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Diamond Suggestions?

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SoulLong

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jul 5, 2021
Messages
8
Hi - hoping some of you can help me with finding a round brilliant diamond for an engagement ring. First time buying a diamond and I've done a bunch of research but I need helping making sure I don't buy a dud. I'm not looking for the best of the best, but I don't want the overpriced junk that stores like Zales and Kay sell. I don't need the Mercedes of diamonds, but maybe an Audi or Infiniti?

One question I have is with James Allen diamonds. I've been searching their website and seem to find a lot of nice (or what I think seem nice? I really have no idea) stones, but none of them have idealscope images when I ask customer service. How can I buy a well performing diamond from James Allen without having access to the idealscope? Is having an ideal cut, excellent symmetry, little to no fluorescence, "clean" GIA report and good specs (depth 61-63%, table 54-57%, crown 34-35%, pavilion 40.6-41% is what I've been using) good enough, or am I just rolling the dice if I don't have an idealscope?

I'm looking for something in the .81 - .89 carat range and have been told I should avoid J colored stones and go with H or I instead. Cut is much more important to me than color and am looking to save some money with clarity and stay in the VS1 to SI1 range. I don't have the biggest budget for a stone.. I'm looking to stay under $3750. Can anyone link me to some well performing diamonds in that range? Is this even realistic to find a stone like that under $3750.

Sorry for all the questions, but thanks everyone
 

Diamond | 0.811 ct I VS2 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4402606

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 0.811 carat I color VS2 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4402606
www.whiteflash.com

Here is a nice stone - hearts and arrows diamond within your price range. They have all of the images provided. I think you will have to ask JA for info on each diamond.

Another - https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4402606.htm
 
Thanks everyone.

Any opinions on this stone? I checked but there's no idealscope. Going with this stone and the shank I like from James Allen would save me about $500 compared to one of the stones + shank I like from Whiteflash. Is it good, very good, average, a dud? Or can we not tell without the idealscope?

www.jamesallen.com

0.83 Carat round diamond

This 0.83 carat round diamond H color vs2 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA
www.jamesallen.com www.jamesallen.com
 
SoulLong said:
Thanks everyone.

Any opinions on this stone? I checked but there's no idealscope. Going with this stone and the shank I like from James Allen would save me about $500 compared to one of the stones + shank I like from Whiteflash. Is it good, very good, average, a dud? Or can we not tell without the idealscope?

www.jamesallen.com

0.83 Carat round diamond

This 0.83 carat round diamond H color vs2 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA
www.jamesallen.com www.jamesallen.com
Click to expand...

From the face-up view, it looks very well cut and proportioned.

Do you have the GIA report number for this one?

We can take a look at all the measurements, proportions, and angles and provide analysis and feedback.
 
DejaWiz said:
From the face-up view, it looks very well cut and proportioned.

Do you have the GIA report number for this one?

We can take a look at all the measurements, proportions, and angles and provide analysis and feedback.
Click to expand...

Thanks DejaWiz

Looks like GIA report number is blocked out? Unless I am looking at the report incorrectly.

Are the specs on this one promising? And should I be worried about the twinning wisp in this particular case? Or can we not tell without the idealscope?



cert.jpeg
 
MissGotRocks said:

Diamond | 0.811 ct I VS2 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4402606

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 0.811 carat I color VS2 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4402606
www.whiteflash.com

Here is a nice stone - hearts and arrows diamond within your price range. They have all of the images provided. I think you will have to ask JA for info on each diamond.

Another - https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4402606.htm
Click to expand...

thank you!
 
SoulLong said:
Thanks DejaWiz

Looks like GIA report number is blocked out? Unless I am looking at the report incorrectly. Should I be worried about the twinning wisp since in this particular case? Or can we not tell without the idealscope?



cert.jpeg
Click to expand...

Those proportions are beautiful!

A twinning wisp can be problematic, depending on where it is located and the extent of it.

You may want to ask what the report number is so that you can check GIA's site to see if they have an inclusion plot map.

If you want to make the diamond process easy: the WF ACA choices *are* the Mercedes!

Depending on what metal color your setting is, don't necessarily shy away from a J color, since a true ideal cut diamond will face up white more often than not. You can pick out one or two J diamonds and ask WF to make you a comparison video of it/them next to the higher color grades that you are interested in.
 
Last edited:
DejaWiz said:
Those proportions are beautiful!

A twinning wisp can be problematic, depending on where it is located and the extent of it.

You may want to ask what the report number is so that you can check GIA's site to see if they have an inclusion plot map.

If you want to make the diamond process easy: the WF ACA choices *are* the Mercedes!
Click to expand...

No plot map on the version I have, but I am asking James Allen for it now. Thanks!
 
SoulLong said:
No plot map on the version I have, but I am asking James Allen for it now. Thanks!
Click to expand...

They said they don't have it. Disappointing.. seemed like it might have been a good choice.
 
SoulLong said:
They said they don't have it. Disappointing.. seemed like it might have been a good choice.
Click to expand...


I think it might still be!

