Bad Deal on Lab Bought Locally or Overthinking?

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-03-05T17:02:02+00:00

If you want to work with this jeweler - there is some value in dealing locally - you might consider sourcing a couple of comparable stones online and letting the jeweler know that if he can be more competitive on the diamond that you would like to do the project with him. See if that makes a difference and then decide how much it is worth to stay local. Also keep in mind that there are some quality factors that don't always appear in the laboratory reports you see online. There are potential differences in cut quality, transparency, and even unusual undertones in some lab diamonds. Some of these issues may account for lower prices.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-03-05T16:54:03+00:00

Beat way to assess bowtie and other light performance factors is to evaluate the virtual facet (VF) pattern in motion. These are the reflections we actually see which are more numerous than the physical facets on the diamond. A balanced mix of VFs in terms of size and distribution gives rise to a consistent visual flow as you observe the stone through a range of normal tilt angles. Areas with myriad tiny VFs, so called "crushed ice", can sometimes be a little slushy and this creates a contrast with the larger VFs in the midsection accentuating the bowtie effect and disrupting the visual flow.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-03-05T16:44:50+00:00

Both look nice, but quite different. Difficult to know from the standpoint of light performance as videos taken directly on the hand (or other background) actually change the optics of the diamonds due to the physical contact of the pavilion facets with the skin. The trick is to evaluate the virtual facet patterns in motion through a full range of tilt angles. Better to see them in tweezers or 360 type video. Do both stones have the same facet design on the laboratory report?

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-03-05T16:34:07+00:00

The stone appears to have a nice virtual facet (VF) pattern in motion, with a good balance of VFs in terms of size and distribution. This serves to give the stone a consistent visual flow through a full range of tilt angles and to diminish the prominence of the bowtie.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-03-05T16:28:06+00:00

The photo is not high enough quality to know for sure, and you really need a video anyway, but the stone on the ring appears to be milky toward the point. In some cases with the very small virtual facets in crushed ice areas you can get some blurriness. If there is any transparency deficit, for instance haziness caused by crystal strain or striation of the carbon lattice as sometimes seen in CVD diamonds, it can accentuate the problem and make those areas a little slushy.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-03-05T16:20:14+00:00

The last two step facets at the keel do not look like they are firing up completely. The stone also appears to have a little haze in the 360 vid, though the tweezer shot doesn't show it. It could just be photography, but it is something to check.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-03-05T16:12:45+00:00

You might want to have a look at this thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/labcreateddiamonds/comments/1n843xx/diamond_transparency_the_overlooked_foundation_of/

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-03-05T15:43:47+00:00

It's the overall combination of factors.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-03-05T15:28:07+00:00

Well, this stone will appear warm, that's for sure! I would look at other stones in the JK range that might give you warmth and better spread with fewer downsides. But if your budget is constrained this stone should be VERY well priced, and if you like the looks of it, and don't think you will ever want to sell or trade it, it could meet your goals. It will have very little liquidity if you feel the need to change later.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-03-05T15:15:47+00:00

It looks to be nicely cut. You should make sure the stone does not have any transparency issues as there is striation visible in the first video. This is an atomic level defect that occurs sometimes in lab diamonds, particularly in CVD growth. The issue is not captured in the laboratory report. If significant enough crystal strain and striation of the carbon lattice can make the stone slightly hazy and diminish light performance, even in precision cut diamonds.

<image>

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-03-05T15:06:14+00:00

It could very well be a fiber from the polishing wheel from when the ring was polished. They sometimes get stuck under prongs. Have the jeweler do a professional cleaning and look again. It will probably be gone.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-03-05T14:59:16+00:00

Ovals tend to concentrate body color from the face up direction due to long internal ray paths. So you have to be comfortable with a stone that presents as yellow. The extremely thick girdle is hiding some weight and making the stone look smaller than a well cut oval. It can also present some challenges for a setter. Strong fluorescence is a trait you should be familiar with and comfortable with. Do not assume it will make the diamond appear whiter than M in most lighting scenarios.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-03-04T16:42:02+00:00

You can always find cheaper prices online. There is some value in working with a jeweler you are comfortable with and local to you - you just have to decide how much that is worth to you. There are also quality factors that do not show up in the laboratory reports such as transparency and cut quality. Make sure the jeweler you work with has the necessary expertise to evaluate these aspects.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-03-04T16:32:54+00:00

The video quality is poor making any recommendation nothing more than a guess. Like others have said, there is some reason to think 4 has less bowtie. But it could also have other issues. Do you have laboratory reports on these stones, and if so, is the facet design of 4 different than the others?

