I or J diamond for an engagement ring?

[bunnycat]

That's a great setting... thank you for sending me the link... so now do I buy the diamond from James Allen and then have it set at Brian Gavin? Or just buy everything from Brian GAvin? This whole proposal business is a bit tricky, eh. Thank you for your help... all of you have been amazing! (Though I don't really understand some of the numbers and terms here). LOL

Well, I know BG will set other stones you send him, but honestly, for the price being nearly the same on the stones from him and the ones from JA, I know which way I'd go. Brian's stones are beautiful (Ive seen them in person), no rigamarole with inputting numbers and hoping the angles create a beauty. It's all been done for you...I know where my vote goes. Others may differ.

 

[cluelezz]

I'm now comparing the choices in Brian Gavin and James Allen to see which is more cost effective. Is there a difference with the diamonds between these two?

Again, thank you so much for your help. I'm learning a lot, but still a bit confused so it's taking me some time to go through all the options.

 

[JulieN]

Pick the setting first, whichever vendor is fine. Then you will know how much is left for the diamond.

BGD: guaranteed beauties, no guesswork.

JA: have to look for the beauties, takes a little bit of legwork. Prices usually cheaper.

 

[bunnycat]

I'm now comparing the choices in Brian Gavin and James Allen to see which is more cost effective. Is there a difference with the diamonds between these two?

Again, thank you so much for your help. I'm learning a lot, but still a bit confused so it's taking me some time to go through all the options.

The difference IMO is in consistency of cut. You know you will get an ideal cut with BG, and you can FIND (quite probably) On JA with a lot of searching a stone at/near ideal parameters with great performance, just be prepared for a lot more number crunching.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Okay, this one she linked is good if you are okay with the 60 table. Most people probably won't know the difference, but we are an ultra picky bunch! Upside to this stone is that it is 6.7mm in diameter, and trust me, that is better than 6.4mm.

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.11-carat-I-color-VS2-clarity-Excellent-cut-sku-173568

They really don't have many great I VS2's.

Brain Gavin is one of the most expensive vendors. I am not sure how that is going to work unless there happens to be a 1 ct I VS in the blue line.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

There's this one and that will be about it. I do like blue fluorescence in I color because it can make it look whiter.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.038-i-si1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104062571004

BUT, I also have to say that there is an advantage to buying GIA I color since they can be stricter on color than AGS.

 

[bunnycat]

Okay, this one she linked is good if you are okay with the 60 table. Most people probably won't know the difference, but we are an ultra picky bunch! Upside to this stone is that it is 6.7mm in diameter, and trust me, that is better than 6.4mm.

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.11-carat-I-color-VS2-clarity-Excellent-cut-sku-173568

They really don't have many great I VS2's.

Brain Gavin is one of the most expensive vendors. I am not sure how that is going to work unless there happens to be a 1 ct I VS in the blue line.

There's not in budget that I recall. I linked to an SI1, but I am not clarity sensitive. If it's eyeclean for me, it's mindclean for me. And honestly, I'm one of those that actually would find a small, inconspicuous (but findable) inclusion not a bad thing. Always helps me know it's MY stone.

OP- If you do look at more BGD stones, you do get a Pricesope discount, you just have to ask about it.

 

[bunnycat]

There's this one and that will be about it. I do like blue fluorescence in I color because it can make it look whiter.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.038-i-si1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104062571004

that's the one i linked to.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

There's this one and that will be about it. I do like blue fluorescence in I color because it can make it look whiter.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.038-i-si1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104062571004

that's the one i linked to.

I totally missed your post with those, because I thought he was looking at James Allen so those were the links I was checking out. I agree with you that the stones are top cut quality which I prefer, but with I color I prefer a GIA cert, and if I could get a VS2 for this same amount, I might go with a James Allen I VS2 for him since it is 6.7mm. Tough choice.

 

[bunnycat]

There's this one and that will be about it. I do like blue fluorescence in I color because it can make it look whiter.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.038-i-si1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104062571004

that's the one i linked to.

