Help! Advice on my 1st purchase please: 1.8 ct/I/VS2/HCA 1.1

[cacky]

Hi All,

Thanks for taking time to read my post. I've been an avid reader of PriceScope for a while, trying to soak up as much great info from so many of you fellow members! This is my first post and also potentially my first diamond purchase, so I'd really appreciate any candid advice you could offer. Please be brutally honest - this diamond shopping process has been educational yet pretty intimidating.

I'm looking to purchase an engagement ring for my girlfriend. I'd appreciate candid insights on the following:

(1) Generally, do you think this is a good deal?
(2) Given the VS2 clarity per GIA, what concerns (if any) would you have about feathers/crystals/pinpoints that are noted in the GIA reference diagram? Can I glean anything useful from the diagram, without seeing the diamond in person or an Idealscope image?
(3) I was hoping to get a 2 carat stone, but given my budget, this particular diamond seemed to have other attributes besides size that appealed to me. How noticeable is the difference between a 2 carat vs 1.8 carat? Are there any qualities here that I should consider sacrificing to get a slightly bigger rock?
(4) If there are any qualities here that are "deal-breakers," what should I look for in an alternative diamond option?

Measurements: Round, 7.88 - 7.92 x 4.75mm
Weight: 1.8 carats
Color: I
Clarity: VS2
Cut: Excellent
HCA: 1.1-EX

Cut / Symmetry / Polish: All excellent
Depth: 60.0%
Table: 59.0%
Crown Height: 13.0%
Fluorescence, Culet: None
Girdle: Medium to Slightly Thick (faceted), 3.5%
Crown angle: 32.5 degrees
Pavilion angle: 41 degrees
Pavilion depth: 43.5%

Price: $15,000



* Per GIA report, additional clouds not shown; pinpoints not shown

THANK YOU!

 

[Stive85]

Re: Help! Advice on my 1st purchase please: 1.8 ct/I/VS2/HCA

Hi All,

Thanks for taking time to read my post. I've been an avid reader of PriceScope for a while, trying to soak up as much great info from so many of you fellow members! This is my first post and also potentially my first diamond purchase, so I'd really appreciate any advice you could offer. Please be as candid as possible in your feedback -- this diamond shopping process has been educational yet pretty intimidating!

I'm looking to purchase an engagement ring for my girlfriend. I'd appreciate all candid insights as the following:

(1) Generally do you think this is a good deal?
(2) Given the VS2 clarity, what concerns (if any) would you have about feathers/crystals/pinpoints that are noted in the GIA graphic? Can I glean anything from the chart without seeing the diamond in person?
(3) I was hoping to get a 2 carat stone, but given my budget, this particular stone seemed to have other attributes besides size that appealed to me. How noticeable is the difference between a 2 carat vs 1.8 carat?
(4) If there are any qualities here that are "deal-breakers," what should I look for in an alternative diamond option?

Measurements: Round, 7.88 - 7.92 x 4.75mm
Weight: 1.8 carats
Color: I
Clarity: VS2
Cut: Excellent
HCA: 1.1-EX

Depth: 60.0%
Table: 59.0%
Cut / Symmetry / Polish: All excellent
Fluorescence, Culet: None
Girdle: Medium to Slightly Thick
Crown angle: 32.5 degrees
Pavilion angle: 41 degrees
Pavilion depth: 43.5%

Price: $15,000



* Additional clouds not shown; pinpoints not shown (per report)

THANK YOU!

Hey! Congrats on your decision. Your stone is a 60/60 class stone. Nothing wrong with it at all, just a unique
Style. I personally love them as they show lots of flashy white light return compared to a tolk which has more colourful light, but not as blinding.

The crown angle is a bit low I think. You shopping online? What lab grades it?

