Would you recommend this Center Oval Stone? (Link Provided)

[Cutiger26]

Hello All,

I am new to posting, but I am not new to this website. I have been on what seems like a never ending quest to find that "perfect" diamond (for my budget) anyways. I have done a TON of research and I have found a diamond that I would love your opinion on.

This will be the center stone to a three stone oval ring. I have not yet selected the sides, but wanted to first get an opinion on the center. If I get approval from the "experts" on here, I will probably just have the online dealer, James Allen, select the side stones Please click on the following link for a picture and cert of the center oval. http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Oval-Diamond-1537010.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

I have done all the research on the "numbers", but have no clue how to visually tell if this is a good diamond. Unfortunately, I live in the middle of nowhere Alaska, and have to buy online. From reading other posts, it was recommended that I buy from an online dealer that has pictures. In this case it's James Allen.

Thanks for your help!

-Casey

 

[JulieN]

Re: Would you recommend this Center Oval Stone? (Link Provi

Here are some more, with different ratios and characteristics. Pick 3 or 4 that you like, and ask James Allen to select the best one.

 

[Gypsy]

Re: Would you recommend this Center Oval Stone? (Link Provi

No. It's got a terribly prominent bow tie.

There really are no numbers for ovals. I will see if I can fine a couple nice ones for you.

 

[JulieN]

Re: Would you recommend this Center Oval Stone? (Link Provi

Oops. Here is the link: http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds-search/?View=4&Tab=3&Comparison=1379741,1480358,1495289,1533484,1540766,1542527

 

[Gypsy]

Re: Would you recommend this Center Oval Stone? (Link Provi

PUT ON HOLD ask for ASET and Gemologist's recommendation for BRIGHTEST and BEST PERFORMING (no other criteria, specify this).
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VVS2-Good-Cut-Oval-Diamond-1508338.asp First choice, but not sure if it is in budget for you. But promises to be a strong performer with 8 main faceting.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-VS1-Very-Good-Cut-Oval-Diamond-1203735.asp Potentially nice 6 main faceted oval.

 

[Cutiger26]

Re: Would you recommend this Center Oval Stone? (Link Provi

Thanks for the help Gypsy. I thought that was a great diamond because of the numbers, ideal cut, and it was an 8 point. Now I understand why numbers can lie. You have to have an eye for it as well I guess. Is it possible the ASET image will yield a better result for that diamond than the picture shows?

The diamond is on hold, and I requested an ASET image and the brightest and best performing. I'll report back when they send me something.

The first one you sent is a little higher price wise than I would like but doable. Should I not worry about it being a "G" color? Also, I was hoping for a slightly higher/thinner LW ratio. Is it hard to tell the difference between this (1.2 and the one I chose (1.5)?

The second one, I worry about the medium blue fluorescence. I have read that a color of D will show a medium blue fluorescence more so than if it was a color of, lets say, G.

But, there I go again with citing back entirely way too much research.

Thanks again!

 

[JulieN]

Re: Would you recommend this Center Oval Stone? (Link Provi

ASET images for ovals are of limited usefulness, especially now that JA does them with a black background. Expect to see a lot of green mixed with white, and some red across the belly. I would just go with the JA staff recommendation.

G color is fine. But l/w ratio will be really apparent. Around 1.5 is the classic shape.

 

[Gypsy]

Re: Would you recommend this Center Oval Stone? (Link Provi

Length to width ratio is personal preference. Longer diamonds have a much higher chance of having a strong bowtie than fatter ones, since it is that very elongation that causes the bowtie effect.

I love 1.3 ratios or there abouts on ovals. I didn't set out to find you stones with that ratio. Just that the ones that looked nice happened to be a that ratio.

I don't think an ASET is useless. I think it has some merit. It's not the whole story, but it does tell a part and that is good. So I would get one.

I WOULD NOT rely soley on JA gemologist's recommendation. Some of them seem to look at factors other than straight performance (their personal preferences for shape and ratio), and to me the gemologist's viewpoint is another piece of the puzzle, not the puzzle itself.

TO ME, you take the regular picture. You take the ASET. And you take the gemologists comments. You weigh them together. And you come up with a decision. I think that's the best way to make a choice like this. Then you confirm it all in person (with a good return policy to back that up, and JA has one of the best return policies out there).

Since you get 3 stones to ASET and I suggested one, you certainly can add a third stone to your hold and pick whichever catches your eye for that!

The original one you picked is an 8 main. But it is SUPER shallow, and the l/w ratio is at 1.5 so it's showing a strong bow tie. So you did good by looking at the facet plot. But generally 8 main facet structures coupled with 64% depths or so are better at reducing the bowtie and getting better performance. So... no personally with that picture and that depth and l/w ratio, I wouldn't use up one of my ASETs on it as it's not a fluke, it's just fact.

Flourescence is case by case. There's no way to predict. Make sure you ask the gemologist to examine it for negative effects, if there are none that he sees you will be fine.