I totally missed your post with those, because I thought he was looking at James Allen so those were the links I was checking out. I agree with you that the stones are top cut quality which I prefer, but with I color I prefer a GIA cert, and if I could get a VS2 for this same amount, I might go with a James Allen I VS2 for him since it is 6.7mm. Tough choice.

Yeah- it's a tough call on that.

I don't know if this will be helpful or not, because this picture is very blurry. But I had an appt with Brian a few weeks ago as I was making some decisions about saving up for a large RB or large OEC and looked at the Blue line.

The stone in the halo is a H, the middle stone is an I with medium fluor and the stone on the right is a J with strong fluor (but it tipped away from me in the pic and I didn't notice and was running out of time).

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Did you pick out that setting because she showed it to you or were you just picking it out yourself?

Here is one that is so pretty on, and you could get it in platinum with the 6.7mm I VS2:

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/Engagement-Rings/Settings-With-Sidestones/Platinum-0.30ct-Common-Prong-Round-Shaped-Diamond-Engagement-Ring-item-1982

James Allen's ring selection, even though expanded, just doesn't have a lot of nice options, I am sorry to say.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

There's this one and that will be about it. I do like blue fluorescence in I color because it can make it look whiter.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.038-i-si1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104062571004

that's the one i linked to.

I totally missed your post with those, because I thought he was looking at James Allen so those were the links I was checking out. I agree with you that the stones are top cut quality which I prefer, but with I color I prefer a GIA cert, and if I could get a VS2 for this same amount, I might go with a James Allen I VS2 for him since it is 6.7mm. Tough choice.

Yeah- it's a tough call on that.

I don't know if this will be helpful or not, because this picture is very blurry. But I had an appt with Brian a few weeks ago as I was making some decisions about saving up for a large RB or large OEC and looked at the Blue line.

The stone in the halo is a H, the middle stone is an I with medium fluor and the stone on the right is a J with strong fluor (but it tipped away from me in the pic and I didn't notice and was running out of time).

Good picture showing color! That really shows the difference between and I and J. That was my recent experience with the AVR's. The J's were visibly tinted.

 

[bunnycat]

There's this one and that will be about it. I do like blue fluorescence in I color because it can make it look whiter.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.038-i-si1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104062571004

that's the one i linked to.

I totally missed your post with those, because I thought he was looking at James Allen so those were the links I was checking out. I agree with you that the stones are top cut quality which I prefer, but with I color I prefer a GIA cert, and if I could get a VS2 for this same amount, I might go with a James Allen I VS2 for him since it is 6.7mm. Tough choice.

Yeah- it's a tough call on that.

I don't know if this will be helpful or not, because this picture is very blurry. But I had an appt with Brian a few weeks ago as I was making some decisions about saving up for a large RB or large OEC and looked at the Blue line.

The stone in the halo is a H, the middle stone is an I with medium fluor and the stone on the right is a J with strong fluor (but it tipped away from me in the pic and I didn't notice and was running out of time).

Good picture showing color! That really shows the difference between and I and J. That was my recent experience with the AVR's. The J's were visibly tinted.

Yeah- I can go down to I, but that's as far as I can take it in a modern stone. I think I like 'em ALL in OEC's though!

 

[Niel]

i prefer brian gavin because i find there 3 stone settings nicer, and i think given just a little bit of time (though that one DS posted looks nice!) its not a lot more expensive, and considering your buying a WHOLE ring, its important to get the best stone AND best setting. and i really much prefer that grace 3 stone to any of the 3 stones on JA

 

[bunnycat]

i prefer brian gavin because i find there 3 stone settings nicer, and i think given just a little bit of time (though that one DS posted looks nice!) its not a lot more expensive, and considering your buying a WHOLE ring, its important to get the best stone AND best setting. and i really much prefer that grace 3 stone to any of the 3 stones on JA

ditto- that's a BEAUTIFUL ring!

