Some help needed!

teebles · Feb 8, 2013

Hi everyone

Been researching the days away looking for an engagement ring. Originally wanted to go with a WF ACA diamond, but I really couldn't find any settings I liked. I love the Mark Morrell Petite Sunburst, but that's out of my budget. Bottom line I found the setting I like at BGD, so decided to look there.

I might be just splitting hairs by now, but are there any reasons why one diamond is better than another?

One is a 0.918 F VS2, the other a 0.916 G VS1

Both are from BGD Signature series
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.918-f-vs2-round-diamond-ags-104063219023
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.916-g-vs1-round-diamond-ags-104062572007

Both are almost the same in price...
but I get the feeling 1 is better than the other...

Would the diamond performance be impacted from the "less" symmetrical light performance of the 0.918 (based of the AGSL light performance map), versus the 'green' center of the 0.916?

I think I'm really close to finding the right diamond/ring, I just need some help to push me over the top!

Thanks!

Terrence

JulieN · Feb 8, 2013

How about dropping to H SI1 to get that MM P. Sunburst?

Or getting your center from somewhere else? I have no problem with BGD's prices as long as its what the customer wants... but if it's keeping you from your dream setting, there are alternatives.

bunnycat · Feb 8, 2013

The green versus red center isn't going to make an eyevisible difference. ALso, those are computer generated ASETs. The ones taken by BG are the other pictures posted. The idealscope image (the red/black one) and then the ASET they take of the stone are the live images of the stone.

I think either one is going to be beautiful. He cuts on really tight parameters so that they will all be similar.

It is true that you can get a well performing stone other places, but (IMO at least) when you are buying a super ideal cut branded stone such as this or from another place that cuts super ideal diamonds, you are paying extra for not only the extra information on the stone, but also for the knowledge that you WILL get a well performing stone and not just HOPE you get a well performing stone that may take several trial and error shots to get right. There is a lot of weeding out to do if you want to look for a non branded stone that meets ideal specs and a lot of self education you'll need to do as well. Do you NEED super ideal cut to have a nice stone? No. But again, you're going to have to do some work to find one that falls in to ideal specs amongst all the not so good stuff and "ok" stones out there.

Alternatively, you could look at Brian's "Blue" line. Discounted for fluorescent effect (all hand vetted by him) and also cut to ideal parameters, but without the guarantee of the Hearts and Arrows symmetry. H/A is a measure of symmetry in cutting, not of performance.

This one will bring you up to 1ct, for less than the H/A line and possibly provide enough leeway for the setting you like. ???

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

This one will bring you up to a carat for a little under the price of the current stones you are researching:

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.027-h-vs2-round-diamond-ags-bl-104061006007

teebles · Feb 8, 2013

Hi guys
thanks for the response...

I guess I'm just afraid of buying a 'not so nice' diamond... How much does the patterns/symmetry seen on the ASET images (including contrast and less bright areas) effect the performance of the diamond? Or is it strictly just down to preference that you have these symmetrically cut stones?

By the way, I'm okay with the BGD setting actually... I didn't want to spend $2K on the setting to begin with, rather spend the money on the rock! I hope to keep the total value under $10K (doesn't mean I have to spend UP to $10K though! Maybe around $9K? I live in Canada so I have to pay 13% taxes as well... )

teebles · Feb 8, 2013

Also I understand that current trends just give fluorescent diamonds a knock, but I'll take a look, definitely worth saving a few bucks on some specs that don't affect the performance!.

JulieN · Feb 8, 2013

it is strictly preference... when you buy a BGD, you are buying Brian Gavin's preference.

bunnycat · Feb 8, 2013

There's just no way if you get a super ideal cut diamond (like from BGD or Whiteflash, Good Old Gold, Infinity) that you're going to get a dud.

From what I can glean of your question, it may be too technical for me to answer, but you seem to be asking if the green center on the computer generated ASET on the cert is going to show in real life as darkness, and I doubt it. Some green and some blue HAVE to be in an ASET image for a stone to look balanced. There are probably some threads here on PS that deal with the ASET image meaning or you might post a thread asking for John Pollards explanation. He has very informative and insightful posts.

The red/black idealscope images are the main ones I look at because they show the areas of leakage and light return. Those are actual images taken of a stone, eather than the computer generated ones on the reports that approximate based on the angles.

Also, read a little about it through GOG's website too:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/Technologies/ReflectorTechnologies/WhatdoReflectorsTeachUs/
http://www.goodoldgold.com/4Cs/Cut/PartsAndFacets/

Also- here's a chart I found some time ago when I was doing searches on ASET that show different crown and pavilion angles and their effect on ASET images: