blue nile astor ideal vs ideal

2022.07.31
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blue nile astor ideal vs ideal

Heres a screenshot of the search parameters so that you can follow along: How to Search for Astor by Blue Nile Diamonds. Slight price premium compared to ideal cut diamonds. Interestingly enough, the bars for Fire and Sparkle are on the far right side of Very High on the GemEx report. Most of the time, branded diamonds exist to support a higher profit margin and offer poor value for money. No doubt about it. Because a Brilliance score on the mid-line of High to Very High is not the highest by any stretch of the imagination. That is actually the reason why I chose the 1.00 1.49 carat range for this search. On that note, they should also seriously consider sending these diamonds to the AGS Laboratory. That first shot of them looks kind of wonky, dont you think?

To that regard, theyve probably accomplished the task. VS-2 clarity. Naturally, the idea that Blue Nile created a new diamond cut has piqued my curiosity.

The following Astor by Blue Nile diamonds from this search, meet my proportions criteria.

This is usually an indication that the diamond has not been cut to exhibit the highest degree of optical precision. "Unmatched Sparkle as compared to what? secrets That will enable us to examine the facet structure of the diamond. With that in mind, were going to rely uponmy preferred range of proportions for round ideal cut diamonds.

An Exclusive Collection Cut for Optimal Brilliance. How to Conduct a Blue Nile Diamond Search, 1.00 carat, F-color, VS-2 clarity, Blue Nile Astor diamond, Astor by Blue Nile Diamond, 1.00 carat, G-color, VS-2 clarity, 1.00 carat, G-color, VS-2 clarity, Blue Nile Astor diamond, 1.00 carat, G-color, VS-1 clarity, Blue Nile Astor diamond, 1.00 carat, F-color, VS-2 clarity, Astor diamond by Blue Nile, 1.00 carat, G-color, Blue Nile Astor diamond, 1.00 carat, G-color, VS-2 clarity, Astor by Blue Nile diamond, LD09203237: 1.01 carat, F-color. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. All right, so once again, take a look at the arrows pattern and tell me what you see. A well-cut diamond is vastly more visually impressive than a poorly cut one, with the cut quality masking imperfections in the diamond and giving it greater brilliance and fire. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Then read the last sentence of that paragraph: "The images and Light Performance grades on diamonds are viewed and analyzed electronically only and as such are not guaranteed by the company.. Once again, I fail to see the correlation between this and the highest score available from GemEx. As a matter of fact, Im certain that I have no more friends in the marketing division at Blue Nile. Otherwise, this kind of thing is like trying to compare Coke & Kool-Aid, instead of Coke & Pepsi. Did Blue Nile really create a new diamond cut? Drag the diamond left and right with your mouse. Obviously, if Blue Nile wants to compete in the realm of super ideal cut diamonds, they need to step up and get with the times. However, if thats true, why does their disclaimer state that its not a guarantee? Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Perhaps doing so will provide us with some quick and easy answers to the questions from above. Perhaps people dont use dictionaries anymore, but there is an App for that. Gray Matter Development, LLC., DBA Nice Ice Diamonds (circa 1996) is a private management consulting group specializing in diamond light performance and niche brand development. Unfortunately, Blue Nile doesnt really tell us anything about the proportions of the Astor diamonds.

