Real Difference

[Twista89]

I recently bought some diamond earrings from abazias that are uncertified. I was recently directed to Brian Gavins website which has me wanting to return the earrings before they are even shipped out. So I wanted to get some more opinions. The diamond earrings I bought are 14k gold between G-H and are suppose to be between good and very good cut with SI2 quality. I noticed how people rave over the hearts and arrows diamonds from Brian and was wondering how noticeable is the difference between good cuts and ideal cuts, especially in earrings. Is it something you could justify paying double the price in earrings to only jump maybe .20CTW?? Also the other fact that they are uncertified diamonds from Abazias also has me wanting to return them. I was looking at maybe buying two .350CT diamonds that are in his hearts and arrows catalog with J color and SI1 ratings. Would you return the abazias earrings for these???

 

[slg47]

well cut diamonds will be more sparkly than poorly cut diamonds. that being said, you don't need H&A diamonds to get great sparkle. you probably don't have enough info on the abazias diamonds as they are uncerted.

what about ID jewelry? I think several PSers have gotten studs from them, that way you can avoid the premium with branded H&A cut. maybe do a search for them?

 

[Twista89]

yea I just looked them up, another question, I also read that GIA diamonds usually cost 10% more than similar lab diamonds like AGS. Is this true?? I noticed some of there comparable priced diamonds are about two grades higher in color than BGDs with same CTW and flaw ratings. If it would be easier to help Im looking to spend no more than a grand on these earrings but I would like to have ideal cut diamonds. I dont think color really plays a role in earrings set in yellow gold right??

 

[slg47]

I have J color earrings set in white gold and I think they look fine. Really close up they look slightly more 'tinted' than my G engagement ring but on the ears they definitely look white and sparkly.

 

[yssie]

an ags0 stone may well command a slight premium over a gia.

In that size I think you'll be more than fine with SI2s or Js for studs in yg.

 

[Amys Bling]

for earrings you can get away with lower color and clarity as the stone isn't viewed up close like an Ering. Having an ideal cut will make it more sparkly- its **in my opinion** better to have an excellent cut stone than higher color and clarity.

 

[Twista89]

Im going to call BGD tomorrow, I did some more details comparisons and it seems BGD still might be a better choice if I can get a good OTD price on mounted earrings. I know BGD also laser inscribes there earrings which would bring more peace to my mind as well. Does any of these other vendors do laser inscribing?? It doesnt look like ID does.

 

[antelope1]

yea I just looked them up, another question, I also read that GIA diamonds usually cost 10% more than similar lab diamonds like AGS. Is this true??

Not in general. Definitely not in comparison to AGS. Probably closer to 20% premium compared to EGL (I am pulling %% out of my butt, this is my general impression), but buying an EGL is like playing roulette. You don't really know what you're going to get, even though it has a cert.

 

[Twista89]

Ok well, Ive been talking with BGD and we came up with a price of 895 for two J colored SI1 clarity diamonds mounted in 14k YG settings. Both diamonds are out of there H&A catalog with AGS certifications with one diamond being .328CTs and the other being .338CTs. Does that sound like a good deal???

I was searching on ID jewelry and two diamonds I picked where GIA certified with them both being .31CTs and I color and SI1 clarity in one diamond and VS2 in the other. There polish and symmetry were both very good with the SI1 diamond being excellent in its polish for 815.

Which one would you guys choose??? I do like the fact that BGD does inscribe there diamonds as well.

 

[yssie]

If you want H&A you're going to pay a premium for H&A. Within that range, then, it sounds fine.

Some diamonds are inscribed with a number that matches the report, some are not. In the end it doesn't matter - on diamonds this small I imagine you'd need a 20x loupe to see it unless they have v/ex thick girdles (which the BGDs do not) and superhuman vision, and in any case if someone is going to steal your stone it is a trivial thing to polish off the inscription. For safety/ID purposes the best metric is your characteristic map of inclusions - that cannot be falsified or altered. Get to know your stone, shouldn't be a hardship to stare at it for a half hour w/ a loupe

 

[Amys Bling]

If you want H&A you're going to pay a premium for H&A. Within that range, then, it sounds fine.

Some diamonds are inscribed with a number that matches the report, some are not. In the end it doesn't matter - on diamonds this small I imagine you'd need a 20x loupe to see it unless they have v/ex thick girdles (which the BGDs do not) and superhuman vision, and in any case if someone is going to steal your stone it is a trivial thing to polish off the inscription. For safety/ID purposes the best metric is your characteristic map of inclusions - that cannot be falsified or altered. Get to know your stone, shouldn't be a hardship to stare at it for a half hour w/ a loupe

i like my eyeclean SI2 for this reason... i learned her birthmarks and can ID her anytime!

 

[Twista89]

Yea I was probably going to go with the H&As since I do feel more comfortable shopping with BGDs than a vendor like IDJ which seem to be not as hands on with there diamonds. Ive returned 3 pairs of diamond earrings so far, so I want this to be the final purchase I make on this one thing.