whiteflash v. hpdiamonds/infinity

[stuinkc]

greetings,

sorry if the title seems dramatic, i''m looking at two very similar rings and thought i''d ask for feedback and pros or cons if anybody can identify any. so, its a showdown hpdiamonds infinity vs whiteflash aca h&a, both rings are near identical in size at right 1.1carats, color j, clarity vs2, here''s the links and thoughts?

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-210382.htm#

http://www.highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=view-id-diamond-infinity&id=620

i''m not sure why, but, something makes me feel warm and fuzzy about infinity diamonds 80% buyback guarantee. Not that I would ever hope to be in that position, however, something makes you rest a little easier at night when you know the value is guaranteed like that. Otherwise, i''m torn, with the 5% wire discount at hpdiamonds, the costs are roughly identical. Its nitty gritty time, plan on buying this week.

 

[stuinkc]

whoops, sorry, not two rings, two diamonds... sorry about any confusion

 

[Lula]

You have two incredible choices there! Either of those two diamonds will be stunning -- no doubt. That said, I have to disclose my bias for Infinity diamonds (and working with Wink, too!). The Crafted by Infinity stones have a "look" to them that I find really attractive. The contrast is out of this world, which, to my eye, gives them a deep, complex look.

I also like the smaller table on the Infinity, too. And I too found the 80% buy-back guarantee to be comforting and I liked the upgrade policy.

I have not seen an ACA in person, so again, this is my biased review!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/15/2009 10:45:08 AM
Author: stuinkc
whoops, sorry, not two rings, two diamonds... sorry about any confusion

Both are gorgeous but you are also buying the vendor if that makes sense in my opinion, so if you like the Infinity buyback plan then thats the one to go for.

 

[neatfreak]

Both vendors are fabulous. If one has a setting you like I would also buy the diamond from that one just because it simplifies the process immensely!

 

[Ellen]

Date: 6/15/2009 10:39:48 AM
Author:stuinkc
greetings,

sorry if the title seems dramatic, i''m looking at two very similar rings and thought i''d ask for feedback and pros or cons if anybody can identify any. so, its a showdown hpdiamonds infinity vs whiteflash aca h&a, both rings are near identical in size at right 1.1carats, color j, clarity vs2, here''s the links and thoughts?

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-210382.htm#

http://www.highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=view-id-diamond-infinity&id=620

i''m not sure why, but, something makes me feel warm and fuzzy about infinity diamonds 80% buyback guarantee. Not that I would ever hope to be in that position, however, something makes you rest a little easier at night when you know the value is guaranteed like that. Otherwise, i''m torn, with the 5% wire discount at hpdiamonds, the costs are roughly identical. Its nitty gritty time, plan on buying this week.

I might be missing something, but if HPD is 5% off with discount, and so is the WF stone (it is), the WF stone will still be less. Right?

 

[Allison D.]

Ellen's right - our ACA stones carry a PS discount, too, and our standard buyback/trade-up policies.

Either way, you can't go wrong. Both are exceptional branded choices.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

You like the buyback policy--added value/peace of mind. I''ve purchased a few Infinity Diamonds and one ACA. Love them all.

Personally, ceteris paribus, I''d go with the less expensive stone.

cheers--Sharon

 

[stuinkc]

missed the discount on whiteflash, what the code or how is it applied?

 

[stuinkc]

anybody know how many aca h&a diamonds white flash manufactures a year?

 

[3Rocks]

Like sarap333, I am also an owner of Infinity diamond. The Infinity cut is more than gorgeous, it is spectacular. You won''t see anything but sparkles and brilliant with this stone. Even at the dimmest of light, you see nothing but sparkles sparkles sparkles. IMHO, you can''t go wrong with an Infinity diamond.

See mine at: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/infinity-diamond-rocks.117106/

Talk to Wink about the setting that you are interested in. He is fab to work with.

