Victor Canera diamonds v. HPD- I compared!

[NicoleNeedsHelp]

As many of you know, I’m on the hunt for a center stone of 2.1- 2.3 carats, G or H color. So, I’ve been talking to the popular vendors here on PS. I am going to get a super ideal stone.

Here is where I am— I have in my possession a HPD, 2 carat H color. It is a beauty. I have 21 days to decide to keep it or not. But, since this is such a BIG purchase, I decided to go and see Victor Canera today. I went to Victor’s shop and he spent about 2 1/2 hours with me discussing 4 potential diamonds that he has. All of the diamonds I saw today are in his H&A collection.

From my perspective, his stones held their own against HPD. I thought I would immediately see a difference between the HPD and the VC stones, but I didn’t. In fact, I found myself shocked because I think I like Victor‘s stones more and I was not expecting that.

I was so involved in my conversation with Victor that I forgot to take pics. However, I have posted videos of my HPD stone and I will soon have pics of the competing VC stone (because I forgot to take them, I called Victor and he is emailing me some pics/video). I can kick myself for not taking a video side by side.

Anyone here ever selected a VC over HPD? I think I am down to 2 final contenders - the HPD and VC. (I have contacted WF, but they don’t have anything in my desired budget and color/clarity range in their current inventory). It seems like HPD always wins, but I didn’t find that to be true in my opinion. Thoughts?

Edited to add- both of the stones are very similar (2.12 v 2.23, one is an H and one is a G, both VS1).

 

[bps413]

Don’t have personal experience with either brand so I can’t offer much there. Both vendors are highly respected here. It sounds like your heart is telling you to go with one of the VC diamonds. If that’s the one that speaks to you most, then you should go for it.

 

[marymm]

Who is doing the setting?

If VC is doing your setting, the setting would receive a discount if you are buying the center stone from him; plus it makes sense to keep diamond + setting in-house.

If HPD is doing the setting, then choose the HPD diamond (again, it makes sense to keep the whole purchase in-house).

If a third party is doing the setting, and you truly are having a problem choosing between the two diamonds, I'd probably go with the higher color diamond ... YMMV.

 

[Bonfire]

If you had an emotional response to the Canera stone then perhaps you have your answer. Bigger and whiter is always nice. Maybe @mrs-b will weigh in, I know she’s a fan of Victor Canera’s stones. Good luck with your decision!

 

[daisygrl]

Are they of the same price? if so, I would go with the higher color (but I cannot believe the relatively similar size but higher color would be also similar in price). If there is a significant price difference, I would take the HPD H color. I have 2.13ct in H color from them and could not be happier - so white and crisp.

Furthermore, who is doing the setting? VC? HPD? 3rd party? If VC, how much is the total? Then I would contact HPD, ask them about the price of the setting you have in mind and compare the two totals from both vendors. If the 3rd party, then it would depend on the price difference of the two diamonds. VC and HPD are both excellent vendors and so is their craftsmanship so I would have the setting done by the vendor from which I am buying the stone.

 

[mrs-b]

@NicoleNeedsHelp - I asked this question before, but if you answered it, I missed your response, I'm sorry. I had thought you were upgrading with David Klass. Did that fall through?

As for HPD vs VC - the main diamond in my 3 stone is a WhiteFlash ACA, and I love it. However, I have never been slow to tell people - of all the H&A diamonds I've ever seen, Victor Canera's signature cut is my favorite. I cannot for the life of me tell you why - they just look more feminine and prettier to me. Something about them....

There's no question that HPD diamonds are stellar and technically perfect. Breathtaking, even. But even so - those VC diamonds just speak to me. So for my money, if the VC is larger and whiter and - to my eye - prettier - there would simply be no contest. HPD diamonds take my breath away. But Victor Canera signature cuts bring tears to my eyes. I think it comes down to what response you want.

