Blue Nile vs. White Flash

[AnnArbor_707]

Stone: Don''t know if you''re a guy or girl or even how you know so much, but thank you so much for helping me out. I literally can''t believe a stranger with no incentive as been so helpful!

That said, I just got off the phone with Brian, he recommended the first one, said the inclusions are invisible to the naked eye
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-1040375050001

I asked him about James Allen and he said that even their hearts and arrows are not perfect. He mentioned a few times his signature diamonds will perform better than any other diamond out there and he will guarantee it. I''m not going to lie, it means a lot hearing that from his mouth.

That said, before the call I was looking at those 2 James Allen''s you posted and starting to have second thoughts. My thinking now is, "will you REALLY be able to tell the difference in a BG signature H&A and a James Allen regular ideal?" Brian Gavin says yes. Is there any quantitative method to compare the two to understand whether I''d be able to tell the difference ?

The James Allen I''d lean toward of the 2 you recommended is http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1264188.asp mostly because it''s very similar in cost to the BG 1.22ct. I know i''ve asked this before, but any thoughts on that ?

 

[stone-cold11]

Guy.

There is no documented test or even theory on why a well cut H&A will perform better than a similar proportioned stone that is just not branded, slightly off optical symm or even with good optical symm but a different lower facet size that makes it non-H&A according to the general definition of a H&A (call modified H&A by GOG, they sell some of those with larger lower half and a deep cleft in the hearts image that result in it not a H&A by traditional definition).

Case by case. I would say BGD is making a very broad statement and if one and just one stone that is not branded H&A can perform better in the eyes of a customer, that statement is proven false. I think it is too much of a conflict of interest to to ask a seller of a branded H&A. Also, the power of mind clean, mental suggestion of a H&A being better can/will change perception.

The only way is to buy both, send to an appraiser and let him do a blind test for you and then see which you like better? :p

Get an idealscope image from JA of the stone if you are interested. It's free, if the stone is in NYC.

 

[slg47]

ditto stone, get an IS image of the JA stone.

As far as will a branded H&A outperform an ideal cut with good numbers, this has been debated. I am not an expert and am not sure what the answer is, but my novice understanding is that the difference between an ideal cut and a common/fair/cut for weight not for light performance diamond will be obvious to the layman. This has been documented in several videos by Rhino at GOG. As far as the difference between ideal cut with good #s and good idealscope image, I am not sure. This topic has been debated on PS a fair amount and I would be curious to hear what everyone has to say.

Anyway, I agree with Stone that this may be more of a mind-clean issue (without having personally compared). It really depends on what is most important to you, knowing you have a perfect H&A or knowing that you got a bigger size...there really is no right answer. An ideal cut from JA with a good IS image/good HCA score will certainly not be ''ugly'' by any means.

Also, I know that JA and BGD have different upgrade policies...is that something that is important to you? Just something to think about.