Again, I am biased as I have the Infinity diamond and I haven''t seen WF ACA in person. Good luck!

 

[Dreamer_D]

I believe that WF also has a 70% buyback within one year, but not lifetime. The 5% PS discount would be applied at the time you pay, best to call in and order.

Also, if you like these I think you need to ask to have them on hold while you decide... lurkers buy htings recommended on these boards all the time!

I own an ACA and it is stunning. BOTH of these brands are top of the line. So cut is not the deciding factor in my book. Have you chosen a setting? I am not as familiar with the settings that Wink provides, but can attest that the settings from WF are a-mazing quality. That may be the tipping point if you find a setting from either vendor that you like.

 

[Maisie]

I don''t think Whiteflash actually cut their diamonds. I think they buy them in. With Infinity you know that less than 1000 are cut every year. Thats a nice kind of exclusivity. (I don''t know if I spelled that correctly lol!).

 

[Ellen]

Date: 6/15/2009 2:26:56 PM
Author: dreamer_dachsie

I believe that WF also has a 70% buyback within one year, but not lifetime. The 5% PS discount would be applied at the time you pay, best to call in and order.

Also, if you like these I think you need to ask to have them on hold while you decide... lurkers buy htings recommended on these boards all the time!

I own an ACA and it is stunning. BOTH of these brands are top of the line. So cut is not the deciding factor in my book. Have you chosen a setting? I am not as familiar with the settings that Wink provides, but can attest that the settings from WF are a-mazing quality. That may be the tipping point if you find a setting from either vendor that you like.

Exactly.

So I agree, if one has the setting you want, that might make things easier. If not, I''d go with the less expensive myself, you can''t go wrong on the cut.

 

[Lula]

If you haven't already, send both vendors an e-mail and set up a time to talk to them personally.

As Lorelei (I think it was her!) said a few posts ago, you'll be developing a relationship with these vendors, so choose the one you feel more comfortable working with. You really will get a lovely stone either way, far above the quality of anything you'll see on most women's hands!

And ditto on the other posters comments about reserving the stones ASAP!!

 

[elle_chris]

Date: 6/15/2009 2:45:31 PM
Author: Maisie
I don't think Whiteflash actually cut their diamonds. I think they buy them in. With Infinity you know that less than 1000 are cut every year. Thats a nice kind of exclusivity. (I don't know if I spelled that correctly lol!).

Wink doesn't cut Infinity stones either.

The only difference between ACA's and Infinity is that Infinity sells to verious vendors while Whiteflash's ACA's are exclusive to Whiteflash. Both brands are top of the line.

While I don't normally promote any of the vendors here, I have to say that my WF aca's are drop dead gorgeous stones.

 

[Maisie]

Date: 6/15/2009 5:31:08 PM
Author: elle_chris

Date: 6/15/2009 2:45:31 PM
Author: Maisie
I don''t think Whiteflash actually cut their diamonds. I think they buy them in. With Infinity you know that less than 1000 are cut every year. Thats a nice kind of exclusivity. (I don''t know if I spelled that correctly lol!).

Wink doesn''t cut Infinity stones either.

The only difference between ACA''s and Infinity is that Infinity sells to verious vendors while Whiteflash''s ACA''s are exclusive to Whiteflash. Both brands are top of the line.

While I don''t normally promote any of the vendors here, I have to say that my WF aca''s are drop dead gorgeous stones.

I didn''t say Wink cut the diamonds. I said Infinity does.

 

[elle_chris]

Maisie- The only reason I mentioned Wink (but other dealers as well) is because you said WF doesn''t cut them, they buy them. So do the dealers that sell the infinity line. There''s no difference.