 

[LLJsmom]

I truly think everyone is different. I have seen CBI and WF. But what I've learned, for me, is that it doesn't necessarily fall to one vendor or another. It falls to the particular stone. So if the VC stone moves your heart, or if you get this "gut" feeling when you look at it, I would go with the stone that elicits that reaction. I will say the the two most beautiful MRBs that I've seen and had that "love at first sight" feeling were not super ideal. How can you explain it? I don't know, and trust me, I've tried.

And with regard to Victor's settings, there is no question. My CBI setting is done beautifully for a classic knife edge. But my Canera settings, how the feel, how they wear on a daily basis, how durable they are, NEXT LEVEL.

 

[NicoleNeedsHelp]

@NicoleNeedsHelp - I asked this question before, but if you answered it, I missed your response, I'm sorry. I had thought you were upgrading with David Klass. Did that fall through?

As for HPD vs VC - the main diamond in my 3 stone is a WhiteFlash ACA, and I love it. However, I have never been slow to tell people - of all the H&A diamonds I've ever seen, Victor Canera's signature cut is my favorite. I cannot for the life of me tell you why - they just look more feminine and prettier to me. Something about them....

There's no question that HPD diamonds are stellar and technically perfect. Breathtaking, even. But even so - those VC diamonds just speak to me. So for my money, if the VC is larger and whiter and - to my eye - prettier - there would simply be no contest. HPD diamonds take my breath away. But Victor Canera signature cuts bring tears to my eyes. I think it comes down to what response you want.

Hi there! David Klass did not fall through— they tried very hard to source a stone, but I want a super ideal cut so I’m going to go through someone else to get the stone. DK is perfectly fine with me bringing in an outside stone. My plan was to have David and Amy set the stone (from HPD or VC) in a setting that Amy has been working on designing- she is just waiting on the final diamond selection. (By the way, David and Amy are 2 of the nicest and kindest people on the planet and since meeting them- they are now setting a sapphire in my old setting and redoing some studs I had). I have not explored doing the setting with VC- I didn’t even think of it. I imagine VC will be more expensive than DK because it is hand forged. I just adore Amy and David! I’ve been in DKs store several times now and I always have an enjoyable experience.

 

[NicoleNeedsHelp]

Are they of the same price? if so, I would go with the higher color (but I cannot believe the relatively similar size but higher color would be also similar in price). If there is a significant price difference, I would take the HPD H color. I have 2.13ct in H color from them and could not be happier - so white and crisp.

Furthermore, who is doing the setting? VC? HPD? 3rd party? If VC, how much is the total? Then I would contact HPD, ask them about the price of the setting you have in mind and compare the two totals from both vendors. If the 3rd party, then it would depend on the price difference of the two diamonds. VC and HPD are both excellent vendors and so is their craftsmanship so I would have the setting done by the vendor from which I am buying the stone.

They are not exactly the same price because one is a G and one is an H— but they are close. I guess what I mean is that diamond is so expensive already, that the price difference is negligible. I was planning to have David Klass set it— however, I didn’t even think to ask what VC would charge.

 

[elizat]

If you are interested in a VC setting, it's an easy choice. If I had my pick of an HPD v VC setting, VC every day of the week. I would also pick VC over DJK as well.

You seem to be leaning to the VC. You should buy with what your eyes like. You'll get a discount on the setting as well. That's an easy win if you will have him do the setting.

 

[LLJsmom]

@NicoleNeedsHelp - I asked this question before, but if you answered it, I missed your response, I'm sorry. I had thought you were upgrading with David Klass. Did that fall through?

As for HPD vs VC - the main diamond in my 3 stone is a WhiteFlash ACA, and I love it. However, I have never been slow to tell people - of all the H&A diamonds I've ever seen, Victor Canera's signature cut is my favorite. I cannot for the life of me tell you why - they just look more feminine and prettier to me. Something about them....

There's no question that HPD diamonds are stellar and technically perfect. Breathtaking, even. But even so - those VC diamonds just speak to me. So for my money, if the VC is larger and whiter and - to my eye - prettier - there would simply be no contest. HPD diamonds take my breath away. But Victor Canera signature cuts bring tears to my eyes. I think it comes down to what response you want.

