Would you exchange from 2.53 to 2.06 ct but higher color, clarity and super ideal parameters??

[diamondseeker2006]

There is a way to post videos, but I have never done it! @LLJsmom can tell you how!

I love the size, too! Your camera (or phone) is likely reflecting in the stone and causing the darker areas, so as long as you don't see that with your eyes when there's no camera, you should be good! You want white light, sparkles, and some colored reflections, as well. The arrows are skinny and shouldn't be as pronounced. That's a personal preference thing.

Once you can post videos we might be able to say more. So far it looks promising, though!

 

[rogue]

Shrinkage is so real, I'd go as big as you can if you're still dazzled by the stone!

 

[Dididudu16]

There is a way to post videos, but I have never done it! @LLJsmom can tell you how!

I love the size, too! Your camera (or phone) is likely reflecting in the stone and causing the darker areas, so as long as you don't see that with your eyes when there's no camera, you should be good! You want white light, sparkles, and some colored reflections, as well. The arrows are skinny and shouldn't be as pronounced. That's a personal preference thing.

Once you can post videos we might be able to say more. So far it looks promising, though!

The darker area is from my phone when I was taking the pic. It sure is hard to capture a good photo. I took another one while it’s in the box and seems to look whiter.

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

I think if you upload the video to YouTube with an account that does not have your real name to it, you can post the link here. Or you can post a video through imgur as well I believe. The nice thing with imgur is that you don’t need an account if all you want is a photo/video sharing link.

As for the stone - I’m no expert but I think it looks very nice in the pics! The size is great, and I think that would be the most visible difference in your day to day tbh. You want a mix of white light and coloured light, and actually if you prefer white light return a 60-60ish style usually favours that. I think it’s very pretty in pics and if you love it in person then you should 100% stick with it! What do you think of the colour and clarity - does the stone appear bright icy white to you? Can you see any inclusions when it’s on your hand? If it all checks out I would stick with this instead of going smaller!

 

[Dididudu16]

@AllAboardTheBlingTrain Thank you for your suggestion! Hopefully I have done this correctly, I don’t know if I took the video under the correct lighting and whether the amount of fire could be seen. I took this video under a led lamp. After wearing it for half a day I think the table is slight big, it’s probably the biggest I can live with. The diamond sure is bright and white under almost all lighting conditions but my biggest concern is the amount of colored lights. I don’t know if anyone could tell me if the amount of colored lights(fire, scintillation?) is considered descent/excellent based on the video? Thank you all again!

https://imgur.com/a/tOegsLB

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

@AllAboardTheBlingTrain Thank you for your suggestion! Hopefully I have done this correctly, I don’t know if I took the video under the correct lighting and whether the amount of fire could be seen. I took this video under a led lamp. After wearing it for half a day I think the table is slight big, it’s probably the biggest I can live with. The diamond sure is bright and white under almost all lighting conditions but my biggest concern is the amount of colored lights. I don’t know if anyone could tell me if the amount of colored lights(fire, scintillation?) is considered descent/excellent based on the video? Thank you all again!

https://imgur.com/a/tOegsLB

I’m afraid I can’t see the video - it doesn’t work for me. Maybe someone else will be able to confirm if the video is working?

 

[Dididudu16]

I’m afraid I can’t see the video - it doesn’t work for me. Maybe someone else will be able to confirm if the video is working?

@AllAboardTheBlingTrain Does it work now? I had it hidden but I thought as long as I share the link it could be viewed. I just changed it to public.

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

@AllAboardTheBlingTrain Does it work now? I had it hidden but I thought as long as I share the link it could be viewed. I just changed it to public.

Usually it can be viewed when the link is shared even if it’s hidden. But it still doesn’t work - the video doesn’t have a play button and when I click on it it just opens the imgur app on my phone but not the video itself :/

 

[LLJsmom]

I can see the video. Under this lighting, i don't see much colorful flashes, but it might be the room and the lighting. My guess is that the lighting and room color are not quite right. It's an E but it looks tinted to me, so I am guessing the walls, your clothes, the color of your iphone case, something is causing it to look warm. Can you take more videos around the house? Let me see if I can post a video for you tomorrow so you can see see the kinds of videos that are helpful.