 

[Todd Gray]

I''ve looked at the details for both diamonds and while obviously biased towards the Infinity brand and my buddy Wink, I have to say that both diamonds look exceptional on paper and they are both wonderful candidates! How fortunate you are to have two very similar options to choose from! You know, they''d make a great pair of earrings if you''d like to buy both of them! That way everybody would be happy because you won''t have to choose between two gorgeous diamonds and two wonderful dealers

Wink is in Antwerp visiting Paul at Infinity Diamonds for the next 10 days, but I can walk you through the stone if you want to contact me through the office...

 

[elle_chris]

Date: 6/15/2009 6:43:18 PM
Author: Todd Gray
I''ve looked at the details for both diamonds and while obviously biased towards the Infinity brand and my buddy Wink, I have to say that both diamonds look exceptional on paper and they are both wonderful candidates! How fortunate you are to have two very similar options to choose from! You know, they''d make a great pair of earrings if you''d like to buy both of them! That way everybody would be happy because you won''t have to choose between two gorgeous diamonds and two wonderful dealers

Wink is in Antwerp visiting Paul at Infinity Diamonds for the next 10 days, but I can walk you through the stone if you want to contact me through the office...

There''s a fine line between promoting your goods and being helpful. I''m going to assume you''re just being helpful..

 

[Todd Gray]

Date: 6/15/2009 6:54:25 PM
Author: elle_chris

Date: 6/15/2009 6:43:18 PM

Author: Todd Gray

I''ve looked at the details for both diamonds and while obviously biased towards the Infinity brand and my buddy Wink, I have to say that both diamonds look exceptional on paper and they are both wonderful candidates! How fortunate you are to have two very similar options to choose from! You know, they''d make a great pair of earrings if you''d like to buy both of them! That way everybody would be happy because you won''t have to choose between two gorgeous diamonds and two wonderful dealers

Wink is in Antwerp visiting Paul at Infinity Diamonds for the next 10 days, but I can walk you through the stone if you want to contact me through the office...

There''s a fine line between promoting your goods and being helpful. I''m going to assume you''re just being helpful..

I mention that Wink is in Antwerp for the week merely because a reference was made to contacting Wink to discuss the diamond, otherwise I would not have mentioned it. I was actually trying to avoid confusion, but can see where it could be misinterpreted.

 

[stuinkc]

Thanks Todd

Actually I spoke to Wink today prior to his heading to the airport but I do have some questions, I will try and give you a call. And, if there is anyone from whiteflash, it would be helpful if you''d drop your name in here. i''m a young guy but was raised old fashioned in that I prefer a name and a handshake when doing business. Cant really do the handshake, so, a name would be helpful of who i could contact there other than customer service.

best regards and thank you to everyone that has posted.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 6/15/2009 7:08:16 PM
Author: stuinkc
Thanks Todd

Actually I spoke to Wink today prior to his heading to the airport but I do have some questions, I will try and give you a call. And, if there is anyone from whiteflash, it would be helpful if you''d drop your name in here. i''m a young guy but was raised old fashioned in that I prefer a name and a handshake when doing business. Cant really do the handshake, so, a name would be helpful of who i could contact there other than customer service.

best regards and thank you to everyone that has posted.

Allison D. is the whiteflash rep here on PS but she doesn''t sell stones. If you call up WF you will be connected with a representative who will introduce themselves by name and you can go from there! Maybe some here have recommendations.

 

[stuinkc]

cool. thank you.

 

[elle_chris]

I''d just call Vera at WF. She''s the sweetest most patient woman I''ve ever had the pleasure of working with. She''ll put you through to someone that can help.

 

[joelly]

Date: 6/15/2009 6:42:29 PM
Author: elle_chris
Maisie- The only reason I mentioned Wink (but other dealers as well) is because you said WF doesn''t cut them, they buy them. So do the dealers that sell the infinity line. There''s no difference.

Yeah, there is a difference.

Paul Slegers is the Infinity diamond cutter. He basically choose who sells his diamonds. Wink is one of his dealers.

Do you know who cut the WF diamond?