@mrs-b can I ask if you found that you liked more than one VC ideal cuts or was it a particular one? I am seriously bummed I haven't seen one yet. I need to see one myself.

 

[NicoleNeedsHelp]

@mrs-b can I ask if you found that you liked more than one VC ideal cuts or was it a particular one? I am seriously bummed I haven't seen one yet. I need to see one myself.

I’m going to try to get side by side pics. I will know more tomorrow of whether I can get the two stones back together

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Paralysis by analysis. No "bad" diamond choice here.

cheers--Sharon

 

[headlight]

I truly think everyone is different. I have seen CBI and WF. But what I've learned, for me, is that it doesn't necessarily fall to one vendor or another. It falls to the particular stone. So if the VC stone moves your heart, or if you get this "gut" feeling when you look at it, I would go with the stone that elicits that reaction. I will say the the two most beautiful MRBs that I've seen and had that "love at first sight" feeling were not super ideal. How can you explain it? I don't know, and trust me, I've tried.

And with regard to Victor's settings, there is no question. My CBI setting is done beautifully for a classic knife edge. But my Canera settings, how the feel, how they wear on a daily basis, how durable they are, NEXT LEVEL.

I think @LLJsmom brings up a really important point... sort of building on what @mrs-b was expressing: It isn’t just about being a super ideal or who that super ideal is from... sometimes it is about the personality of a stone, regardless of the make. It’s that thing often mentioned here of “what speaks to you”. Often no rhyme or reason. Inexplicable. Sort of why everyday when I have the opportunity to put on my 2.31 BGD Signature VVS2 H, yet I go for my 2.01 3X SI2, E with the 63% depth. There’s just something about that particular stone.

 

[lovedogs]

You honestly cannot go wrong with either choice--both vendors have gorgeous stones. IMHO it comes down to your personal preferences. If you had a gut reaction to the VC stones then go for them! I would definitely ask VC about pricing for setting. I love DK as well, but VCs settings are on a different level IMHO. Just worth knowing your options. I have a CBI stone and love it, but as others have already said you should follow your heart/eyes because you cannot go wrong

 

[mrs-b]

Hi there! David Klass did not fall through— they tried very hard to source a stone, but I want a super ideal cut so I’m going to go through someone else to get the stone. DK is perfectly fine with me bringing in an outside stone. My plan was to have David and Amy set the stone (from HPD or VC) in a setting that Amy has been working on designing- she is just waiting on the final diamond selection. (By the way, David and Amy are 2 of the nicest and kindest people on the planet and since meeting them- they are now setting a sapphire in my old setting and redoing some studs I had). I have not explored doing the setting with VC- I didn’t even think of it. I imagine VC will be more expensive than DK because it is hand forged. I just adore Amy and David! I’ve been in DKs store several times now and I always have an enjoyable experience.

By fall through, I meant the idea of upgrading with them. In other words, I meant were you getting the diamond elsewhere - which you are.

Re the price of the setting, I believe VC gives a 10% discount on his settings when you buy the diamond through him, so that would be worth exploring.

 

[mrs-b]

@mrs-b can I ask if you found that you liked more than one VC ideal cuts or was it a particular one? I am seriously bummed I haven't seen one yet. I need to see one myself.

It was all of them. On paper, they *should* look the same as any other H&A. In the hand, they have a personality of their own. I owned a few of them, and they all had that je ne sais quoi. This will sound nutty...but they struck me as the Audrey Hepburn of diamonds - just a little more delicate, a little more feminine, a little finer.

You definitely need to see one, @LLJsmom.

 

[LLJsmom]

It was all of them. On paper, they *should* look the same as any other H&A. In the hand, they have a personality of their own. I owned a few of them, and they all had that je ne sais quoi. This will sound nutty...but they struck me as the Audrey Hepburn of diamonds - just a little more delicate, a little more feminine, a little finer.

You definitely need to see one, @LLJsmom.

