it won't ship until 11/13) and BF actually worked from home today so he could sign for the delivery. He texted me this morning to say that he received it!! :clap:

So now I'll have WF ACA, CBI, GIA several GIA Triple EX options (including JA), and possibly a Fire and Ice to compare to. I already made an appointment for this Sunday and I am beyond excited! My heart goes out to my sweet bf for his patience and support on my journey <3
Click to expand...

This is absolutely killer!!!! You are going to end up with a stunning stone and you and your BF will feel great because you really did your homework vetting the stones. I cannot wait to hear what you think and yes we'd luuuuurve to see photos!!!
 
Tapping fingers impatiently... :lol-2:
 
Ditto^
 
This was an interesting graphic that I took a screen shot of. CBI on the left, GIAxxx on the right. I see a difference between the two.

Screenshot_20171111-183603.png
 
While I have no doubt CBI can be much prettier than GIA3X, I'm not sure this graphic is the best example. The GIA stone is much more obstructed compared to the CBI stone. The CBI is tilted D seems to be near the point of not being obstructed which is a sweet point for fire.
 
gm89uk said:
While I have no doubt CBI can be much prettier than GIA3X, I'm not sure this graphic is the best example. The GIA stone is much more obstructed compared to the CBI stone. The CBI is tilted D seems to be near the point of not being obstructed which is a sweet point for fire.
Click to expand...

I wager the greater darkness in the GIA is due to depth and table-reflection dynamics, not obstruction. But I agree with you about the still photo. The differences are much more visible in real life viewing, where you see the fire and sparkle of CBI.
 
So I went to the jeweler yesterday and compared a total of 5 stones:
  • 2.31 GIA 3X (James Allen) G/VS1
  • 2.28 WF ACA - H/VS2
  • 2.31 CBI - H/SI1
  • 2.31 CBI - H/SI1
  • 2.XX GIA 3X (sourced by the Jeweler) - H/SI1
Backstory: Originally, the jeweler was going to source a GIA 3X cut like the "Fire and Ice" signature diamond to throw into the comparison mix. Unfortunately that stone was still in transit as of yesterday, so he used another GIA 3X stone (that didn't perform well at all) as stand-in.

I was able to weed out the jeweler's GIA 3X almost immediately, so we were quickly down to 4. I took about an hour looking at these 4 stones in different lighting - and I'm not gonna lie, it was really hard for me to pick "my favorite" one. Here are some videos of the 4 stones, with the order of the diamonds kept the same.

In the office lighting:

Jewelry store lighting (but not spot light):

Jewelry store lighting 2:

Ambient/dim lighting:

In the tray:
 
I didn't really understand what was what in the videos, but to my untrained eye, I was nearly blinded by the left three.
 
Am I seeing (from L to R): CBI, CBI, WF, JA?

If so, HOLY... CBI killed them all. (sorry, ACA on my finger... don't listen. I still love you)
 
That's wonderful that you got to see them all at the same time!
Thanks for sharing your videos with us!

I can't pick a favorite based on the videos. I wonder if the angle of light might play a factor in how they appear in the videos.

Anxiously awaiting your comments based on seeing them in person. =)2

Obviously, you'll end up with a gorgeous diamond!
 
Lovely ASET, and thanks for videos. I'm particularly interested in your comparison of super-ideal vs the JA stone.

cflutist said:
I wager the greater darkness in the GIA is due to depth and table-reflection dynamics, not obstruction. But I agree with you about the still photo. The differences are much more visible in real life viewing, where you see the fire and sparkle of CBI.
Click to expand...

Different diamonds will obstruct at different distances, for example shallower pavilions will have more obstruction closer. That photo is not showing off at GIA favourably at all. The camera is held at a favourable distance for the stone on the left if the camera was held back a little, the GIA stone would show off a bit more.
 
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HappyNewLife said:
I didn't really understand what was what in the videos, but to my untrained eye, I was nearly blinded by the left three.
Click to expand...

I didn't label them on purpose to see which one(s) you guys would gravitate towards unbiased. ;))

That's the thing...it was REALLY hard. I would pick a favorite, then my BF would reshuffle them to have me pick again, and I would end up picking out a stone that's DIFFERENT than the one I picked from before. Over and over. :shock:
I'm pretty disappointed in myself to be honest...and for a while I thought I was a diamond snob!! haha jk

FYI: For the purpose of taking these videos, I lined them up in one order and didn't reshuffle after so all of them appear in the same order in those videos.
 
