Upgrade advice please

[KBM]

Hi!

I am beginning the process of upgrading my 1.60 MRB (HVS1) hoping to get close to 3carat. I am working with Whiteflash for the first time and looking at their ACA diamonds. Below are two that I am considering:

Diamond | 2.878 ct I VS2 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4474166

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 2.878 carat I color VS2 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4474166

www.whiteflash.com

Diamond | 2.857 ct I VS2 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4419926

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 2.857 carat I color VS2 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4419926

www.whiteflash.com

1. Do you think an I color will feel too warm to me? I don't see any color in my H diamond at all so perhaps I'm not that color sensitive but I'll be wearing it with my 3ct eternity band which is G color diamonds.

2. Any preference on these two? My budget is around $45K. I understand there's a shortage of diamonds in this size right now so there aren't a bunch to choose from in my price point.

Thanks for any help!!

 

[chamois]

Hi!

I am beginning the process of upgrading my 1.60 MRB (HVS1) hoping to get close to 3carat. I am working with Whiteflash for the first time and looking at their ACA diamonds. Below are two that I am considering:

Diamond | 2.878 ct I VS2 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4474166

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 2.878 carat I color VS2 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4474166

www.whiteflash.com

Diamond | 2.857 ct I VS2 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4419926

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 2.857 carat I color VS2 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4419926

www.whiteflash.com

1. Do you think an I color will feel too warm to me? I don't see any color in my H diamond at all so perhaps I'm not that color sensitive but I'll be wearing it with my 3ct eternity band which is G color diamonds.

2. Any preference on these two? My budget is around $45K. I understand there's a shortage of diamonds in this size right now so there aren't a bunch to choose from in my price point.

Thanks for any help!!

My choice would be the 2nd one. I personally prefer the smaller table, fatter arrows and the measurement numbers. This stone is slightly smaller in size though, compared to the 1st stone. Not sure if the size difference will be discernible? It would be interesting to see a side by side from Whiteflash.

I am sure both will be beautiful, you can’t go wrong with an ACA. Good luck!

 

[Kim N]

You could ask WF to take side-by-side photos and pick the one that is whiter or that speaks to you more.

 

[DejaWiz]

You could ask WF to take side-by-side photos and pick the one that is whiter or that speaks to you more.

I second this...and also have them put a similar sized G color in the lineup for a tint comparison.

 

[lavalle218]

Agree on having them do pictures and videos - I started with an I and upgraded to a J once I got the videos from them because my J actually looked whiter to me and was much bigger! I know there are a lot of color sensitive people out there but I found I am not one of them.

 

[KBM]

Agree on having them do pictures and videos - I started with an I and upgraded to a J once I got the videos from them because my J actually looked whiter to me and was much bigger! I know there are a lot of color sensitive people out there but I found I am not one of them.

Do you have a pic of your ring? There are two J "ACA" stones in house. The sales rep said J stones face very white but I am not sure if they would seem way too yellow from the side?! Thanks for your advice!

Diamond | 3.078 ct J VS2 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4475110

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 3.078 carat J color VS2 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4475110

www.whiteflash.com

Diamond | 3.025 ct J SI1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4379405

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 3.025 carat J color SI1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4379405

www.whiteflash.com

 

[DejaWiz]

@KBM here is the thread that @lavalle218 made for her awesome ACA:

Here she is - ACA 3.3 ct J VSI, Vatche U-113

I wish I had a fun name for this gorgeous ring but for now, I’ll just share all her beauty!! It was a bit of a journey to get to this point - I debated diamond shapes for months but finally settled on upgrading my Whiteflash ACA - took many more months agonizing over color and clarity (size was...

www.pricescope.com

 

[KBM]

@KBM here is the thread that @lavalle218 made for her awesome ACA:

Here she is - ACA 3.3 ct J VSI, Vatche U-113

I wish I had a fun name for this gorgeous ring but for now, I’ll just share all her beauty!! It was a bit of a journey to get to this point - I debated diamond shapes for months but finally settled on upgrading my Whiteflash ACA - took many more months agonizing over color and clarity (size was...

www.pricescope.com

Oh wow, that is truly gorgeous! Thank you for sharing that thread! Looks like I'll be asking for more pics/videos today! Thank you

 

[lavalle218]

Do you have a pic of your ring? There are two J "ACA" stones in house. The sales rep said J stones face very white but I am not sure if they would seem way too yellow from the side?! Thanks for your advice!