Thank you for trying to explain. I think I know what you are trying to say, but I'm not sure. I would really like to visit Victor. I wish this pandemic was over... That is what is soooo hard. And I know I am trying to ask you to describe the indescribable. I'm going to bug with more questions. Were the sparkles everywhere? Were they varied in size? Did you see much coming from under the table? Were they multicolored? Were they less "flashy" compared to CBIs? Was it edge to edge? I don't want to derail this OP's thread. Would you like to comment in the thread I just started about what you look for in MRBs? Thanks @mrs-b !

 

[NicoleNeedsHelp]

Thank you for trying to explain. I think I know what you are trying to say, but I'm not sure. I would really like to visit Victor. I wish this pandemic was over... That is what is soooo hard. And I know I am trying to ask you to describe the indescribable. I'm going to bug with more questions. Were the sparkles everywhere? Were they varied in size? Did you see much coming from under the table? Were they multicolored? Were they less "flashy" compared to CBIs? Was it edge to edge? I don't want to derail this OP's thread. Would you like to comment in the thread I just started about what you look for in MRBs? Thanks @mrs-b !

You’re not derailing my thread at all! I love this conversation because it is helping me make a decision. I have a surprise— I will be able to post photos of the CBI v VC stones tomorrow. I will be able to get both stones in the same location and photograph them tomorrow afternoon—that way, everyone can decide which stone is best for their own tastes (Including me). I haven’t seen a CBI v VC side by side on PS before. If such a thread exists, someone point it out to me please.

 

[NicoleNeedsHelp]

By fall through, I meant the idea of upgrading with them. In other words, I meant were you getting the diamond elsewhere - which you are.

Re the price of the setting, I believe VC gives a 10% discount on his settings when you buy the diamond through him, so that would be worth exploring.

Oh, sorry- I misunderstood. David looked for stones and we spent an afternoon looking at various stones. He did a great job, but none of the stones worked for me. There was a contender, but it was GIA XXX and priced at almost super ideal rates. I decided to spend a bit more and get the super ideal or I would regret it forever. David and Amy have spent so many hours with me and are so very generous with their time and knowledge.

 

[mrs-b]

Oh, sorry- I misunderstood. David looked for stones and we spent an afternoon looking at various stones. He did a great job, but none of the stones worked for me. There was a contender, but it was GIA XXX and priced at almost super ideal rates. I decided to spend a bit more and get the super ideal or I would regret it forever. David and Amy have spent so many hours with me and are so very generous with their time and knowledge.

A GIA XXX can be a 'super ideal' cut stone. That's just a function of who grades it. 'Super ideal' isn't actually a category and just refers to a tighter set of cut statistics than a regular GIA XXX. But there's plenty of super ideal cut stones that are graded by the GIA, so it all comes down to the stats. Even the definition of super ideal is flexible, as various people use different parameters to define super ideal because, as I said, it isn't a formal definition / category.

Having said all that, tho, I think you're probably on the right track with where you're heading. You're talking about two terrific diamond suppliers in HPD and VC, so you really can't go wrong. I'm a huge, long term supporter of DKJ and have done as many projects with them as anyone on PriceScope. But even I think you'd be well placed to go with VC as his work is, as others have said, next level.

I think this is a really exciting project and will give you a jewel of heirloom quality. Looking forward very much to seeing your finished piece! Good luck and happy hunting!

 

[Polabowla]

Looking forward to seeing the 2 side by side!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

A hearts and arrows diamond is a hearts and arrows diamond whether it comes from VC, HPD, or Whiteflash, etc. I get kind of tired of these brand comparisons, because no two diamonds are exactly alike! If two true H@A diamonds had the exact same size, color, clarity and cut (angles, table, depth, light return images the same), they would look just alike. When comparing two diamonds that are both superideal cut but have different measurements, color, clarity, etc, then you will be choosing based on personal preference on various factors, not a brand. All of these companies sell stones from cutting facilities that specialize in cutting H&A diamonds. Period. You have the evidence based on the light return images if they are true H&A cut. You might like a stone with higher color or a larger table, etc. All of that is just personal preference.