 

[OECsareforLovers]

Re: Help! Advice on my 1st purchase please: 1.8 ct/I/VS2/HCA

I'm not sure about your other questions, but you can use this link to compare 1.8 and 2ct diamonds.

http://www.diamdb.com/compare/1.8ct-round-7.88x7.92x4.75-vs-2ct-round-8.16x8.02x4.91/

I already put in your specs as well as the specs from a JA stone of similar depth (http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/2.00-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-sku-53301). Going up to 2ct would only give you a 5% increase in surface area. I've read before that people say its worth the increase if you get 10% more in surface area, but I'm not sure what they would say in this case.

 

[cacky]

Re: Help! Advice on my 1st purchase please: 1.8 ct/I/VS2/HCA

Stive85, thanks for your quick response and well wishes. This is the one I had planned to buy online, but nothing's set in stone (no pun intended) till I get feedback from the PriceScope crowd! This is graded by GIA. I didn't intentionally seek out a 60/60 diamond; it just came up when I was searching for various parameters including HCA/cut, carat, clarity, and so forth. I haven't seen the diamond in person and mostly am worried about the inclusions being worse than expected, in case GIA fell asleep at the wheel while grading clarity, etc. I thought by going VS2 instead of SI1, that might help mitigate some concerns, but as a rookie I didn't want to presume too much...

OECsareforLovers -- thanks for that link. Very helpful. I'd love to get something bigger, albeit it would cost another ~$3,000 to go from 1.8 ct to 2.0 ct. The 5% delta in surface area doesn't seem much; I could be wrong though.

 

[proto]

Re: Help! Advice on my 1st purchase please: 1.8 ct/I/VS2/HCA

what setting are you planning on using?

what metal are you planning on using?

 

[Stive85]

Re: Help! Advice on my 1st purchase please: 1.8 ct/I/VS2/HCA

Stive85, thanks for your quick response and well wishes. This is the one I had planned to buy online, but nothing's set in stone (no pun intended) till I get feedback from the PriceScope crowd! This is graded by GIA. I didn't intentionally seek out a 60/60 diamond; it just came up when I was searching for various parameters including HCA/cut, carat, clarity, and so forth. I haven't seen the diamond in person and mostly am worried about the inclusions being worse than expected, in case GIA fell asleep at the wheel while grading clarity, etc. I thought by going VS2 instead of SI1, that might help mitigate some concerns, but as a rookie I didn't want to presume too much...

OECsareforLovers -- thanks for that link. Very helpful. I'd love to get something bigger, albeit it would cost another ~$3,000 to go from 1.8 ct to 2.0 ct. The 5% delta in surface area doesn't seem much; I could be wrong though.

It should be ok. Where are you buying? 60/60 usually face up larger too.

You won't Noitce a big difference in size. Buy what you can afford.

 

[cacky]

Re: Help! Advice on my 1st purchase please: 1.8 ct/I/VS2/HCA

proto -- I was thinking a standard classic six-prong solitaire setting in platinum. Does this make a difference regarding the stone selection?

Stive85 -- thanks, I found this listing on Pricescope search results. Did you have any concerns about the inclusions, e.g. feathers/crystals/pinpoints despite this being a GIA VS2 clarity?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: Help! Advice on my 1st purchase please: 1.8 ct/I/VS2/HCA

I don't really care for a crown angle that low as 34-35 is more typical for ideal cut stones. I also like a table smaller than 59, but it's okay if you like it. You need to post an idealscope image of the stone you posted for us to give meaningful input, though.

I would spend a little more ($16,682) and get a top quality H&A cut diamond:

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3059432.htm?source=pricescope

 

[cacky]

Re: Help! Advice on my 1st purchase please: 1.8 ct/I/VS2/HCA

diamondseeker2006, thanks for your follow up. May I ask whether you think this diamond here is a better option? It scores an HCA 2.4 (which is above than the < 2 "cut-off"), but the table and crown angle seem to be more aligned with what you had recommended. I'd value advice from you or anyone else that has an opinion. Thanks.

http://images.b2cjewels.com/Images//Certificate//4433636.pdf

 

[JulieN]

Re: Help! Advice on my 1st purchase please: 1.8 ct/I/VS2/HCA

35/41 is usually just fine

 