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

@AllAboardTheBlingTrain Does it work now? I had it hidden but I thought as long as I share the link it could be viewed. I just changed it to public.

btw I just tried from my computer and its working! So perhaps the issue is with phones / my phone particularly.

 

[Dididudu16]

I can see the video. Under this lighting, i don't see much colorful flashes, but it might be the room and the lighting. My guess is that the lighting and room color are not quite right. It's an E but it looks tinted to me, so I am guessing the walls, your clothes, the color of your iphone case, something is causing it to look warm. Can you take more videos around the house? Let me see if I can post a video for you tomorrow so you can see see the kinds of videos that are helpful.

@LLJsmom to be safe I changed my shirt and took off my red cell phone case this time. Hopefully it looks better? I took three videos, one in the bathroom with white light, one in the kitchen under yellow light, and the other in living room under slight sunlight. Hopefully these new videos can do this diamond some justice.

https://imgur.com/a/dADztbd

 

[munchee]

It looks white imo, the color doesn’t seems like a concern. What about the light performance? Are you happy about how it sparks? Can’t see any sparkle in both videos, does it have good sparks in real life?

 

[Dididudu16]

It looks white imo, the color doesn’t seems like a concern. What about the light performance? Are you happy about how it sparks? Can’t see any sparkle in both videos, does it have good sparks in real life?

I’m still trying to observe. I do see a bunch of colored lights under certain lightings. The last videos I posted has three separate videos, it shows under different lighting conditions. Probably shows more under the bathroom light and living room. I see a lot of colorful facets inside the diamond when I’m inside the house even without strong light but as for sparkle I think it’s very good but not excellent? I dk I could be wrong, I’m still learning.

 

[daisygrl]

I’m still trying to observe. I do see a bunch of colored lights under certain lightings. The last videos I posted has three separate videos, it shows under different lighting conditions. Probably shows more under the bathroom light and living room. I see a lot of colorful facets inside the diamond when I’m inside the house even without strong light but as for sparkle I think it’s very good but not excellent? I dk I could be wrong, I’m still learning.

You can only see fire if the diamond faces direct sun light. You had that in the third video. The fire also depends on what angle sun hits the stone and how intense sun is. Your diamond appears to have fire as well as brilliance. It looks good.

For the fire, try to hold it under a direct sunlight and play with it. You will see more fire that way.

 

[Dididudu16]

You can only see fire if the diamond faces direct sun light. You had that in the third video. The fire also depends on what angle sun hits the stone and how intense sun is. Your diamond appears to have fire as well as brilliance. It looks good.

For the fire, try to hold it under a direct sunlight and play with it. You will see more fire that way.

@daisygrl Thank you for your comment. I remember reading in one of the previous posts that there are no bad diamonds when seen under direct sunlight/spotlight? I sure do see a lot of fire when it’s under the sunlight but I’m not sure what else to look for when it’s under normal lighting? It’s been bright and white and I see colorful facets without any direct light, is that enough? Could it be considered as an excellent performing diamond then?

 

[daisygrl]

@daisygrl Thank you for your comment. I remember reading in one of the previous posts that there are no bad diamonds when seen under direct sunlight/spotlight? I sure do see a lot of fire when it’s under the sunlight but I’m not sure what else to look for when it’s under normal lighting? It’s been bright and white and I see colorful facets without any direct light, is that enough? Could it be considered as an excellent performing diamond then?

"There are no bad diamonds when seen under direct sunlight?" Um... sure, they are! They do not produce as much fire, can appear dull, lifeless...etc. There are no bad diamonds in the actual jewelry store because of the special and expensive lightning that they use inside. All diamonds sparkle inside the store until you bring them outside.

It is a nice stone, not sure if I would call it "an excellent performing." I know BN offers Astor cut where they vent the stones a bit more rigorously than their regular 3x - in case you are interested in "best of the best" from BN. Even those are not all "created equal" when it comes to performance. Also, they do not provide any advanced images on those either.