I have seen a lot of H&A diamonds at PS get togethers, etc. and you certainly can't look at someone's diamond and know which vendor it came from unless you recognize a setting. I am sure I'd be happy with any H&A stone that met my preferences on specs. Over the years I have mainly stuck with Whiteflash because they usually have the best selection which has worked out well for me as I upgraded my studs several times. But to address grading, my very first H&A stone was from Jonathan, and it was GIA graded because that H&A cutter preferred GIA. So when you are lucky enough to have a choice of two stones that meet your preferences, you just choose whichever one you like best (and if they are the same, choose the cheaper one!). I really hate for you to post them for comments here, because we cannot tell from a picture as well as you can tell from seeing the stones in person, and it would be a true shame for us to influence your decision.

 

[Bonfire]

A hearts and arrows diamond is a hearts and arrows diamond whether it comes from VC, HPD, or Whiteflash, etc. I get kind of tired of these brand comparisons, because no two diamonds are exactly alike! If two true H@A diamonds had the exact same size, color, clarity and cut (angles, table, depth, light return images the same), they would look just alike. When comparing two diamonds that are both superideal cut but have different measurements, color, clarity, etc, then you will be choosing based on personal preference on various factors, not a brand. All of these companies sell stones from cutting facilities that specialize in cutting H&A diamonds. Period. You have the evidence based on the light return images if they are true H&A cut. You might like a stone with higher color or a larger table, etc. All of that is just personal preference.

I have seen a lot of H&A diamonds at PS get togethers, etc. and you certainly can't look at someone's diamond and know which vendor it came from unless you recognize a setting. I am sure I'd be happy with any H&A stone that met my preferences on specs. Over the years I have mainly stuck with Whiteflash because they usually have the best selection which has worked out well for me as I upgraded my studs several times. But to address grading, my very first H&A stone was from Jonathan, and it was GIA graded because that H&A cutter preferred GIA. So when you are lucky enough to have a choice of two stones that meet your preferences, you just choose whichever one you like best (and if they are the same, choose the cheaper one!). I really hate for you to post them for comments here, because we cannot tell from a picture as well as you can tell from seeing the stones in person, and it would be a true shame for us to influence your decision.

Excellent post @diamondseeker2006 !

 

[NicoleNeedsHelp]

A special thank you to all of you for your advice and input. I’ve learned so much from PS in the last 6 months. What a joy it is to be a member of a forum where people can chat and share experiences. Without PS, I would have never found the wonderful vendors that I’m talking to. I appreciate all of you!

 

[munchee]

As many of you know, I’m on the hunt for a center stone of 2.1- 2.3 carats, G or H color. So, I’ve been talking to the popular vendors here on PS. I am going to get a super ideal stone.

Here is where I am— I have in my possession a HPD, 2 carat H color. It is a beauty. I have 21 days to decide to keep it or not. But, since this is such a BIG purchase, I decided to go and see Victor Canera today. I went to Victor’s shop and he spent about 2 1/2 hours with me discussing 4 potential diamonds that he has. All of the diamonds I saw today are in his H&A collection.

From my perspective, his stones held their own against HPD. I thought I would immediately see a difference between the HPD and the VC stones, but I didn’t. In fact, I found myself shocked because I think I like Victor‘s stones more and I was not expecting that.

I was so involved in my conversation with Victor that I forgot to take pics. However, I have posted videos of my HPD stone and I will soon have pics of the competing VC stone (because I forgot to take them, I called Victor and he is emailing me some pics/video). I can kick myself for not taking a video side by side.

Anyone here ever selected a VC over HPD? I think I am down to 2 final contenders - the HPD and VC. (I have contacted WF, but they don’t have anything in my desired budget and color/clarity range in their current inventory). It seems like HPD always wins, but I didn’t find that to be true in my opinion. Thoughts?

Edited to add- both of the stones are very similar (2.12 v 2.23, one is an H and one is a G, both VS1).

If you know which one you like more, I think you’ve found your answer. If its prettier in you eyes then don’t care about what everyone else think/like more coz you’re the one who’s going to stare at it everyday