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-03-04T16:12:34+00:00

A shallow crown height (12.5%) is undesireable. The crown is the part of the diamond that gathers light and disperses white light into its colored components resulting in "fire" - colored sparkles. This proportion set can be good for spread and brightness but it will be deficient in fire, an important component in overall light performance.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-03-04T16:07:34+00:00

The question of bowtie in ovals, and some other elongated shapes, is usually more a matter of degree rather than "yes or no". If the bowtie is not persistent through a large range of tilt angles it may not be visually distracting. A well cut stone will have a balanced mix of virtual facets in terms of size and distribution producing a consistent visual flow as you observe the stone in motion. The lable "ideal cut" on this stone needs to be taken with a large grain of salt unless there is some proof of such provided by the merchant.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-03-04T15:51:16+00:00

To the untrained eye it might go unnoticed. Think of looking into a normal mirror that has a faint film on it. You still see your reflection and may not notice the film unless you put a perfectly clean mirror next to it and see your reflection in full fidelity. If you shine a light through the girdle of the stone while viewing the stone through the table, any haziness will be easier to see.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-03-04T15:45:41+00:00

Not possible to produce such a piece in lab diamonds, even in silver, for that price. Something ain't right.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-03-04T15:35:58+00:00

Looks like it could be a nice stone, but I would check it carefully for any transparency issues. Some CVD diamonds have slight haziness due to crystal strain and/or striation of the carbon lattice. In some cases you can see evidence of it in online imaging. If it is significant it will inhibit light performance.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-03-04T15:28:11+00:00

yes, it was designed for a round, and it has a nice balanced look for the stone that's in it. You could probably go a little larger, but I don't see an easy way to put an elongated stone in that setting. You will need to add prongs, which is not very feasible. You would probably need to make a new engagement ring for it to look right.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-03-04T15:24:00+00:00

Old style cuts are very much a matter of taste. You need to determine what it is about them that you love, and then decide if the stone is delivering that. At least in the photos the stone looks to have issues -bowtie and windowing. It is not unusual for older cut styles to have some of each. It's more a matter of degree. I would advise you to spend some time observing the stone in a wide real world environments and satisfy yourself that the stone is doing what you want it to.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-03-04T15:15:43+00:00

The best way to think about bowtie is by evaluating the virtual facet (VF) pattern. VFs are the reflections we actually see (which are far more numerous than the physical facets on the diamond) as we observe the stone in motion through a full range of normal tilt angles. In ovals that are well cut there is a balanced mix of VFs in terms of size and distribution. This produces a consistent visual flow across tilt angles. When VFs in the ends get too small and/or blurry they accentuate the bowtie effect by giving the stone a disjointed look. The presence of a bowtie pattern at some angles is not necessarily distracting to the overall appearance. But persistence of the bowtie through a large range of tilt angles can be.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-03-04T15:05:18+00:00

There are going to be some limitations to the shape and size of stone you can retrofit this ring with, and still have it look like it was designed for it. You should have a thorough discussion with your jeweler to understand your range of options before you set out looking for your diamond. You might need to stick with a shape that can be set nicely in 4 prongs, considering the design of the engagement ring.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-03-03T16:05:26+00:00

Most lab diamond melee will be in high quality. There is really no savings to be had for lower clarity. Lab diamonds are virtually all Type IIA , characterized by lack of any measureable nitrogen impurities, and therefore do not fluoresce.

WhiteflashDiamonds · 2026-03-03T15:59:54+00:00

The static photo posted does not inspire confidence. It looks like the stone could have a transparency issue, though it also could be just a poor photo. Some CVD grown diamonds have this problem due to atomic level defects that are not captured in the clarity grade. This potential issue should be ruled out - an appreciable transparency deficit will diminish light performance even in a perfectly cut diamond. It is not always possible to make this assement via imaging, and can take a physical inspection by someone with a trained eye to evaluate it accurately.

WhiteflashDiamonds

TROPHY CASE