ACA vs. Excellent cut

[adlgel]

@sledge @diamondseeker2006 Right now I have the 1.526 I/VS1 stone officially on hold. I also have a video from Michelle at Whiteflash comparing a 1.402 I/SI1, the 1.526 and a 1.607 I/SI1. However, in addition to those, I have a 1.442 I/VS1, 1.451 H/SI1 and 1.506 I/SI1 I'm considering. All of these are ACA stones so they will all ultimately be beautiful.

I'm trying to narrow it down to 3 before I go back to Whiteflash. I've done up a spreadsheet to create a ranking mechanism that helped me rule out some other options just to get to this list of 6.

Now I'm just looking for reasons to rule out 3 of these current 6 to get to a final short list. Not as easy as it seems it should be lol, but that's mainly because they are all great options. Trying to figure out do I want to prioritize cost, size, color????

The video I got from Whiteflash comparing the 3 was interesting but not so useful to rule any of them out. What I think would be most helpful for me is to see a video of whatever stones end up on my short list laid on someone's finger to get a more normal distance viewing perspective of them. E.g., in the Whiteflash video I can see the inclusion on the 1.526. I know I won't be able to see it in normal viewing distance but I haven't yet seen it at normal viewing distance so it's kind of gumming up my mental processing of ruling in/ruling out stones.

Also I did leave a message for DK at the phone number in his email signature earlier today as well as sent an email on Saturday. So hopefully I've intercepted him soon enough that no real progress has been made on actually making a head to fit my current diamond. At end of day Thursday we were still going back and forth on CAD designs.

 

[adlgel]

Forcing myself to narrow down, I think I'd put these 3 on my short-list:

The 1.402 is the cheapest option of the 6 I'm considering. It's not materially bigger than my current stone, and technically same color and clarity but we know it will show whiter than my current stone. However, cut-wise it will be a huge improvement over my current stone (as will all of my options).

The 1.451 also gets me a color grade bump, a bit more of a size bump and is my middle price option.

The 1.526 gets me a double bump-up on clarity, most noticeably bigger than current compared to other 2 options but also most expensive.

Decisions, decisions.

 

[sledge]

@adlgel can you post the video & pics that WF provided? Maybe we will see something different. Maybe not. Just a thought if you want a second or third opinion.

Also look me up on LoupeTroop. We can’t give out contact info here but on LT I go under the same name and there is a way to reach me there. Shoot me a message and I will get you that cell as I don’t want to publicize that.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

So glad you have that one on hold! Since we have determined that people have different preferences, and yours may be different than mine, but I'd prefer VS1 over SI1 any day. So for me, it would be easy to narrow them down to two!

Trust me, I just upgraded my studs and also looked at 3 pairs meaning 6 stones, total. It was a tough decision because they were all beautiful! They just came this weekend and are above my expectations! I will tell you that I did a LOT of upgrades of my studs. I'd do a little size increase at a time which in retrospect was a mistake because of money wasted on new settings each time! I am FINALLY at the end of the upgrade road. I will just say that I am rooting for the 1.52 I VS1 because I think as long as you are upgrading, you may as well get a little more size in addition to better cut and color, hopefully!

I really don't think it's good to overanalyze the ACA diamonds. If you decide you prefer H color, then you could go for that one. I like the size and clarity of the 1.52 I VS1. As you said, they'd all be beautiful. It's just a matter of which specs are most important to you!

 

[adlgel]

@sledge I just heard back from DK so he knows to not cast a new head for my current diamond. Here is the video Whiteflash sent me comparing 3 of the stones. It compares 2 of my final 3 contenders but does not have the 1.451 in it.

 

[lovedogs]

Lol I would buy the biggest SI1 option because I trust WFs definition of eye clean and all 3 look lovely to me

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I'll have to say, while I'd choose the 1.52 for myself because I prefer the clarity, I think the 1.6 I SI1 looks pretty great! So I can definitely understand choosing that one over the 1.52 to get the greater size! Prices are good right now, so it is a good time to do this!

 

[sledge]

@sledge @diamondseeker2006 Right now I have the 1.526 I/VS1 stone officially on hold. I also have a video from Michelle at Whiteflash comparing a 1.402 I/SI1, the 1.526 and a 1.607 I/SI1. However, in addition to those, I have a 1.442 I/VS1, 1.451 H/SI1 and 1.506 I/SI1 I'm considering. All of these are ACA stones so they will all ultimately be beautiful.