Diamond | 3.078 ct J VS2 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4475110

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 3.078 carat J color VS2 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4475110

www.whiteflash.com

Diamond | 3.025 ct J SI1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4379405

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 3.025 carat J color SI1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4379405

www.whiteflash.com

I

Oh wow, that is truly gorgeous! Thank you for sharing that thread! Looks like I'll be asking for more pics/videos today! Thank you

you guys are awesome! I was also really scared about seeing a yellow tint but it is unnoticeable to me 99% of the time. The ACA cuts are so gorgeous that the focus is on the sparkle! I took a few pics just now in my home office so lighting is terrible but I think it’s good to see stones in other light, too, to see how the stone looks. I think it’s much whiter in person than the white flash videos.

 

[KBM]

I


you guys are awesome! I was also really scared about seeing a yellow tint but it is unnoticeable to me 99% of the time. The ACA cuts are so gorgeous that the focus is on the sparkle! I took a few pics just now in my home office so lighting is terrible but I think it’s good to see stones in other light, too, to see how the stone looks. I think it’s much whiter in person than the white flash videos.

Thank you so much, it's stunning!

 

[chamois]

The stone you see in my Avatar is also a J ACA (almost 3cts).

 

[KBM]

The stone you see in my Avatar is also a J ACA (almost 3cts).

Oh wow, it's beautiful! Thanks!

 

[chamois]

Oh wow, it's beautiful! Thanks!

Thank you.

It is definitely worth exploring options regarding your colour sensitivity.

 

[KBM]

Update! I went with this stone:

Diamond | 3.078 ct J VS2 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4475110

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 3.078 carat J color VS2 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4475110

www.whiteflash.com

The stone arrived yesterday and the ACA cut is truly stunning and super sparkly! I've been taking some pics to capture the different warmths and when I took some in front of a window the top looks almost brown. Ugh, do you think this is just a low J? In most lights it doesn't have any brown tint...I'm attaching a lot of pics below.

When I look down at my hand I see a total sparkle bomb but then taking these pics sort of got me thinking maybe I'm not a J color person eventhough I love the sparkle and size! Whiteflash sent me pics comparing this to the two I color ACAs available and there wasn't much if any difference so I went with the larger. There's not much inventory now either...my budget is $45K.

 

[lavalle218]

Update! I went with this stone:

Diamond | 3.078 ct J VS2 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4475110

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 3.078 carat J color VS2 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4475110

www.whiteflash.com

The stone arrived yesterday and the ACA cut is truly stunning and super sparkly! I've been taking some pics to capture the different warmths and when I took some in front of a window the top looks almost brown. Ugh, do you think this is just a low J? In most lights it doesn't have any brown tint...I'm attaching a lot of pics below.

When I look down at my hand I see a total sparkle bomb but then taking these pics sort of got me thinking maybe I'm not a J color person eventhough I love the sparkle and size! Whiteflash sent me pics comparing this to the two I color ACAs available and there wasn't much if any difference so I went with the larger. There's not much inventory now either...my budget is $45K.

Wow, that stone is gorgeous in every picture except the one where it looks so brown…. Are you seeing that color when you look at it yourself? I wonder if it was just something about the lighting or something in the surroundings that was reflecting that brownness…. My J looks while 99% of the time and every once and a while I see a tiny hint of yellowish on the sides - but it’s barely detectable. I feel like the rest of your pictures look amazing, though, so I hope that’s just an anomaly. Bottom line, though, you have to be happy with what you select because you are the one wearing it day in and out. Keep us posted!

 

[KBM]

Wow, that stone is gorgeous in every picture except the one where it looks so brown…. Are you seeing that color when you look at it yourself? I wonder if it was just something about the lighting or something in the surroundings that was reflecting that brownness…. My J looks while 99% of the time and every once and a while I see a tiny hint of yellowish on the sides - but it’s barely detectable. I feel like the rest of your pictures look amazing, though, so I hope that’s just an anomaly. Bottom line, though, you have to be happy with what you select because you are the one wearing it day in and out. Keep us posted!

Thank you. I don't actually see that color at all when I look at it. I was sitting in front of a sunny window (so sun coming in behind me)...I didn't expect the photo to look so brown so I started to get worried and now find myself "looking for warmth". It's only been less than 24 hours so I'm going to keep wearing it in different environments. It is a really beautiful sparkly stone, the cut is stunning!

