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Help needed choosing between 3 princess cut diamonds

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augenbraunj

Rough_Rock
Joined
Dec 21, 2012
Messages
18
I've been very impressed with everyone's knowledge here, and could really use some help. I have the following 3 diamonds on hold and have no idea on how to choose between them. Could I get some opinions on these?

Diamond 1: 1.51ct G-VS2 "Ideal cut" $12,050 w/pricescope discount
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1535538.asp
James Allen's Gemologist looked at the diamond and said: "I'm pleased to let you know that diamond 1535538 (1.51crt G VS2) has great fire, brilliance, and scintillation! It's exceptionally bright and its performance is consistently strong throughout the diamond. It has a true "G" color, an excellent cut, and faces up completely eye clean."
1535538aset.jpg

Diamond 2: 1.40ct G-VS2 "Ideal cut" $9,470 w/pricescope discount
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1537128.asp
James Allen reports: "Diamond 1537128 (1.40crt G VS2) is very bright as well and has comparable light performance to diamond 1535538, but the gemologist felt that its performance isn't quite as consistent. It is also eye clean and has a true "G" color."
1537128aset.jpg

Diamond 3: 1.504ct G-SI1 AGS 0 ideal cut $11,193 w/pricescope discount
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-2862810.htm
WF's gemologist tells me that this diamond is eye clean and is stunning.
whiteflash_diamond.jpg

My gf and I really would like the best light performance possible, and are happy with any clarity grade as long as it's eye clean, which all 3 of these are. We prefer JA because it's easier to get the setting we want from them.

JA recommended diamond 1 over diamond 2 because of the light performance. It's quite a price difference though, for only a small difference in size. The JA rep felt that the WF diamond was overpriced, and didn't think AGS 0 had any value over GIA excellent cut (is there such a thing?? I thought GIA didn't rate cut for fancy shaped diamonds).

I'm confused. Please lead me out of the darkness!

- Joe
 
I would personally pick the WF one. Those ACA cuts you cant go wrong with and its 2k cheaper than the one JA recommended. What is the setting you were looking at?
 
Actually I made a mistake when I wrote the price ... diamond #1 is $11,250. It is almost identical in price to the WF one. I agree with you that the AGS 0 rating makes it hard to go wrong. But the gemologist looked at #1 and seemed to think that it's a spectacular stone.

We want an exact replica of the 2mm wide Tiffany & Co solitaire. That setting is a very simple 2mm knife-edge with V-tip prongs. You would think that any Tiffany replica would be exactly that, but they're usually wider than 2mm, often not knife-edge, and I have yet to see one with V-tip prongs.

- Joe
 
You're right that GIA does not grade fancy cuts, though in my not expert opinion it does look like a nice stone. Do you prefer that faceting of one over the others?
 
Christina...|1356785144|3342174 said:
You're right that GIA does not grade fancy cuts, though in my not expert opinion it does look like a nice stone. Do you prefer that faceting of one over the others?
Click to expand...
I see that the faceting is different for the different stones, but I'm not sure why I should prefer one over another. Christina, would you have a preference?

- Joe
 
When I look at the ASETs, my understanding is that red is best, and that black is worst (lost light). By that criteria diamond 3 should be the best by far, then diamond 2, then diamond 1. But the JA gemologist said #1 is better than #2, and no one is jumping up and down saying that #3 is the clear winner. Why?
 
To be honest, I'm not really fond of any of your choices.

#1 - I don't like the dimensions, but again that's my preference. I prefer a princess cut to be as square as possible.
#2 - I don't like the faceting pattern.
#3 - I also don't like the faceting pattern on this one but if I had to pick one of the three this would be my choice as it has nice fire.
 
two_little_birds|1356800173|3342263 said:
To be honest, I'm not really fond of any of your choices.

#1 - I don't like the dimensions, but again that's my preference. I prefer a princess cut to be as square as possible.
#2 - I don't like the faceting pattern.
#3 - I also don't like the faceting pattern on this one but if I had to pick one of the three this would be my choice as it has nice fire.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much -- I am learning a lot. What is it about the faceting that you don't like? Is it the small table? I can always go back and pick another, I'm not limited to these 3. Is there a stone you like?

- Joe
 
I don't like the faceting pattern, large table, off-square shape, and chevron-shaped leakage on #1 and am really surprised the gemologist said it had better light performance than 2. 2 has an ASET I clearly prefer over 1. Given the choices and the gemologist's comments, I'd go with the Whiteflash one for sure. I own an ACA princess, and these are some of the most beautifully cut princesses out there. I do think it's the clear winner of the 3, and I love the faceting pattern, but was kind of hoping 2 would have gotten a better review because you want to buy from JA.

AGS0 in princess cuts IMO is a huge deal. It's the only way of ensuring you have a diamond with great light performance sight unseen. Photos an ASETs help, but ultimately having that ideal grade is incredibly reassuring. I trust AGS way more than I trust my own eyes or even a professional's because grading is done in a controlled environment. It's true that AGS is the only lab that grades cut quality on a princess. They may have been referring to excellent polish and symmetry only, which other labs grade, but not light performance.
 
I'm not sure that JA will, but have you considered asking them if they would send the setting to WF for setting? Some vendors require that you purchase the stone from them in order to purchase the setting, I'm not sure about JA. However it is easier to purchase both the setting and diamond from the same vendor, but if you are determined to purchase the JA setting this might be a solution.
 
Christina...|1356819002|3342428 said:
I'm not sure that JA will, but have you considered asking them if they would send the setting to WF for setting? Some vendors require that you purchase the stone from them in order to purchase the setting, I'm not sure about JA. However it is easier to purchase both the setting and diamond from the same vendor, but if you are determined to purchase the JA setting this might be a solution.
Click to expand...
I think WF is a large full-service jewelry store in Houston. They should be able to make what we want, it's not that complicated. It's just that I had already worked it all out with JA, I'm starting from scratch with WF.
 
The WF one is the better choice. AGS 0, squarer than the others, larger than the 1.4, and cheaper than the other 1.51
 
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