Advice on this stone

[Troutfisher]

Hello,
I’m a new member and was hoping for some experienced advise. I’m looking for a loose natural diamond to be mounted into an engagement ring. My gf has hinted very strongly that she doesn’t want a large stone. I’m thinking that I would get something between .68 to .75 in a high quality.
I’ve found this diamond online at James Allen and like it. What do the experts say and any suggestions for an alternative?

0.70 Carat round diamond

This 0.7 carat round diamond D color if clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

 

[Kim N]

Is there a cultural reason you've sought out a D IF stone?

James Allen's stones can be very nice, but cut is the most important C, and you can get a super ideal cut stone from other vendors such as Whiteflash, Victor Canera, or Brian Gavin Diamonds which will blow most stones from James Allen out of the water performance-wise. Whiteflash and Victor Canera also have very generous upgrade policies.

Here are some alternatives. At this size, a VS1 will be virtually indistinguishable from an IF stone to the naked eye.

Diamond | 0.810 ct F VVS1 Expert Selection Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4462529

This fabulous 0.810 carat Round Ideal cut diamond has a clarity grade of VVS1 and color grade of F.It is an excellent choice for engagement rings. | 4462529

www.whiteflash.com

Diamond | 0.723 ct F VS1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4494064

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 0.723 carat F color VS1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4494064

www.whiteflash.com

 

[lovedogs]

Agreed. D/IF is not necessary unless there is a cultural reason

 

[Troutfisher]

Is there a cultural reason you've sought out a D IF stone?

James Allen's stones can be very nice, but cut is the most important C, and you can get a super ideal cut stone from other vendors such as Whiteflash, Victor Canera, or Brian Gavin Diamonds which will blow most stones from James Allen out of the water performance-wise. Whiteflash and Victor Canera also have very generous upgrade policies.

Here are some alternatives. At this size, a VS1 will be virtually indistinguishable from an IF stone to the naked eye.

Diamond | 0.810 ct F VVS1 Expert Selection Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4462529

This fabulous 0.810 carat Round Ideal cut diamond has a clarity grade of VVS1 and color grade of F.It is an excellent choice for engagement rings. | 4462529

www.whiteflash.com

Diamond | 0.723 ct F VS1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4494064

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 0.723 carat F color VS1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4494064

www.whiteflash.com

Thanks for the reply Kim N.
I don’t have a culture reason for selecting a D/IF. Since my gf had requested to keep the diamond small I focused on searching for a very high quality stone based on my very limited knowledge. I read about the 4C’s and started there. James Allen was suggested in another forum called Bogleheads and that’s how I got started with them.
I did check the HCA on the James Allen diamond and it scored 1.9 so, that seemed within the excellent range. The Whitefish .81 stone that you linked had a HCA score of 1. Would this not suggest both diamonds would preform about the same?

 

[tyty333]

No, it would not suggest that both stones would perform the same. The WF stone is a Super Ideal ACA AGS000 (with Ideal
light performance), H&A. They have all the images (ASET, Idealscope, H&A) necessary to prove they are Ideal performers. WF
also stands behind its stones with an upgrade program (just spend a $1 more than the original cost). JA is 2x more. This
option may not ever be needed but its nice to have if/when your wife decides for an upgrade at 5 years or so. (did you know
diamonds shrink over time ).

The HCA tool is somewhat of a pass/fail tool. If a stone scores 2 or under the stone is worth a further look. Reguest ASET, Idealscope
and H&A (by the way the JA stone is not being sold as an H&A stone) for the JA stone and we can tell/show you the difference. BTW,
there really is no need to run an ACA through the HCA tool. They already have everything needed to prove they are performers.
We refer to these stones as Super Ideals The cut is really the most important spec when it comes to a stone.

