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3.4 ct H SI1 Blue Nile Signature vs. 3.8 ct AGS 000

C

caballogurl

Rough_Rock
Joined
Apr 3, 2012
Messages
18
Can anyone give me some guidance on which stone to choose? Both are eye clean, I'm wondering if I should go up .4 of a carat to the 3.8 carat stone or stick with the Blue Nile Signature diamond stone? Will I notice the difference in size more or the difference in cut?

Option 1 - 3.4 carat H SI1 Blue Nile Signature Diamond

http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-3-carat-signature-ideal-cut-h-color-si1-clarity_LD02949656

Option 2 - 3.8 carat H SI2 (eye clean) AGS Triple 0

http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-3-carat-ideal-cut-h-color-si2-clarity_LD01696209
 
I would be concerned about SI2 clarity in a 3.8 ct. stone. The other one seems to have a crystal inclusion right in the center, too. I couldn't buy a diamond without magnified images, personally, but if you are willing to order and return if necessary, I guess it can work. The signature stone is GIA H with medium blue fluorescence which likely will mean it is whiter than the other. So that is the one I would choose.
 
Ditto DS.

AGS cut grade and those ASET simulations (GIA cut grade too for that matter) doesn't consider effects of inclusions on light return. They don't consider the effects of body colour on light return either but since you're looking at Hs that's not a practical consideration).

Also, while the inclusions are listed top to bottom in order of most to least "severe" by the official grading, in my experience with SIs the grade-making inclusion(s) (listed first) aren't necessarily the most visible.. you really have to see the stone in-person to judge for yourself. You state that they are "eyeclean" - clean to what specifications? And by whose determination?

With either stone or any other SI in this size range I would STRONGLY recommend having it shipped out loose, see what your eyes think.
 
I would stay with the SI1. That is my personal limit and in a large stone you have to be very careful that it is really eye clean. I blew up the GCAL image on the link and from that you can see a lot of the inclusions, more under the stone than on top. that was the SI1, so imagine the SI2 is worse. Plus some SI2 have features that might make the stone more fragile (like a large feather).
 
caballogurl|1357649798|3350184 said:
They have a 30 day return policy - so I could just buy it and return it if I don't like what I see.

Here is another option:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-13ct-Roun...9405861?pt=Loose_Diamonds&hash=item4d08294ba5
Click to expand...

I wouldn't suggest making such a large purchase on Ebay....here are some other options with another one of our online vendors that offer pictures and certificate on their site:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1539799.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1424096.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1445786.asp (budget friendly and AGS).

How do you feel about a J? This one's 4.40 J SI1 and the cut is stunning.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1377932.asp

This one's also a J, but it looks beautiful and is an AGS ideal:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1534095.asp
 
04diamond<3|1357650758|3350195 said:
How do you feel about a J? This one's 4.40 J SI1 and the cut is stunning.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1377932.asp

OMG. If it's clean to your specifications and the internal graining doesn't affect brilliance and there are no negative effects w/ the fluor... OMG. VSB fluor!!

The graining does look pretty obvious in the pics but I couldn't say what it'd look like or what real-world effects it might have IRL. Your JA rep should be able to give you a more thorough summary.

Did I mention the VSB fluor?

This one's also a J, but it looks beautiful and is an AGS ideal:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1534095.asp

Exactly my sort of proportions! Old DQD though so the cut grade doesn't command the prestige that the AGS0/Ideal we tout on here does. You'll also want to confirm that there's been no wear and tear in the intervening years, since the report only tells you about the condition of the stone at the time it was issued.
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You definitely will see the tint in a J of this size, and most likely in an I as well unless you're particularly colour-insensitive, I think. Are you the recipient or will this be a surprise for someone? I probably wouldn't recommend surprising someone with a J this large, but if you can go look at some larger well-cut stones together and find out exactly what you think of the tint that'd be the best way to make an educated decision! Some people really dislike it and some don't mind it, and still others prefer it ::)
 
The White Flash diamond has a 0.07 HCA score.
 
That's a virtual selection stone which means they have to call it in and don't have even pictures of it. A .7 on the HCA however is a great score, so I would call them and see if they can call it in for you.

Here's another option from JA (they recently added videos of all their stones!) Id put any of these on hold if you like them and ask for idealscope images and make sure they're eye clean. this one scored a 1.8 on the HCA:

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/Round-cut/3.52-carat-J-color-SI1-clarity-Excellent-cut-sku-184984


This one scored a 1.3 on the HCA:
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/Round-cut/3.26-carat-J-color-VS1-clarity-Excellent-cut-sku-26111

This one also scored a .7 on the HCA. And personally, with a stone as big as this, I prefer VS2 clarity minimum just because you will see those inclusions...I know this one's smaller, but it's a lost less, completely eye clean, and extremely well cut. **Last edit, but this stone also has strong blue fluorescence!

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/Round-cut/3.04-carat-I-color-VS1-clarity-Excellent-cut-sku-25771
 
They charge $200 to bring the stone in and examine it and send me images. If the stone end is up not being eye cleans then they refund the charge. If it is eye clean and I decide against it, then I have to pay $200. Is it worth it?
 
caballogurl|1358455854|3358059 said:
They charge $200 to bring the stone in and examine it and send me images. If the stone end is up not being eye cleans then they refund the charge. If it is eye clean and I decide against it, then I have to pay $200. Is it worth it?
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um...unless you hate the other options I showed you and can't find anything else...I guess not...
 
The 4.40 J looks promising, but I would only have a vendor like Good Old Gold call it in because they will evaluate it in different lighting and tell you if the very strong blue fluorescence is a problem. I wouldn't take the chance otherwise. It has some internal graining and that sounds like there is the possibility that the clarity issues and fluorescence issues might work together to make a hazy stone in some lighting. But it might be great, too.

Personally, I'd far rather go to the 3 ct. range and go to an H VS2.
 
What did you think of the 3.52 G SI1? I just sent Jonathan from Good Old Gold an email.
 
caballogurl|1358465611|3358184 said:
What did you think of the 3.52 G SI1? I just sent Jonathan from Good Old Gold an email.
Click to expand...

The 3.52 G SI1 is from Whiteflash unless you posted something else somewhere else. I thought you didn't feel comfortable with the fact that it wasn't in house and you'd have to pay $200 to have them call it in....did something change?
 
I guess I understand why they charge a fee. $200 just seems a bit steep. But GOG charges you shipping as well for them to bring in a stone for you. They credit it towards your purchase price if you don't like the stone, but then that locks you into purchasing from that vendor.
 
caballogurl|1358465984|3358187 said:
What about this stone? James Allen is hard right now because alot of their diamonds are not on their site right now since the redesign.

What about this one from Blue Nile? It has a HCA of .9, but has strong blue florescence.

http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-3-carat-ideal-cut-h-color-vs2-clarity_LD03011950
Click to expand...

Did you register for their website?? it's working fine for me....I would never buy a diamond online without seeing at least a picture.
 
Their website is live but the JA staff told me that a good chunk of their inventory is online yet.
 
new options:
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/Round-cut/3.52-carat-J-color-SI1-clarity-Excellent-cut-sku-184984

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/Round-cut/3.50-carat-I-color-SI2-clarity-Excellent-cut-sku-187419

Even though this one is a VG, it still scored 1.4 on the HCA. I'd still confirm that all of these are eye clean put them on hold if you like them and request idealscopes:
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/Round-cut/3.50-carat-I-color-SI2-clarity-Very-Good-cut-sku-36882

Another option...I know it's a K, but it has medium fluorescence, so I'd inquire about this one too:

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/4.080-k-vs1-round-diamond-gia-42395390
 
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