Here's some videos of comparing the WF ACA to the JA GIA 3X at home (please excuse the messiness!). Again all in the same order except for the last video where I flip the order.

Dining room yellow lighting

Dim lighting

With white LED light shining from top left - note: diamond that was on the bottom in the previous videos is on the left

With white LED light shining from top left - note: with the order flip flopped - so now the bottom diamond is on the right
 
Drizzle said:
I didn't label them on purpose to see which one(s) you guys would gravitate towards unbiased. ;))

That's the thing...it was REALLY hard. I would pick a favorite, then my BF would reshuffle them to have me pick again, and I would end up picking out a stone that's DIFFERENT than the one I picked from before. Over and over. :shock:
I'm pretty disappointed in myself to be honest...and for a while I thought I was a diamond snob!! haha jk

FYI: For the purpose of taking these videos, I lined them up in one order and didn't reshuffle after so all of them appear in the same order in those videos.
Click to expand...

Honestly, this is the best scenario... pick the least expensive one. Done and done. ;)
 
WOW! All four stones are gorgeous. Nice ASET for the JA too!

Very hard (for me) to guess which is which. I'm dying to know!!

Have you made a decision??
 
I feel they are both great diamonds, that the diamond on the left performs slightly worse in dim lighting but slightly better in spotlighting; could all be artefact.

Also interesting to see your ASET doesn't show any of the unevenness from the idealscope that JA took; but I suppose that could be due to dark background vs backlighting.
 
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@HappyNewLife
@december-fire
@gm89uk
@msop04
@lalala

I haven't made a decision yet - I think do look slightly different in real life than video as well. My crappy iPhone camera does not do them justice. For example, I would pick one (after a long deliberation) based on what I see IRL, and then when I look back at the videos I question my "decision"...(not sure if you can call it that even).

msop04 said:
Honestly, this is the best scenario... pick the least expensive one. Done and done. ;-)
Click to expand...

Haha, that's exactly what my bf is saying! But I'm definitely a lot more OCD than him...especially when it comes to diamond. I wanna make sure I made the absolute best decision...

Edited as posted too soon :)
 
I love that you did this in person and took videos. Helps those of us contemplating the same thing!

If I had to guess, I would think JA, WF, CBI, CBI?

The other videos, JA top and WF bottom?

Edit:

Nope,

WF, JA, CBI, CBI

WF top and JA bottom

Actually, I'm going cross-eyed now trying to figure it out, lol. You will tell us eventually, correct?!
 
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I can't even tell what is what anymore, lol. They all look good. I am dying to know what is what in the videos with the 4 diamonds ;)
 
I looked at all the videos and I can’t tell the differences haha. Except in the dim lighting video where the ACA on top seems to perform outstandingly better than the JA.

I think you have some great contenders!
 
Dying to know which is which as well but I think my eyes are telling me JA, CBI, ACA and CBI...

awaits correct answer... :)
 
I think the 2nd from the left is my favorite but it is Really hard to tell from the videos. I think you have to go with your gut seeing them in person, or if you don't have a consistent favorite, go with the lowest price.
 
I really can't tell which one performs the best - although the right hand-most one seems to look slightly bigger in each video. They're all sparkly as hell. I would choose the one with the biggest spread and the fattest arrows (cos I like fat arrows and I cannot lie).
You have a super fun "problem" to solve!
 
Thank you for posting these vids! The camera won't capture everything you see irl but my guess is CBI, JA, ACA, CBI. And then top JA bottom ACA. When will you tell us the answers? Soon I hope!
 
upload_2017-11-14_9-16-46.png

It goes from (L to R), Whiteflash ACA, James Allen, 2 CBI's

@lalala you nailed it! :appl:

And for the 2 diamonds comparison it was WhiteFlash on left (bottom) and James Allen on right (top) - except for the very last video where I flip the order.
 

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Haha! I've clearly been looking at diamonds wayyy too much recently.

Dying to know which one is the lucky winner!:kiss2:
 
Drizzle said:
upload_2017-11-14_9-16-46.png

It goes from (L to R), Whiteflash ACA, James Allen, 2 CBI's

@lalala you nailed it! :appl:

And for the 2 diamonds comparison it was WhiteFlash on left (bottom) and James Allen on right (top) - except for the very last video where I flip the order.
Click to expand...

What you're essentially saying is that I SUCK AT THIS, LOL. Boy was I wrong.
 
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