[luvdajules]

Re: Help! Advice on my 1st purchase please: 1.8 ct/I/VS2/HCA

Just wanted to second the WF ACA diamondseeker linked. It's guaranteed to be gorgeous and WF has beautiful settings and great overall policies for lifetime upgrades, etc. The one you picked out should be good pick too from B2C.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Re: Help! Advice on my 1st purchase please: 1.8 ct/I/VS2/HCA

I don't really care for a crown angle that low as 34-35 is more typical for ideal cut stones. I also like a table smaller than 59, but it's okay if you like it. You need to post an idealscope image of the stone you posted for us to give meaningful input, though.

I would spend a little more ($16,682) and get a top quality H&A cut diamond:

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3059432.htm?source=pricescope

Very nice!...

 

[cacky]

Re: Help! Advice on my 1st purchase please: 1.8 ct/I/VS2/HCA

Thanks all, I'm going to think more about that WhiteFlash diamond and considering springing for the extra $1.5K. But if you had to choose between the diamond in my original post and this one here, HCA 2.4 (http://images.b2cjewels.com/Images//Certificate//4433636.pdf), which would you pick?

Thank you again for all the help in trying to arrive at an informed decision.

 

[cacky]

Re: Help! Advice on my 1st purchase please: 1.8 ct/I/VS2/HCA

Hi All -- I appreciate the recommendations on that WhiteFlash diamond mentioned above, which I'm contemplating seriously. I also found one other diamond with the following specs and images. Can you please let me know your thoughts? I'm going to pick one of the two. Here are the details, per the GIA report:

Carat: 1.80
Measurements: 7.84x7.87x4.84
Cut: Excellent
Color: I
Clarity: VS2
Depth: 61.6%
Table: 55%
Polish & Symmetry: Excellent
Girdle: Thin to Medium
Culet and Fluorescence: None

As you can see in the following images, there are some crystals / feathers / needles. However, since I have not seen the stone in person, I don't know how visible these are -- is it possible it isn't eye-clean despite being VS2? I trust the recommendations of anyone here that may have more experience looking at these images. Thanks for all the time-sensitive help.

 

[Lorelei]

Re: Help! Advice on my 1st purchase please: 1.8 ct/I/VS2/HCA

From the images, it looks to be a fantastic stone, could you post the report number please or a link to the report so we can see all the proportions? VS2 is '' usually'' eye clean to many in that size but it never hurts to check that a diamond is in fact eye clean to your specifications. WF will be happy to do this and inspect the diamond to discuss it with you. Contact them for their opinion.

Also, just to point out you can't judge whether a diamond is eye clean or not from images, the only way ascertain if it is eye clean to your specifications or not and you haven't seen the stone in person, is to check with the vendor and make your expectations clear concerning this.

 

[cacky]

Re: Help! Advice on my 1st purchase please: 1.8 ct/I/VS2/HCA

Lorelei, thanks for your quick response. Just to recap, both diamonds I'm thinking about are ~1.8ct/I/VS2, and the price spread is narrow enough so as not to be a consideration.

Diamond #1: Here is the WF diamond (AGS) "A Cut Above" that I was contemplating, and which diamondseeker2006 had given me the heads up about:

http://www.agslab.com/pdf_sync_reports/104069784005-PGRH.PDF
http://www.whiteflash.com/jewelry/thumbnail.ashx?itemcode=sarin_ags-104069784005.jpg&type=sarin

Diamond #2: It's the one I described above and had posted the ASET/IdealScope pics for. This isn't from WhiteFlash but I did speak with WhiteFlash about this particular diamond. They said that the specifications all looked good, was probably a nice stone, but had some concerns about the crystals/"dark spots" which they encouraged me to see the item in person. This one is GIA (#1156963861), whereas the previous was AGS.

http://www.gia.edu/cs/Satellite?reportno=1156963861&childpagename=GIA%2FPage%2FReportCheck&pagename=GIA%2FDispatcher&c=Page&cid=1355954554547

The best solution for me is just to see Diamond #2 in hand, but I'm wondering if any of you would make a decision one way or the other based on the information you have. It's an important decision for me, but I also don't want to inconvenience the seller of #2 if I can help it.