 

[DejaWiz]

Hi, KBM.
Your new ACA is massive and stunning!
I do see the tint that you're concerned about in some of your pics.
Tell us about the environment when the pics were taken...any brown, beige, or tan colored items present:
Wall/trim color
Clothing color
Phone/camera case used for taking the pics
Soft yellow lighting from overheads/lamps

I only ask because any or all of those can be "collected" by the diamond and that color will be reflected back, giving the illusion that the diamond itself is tinted. Same as a diamond appearing slightly light blue when viewed under clear skies or slightly green when amongst foliage.

Here's something to try:
Take a very white piece of paper and fold it in half lengthwise to creat a 90-degree bend.
Place your ring, diamond down (upsidedown), at the fold.
Create a shaded zone on the ring (hold another piece of paper over it to cast a shadow and create an indirect lighting condition).
Take lots of pictures, as close as your camera will allow while remaining in focus.

If the tint is obvious and you're eyes are sensitive to it, then definitely contact WF to discuss moving to a higher color grade, probably at least H, if not G or better.

Here's an I color that is noticably less tinted.
Rhetoric question for you to ask yourself: would you be color sensitive to it still, or would playing it safe and going with an even higher color grade be better?

Diamond | 2.857 ct I VS2 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4419926

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 2.857 carat I color VS2 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4419926

www.whiteflash.com

 

[lavalle218]

Thank you. I don't actually see that color at all when I look at it. I was sitting in front of a sunny window (so sun coming in behind me)...I didn't expect the photo to look so brown so I started to get worried and now find myself "looking for warmth". It's only been less than 24 hours so I'm going to keep wearing it in different environments. It is a really beautiful sparkly stone, the cut is stunning!

Good, I’m glad you aren’t seeing it in real life…. There could have been color reflecting from your shirt, walls, a piece of furniture, etc. definitely rely on what you see with your eyes, though, and not pictures…. I always felt frustrated because pictures simply couldn’t capture the amazingness of the stone! These stones are fire bombs and are just so stunning!

 

[KBM]

Hi, KBM.
Your new ACA is massive and stunning!
I do see the tint that you're concerned about in some of your pics.
Tell us about the environment when the pics were taken...any brown, beige, or tan colored items present:
Wall/trim color
Clothing color
Phone/camera case used for taking the pics
Soft yellow lighting from overheads/lamps

I only ask because any or all of those can be "collected" by the diamond and that color will be reflected back, giving the illusion that the diamond itself is tinted. Same as a diamond appearing slightly light blue when viewed under clear skies or slightly green when amongst foliage.

Here's something to try:
Take a very white piece of paper and fold it in half lengthwise to creat a 90-degree bend.
Place your ring, diamond down (upsidedown), at the fold.
Create a shaded zone on the ring (hold another piece of paper over it to cast a shadow and create an indirect lighting condition).
Take lots of pictures, as close as your camera will allow while remaining in focus.

If the tint is obvious and you're eyes are sensitive to it, then definitely contact WF to discuss moving to a higher color grade, probably at least H, if not G or better.

Here's an I color that is noticably less tinted.
Rhetoric question for you to ask yourself: would you be color sensitive to it still, or would playing it safe and going with an even higher color grade be better?

Diamond | 2.857 ct I VS2 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4419926

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 2.857 carat I color VS2 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4419926

www.whiteflash.com

Thanks DejaWiz. I was sitting on a beige couch that has beige walls and a beige carpet but with an open window behind me and bright sun coming in. I just wore it out to a restaurant and Church and didn't notice any tint in either of those situations just lots of sparkle! I guess I'm concerned that to other people it will seem super tinted (although I probably should just care if I like it).

I did have WF send me pics of that I stone next to this J both from side and front and I agree it was whiter but I just this J because the top view looked prettier to me from the front pic.

Thanks for the white paper idea. I just tried it and took two pics which I'll attach. I appreciate your guidance and thoughts on this. I am happy to have this 30 day period....

 

[DejaWiz]

Thanks DejaWiz. I was sitting on a beige couch that has beige walls and a beige carpet but with an open window behind me and bright sun coming in. I just wore it out to a restaurant and Church and didn't notice any tint in either of those situations just lots of sparkle! I guess I'm concerned that to other people it will seem super tinted (although I probably should just care if I like it).