You can always check your stone yourself with ASET or IS.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I think it looks good! Honestly, it's most accurate to give an opinion when seeing in person. That type cut is very appealing to people who appreciate the larger diameter, and the 59 table also will make it a nice bright stone. People often are a little disappointed when they get a superideal cut stone, because they expect it to be a disco ball or something! Really, lighting is the key to any diamond looking good. The stone you have is nicely cut and better than most you'd ever find in a typical jewelry store. Some of us have had superideal cuts, so it would be hard for us to go backward to a stone that is in the top tenth percentile versus the top 3% (an example, not necessarily exact). I think you need to wear it and look at it and decide if you love it. Don't let us influence you either way. The stone looks good and I don't see anything glaringly wrong or else I'd tell you. An E is a fabulous color and will be very beautiful in a nicely cut stone!

 

[Groovy Chick]

That is one stunning diamond.

Oh the endless chase to get to the end of the rainbow and own the perfect diamond. My friend said to me on the phone yesterday, 'The perfect diamond is the one you don't have." My fiance and I first purchased a diamond back in 2003. I've upgraded twice since, and I'm adamant this will be my last E-ring.

Honestly, I would stick with that 2.53 ct E. All these differences in colour, clarity, cut etc are miniscule. You know the specs are good. Now take a look at your diamond in all different lighting situations including the diffused light under trees on both a sunny and cloudy day (where diamonds are at their best IMO). If you love it, buy it. You can waste so much lifetime getting hung up on these microscopic differences in diamonds and endlessly searching for a 'super high quality diamond according to specifications'. IMO, yes diamonds need to be graded so the consumer knows what they are buying, but diamonds are viewed with the naked eye in all different conditions, so if a diamond passes those tests and I'm in love with it, then it's a super high quality diamond according to ME. The wearer's opinion is the one that matters most.

My recent upgrade? Brace yourself...

Both round brilliants: From a 1.53 E SI1 Very Good cut to a 2.03 H I1 Very Good cut. I am over the freaking moon with my new ring. It's the prettiest E-ring I've ever seen. It's eye-clean, and I swear the "crystals throughout" are actually enhancing its sparkle. I saw it in the shop, fell in LOVE with it, then read the specs and laughed out loud. Then bought it.

I've never loved a ring so much. I swear the best way to choose a diamond is to just pick one in a jewellery store THEN look at the specs.

Anyway, having said all that, if deep down you don't think you'll be happy, then keep searching, but remember life is short, and there will always be a better diamond out there

 

[MsShnooks]

It seems like a really lovely diamond. In terms of deciding if it’s sparkly enough, I’d probably take it to a high end jeweller to see how it compares next to their jewellery. If it looks like it could as well be from there, I’d be very happy to keep it and would stop overthinking it.

 

[Dididudu16]

That is one stunning diamond.

Oh the endless chase to get to the end of the rainbow and own the perfect diamond. My friend said to me on the phone yesterday, 'The perfect diamond is the one you don't have." My fiance and I first purchased a diamond back in 2003. I've upgraded twice since, and I'm adamant this will be my last E-ring.

Honestly, I would stick with that 2.53 ct E. All these differences in colour, clarity, cut etc are miniscule. You know the specs are good. Now take a look at your diamond in all different lighting situations including the diffused light under trees on both a sunny and cloudy day (where diamonds are at their best IMO). If you love it, buy it. You can waste so much lifetime getting hung up on these microscopic differences in diamonds and endlessly searching for a 'super high quality diamond according to specifications'. IMO, yes diamonds need to be graded so the consumer knows what they are buying, but diamonds are viewed with the naked eye in all different conditions, so if a diamond passes those tests and I'm in love with it, then it's a super high quality diamond according to ME. The wearer's opinion is the one that matters most.

My recent upgrade? Brace yourself...

Both round brilliants: From a 1.53 E SI1 Very Good cut to a 2.03 H I1 Very Good cut. I am over the freaking moon with my new ring. It's the prettiest E-ring I've ever seen. It's eye-clean, and I swear the "crystals throughout" are actually enhancing its sparkle. I saw it in the shop, fell in LOVE with it, then read the specs and laughed out loud. Then bought it.

I've never loved a ring so much. I swear the best way to choose a diamond is to just pick one in a jewellery store THEN look at the specs.