 

[Lorelei]

Re: Help! Advice on my 1st purchase please: 1.8 ct/I/VS2/HCA

Lorelei, thanks for your quick response. Just to recap, both diamonds I'm thinking about are ~1.8ct/I/VS2, and the price spread is narrow enough so as not to be a consideration.

Diamond #1: Here is the WF diamond (AGS) "A Cut Above" that I was contemplating, and which diamondseeker2006 had given me the heads up about:

http://www.agslab.com/pdf_sync_reports/104069784005-PGRH.PDF
http://www.whiteflash.com/jewelry/thumbnail.ashx?itemcode=sarin_ags-104069784005.jpg&type=sarin

Diamond #2: It's the one I described above and had posted the ASET/IdealScope pics for. This isn't from WhiteFlash but I did speak with WhiteFlash about this particular diamond. They said that the specifications all looked good, was probably a nice stone, but had some concerns about the crystals/"dark spots" which they encouraged me to see the item in person. This one is GIA (#1156963861), whereas the previous was AGS.

http://www.gia.edu/cs/Satellite?reportno=1156963861&childpagename=GIA%2FPage%2FReportCheck&pagename=GIA%2FDispatcher&c=Page&cid=1355954554547

The best solution for me is just to see Diamond #2 in hand, but I'm wondering if any of you would make a decision one way or the other based on the information you have. It's an important decision for me, but I also don't want to inconvenience the seller of #2 if I can help it.

You are most welcome.

I understand where you are coming from but I wouldn't worry about inconveniencing the seller of No 2 with a purchase of this magnitude. With VS2 of this size as I mentioned above, those are '' usually'' eye clean to most, but of course there are exceptions and this is a sizeable rock.

If it were me, I would ask the vendor of the second diamond to inspect the stone for you to see if it matches your specifications of ' eye cleanliness.' For example, if you don't want to see any visible inclusions from any angle or distance, in any lighting, then make sure the vendor knows that so they can be as honest as possible with you. Depending if this is a house inventory diamond, then it might not take the vendor much effort at all to obtain the stone and check it out for you. If not and it was a stone called in for analysis, it also might not take much effort on the vendor's part to perform this important inspection.

So what I would consider is -

-price
-whether you want a branded h&a cut or not
- compare any after sales benefits each vendor offers such as lifetime trade up, guaranteed buyback and so forth
-colour, clarity, carat preferences
-whether the second diamond is eye clean to you or not

I hope this gives some useful food for thought when trying to decide.

 

[Lorelei]

Re: Help! Advice on my 1st purchase please: 1.8 ct/I/VS2/HCA

I just had a look at the WF ACA Our Seeker posted above and it says it's sold, do you have that diamond on hold?

 

[cacky]

Re: Help! Advice on my 1st purchase please: 1.8 ct/I/VS2/HCA

Yes Lorelei, that's correct. Also price isn't a big factor since feel the prices are close enough such that I just want to go for the better quality, unless the advantage of the WF piece is negligible. For the considerations youmentioned, I know enough now to give the WF piece the edge, but I am not knowledgeable enough to know how big that edge should be. But based on the feedback I have gotten from you and others, I'm leaning towards the WF piece.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Re: Help! Advice on my 1st purchase please: 1.8 ct/I/VS2/HCA

http://www.gia.edu/cs/Satellite?reportno=1156963861&childpagename=GIA%2FPage%2FReportCheck&pagename=GIA%2FDispatcher&c=Page&cid=1355954554547

The best solution for me is just to see Diamond #2 in hand, but I'm wondering if any of you would make a decision one way or the other based on the information you have. It's an important decision for me, but I also don't want to inconvenience the seller of #2 if I can help it.

Based on the specs the GIA stone is very nice too, but may not be a H&A stone if that's what you are looking for.

