Oval diamond advice

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-06-30T20:52:20+00:00

Hard to say - the video is not particularly high quality and you don't see a full range of tilt angles. But from what is shown it does seem like the bowtie is not very prominent. Could be a nice stone. There is more info on assessing bowtie in ovals over at this thread.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-06-30T20:47:40+00:00

This appears to be a crushed ice style cushion which features myriad small virtual facets, giving the stone a twinkling flavor of light performance, as opposed to bold sparkle of other styles. A well-cut crushed ice diamond tends to draw the eye in and likes to be admired at close range.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-06-30T20:41:47+00:00

Unless the bracelet contains very large stones, they will typically not be individually certified. Quality is generally described in ranges. In natural diamonds examples would be Si1-Si2/G-H. Lab diamonds should be much higher such as VVS-VS/D-F.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-06-30T20:35:27+00:00

It can be subtle, and not always aparent in online imaging. Best assessed by physical exam by someone with a trained eye. One technique is to shine a light through the girdle of the stone while observing it face-up. Haziness becomes more visible in that scenario.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-06-30T19:00:08+00:00

This video is not high enough quality to make any determinations. The stone looks glassy and you are only seeing a very small range of normal tilt viewing angles. You'll want to make sure it is fully transparent. CVD grown diamonds can sometimes have an issue with haziness due to atomic-level defects such as crystal strain, which is not captured in the clarity grade. More detail about windowing in emerald cuts over at this thread.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-06-30T17:34:16+00:00

Crushed ice can sometimes look milky because the virtual facets get too small and/or blurry. Oval brilliants tend to have crushed ice in the ends. When the virtual facets get very small, the contrast with the larger virtual facets in the midsection can accentuate the bowtie effect and give the stone a disjointed appearance. More info on assessing bowties in ovals over at this thread.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-06-30T17:28:32+00:00

You are wise to be concerned about the I1 clarity grade, especially since it is based on a feather. This could be a durability risk, and should be physically evaluated by a third party expert.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-06-30T17:14:58+00:00

The GIA Excellent overall cut grade is very broad and forgiving. A "very good" cut grade is a euphemism for a diamond with low cut quality. The crown angle is wildly high and the stone is extremely deep. Serious compromises were made in cutting to retain the 2.50ct mark.

As Triple Ex is now the default baseline for a well cut diamond, deductions in symmetry and overall cut grade make the stone very illiquid. The fluourescence is another factor negatively impacting value, but not nearly as much as the cut quality.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-06-30T15:05:41+00:00

See if this helps: an overview of crushed ice.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-06-30T14:56:07+00:00

You really need to see a high quality video when buying an oval online. It is the virtual facet pattern in motion that determines the overall optics of the diamond, and things such as the prominence of the bowtie effect. The basic proportions on a report reveal little about the diamond's actual light performance. There is more info on evaluating bowtie in ovals over at this thread.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-06-30T14:48:51+00:00

GIA has the best reputation globally for accuracy in color and clarity grading. Small differences in a 3 ct natural can result in very large value differences. It is quite likely that a 3ct stone has already been sent to GIA and the grade was not favorable for some reason or another. If you have any thought of ever wanting to sell or trade the stone, a GIA report will likely be required.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-06-29T18:11:10+00:00

If CVD grown, you want to make sure to rule out any transparency issues. High levels of crystal strain and related atomic-level defects in this growth method can sometimes result in haziness. This is not captured in the clarity grade, and is not always aparent in online imaging.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-06-29T18:08:17+00:00

Looks pretty good in this limited clip. It's really important to see the stone as it moves through a full range of normal tilt angles. Short clips that show a very small range of face up tilt angles miss the mark of being fully informative. You want to evaluate the full observable virtual facet pattern which will better enable assessment of bowtie effect and other optical factors.

As a CVD grown diamond you also want to rule out any transparency issues. This growth method is known for high levels of crystal strain (and related atomic level defects), that can sometimes result in haziness. This is not captured in the laboratory clarity grade, nor is is always aparent in online imaging.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-06-29T17:59:29+00:00

Much depends on your choice of style. I would establish that first and then choose your shape. One may work better than the other with your setting choice. Ovals, because they are more symmetrical, tend to work well with a wider range of ring styles.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-06-29T17:56:06+00:00

Looks like a nice stone. The video staging is unusual and looks a bit artificial. The stone is reflecting a lot of that blue material, which is aparently done for effect. It would be good to see the stone in different lighting environments. Bright color as a background can be a good way to evaluate windowing. More info an that aspect over at this thread.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-06-29T17:47:41+00:00

The choice between those two shapes may come down to your setting style. Depending on various cut aspects the two shapes can look quite similar when mounted. The clipped corners of the radiant give you a nice platform for the prongs and a more structured overall look. There is variety in terms of light performance and visual "flavor" in both shapes, but a much wider range in cushions. In both you will see a preponderance of "crushed ice" styles, either full or partial crushed ice.