 

[elle_chris]

Date: 6/15/2009 7:46:14 PM
Author: joelly

Date: 6/15/2009 6:42:29 PM
Author: elle_chris
Maisie- The only reason I mentioned Wink (but other dealers as well) is because you said WF doesn''t cut them, they buy them. So do the dealers that sell the infinity line. There''s no difference.

Yeah, there is a difference.

Paul Slegers is the Infinity diamond cutter. He basically choose who sells his diamonds. Wink is one of his dealers.

Do you know who cut the WF diamond?

No, I never asked WF, who cuts their stones and I never asked GOG who cuts theirs either. I don''t need to. I know that these two vendors carry top of the line stones because I''ve purchased from them.
But based on all the rave reviews Infinity gets, I can safely assume that they''re in the top tier as well.

My point is that the consumer doesn''t buy from Infinity. You buy them from their dealer and you get the Infinity brand. How is that different from getting the ACA brand? Because Infinity''s cutter posts here and the other vendors cutters don''t?
That''s not really a good reason.

 

[Lord Summerisle]

i may be off the mark,

but i was under the impression that both Infinity and Whiteflash have special relationships with certain cutting houses which only cut Infinity stones or only cut Whiteflash stones to the particular parameters of the head cutter. ie Paul and who ever took over Brian Gavin''s role at WF oversee the diamond cutting done by others (in the main)

IE it was said back in the history of WF.. or back before WF was created Alpha Creations had their diamonds cut by several different cutting houses, but this was condensed into one specialist cutting house which only cut ACAs for WF to sell.

Where as Good Old Gold selects top notch stones via the main diamonds lists from lots of locations (thats why he stocks Canadian diamonds as well as other H&A and AGS 0/GIA excellent stones)

so i think to condense.

Cutting House A soley supplys stones to Whiteflash as per their cutting parameters to be sold by WF as ACA
Cutting House 1 soley supplys stones to Infinity as per Paul''s cutting parameters, diamonds as sold via a dealer network, by excellent vendors such as our Wee Willy Winky

here.

 

[glitterata]

One thing I loved when I bought my Infinity was how intimately Paul knows his stones. He remembered & told me all sorts of details about my diamond''s journey from a rough crystal to the Infinity on my finger: What country the rough was from, what else came in the parcel with it, what Paul hoped for when the cutter started work, how it came out, how the AGS lab graded it. In the case of my stone, the grade came back lower than Paul expected, which meant I got a great stone at a great price.

I also love knowing how serious Paul is about the ethics of his trade. It makes me confident that my diamond came to me humanely and did more help than harm to the people who handled it along the way.

That''s not to say that the people involved with Whiteflash diamonds don''t also know these things or don''t care about the ethics. I imagine they probably do. It''s just that we don''t hear as much from them about those issues.

 

[Todd Gray]

There are many excellent vendors to be found here on Price Scope and of the vendors I''ve seen mentioned on this thread I think we all share a similar passion for excellence and a commitment to our customers. You might be surprised at how much we interact with each other and share ideas, success stories and support one another through hard times... The super ideal sector of the market is an extremely small niche, so please don''t get caught up in who''s better and all that, we''re all striving to improve the diamond industry as a group. While I''m obviously a big fan of Paul''s Infinity production, after all, I''ve chosen to represent it and while it is true that Paul virtually hand selects his dealers - the relationship between a vendor and their dealers is synergistic and truly a two way street... but I am also a fan of a lot of my competitors and recommend them frequently to customers when we don''t happen to have what they are looking for - earlier today I referred one of our customers to Lesley & Brian at Brian Gavin Diamonds because they happen to have exactly what the customer is looking for and we don''t... And there are days when I refer people to White Flash and Good Old Gold - Jonathan and I had a wonderful conversation just last Friday and exchanged ideas about how to better present information via the web! The Price Scope vendor group is very closely knit and I mean it when I say that Stuinkc can''t go wrong by selecting either stone, I am confident that they are both gorgeous