 

[Niel]

i prefer brian gavin because i find there 3 stone settings nicer, and i think given just a little bit of time (though that one DS posted looks nice!) its not a lot more expensive, and considering your buying a WHOLE ring, its important to get the best stone AND best setting. and i really much prefer that grace 3 stone to any of the 3 stones on JA

ditto- that's a BEAUTIFUL ring!

id have that diamond reserved at BG just in case, would hate for it to be be gone if or when you decide on BG, with a PS discount that stone plus the grace should be right around 8k

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Are y'all talking about Grace 3 stone with pears? If so, I also love that setting!!!

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/three-stone/grace-3-stone-pears-18k-white-gold-5557w18

My only qualm is that I like that with a larger center stone more than with a 1 ct. But at least she has a pretty small finger.

 

[cluelezz]

Hi again!Sorry I wasn't able to reply to your posts right away. I'm leaning towards the grace setting by brian gavin. One time we were walking past a jewelry store and she was eyeing the 3 stone settings. She said that they were really elegant.

Is fluorescence a good or bad thing in a diamond? I noticed that the James Allen diamonds don't have or have faint fluorescence whereas Brian Gaving has a lot of it...

It's also a great pic that you posted, bastetcat! It really helps a lot... The I is rather white in there.

 

[Niel]

Hi again!Sorry I wasn't able to reply to your posts right away. I'm leaning towards the grace setting by brian gavin. One time we were walking past a jewelry store and she was eyeing the 3 stone settings. She said that they were really elegant.

Is fluorescence a good or bad thing in a diamond? I noticed that the James Allen diamonds don't have or have faint fluorescence whereas Brian Gaving has a lot of it...

It's also a great pic that you posted, bastetcat! It really helps a lot... The I is rather white in there.

As you can tell by my avatar i am pro-flour.

but really it can be a good OR a bad thing. what it is basically, is that under UV light it will have a glow to it, faint in most uv light, hardly noticeable in the sun, for instance, but say next to a blacl light, like my avatar is, it will glow blue. Now the reason it could be considered bad is because it CAN cause a diamond to look foggy or greasy in some cases (about 1%) now a few years ago a lot of flour stones (well not a lot but enough) were having that over blueing problem, so jewelers tried to avoid it, seeing it as an undesirable trait, though it really was only happening to a FEW flour stones. Kind of like one bad apple soils the whole bunch. So, that was a trait that was considered undesirable, right? Well heres where its a good thing. Because its considered undesirable, the rough is a little bit cheaper, and there for the stones that are produced from it are a little bit cheaper. Now, thats not the only reason its better. Stones with flour in the range you are looking at actually appear whiter. outdoors or in lights with uv in them, it helps the stone look just a bit (ive heard in some cases up to a shade) whiter, so that blue kind of fools the eye into seeing it with less tint.

now brian gavin saw the potential in this so he has that "blue" line. he is able to sell colors that are a tad lower with flour and people will buy them because that flour helps them look whiter, he vets them to make sure there are NO ill effects, just the positive ones.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

There seems to be a negative attitude about it maybe with some jewelers? It is a beautiful natural phenomenon! I think stones with it should cost more! My current diamond has strong blue fluorescence. I never see it unless I purposely shine a UV light on it for fun!

But here is some more info on it:

https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/diamond-flourescence

 

[cluelezz]

That's pretty interesting! It's all in the matter of taste and preference then... I'm actually having dinner with my gf later. I will try to get more information if she's really into the 3 stone ring setting or if she'd prefer the solitaire setting. If she goes with a solitaire, that could raise the budget for a nicer center diamond.

 

[Niel]

That's pretty interesting! It's all in the matter of taste and preference then... I'm actually having dinner with my gf later. I will try to get more information if she's really into the 3 stone ring setting or if she'd prefer the solitaire setting. If she goes with a solitaire, that could raise the budget for a nicer center diamond.

good,, but dont tip your hand, if you want her to be surprised! (imm hoping for the three stone ) so if you do go that route make sure to have the match the pears to the color of the center stone not that they are I pears and an I center, because pears hold a LOT more color, just have them make sure there isnt a visible color difference, because i have a feeling they might have to go downto H's.....

Your right you could have more toward the center stone, but i think with her size finger a 1ct with pear sides is going to have SOOO much finger coverage.... so just keep that in mind. But yes, do a little bit of investigation for us lol

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Those 20 pointers are small , though, so they are more like accent stones than if he was getting half carat round side stones. I would rather see him get a larger center and maybe later on they could add side stones. I think side pears are going to look better with a 1.5 ct center or higher.

 

[cluelezz]

yeah, that's what I thought looking at the pictures... the 3 stone MIGHT be a bit too much on her finger.. unless BG can get teeny tiny pear sidestones for a 4 1/2 finger! LOL

Thanks so much for your help! Will report when I have an update

 

[diamondseeker2006]

yeah, that's what I thought looking at the pictures... the 3 stone MIGHT be a bit too much on her finger.. unless BG can get teeny tiny pear sidestones for a 4 1/2 finger! LOL

Thanks so much for your help! Will report when I have an update

Nooooo, it will not be too big! I think .20's are small!!! I was saying that I thought that setting would look better with a larger center stone, but it in no way would be too big for her!

 

[Niel]

yeah, that's what I thought looking at the pictures... the 3 stone MIGHT be a bit too much on her finger.. unless BG can get teeny tiny pear sidestones for a 4 1/2 finger! LOL

Thanks so much for your help! Will report when I have an update

Nooooo, it will not be too big! I think .20's are small!!! I was saying that I thought that setting would look better with a larger center stone, but it in no way would be too big for her!

No no I don't think they would look too big or small. I think they would look just right hahaha. Im the middle in the group

Go back and look at that link and scroll down the photos I think the last one is more of your 1ct size. That would be a good representstion. And yeah pears are small at 20 points but they are still long and will make a visual impact

 

[bunnycat]

I think it will be beautiful at that size! Very elegant! Especially on small fingers.

A lot of guys seem to get nervous and think a ring provides too much coverage and I think most girls would go " " at that thought. Seriously- the ring will be lovely at that size. I haven't looked at the sample pics yet but am headed that way.

 

[cluelezz]

Ok, just an update from last night. We passed by a Tiffany's store last night and I asked her if she wanted to go inside... I made up an excuse that my sister wanted something from there and I'd probably get it for her bday.

As I subtly pushed her to the engagement rings section... I noticed that she was looking at the classic Tiffany setting. I casually mentioned if she liked them and she said, yes... then pointed to the 3 stone ones and said that she likes those too!

Ok, as a guy, asking you ladies... can you decode girl language for me? I'm really tempted to just ask her flat out what she likes.

Oh, she was also looking at the rings which looked 1 carat above... even with the side stones. My girl has expensive taste! Will she be bothered by the color (I or J) then if she's likes them big and sparkly?

 

[JulieN]

Tiffany carries I color.

 

[ariel144]

That's a great setting... thank you for sending me the link... so now do I buy the diamond from James Allen and then have it set at Brian Gavin? Or just buy everything from Brian GAvin? This whole proposal business is a bit tricky, eh. Thank you for your help... all of you have been amazing! (Though I don't really understand some of the numbers and terms here). LOL

Well, I know BG will set other stones you send him, but honestly, for the price being nearly the same on the stones from him and the ones from JA, I know which way I'd go. Brian's stones are beautiful (Ive seen them in person), no rigamarole with inputting numbers and hoping the angles create a beauty. It's all been done for you...I know where my vote goes. Others may differ.

I personally would definitely go with the Brian Gavin blues...the I color for the price would be my choice...you can't go wrong. Strong blue fluorescence is TDF!

Here is an Old European cut GIA I color with SBF. Hubba hubba! is right:

http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Rings-Antique-Vintage/356ct-Loose-Old-European-Cut/19804036_Qxwpx5#!i=1610940947&k=nKKGh89

Here is a J color 5c honker...see her comments on the color on page 3 of this thread. I's and J's are still in the colorless range:

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/leon-mege-antique-cushion.140739/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/leon-mege-antique-cushion.140739/[/URL]

"So at the end of the day and after months of searching we decided to go ahead with Leon''s stone and I just love it. The J doesn''t bother me at all and mostly it looks icy white and I only notice a tiny bit of warmth very occasionally from certain angles (my e-ring is an E and there is a very slight difference but really not very much). "