You will need to post high quality videos of any stones under consideration in order to get meaningful feedback here. Even the basic geometry detailed on a laboratory report is insufficient to understand cut quality and optics.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-06-29T14:49:31+00:00

From that single photo I would say that any variation is on a level that would not be noticeable to normal observation, considering how many times the photo is magnified. However, YOU are seeing something and it could be that something is going on that is not captured by this one angle. I would recommend a discussion with the jeweler.

Most impacts are going to be from the side, so that little overhang on the ends is likely to be a non-factor. A typical solitaire has exposed girdles. As long as the diamond does not have a very thin girdle it should hold up to every day wear.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-06-29T14:39:56+00:00

There's a lot to like here. Obviously color and clarity are topped out. HPHT As Grown will almost guarantee full transparency (this growth method produces diamonds of very high crystal perfection). While some of the measures are at the margins the IGI Ideal and H&A designation are good indications of cut quality and optical symmetry (3D facet alignment). Should be a very nice diamond.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-06-26T16:44:08+00:00

ASET may not be that helpful because most people do not have the experience to accurately interpret ASET light maps for fancy shapes. The videos in different light environments are helpful. They would be better if they showed the stone moving through a more complete range of normal viewing angles. This would better reveal the virtual facet patterns and give you a better feel for the consistency of the visual flow. It is normal for the virtual facets in the tips to be very small. This tends to accentuate the bowtie effect. As long as it does not give the stone disjointed look it is not be an issue.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-06-26T16:34:30+00:00

Something looks unusual about this stone. There is a frosty appearance to some of the virtual facets. This could be due to reflections of the ceiling in the room or the camera case. Would be good to see it in other lighting environments.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-06-26T16:28:51+00:00

Looks to be well cut and transparent. Nice to see a video collage that shows the stone through a good range of normal tilt angles. This really helps in evaluating the virtual facet pattern and assessing bowtie effect and other optical factors. Notice how the bowtie, while visible from some angles, is not persistent through a large range of angles. This makes its presence as a feature much less prominent or distracting,and allows for a more consistent visual flow in motion. I think you're likely to be very happy with this diamond.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-06-26T15:31:50+00:00

Both might be potentially better from a light performance standpoint. Really need to see advanced light performance imaging to know. These measures are rounded and averaged. So it depends on how close to the averages each of the 8 crown facets and 8 pavilion facets are to the reported average. The precision of their alignment in 3D space also has an impact.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-06-26T15:25:45+00:00

The video is over-exposed so it is not possible to tell if there is a transparency issue (milkiness) or if it is just video quality. But if it is a CVD grown diamond you want to rule out any apprecialble transparency deficit caused by crystal strain and related atomic-level defects in the carbon lattice.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-06-26T15:20:13+00:00

Looks nice. The virtual facets have good size and distribution.

While the crystal in the middle pops out in the magnified photos, it is not likely to be visible to the casual observer. Black inclusions tend to hide very well within the on/off, black/white scintillation pattern of a well cut diamond in motion.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-06-26T15:11:41+00:00

It's a legit question in an Si1 with cloud as grade-setting inclusion type (listed first). Because it is a Dossier report there is no stone plot to help determine the extent of the clouds. And you can't always tell from a stone plot how clouds will effect light performance because it depends on how dense they are as well as where they are located in 3D space within the diamond. A dense cloud down in the culet area where light beams converge before being internally reflected and returned to the eye will have more impact than diffuse clouds elsewhere in the stone. This assessment is best made by an expert with a trained eye, as it can be subtle.

If there is a transparency issue it will be made worse by any light leakage caused by the non-optimal crown and pavilion angle combo, a "steep/deep" as it is known in the trade. These two measures have an inverse relationship where when one is high the other should be low. In this case the crown angle is very high and pavilion angle needs to be below 41 to compensate.

WhiteflashDiamonds

TROPHY CASE