My favorite of the group is the 1.526. It's the whole package. Amazing clarity, dreamy proportions and big fire. Plus you get a size bump.

I don't really think you have bad choices here. But with 6 stones on the roster, I agree you need to downsize, so it's time be nit picky. Here are the 3 I would cut to help get you closer to a final decision.

FYI, here is a comparison link that makes looking at all this data a little easier on the eyes and what I used to help aid in my evaluation of all 6 stones:

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-di...69219,4377167,4383554,2972966,4384641,4369226

1.402 I-SI1:

• I really like this stone, and it's the least expensive of the group.
• Has great fire. Comparing website video to custom video, I question if the 1.526 receives a little more favorable lighting. To me, it looks the 1.526 is the best of the group, yet on the website videos I think the 1.402, 1.526 and 1.607 are all very similar with each having their moments of being "better".
• Color seems very similar to the 1.526 in the comparison video, so no advantage there. I actually think the 1.607 looked the whitest of the group.
• My own "rub" is that if I'm putting this type of money into the upgrade, I would want my wife to get better color, clarity AND size. So spending a little more to do all 3 seems like a better value in my head and ultimately the reason I would eliminate this stone.

1.445 H-SI1:

• I really like the option to move up to H color, but the feather on the table that extends to the pavilion would drive me bonkers. I know WF verifies structurally integrity before allowing into the ACA line, so I am not worried about that aspect.
• I'm not opposed to select feathers. My wife's BGD H-VS2 has a feather, but it is much less noticeable even in zoomed pics & videos.
• Short version, the feather is my hang up with this one.

1.506 I-SI1:

• Don't like the inclusions on the table.
• WF page states "inquire" under eye clean section, meaning it probably isn't eye clean
• Larger table nearing the 58 mark (your other choices are in the 55/56 range)
• Steep 34.9 crown paired with a steep 40.9 pavilion. If GIA, we would warn against this c/p relationship. Obviously, as a super ideal they made it work.
• ASET has green slivers under table, where it should be all red. Green isn't bad, but is less optimal light return than red. Probably not detectable with the naked eye.
• Less meaningful is HCA scores 1.6 but only "very good" on all items. Likely due to proportions already noted. Take with a grain of salt as HCA is an estimation & elimination tool only. Zero doubts this stone performs. The advanced images provide confirmation of ACTUAL performance vs ESTIMATED performance yielded by HCA. Only mentioning as I found it interesting.
• Overall, a very nice stone, but you simply have better choices IMO.

 

[adlgel]

1.445 H-SI1:

• I really like the option to move up to H color, but the feather on the table that extends to the pavilion would drive me bonkers. I know WF verifies structurally integrity before allowing into the ACA line, so I am not worried about that aspect.

@sledge I'm not sure if you had a typo here but I was considering the 1.451 H-SI1 (I don't actually see a 1.445 H-SI1) and I don't see a feather on that table. Are we talking about the same diamond and if yes can you point out the feather on the table of the 1.451 for me? THanks.

 

[sledge]

@sledge I'm not sure if you had a typo here but I was considering the 1.451 H-SI1 (I don't actually see a 1.445 H-SI1) and I don't see a feather on that table. Are we talking about the same diamond and if yes can you point out the feather on the table of the 1.451 for me? THanks.

I had a two typos. It's the 1.451. And the is not on the table, it is on the upper girdle facet.

Again, WF states it's eye clean. I know we are dealing with magnified images so everything is much easier to see than with the naked eye. I also know me. Because it caught my attention here, I would likely look for it in real life until I found it.

Perhaps your WF rep can weigh in more. Sometimes "eye clean" is a glance from 10" away with good lighting & 20/20 vision. It doesn't always mean you stare & analyze, lol.

This isn't to say this is a bad stone. You just have to short list, so I am intentionally being nitpicky to help narrow the choices.



Blown up picture to show orientation. Picture is not in same alignment as clarity plot, but you can see the larger cloud I circled in green at the bottom and the smaller clouds I circled at the top to provide reference. Lastly, the feather I circled in red.

 

[adlgel]

Thank you. I did eventually spot them. And like you said, I trust Whiteflash's evaluation that the structural integrity isn't affected.

Having spent so much time looking at all of these stones I finally realized that this one is actually the stone that seems to be speaking to me the most. It gets me a color bump, a smidge of a size bump (but again this upgrade was never really about size to begin with), is a great performer and relatively speaking is the more affordable ACA option.

Apparently I don't value the VS1 vs SI1 distinction as much as others do since I know both are eye clean. I've also realized that for me knowing my stone has a dark crystal (which the VS1 has right in the center of the table) bugs me more than knowing there are feathers and clouds more around the edges of the SI1 even though in reality I wouldn't see any of them. Not saying there is any logic to that, but hey the heart wants what the heart wants .

I've put the 1.451 on hold and am finalizing the details with Michelle now. I truly appreciate everyone's input. I've learned so much (and know there is still so much more I could learn).

 

[adlgel]

Since my bank's online website limited the amount of a wire transaction to less than the amount of my diamond purchase, I had to go into the bank to do the wire transaction. The bank manager helping me was a younger 20-something guy.

He asked me what the wire was for (they have to put that on the form) and when I said jewelry he said that he had just decided to ask his girlfriend to marry him so was now in the market for an engagement ring. In addition to giving him the low-down on Whiteflash specifically and online diamond vendors in general, i also pointed him here and explained how so many people were helpful in my decision about which diamond to purchase.

He actually brought up the Pricescope website while we were doing our transaction. So who knows maybe someday he'll create an account and start asking some questions about diamonds he is considering for his girlfriend. Hopefully that is just a little way for me to pay forward my gratitude for the assistance I received here.

 

[whitewave]

Since my bank's online website limited the amount of a wire transaction to less than the amount of my diamond purchase, I had to go into the bank to do the wire transaction. The bank manager helping me was a younger 20-something guy.

He asked me what the wire was for (they have to put that on the form) and when I said jewelry he said that he had just decided to ask his girlfriend to marry him so was now in the market for an engagement ring. In addition to giving him the low-down on Whiteflash specifically and online diamond vendors in general, i also pointed him here and explained how so many people were helpful in my decision about which diamond to purchase.

He actually brought up the Pricescope website while we were doing our transaction. So who knows maybe someday he'll create an account and start asking some questions about diamonds he is considering for his girlfriend. Hopefully that is just a little way for me to pay forward my gratitude for the assistance I received here.

awesome story!

 

[LLJsmom]

Since my bank's online website limited the amount of a wire transaction to less than the amount of my diamond purchase, I had to go into the bank to do the wire transaction. The bank manager helping me was a younger 20-something guy.

He asked me what the wire was for (they have to put that on the form) and when I said jewelry he said that he had just decided to ask his girlfriend to marry him so was now in the market for an engagement ring. In addition to giving him the low-down on Whiteflash specifically and online diamond vendors in general, i also pointed him here and explained how so many people were helpful in my decision about which diamond to purchase.

He actually brought up the Pricescope website while we were doing our transaction. So who knows maybe someday he'll create an account and start asking some questions about diamonds he is considering for his girlfriend. Hopefully that is just a little way for me to pay forward my gratitude for the assistance I received here.

so funny! great story.

 

[sledge]

Since my bank's online website limited the amount of a wire transaction to less than the amount of my diamond purchase, I had to go into the bank to do the wire transaction. The bank manager helping me was a younger 20-something guy.

He asked me what the wire was for (they have to put that on the form) and when I said jewelry he said that he had just decided to ask his girlfriend to marry him so was now in the market for an engagement ring. In addition to giving him the low-down on Whiteflash specifically and online diamond vendors in general, i also pointed him here and explained how so many people were helpful in my decision about which diamond to purchase.

He actually brought up the Pricescope website while we were doing our transaction. So who knows maybe someday he'll create an account and start asking some questions about diamonds he is considering for his girlfriend. Hopefully that is just a little way for me to pay forward my gratitude for the assistance I received here.

Congrats on your final decision @adlgel. Very happy & excited for you. Please be sure to post some bling shots once you get it back. Now comes the hard part....waiting!

And love the story with the bank teller. Hopefully he will join & we can help guide him too.

 

[LoveMeDo]

Thank you. I did eventually spot them. And like you said, I trust Whiteflash's evaluation that the structural integrity isn't affected.

Having spent so much time looking at all of these stones I finally realized that this one is actually the stone that seems to be speaking to me the most. It gets me a color bump, a smidge of a size bump (but again this upgrade was never really about size to begin with), is a great performer and relatively speaking is the more affordable ACA option.