Anyway, having said all that, if deep down you don't think you'll be happy, then keep searching, but remember life is short, and there will always be a better diamond out there

@Groovy Chick Congratulations on your upgrade! And I’m glad you are in love with your new ring! Yes you are definitely correct, there is always a perfect diamond out there, and the chase is never ending. Lol But that’s what makes diamond searching so interesting IMO lol. Even the slightest difference in combinations and angles could result in a huge impact on light performance. It’s like a black hole just draws me in. I still have ALOT to learn. But I agree with you, my chase stops here (for now? Lol)
Thanks everyone for your feedback, I truly appreciate it! I will stick with the 2.53, it hasn’t disappointed me in anyway after wearing it for two whole days. It’s a very white and bright diamond under almost all lightings, I see a lot of sparkle and fire under direct light. I’m in love with the size. I don’t know what else to complain about. Now it’s time to start another thread in show me the bling!

 

[yyc_la_signa]

"There are no bad diamonds when seen under direct sunlight?" Um... sure, they are! They do not produce as much fire, can appear dull, lifeless...etc. There are no bad diamonds in the actual jewelry store because of the special and expensive lightning that they use inside. All diamonds sparkle inside the store until you bring them outside.

It is a nice stone, not sure if I would call it "an excellent performing." I know BN offers Astor cut where they vent the stones a bit more rigorously than their regular 3x - in case you are interested in "best of the best" from BN. Even those are not all "created equal" when it comes to performance. Also, they do not provide any advanced images on those either.

You can always check your stone yourself with ASET or IS.

I just upgraded to a Astor diamond with Blue Nile. It’s a I VS2. It’s pretty amazing but I still don’t think it’s at the ACA level. I was a bit bothered by the slight tint in some lighting. I will see if I can upload some shots so people can see.

 

[Dididudu16]

I just upgraded to a Astor diamond with Blue Nile. It’s a I VS2. It’s pretty amazing but I still don’t think it’s at the ACA level. I was a bit bothered by the slight tint in some lighting. I will see if I can upload some shots so people can see.

@yyc_la_signa are you thinking about exchanging? My original diamond was Astor and I wanted to upgrade to one as well however I’ve wait for almost a year and didn’t see anything I like so I decided to pick one out of the ideal.

 

[Dididudu16]

Another interesting thing I’ve noticed is that this diamond doesn’t go dark/darker like my original Astor does in some lightings. Probably it’s because of the shallower depth and crown angle?? And maybe the sparkle is not as colorful/intense (not sure if it’s the correct description) as my original one but I still see plenty. It’s also bigger and brighter, so i guess it compensates. Not saying I dislike it, just something I’ve noticed. It still impresses me every single time when I look at it.

 

[daisygrl]

I just upgraded to a Astor diamond with Blue Nile. It’s a I VS2. It’s pretty amazing but I still don’t think it’s at the ACA level. I was a bit bothered by the slight tint in some lighting. I will see if I can upload some shots so people can see.

True, Astor diamonds are not at the ACA level but it is top of the line for BN - in case OP wants "best of the best" but is "stuck" with BN.

 

[yyc_la_signa]

@Nancy Z congrats on your upgrade. I just upgraded too with BN. It’s such a journey. Waiting for the diamond is so hard.

In the end I choose size over color. And dropped to an I. It’s warm in some environments but overall it’s shows up pretty white.

I think DSS is for real and you’ll enjoy your diamond. As long as you love it. That’s all that matters. I would have preferred an ACA but I ended up going BN because we already spent $$$!

Congrats on your ROCK! Because that’s what it is. Huge

 

[yyc_la_signa]

True, Astor diamonds are not at the ACA level but it is top of the line for BN - in case OP wants "best of the best" but is "stuck" with BN.

Lol! That was me. I really got tired of looking at stones. I ordered one with perfect numbers and it was a dud. So then I decided to go Astor. My current one is good. It’s grown on me.

 

[yyc_la_signa]

@yyc_la_signa are you thinking about exchanging? My original diamond was Astor and I wanted to upgrade to one as well however I’ve wait for almost a year and didn’t see anything I like so I decided to pick one out of the ideal.

I think I am going to keep it. It’s very sparkly and firey. I’ve been looking for almost 6 months and it went on sale so I bought it.

 

[Dididudu16]

I think I am going to keep it. It’s very sparkly and firey. I’ve been looking for almost 6 months and it went on sale so I bought it.

@yyc_la_signa Yes! There were a lot of Astor went on sale back in Dec, I was debating between this one and another Astor but decided to go with this one. I’d love to see a pic of yours, as long as you love it that’s the most important! I’m sure it’s beautiful!