 

[DejaWiz]

Thanks for the reply Kim N.
I don’t have a culture reason for selecting a D/IF. Since my gf had requested to keep the diamond small I focused on searching for a very high quality stone based on my very limited knowledge. I read about the 4C’s and started there. James Allen was suggested in another forum called Bogleheads and that’s how I got started with them.
I did check the HCA on the James Allen diamond and it scored 1.9 so, that seemed within the excellent range. The Whitefish .81 stone that you linked had a HCA score of 1. Would this not suggest both diamonds would preform about the same?

D IF is going to be overkill and drive the price up massively for most folks that don't have an inherent need for such color and clarity grades.
Please keep in mind that the 4Cs are separate from one another and not related to the overall optical performance of a diamond: it's possible to find a poorly proportioned D FL/IF (but still GIA 3X) that exhibits light leakage and will not be as brilliant or lively as a superbly proportioned F-G VVS-VS that will appear just as clean to the naked eye, but that D FL/IF is going to really tear the wallet apart just based on the extreme color and clarity grades...I speak from experience since I recently bought my wife an upgrade at the D VS2 grades, but I had to stick with such extreme color because she is hyper-sensitive to color (she was able to discern the difference between a GIA D and G in sunlight...made my wallet shed some tears).

Start your search at F-G VS1 and see what options pop up in your price realm.

 

[lovedogs]

No, it would not suggest that both stones would perform the same. The WF stone is a Super Ideal ACA AGS000 (with Ideal
light performance), H&A. They have all the images (ASET, Idealscope, H&A) necessary to prove they are Ideal performers. WF
also stands behind its stones with an upgrade program (just spend a $1 more than the original cost). JA is 2x more. This
option may not ever be needed but its nice to have if/when your wife decides for an upgrade at 5 years or so. (did you know
diamonds shrink over time ).

The HCA tool is somewhat of a pass/fail tool. If a stone scores 2 or under the stone is worth a further look. Reguest ASET, Idealscope
and H&A (by the way the JA stone is not being sold as an H&A stone) for the JA stone and we can tell/show you the difference. BTW,
there really is no need to run an ACA through the HCA tool. They already have everything needed to prove they are performers.
We refer to these stones as Super Ideals The cut is really the most important spec when it comes to a stone.

This

 

[Troutfisher]

This is some complicated stuff and I really appreciate the education. I think that I’m catching on and overcoming my GIA bias.
Now I’m looking at this stone. Does it get the passing grade? It appears to have the good stuff and comes in just under 3/4 carat. That size is my own interpretation to her request of “ don’t really want something big”. I’m not looking to get out as low cost as possible just trying to make her happy. I started out at a carat and she thinks that is to large.

Diamond | 0.723 ct F VVS1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4472184

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 0.723 carat F color VVS1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4472184

www.whiteflash.com

 

[DejaWiz]

This is some complicated stuff and I really appreciate the education. I think that I’m catching on and overcoming my GIA bias.
Now I’m looking at this stone. Does it get the passing grade? It appears to have the good stuff and comes in just under 3/4 carat. That size is my own interpretation to her request of “ don’t really want something big”. I’m not looking to get out as low cost as possible just trying to make her happy. I started out at a carat and she thinks that is to large.

Diamond | 0.723 ct F VVS1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4472184

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 0.723 carat F color VVS1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4472184

www.whiteflash.com

Check out this one...taller crown height which may add to the sparkle factor and a diameter difference which won't be humanly possible to discern.

Diamond | 0.708 ct F VVS1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4472203

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 0.708 carat F color VVS1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4472203

www.whiteflash.com

 

[tyty333]

What size finger does she have @Troutfisher ?

 

[Troutfisher]

What size finger does she have @Troutfisher ?

I think that it is 6 3/4 but I still need to verify that.

All of the help and suggestions on selecting a diamond is really appreciated.
After a long conversation with Whitefish this morning I decided to go with the suggestion of DejaWiz and purchased the .708. They told me several things about it that confirmed to me that this diamond would be exactly what I was looking for.
I will be having a ring custom made for the stone.