Apparently I don't value the VS1 vs SI1 distinction as much as others do since I know both are eye clean. I've also realized that for me knowing my stone has a dark crystal (which the VS1 has right in the center of the table) bugs me more than knowing there are feathers and clouds more around the edges of the SI1 even though in reality I wouldn't see any of them. Not saying there is any logic to that, but hey the heart wants what the heart wants .

I've put the 1.451 on hold and am finalizing the details with Michelle now. I truly appreciate everyone's input. I've learned so much (and know there is still so much more I could learn).

I’m with you on the clarity. All that matters to me is that the stone is eye clean. I’d personally rather not pay more for higher clarity if I won’t see a difference. Your new diamond will be amazing - can’t wait to see it!

 

[adlgel]

Just thought I'd come back to give a bit of an update now that I'm 4+ months from this purchase. For quite a while I had stopped wearing my wedding set and instead was wearing a 7 stone band I got on our 5 year anniversary on my left hand. Some of it was due to Covid and working from home so no need to "dress up" but a lot of it was due to a sense of disappointment in my diamond. I did love it for so many years but now realized I could have done so much better.

Fast forward to now and I ALWAYS wear my wedding set, even if just going to the gym or going out to play pickleball or take a walk. And I am ALWAYS staring at my diamond - while sitting in the car at a traffic light, waiting in line to checkout at the grocery store, etc. I am completely enamored with it.

I am so so glad I went with an ACA and would 100% recommend it to anyone who is in a position to start from scratch with a new vendor. I don't foresee myself upgrading anytime soon, if ever, as there are other jewelry classics I want to add to my small but growing collection of fine jewelry. And my daughter wears our old diamond in her pendant every day so that stone is still getting lots of love. All in all a happy ending for all involved - diamonds and people lol.

 

[MissGotRocks]

Just thought I'd come back to give a bit of an update now that I'm 4+ months from this purchase. For quite a while I had stopped wearing my wedding set and instead was wearing a 7 stone band I got on our 5 year anniversary on my left hand. Some of it was due to Covid and working from home so no need to "dress up" but a lot of it was due to a sense of disappointment in my diamond. I did love it for so many years but now realized I could have done so much better.

Fast forward to now and I ALWAYS wear my wedding set, even if just going to the gym or going out to play pickleball or take a walk. And I am ALWAYS staring at my diamond - while sitting in the car at a traffic light, waiting in line to checkout at the grocery store, etc. I am completely enamored with it.

I am so so glad I went with an ACA and would 100% recommend it to anyone who is in a position to start from scratch with a new vendor. I don't foresee myself upgrading anytime soon, if ever, as there are other jewelry classics I want to add to my small but growing collection of fine jewelry. And my daughter wears our old diamond in her pendant every day so that stone is still getting lots of love. All in all a happy ending for all involved - diamonds and people lol.

So glad to see you so happy - ACA’s can really put a smile on your face! Would love to see pics of your new ring!!

 

[Dandi]

Just thought I'd come back to give a bit of an update now that I'm 4+ months from this purchase. For quite a while I had stopped wearing my wedding set and instead was wearing a 7 stone band I got on our 5 year anniversary on my left hand. Some of it was due to Covid and working from home so no need to "dress up" but a lot of it was due to a sense of disappointment in my diamond. I did love it for so many years but now realized I could have done so much better.

Fast forward to now and I ALWAYS wear my wedding set, even if just going to the gym or going out to play pickleball or take a walk. And I am ALWAYS staring at my diamond - while sitting in the car at a traffic light, waiting in line to checkout at the grocery store, etc. I am completely enamored with it.

I am so so glad I went with an ACA and would 100% recommend it to anyone who is in a position to start from scratch with a new vendor. I don't foresee myself upgrading anytime soon, if ever, as there are other jewelry classics I want to add to my small but growing collection of fine jewelry. And my daughter wears our old diamond in her pendant every day so that stone is still getting lots of love. All in all a happy ending for all involved - diamonds and people lol.

So happy for you @adlgel! I have ACAs too (having upgraded from average cuts but the same size), and have never regretted it for one second. Please post pics of your beautiful new ring if you have time!

 

[adlgel]

@MissGotRocks I’ve really struggled to take a picture that captures the sparkle I see every day when I look at my ring so forgive me for this being the best I have. The Tiffany pic is the inspiration I sent to David Klass for the new head to my existing engagement band.

 

[swingtime]

That diamond is gorgeous! Beautiful setting, as well

 

[MissGotRocks]

@adlgel - the diamond and the ring are just stunning! I think he brought to Tiffany head to your ring!