I did have WF send me pics of that I stone next to this J both from side and front and I agree it was whiter but I just this J because the top view looked prettier to me from the front pic.

Thanks for the white paper idea. I just tried it and took two pics which I'll attach. I appreciate your guidance and thoughts on this. I am happy to have this 30 day period....

Can you try to get the camera closer and at more of a direct side profile shot?

Like so:

 

[KBM]

Can you try to get the camera closer and at more of a direct side profile shot?

Like so:

 

[DejaWiz]

Hard to tell still, since the photo angle isn't directly at the side (where the entire plane of the girdle would be parallel to the surface below).
What do your eyes see while it's against the white background?

 

[chamois]

Update! I went with this stone:

Diamond | 3.078 ct J VS2 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4475110

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 3.078 carat J color VS2 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4475110

www.whiteflash.com

The stone arrived yesterday and the ACA cut is truly stunning and super sparkly! I've been taking some pics to capture the different warmths and when I took some in front of a window the top looks almost brown. Ugh, do you think this is just a low J? In most lights it doesn't have any brown tint...I'm attaching a lot of pics below.

When I look down at my hand I see a total sparkle bomb but then taking these pics sort of got me thinking maybe I'm not a J color person eventhough I love the sparkle and size! Whiteflash sent me pics comparing this to the two I color ACAs available and there wasn't much if any difference so I went with the larger. There's not much inventory now either...my budget is $45K.

I think it looks beautiful. Huge and lovely on your finger.
You have to be happy though.

 

[KBM]

I think it looks beautiful. Huge and lovely on your finger.
You have to be happy though.

Thank you! I just picked it up late afternoon yesterday so today is my first full day wearing it in different environments and so far it's been so sparkly and beautiful in every environment! I think those few darker photos spooked me for some reason like not wanting it to appear that way when I'm out and about. My husband saw the pic and said he doesn't see it looking like that at all when I'm wearing it it just threw me off I think. Plus I've spent the past four weeks while waiting for it reading tons of posts about AGS being softer on color grading etc...

 

[KBM]

Hard to tell still, since the photo angle isn't directly at the side (where the entire plane of the girdle would be perpendicular to the surface below).
What do your eyes see while it's against the white background?

I definitely see it's not white white like the paper but it doesn't look brown at all to me like it did in that one photo I posted.

 

[elle_chris]

Beautiful!
My stone and setting are pretty much exactly the same as yours (also a J,V2, ACA)

 

[DejaWiz]

I definitely see it's not white white like the paper but it doesn't look brown at all to me like it did in that one photo I posted.

What the verdict (so far) from your eyes, mind, and heart?

 

[KBM]

What the verdict (so far) from your eyes, mind, and heart?

Well I've worn it all day today and have loved how it looks in every environment I was in (car, restaurant, soccer field, etc)! So I'm feeling excited with it and then of course I can always upgrade to a higher color in the future thanks to Whiteflash. I'm coming from a "Good cut" (which we all know isn't good but it was a 60/60 and bright) H color GIA so this ACA cut is just mesmerizing to look at and makes it so much brighter even being a J!

 

[KBM]

Wow, that stone is gorgeous in every picture except the one where it looks so brown…. Are you seeing that color when you look at it yourself? I wonder if it was just something about the lighting or something in the surroundings that was reflecting that brownness…. My J looks while 99% of the time and every once and a while I see a tiny hint of yellowish on the sides - but it’s barely detectable. I feel like the rest of your pictures look amazing, though, so I hope that’s just an anomaly. Bottom line, though, you have to be happy with what you select because you are the one wearing it day in and out. Keep us posted!

I have no idea what caused that color (perhaps sitting on beige couch with beige walls?!) anyway I've worn it all day today in different environments and its been nothing but super sparkly and very bright! So I'm feeling happy now

 

[DejaWiz]

Well I've worn it all day today and have loved how it looks in every environment I was in (car, restaurant, soccer field, etc)! So I'm feeling excited with it and then of course I can always upgrade to a higher color in the future thanks to Whiteflash. I'm coming from a "Good cut" (which we all know isn't good but it was a 60/60 and bright) H color GIA so this ACA cut is just mesmerizing to look at and makes it so much brighter even being a J!

Glad to hear it, KBM!
It is, without a doubt, a truly gorgeous diamond and it looks stunning on you!
I would have never guessed it to be a J color in the pictures showing the icy brilliance.