 

[Lorelei]

Re: Help! Advice on my 1st purchase please: 1.8 ct/I/VS2/HCA

Yes Lorelei, that's correct. Also price isn't a big factor since feel the prices are close enough such that I just want to go for the better quality, unless the advantage of the WF piece is negligible. For the considerations youmentioned, I know enough now to give the WF piece the edge, but I am not knowledgeable enough to know how big that edge should be. But based on the feedback I have gotten from you and others, I'm leaning towards the WF piece.

Ok good, had me going there for a minute...

It's hard to know what is going to be the best choice for the individual, so let's see if we can give you some other points to consider. The WF ACA is going to be among the most beautiful diamonds you can find, further, it has been cut to such precise proportions and standards to be among the few ' true' hearts and arrows diamonds in the world, plus it has the AGS0 cut grade to boot. You really cannot go wrong, it's going to be stunning and offer a superb visual balance of fire, brilliance, scintillation and all the other magical things diamonds do. It is being sold from a vendor that has a top notch reputation and various after sales benefits such as lifetime upgrade and so on. WF also produce beautiful jewellery pieces crafted to exacting standards and it doesn't hurt that they are great to deal with too. If you feel you would really love to have the whole h&a package from a trusted vendor, you won't go wrong.

The other diamond is also a very fine stone, doubtful it is cut to the same precision as the ACA as it isn't being sold as h&a as far as I am aware. It has a GIA grading report and cut grade Excellent instead of the AGS0, we don't know what vendor it is with and what aftersales benefits they offer, that's not to say the vendor does not offer a good benefits package, but we don't know as much about this vendor or the diamond as we do the ACA.

I hope the above gives you a few more points to ponder.

 

[cacky]

Re: Help! Advice on my 1st purchase please: 1.8 ct/I/VS2/HCA

Lorelei and Dancing Fire, thanks for all the thoughts. Lorelei, as I think about all the points you mentioned, it sounds to me that the 2nd diamond is quite good but the WF diamond is unambiguously better. And since I'm comfortable with paying a slight premium for it, perhaps the WF diamond is the best bet. In other words, it seems like I can't go wrong with the WF diamond as long as I'm comfortable with the price point (which I am).

 

[Lorelei]

Re: Help! Advice on my 1st purchase please: 1.8 ct/I/VS2/HCA

Lorelei and Dancing Fire, thanks for all the thoughts. Lorelei, as I think about all the points you mentioned, it sounds to me that the 2nd diamond is quite good but the WF diamond is unambiguously better. And since I'm comfortable with paying a slight premium for it, perhaps the WF diamond is the best bet. In other words, it seems like I can't go wrong with the WF diamond as long as I'm comfortable with the price point (which I am).

You are most welcome. I am glad the comments in this thread are helping you to reach a decision, please let us know what happens. You have two very fine stones to choose from, now it's a case of weighing up the merits of each as mentioned above and to include vendor after sales benefits and their various t&c. Best of luck and keep us posted.

 

[luvdajules]

Re: Help! Advice on my 1st purchase please: 1.8 ct/I/VS2/HCA

How are you going to set your stone? WF has some very nice solitaire options, sleek legato is a fav.

 

[cacky]

Re: Help! Advice on my 1st purchase please: 1.8 ct/I/VS2/HCA

luvdajules -- I guess I should have asked this earlier too, but I was just going to go with the classic platinum six-prong as the girlfriend wanted a Tiffany-style setting...

 

[luvdajules]

Re: Help! Advice on my 1st purchase please: 1.8 ct/I/VS2/HCA

I just took a look at the 6 prong solitaire setting, very nice and classy. Please come back with your reaction to the WF stone and maybe some hand shots, pleasy please

 

[Dancing Fire]

Re: Help! Advice on my 1st purchase please: 1.8 ct/I/VS2/HCA

luvdajules -- I guess I should have asked this earlier too, but I was just going to go with the classic platinum six-prong as the girlfriend wanted a Tiffany-style setting...

She'll love it!