The only thing that I can see in the magnified rotational video is this:

Screenshot_20210705-142147.png

Knowing full well that the plot map isn't available to make a definitive assessment: if that is extent of the conglomerate of smaller inclusions that make up the entirety of the twinning wisp, then I'd say it's absolutely fine. You do have a 100% postage-paid return policy (if you're in the USA) that can be utilized if you want to buy it and inspect it to be sure:

www.jamesallen.com

Hassle Free Returns | The James Allen Guarantee

Our hassle-free return policy allows you to return any item in its original, unworn condition within 30 days for a full refund or exchange - no questions asked.
www.jamesallen.com www.jamesallen.com
 
Thanks for all of the advice!

What about this diamond? It's listed as eye clean, but seems to have a lot of inclusions and the AGS report says additional clouds not shown. For all of you with a good eye.. should I expect to notice the inclusions on the diamond with my naked eye? Will there be an impact to it's sparkle or brilliance?

Diamond | 0.804 ct I VS2 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4383168

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 0.804 carat I color VS2 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4383168
www.whiteflash.com
 
SoulLong said:
Thanks for all of the advice!

What about this diamond? It's listed as eye clean, but seems to have a lot of inclusions and the AGS report says additional clouds not shown. For all of you with a good eye.. should I expect to notice the inclusions on the diamond with my naked eye? Will there be an impact to it's sparkle or brilliance?

Diamond | 0.804 ct I VS2 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4383168

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 0.804 carat I color VS2 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4383168
www.whiteflash.com
Click to expand...


That's a great choice! You shouldn't have to worry about the inclusions on a pre-vetted ACA diamond at VS2 and most of their SI1 clarity grades.
Nobody that will be casual viewing is likely to be able to see them.
You probably won't be able to see them unless you get your eyes very close (at least 6-10 inches away) and know what to look for and where to look...remember: you'll be trying to stare into a highly reflective object that is 6mm, or 0.236 inch, in diameter. :)

Here's a video of an ACA 0.864 G SI1 with comparable sized inclusions under the table, but it also has a feather under the crown out near the girdle:


Here's the link to the AGS report for the diamond in this video:

Here's the screenshot of the inclusion plot map from that report:

0864ACASI1PlotMap.png


Hopefully this gives you a better picture of how the 0.804 that you posted will look like during normal viewing.

That being said, I do realize that there is a distinct difference between "other people" and "you" - if you are OK with the inclusions being present and where they are located, then go for it. This is a beautiful ACA diamond.
If not, then it becomes a matter of you wanting a mind-clean diamond, which can be both a blessing (higher clarity grades become targeted) and a curse (the cost increases relative to carat weight and color) when searching for your perfect diamond.

Contact WF to have this diamond put on hold, then request that they send you all sorts of pictures from varying distances, angles, and lighting, both as a loose diamond and in a mock-up setting. I think you'll be pleasantly satisfied by what your eyes tell you and with their customer service.
 
To answer your question, the idea behind getting an idealscope (or other advanced images) is to provide confidence about the purchase.

Take the JA stone you shared. Slight asymmetry in the arrows which tells me it won’t qualify as a H&A stone. I actually like the proportions with the 35.5 crown and 40.6 pavilion and 56 table. The personality will be firey with a little sacrifice of white light return.

Where it gets more tricky is lab reports in general condense 8 actual crown and 8 actual pavilion angles down to a single value for each. With GIA, this means they average the 8 actual and then round crowns to the nearest 0.5 degree and pavilions to the nearest 0.2 degree. We call this “GIA gross rounding”.

FYI, AGS averages but doesn’t do the funky rounding. Hence why In their reports you may see 35.1 crown and 40.7 pavilion. More precision.

Tying this back to the idealscope. That 35.5 crown likely has actual values above and below 35.5. Similar effect with the pavilion. What matters is how the ACTUAL crown and pavilion angles align with each other. The idealscope will graphically show us when those angles get out of whack by showing leakage (light pink or white).

In addition to leakage, there is also obstruction. This is where the diamond looks great from further away but as your body and head blocks light it darkens more than normal. Slipping below 40.45 actual pavilion can intensify obstruction. And even a little obstruction may be okay. It depends how badly it gets.

If you buy from a vendor that doesn’t offer advanced images, you can buy your own scope and test the stone at home. Just be familiar with the return policy and okay with sending back if it doesn’t check out thoroughly.

I know you mentioned there is a $500 difference between WF and JA. I think WF offers $100-200 off for signing up for emails. Also, if you use a bank wire (transfer) in lieu of credit card, that can kick another 3% your way. Perhaps the bigger benefit is getting “the Mercedes” for not much more.

Also, if you ever think you may upgrade WF has a better upgrade policy. JA requires you spend 2x the original amount. WF makes you spend $1 more and has no other strings. So if you wanted to walk on the wild side and go for a larger J stone but then decided it was too tinted, you could swap for a smaller H stone that was near identical value. Maybe in a few years you get a couple thousand bonus and want to upgrade size a bit, you can do so. My point is you have options and control of the situation. With JA you simply don’t have that ease and flexibility. Of course, if you never ever upgrade then it’s a moot point.
 
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