These statements imply several things from my perspective. Another thing I want you to notice is the way light is reflecting off of the arrows pattern. The next paragraph that explains the exceptional symmetry of the Astor by Blue Nile diamond is just as illuminating. This brings me back to one of the questions posed at the beginning of this article. The idea behind this is excellent make it faster and easier for customers searching for a very well-cut diamond to find it without having to spend hours searching and reading GIA reports. Because you'll begin to see how varying degrees of optical precision affect light performance. In that case, Im curious to see how its going to produce sparkle that is unmatched by anything else. By all means, feel free to contact me if you want help with your diamond buying quest. As a matter of fact, this is the shot that Blue Nile should be using on the Astor by Blue Nile diamonds page. On the surface, it seems like nothing makes sense. The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognize unique visitors. That I suppose is the conclusion that Blue Nile wants us to reach. Am I missing something? GemEx Score for Astor by Blue Nile Diamond. The next section of the Astor by Blue Nile diamond introduction page looks like this: Obviously, I took the liberty of highlighting that sentence in red because this is a pretty hefty claim! These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. From a quality perspective, Astor Ideal diamonds differ from the other diamonds in Blue Niles collection in several ways: Finally, Astor diamonds are registered with Gemprint a fingerprint-like system for diamonds that can often help with insurance costs. In the first place, it implies that the Astor by Blue Nile diamond is different than everything else. Lets run a search on Blue Nile for Astor Diamonds weighing between 1.00 1.49 carats, F-G color, and VS-2 to VS-1 clarity. The words that Blue Nile uses to peak our interest, did just that. While the score for Brilliance is down on the line between High to Very High. Period. That is another thing that used to appear on the GemEx reports for their Blue Nile Signature diamonds. Tell us as much information as possible to help us help you (ie, budget, preferences, etc). What is it that they say? The GIA Dossier format is usually reserved for diamonds weighing less than 1.00 carats. As a result, I'm curious to see how https://goto.bluenile.com/4e5Ge9 is creating diamonds guaranteed to deliver unmatched sparkle. These are the Tips & Tricks from the back office of Nice Ice Diamonds. Pavilion angle between 40.6 40.9 degrees. Consequently, it looks to me like the GemEx score for this diamond reflects this. Here is an image from the archives of Nice Ice that show what that looks like: Three blue bars on the far right side of the spectrum of Very High on a Gem Ex Light Performance report. Save 10% off Lab Created Diamonds during limited time sale! Does the degree ofcontrast brilliance appear to be even and consistent? This 1.01 carat, H color, VS1 clarity diamond also has a stunning cut that provides unmatched brilliance. Just look at the edge of the table facet all the way around the diamond on the right. After all, their Blue Nile Signature round diamonds already offer ideal proportions. Now, the reason why I bring up this point is because the way the two diamonds look in the video frame. By the same token, I interpret the highest grade to mean the highest scores for Light Performance on the GemEx grading platform. Does the plotting diagram on the lab report look like a modern round brilliant cut diamond? Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that the Astor by Blue Nile scores in the higher range? But people keep promoting the idea that diamonds are GIA Certified because Joe Blow Public expects them to be. Every Astor by Blue Nile diamond receives the highest grade for each (category) by GemEx. Blue Nile is one of our top recommendations for buying diamonds online thanks to their massive inventory, competitive prices and excellent customer service. Be sure to provide all the details, so that we can fully appreciate the dramatic differences. Although that may be true, it is actually a redesign, largely built upon the work of Marcel Tolkowsky's Diamond Design from 1919. The fact of the matter is that we simply found it to be unreliable. GemEx Disclaimer Regarding Diamond Certification. Then you'll open each diamond details page in a new tab in our browser. With all due respect to the Gorilla in the room, I dont see how Blue Nile has created anything new here. Not the least of which is: The screenshot above is a claim made by Blue Nile on their website. Below, weve explained what Astor by Blue Nile is, the criteria that are used to select diamonds in the collection, and how Astor diamonds differ in quality from the other diamonds available from Blue Nile. Thus there is going to be a low end, a high end and that no-mans land in the middle. No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. While I understand the point that Blue Nile is trying to make, it seems more like an apple to oranges comparison. The correct way to say this would be that Astor by Blue Nile diamonds are graded by two gemological laboratories. However, the pavilion depth is 43.5% and that is the critical tipping point where light begins not to strike fully off the pavilion facets. Full inventory of Blue Nile diamonds, ranging from Good to Ideal in cut quality. In that case, I hope this article helps you cut through the fluff, and bore down into the details that make a difference. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Lets read that again, "Every Astor by Blue Nile diamond receives the highest grade for each by GemEx.. FIVE PERCENT. That is why each diamond must be considered on its own merits. This diamond has a 40.8 degree pavilion angle, which should produce a high volume of light return. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. But check it out for yourself: And finally, there is this1.00 carat, G-color, VS-1 clarity, Blue Nile Astor diamond with a plotting diagram! By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.

Now were talking my language because I live in the world of super ideal hearts and arrows diamonds. I dont like to buy diamonds blind when these devices are readily available. Consequently, the next step of the evaluation process is to actually look at the diamond. Suffice to say that Im all right with that, as long as you simply overlook the marketing departments use of the term highest. In addition, I'm led to believe that no other diamond offers sparkle that is comparable or better.

Under those circumstances, I interpret the word every to mean every single Astor by Blue Nile diamond. This 1.00 carat, F-color, VS-2 clarity, Astor diamond by Blue Nile has an overall cut grade of GIA Excellent. You can view the Astor collection online here by selecting Astor ideal when searching for loose diamonds with Blue Nile. Exceptionally well-cut diamonds consisting of the top 0.1% of Blue Niles inventory. In the process, weve come across several diamond engagement ring vendors, Heres what well cover in this article: How much does a 1 carat diamond ring cost?How large is a 1 carat diamond?Where should I buy a 1 carat, 2022 The Diamond Pro.+412-2501-7829Kernserstrasse 17 / Sarnen, Switzerland CH-6060, We are a team of diamond experts who will teach you to identify scams and avoid spending money on features you can't see. For the sake of clarification, brilliance is white sparkle and dispersion is colored sparkle or fire. The 80% lower girdle facet length is likely to produce pin-fire type sparkle. In either case, the number of Astor by Blue Nile diamonds available within this range remains constant. The 34.5 degree crown angle should produce a virtual balance of brilliance and dispersion. Diamond Grading 101 Through The Looking Glass, Astor Ideal Blue Nile Diamonds vs GIA Excellent Cut. James Allen will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring. 1.01 carat, F-color, VS-1 clarity, LD09203244: LD09203187: 1.02 carat, G-color, VS-2 clarity, 1.02 carat, G-color, VS-2 clarity, LD09203206, LD09355299, 1.02 carat, G-color, VS-2 clarity, 1.04 carat, G-color, VS-1 clarity, LD09203164, LD09355300: 1.05 carat, G-color, VS-2 clarity, 1.05 carat, F-color, VS-2 clarity, LD09203505, LD09335807: 1.05 carat, F-color, VS-1 clarity, 1.09 carat, G-color, VS-1 clarity, LD09335754, LD09335748: 1.14 carat, F-color, VS-1 clarity, 1.30 carat, F-color, VS-1 clarity, LD09203195, LD09203198: 1.31 carat, G-color, VS-1 clarity. The collection includes some beautiful, very well-cut diamonds and is worth considering if youre looking for the very best. Before you buy a diamond, get personal buying advice from industry veterans. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Since were searching for Astor by Blue Nile diamonds weighing more than 1.00 carats, I expected to see a full format GIA diamond grading report. Blue Niles Astor Collection Diamonds Review, (Click Here to save 25% off engagement ring settings), Kernserstrasse 17 / Sarnen, Switzerland CH-6060, Best Places to Buy Diamond Engagement Rings, Lab-Grown Diamond Prices & Value Analysis, How to Sell your Gold & