- Joined
- Jan 21, 2018
- Messages
- 113
Hi All!
So, having read so much about super ideals on this forum, a few weeks back I made up my mind and decided to go for it. I've been studying and learning about diamonds for a while and I told myself my experience would be incomplete without seeing a top cut stone in person lol. And since there are no super ideal vendors where I live it was a perfect excuse to buy
Anyways! I already knew my first super ideal would be a Crafted by Infinity, so I checked what was available at HPD for my budget (I wanted to keep it at USD 2,000 max) and I ended up purchasing a 0.52ct, H/SI1 diamond. I was choosing between two similar stones and had a lot of very detailed questions and I cannot praise @LaylaR, @Wink and Jamie enough for being extremely responsive, helpful and patient during the whole process. It was a real pleasure dealing with them 
Not having seen a super ideal before, I was really excited. I was looking forward to what I was about to discover and to examining it from all angles in all lights. I was also very curious to compare it to my other diamonds. Two of them are not really comparison material as they are not particularly well cut (2.7 & 5.6 HCA scores) so it was mostly for the fun of it. The third one though is a beautiful GIA Triple X G/VS1 (60.9%, 56%, 34.5 ca, 40.6 pa, 0.7 HCA) and I was particularly interested to see this one side by side with the Infinity. I have taken lots of shots and some videos (including two in slow motion) for you guys to enjoy, but here is what I have observed:
The first thing that I noticed immediately after opening the box was brightness. It is truly striking, literally edge to edge.
The symmetry is phenomenal. The pattern is super clear and the contrast is amazing without any darkening the center whatsoever.
The clarity is spectacular. The grade is based on twinning wisps and there is also a crystal and a cloud. I can't see a thing, not even through IS or ASET where I would normally spot any inclusions that I cannot immediately see through the loupe. It is actually embarrassing considering I am a GIA diamond graduate...
The fire and sparkle are incredible. The flashes are abundant, vivid and colorful. The play of light and movement are mesmerizing, I've been trying to define it and something like 'liquid fire' comes to mind lol! My husband actually used the word "blinding" when I asked him to look at the diamond under spotlight. And my 9-year old son pointed at Infinity when I showed him a photo of four diamonds together and asked which one has more sparkle.
The diamond faces up white in most of lighting conditions. That said, I didn't quite find it facing up whiter that its color grade and when side by side with my G, I can clearly see a difference in color. There was one exception against a light beige background outside where it did face up whiter, but apart from that I'd say it looks a solid H.
All in all, with my not-so-well trained eyes, I can definitely see obvious superiority in brightness and contrast. There is no light obstruction that I sometimes notice in my Triple X (which does have a shallower pavilion and somewhat fatter mains). I can also see a difference in fire and sparkle, even if that difference is less striking as opposed to that in brightness; I think it is best visible in the first slow motion video. It is without doubt an incredibly beautiful diamond. A total stunner!
I will post the pictures separately. The Infinity is second from the left/bottom, placed in the ring holder (that HPD have so kindly provided) while the other diamonds are in their mountings. Also, those have been cleaned to the best of my ability with a professional cleaning solution (another gift from HPD
) but it's been a while since they last saw an ultrasonic. I am also attaching IS images of all diamonds, just fyg. There are also a few shots with only Infinity and Triple X side by side.
Hope you enjoy the photos!
Great day to all,
Best
Katya
So, having read so much about super ideals on this forum, a few weeks back I made up my mind and decided to go for it. I've been studying and learning about diamonds for a while and I told myself my experience would be incomplete without seeing a top cut stone in person lol. And since there are no super ideal vendors where I live it was a perfect excuse to buy
Anyways! I already knew my first super ideal would be a Crafted by Infinity, so I checked what was available at HPD for my budget (I wanted to keep it at USD 2,000 max) and I ended up purchasing a 0.52ct, H/SI1 diamond. I was choosing between two similar stones and had a lot of very detailed questions and I cannot praise @LaylaR, @Wink and Jamie enough for being extremely responsive, helpful and patient during the whole process. It was a real pleasure dealing with them Not having seen a super ideal before, I was really excited. I was looking forward to what I was about to discover and to examining it from all angles in all lights. I was also very curious to compare it to my other diamonds. Two of them are not really comparison material as they are not particularly well cut (2.7 & 5.6 HCA scores) so it was mostly for the fun of it. The third one though is a beautiful GIA Triple X G/VS1 (60.9%, 56%, 34.5 ca, 40.6 pa, 0.7 HCA) and I was particularly interested to see this one side by side with the Infinity. I have taken lots of shots and some videos (including two in slow motion) for you guys to enjoy, but here is what I have observed:
The first thing that I noticed immediately after opening the box was brightness. It is truly striking, literally edge to edge.
The symmetry is phenomenal. The pattern is super clear and the contrast is amazing without any darkening the center whatsoever.
The clarity is spectacular. The grade is based on twinning wisps and there is also a crystal and a cloud. I can't see a thing, not even through IS or ASET where I would normally spot any inclusions that I cannot immediately see through the loupe. It is actually embarrassing considering I am a GIA diamond graduate...
The fire and sparkle are incredible. The flashes are abundant, vivid and colorful. The play of light and movement are mesmerizing, I've been trying to define it and something like 'liquid fire' comes to mind lol! My husband actually used the word "blinding" when I asked him to look at the diamond under spotlight. And my 9-year old son pointed at Infinity when I showed him a photo of four diamonds together and asked which one has more sparkle.
The diamond faces up white in most of lighting conditions. That said, I didn't quite find it facing up whiter that its color grade and when side by side with my G, I can clearly see a difference in color. There was one exception against a light beige background outside where it did face up whiter, but apart from that I'd say it looks a solid H.
All in all, with my not-so-well trained eyes, I can definitely see obvious superiority in brightness and contrast. There is no light obstruction that I sometimes notice in my Triple X (which does have a shallower pavilion and somewhat fatter mains). I can also see a difference in fire and sparkle, even if that difference is less striking as opposed to that in brightness; I think it is best visible in the first slow motion video. It is without doubt an incredibly beautiful diamond. A total stunner!
I will post the pictures separately. The Infinity is second from the left/bottom, placed in the ring holder (that HPD have so kindly provided) while the other diamonds are in their mountings. Also, those have been cleaned to the best of my ability with a professional cleaning solution (another gift from HPD
) but it's been a while since they last saw an ultrasonic. I am also attaching IS images of all diamonds, just fyg. There are also a few shots with only Infinity and Triple X side by side.Hope you enjoy the photos!
Great day to all,
Best
Katya
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