AGS "light performance" rating vs ASET image, seeking advice regarding loose diamond for engagement

[jfleming3]

Hey everyone, I recently found this site and have been reading through posts for hours due to the wealth of quality information, thanks in advance for any replies! I've spent the past few months researching for an engagement ring. I visited a well reputed local jeweler and selected the following stone however have not committed to the purchase. Their asking price is approximately $22,000. I reviewed the diamond and it looked great in person however am now having second thoughts because I realize they use special lighting in store and practically all of the loose stones they showed me looked incredible to my untrained, inexperienced eye. Upon reviewing the ASET image I realize it isn't nearly close to a hearts and arrows diamond however for "brightness" "fire" and "contrast" on the AGS report it received the highest score. What gives? Should I be concerned about the deviation from hearts and arrows or is something about the geometry of this stone compensating? What about the lower marks for polish and symmetry? Is this a great diamond for the price or should I continue looking?

 

[LLJsmom]

I would pass. It’s great that the jeweler offered AGS stones but hold out for at least a AGS 000.
There is a painful amount of leakage and you could do better without any regard to the price.

 

[flyingpig]

You see these kinds of stones making AGS0 time to time. Plus, this is a cloudu and milky stone. Keep looking.

 

[Karl_K]

There are some ags0 LP stones that I would not buy and this is one of them.
41.6 pavilion is going to lead to color entrapment and the basic combo is bleh.
HCA score is 4.

 

[Crazie4Cuts]

Have you looked at online vendors? Use the Resources tab on top of this site and use the Diamond search tool. You’ll be able to locate diamonds that are AGS 000 in house such as WhiteFlash,HPD, Brian Galvin, etc.. you have a pretty sizable budget and can do better than the diamond at your local jeweler. Or if you still want to go that route, you can provide the specs like the ones that the in house vendors have.

 

[tyty333]

For that price, you can have a Super Ideal (AGS000 H&A with excellent trade-up policy)

Diamond | 2.068 ct G SI1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4107634

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 2.068 carat G color SI1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4107634

www.whiteflash.com

Diamond | 2.105 ct H SI1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4305838

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 2.105 carat H color SI1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4305838

www.whiteflash.com

 

[OoohShiny]

There are some ags0 LP stones that I would not buy and this is one of them.
41.6 pavilion is going to lead to color entrapment and the basic combo is bleh.
HCA score is 4.

And there was I thinking AGS000 meant not needing to use the HCA tool! lol

 

[LIGemzGal]

I agree with the others. This is a passable stone. You can certainly get something of substantially better all around performance given your budget.

 

[Karl_K]

And there was I thinking AGS000 meant not needing to use the HCA tool! lol

I have been arguing against saying that for years for this very reason.

 

[Victor Canera]

I think the consensus @jfleming3 is that you could do much better than this
Take a look at my avatar to see what a nice ASET scope image and hearts image should look like.

Good luck!

 

[flyingpig]

I have been arguing against saying that for years for this very reason.

I think such statement is from when AGS cut grading was proportion-based. However, it fails miserably for ray-tracing based grading.

 

[jfleming3]

Hey guys thanks everyone for the quality input! After some deliberating and further reading I realized how insanely overpriced the above diamond was. I ended up going with a 1.5c H/VS1 ACA diamond from whiteflash and saved some money on a far superior product...very happy I found this forum, can't wait to tell my soon to be fiance all about this months long journey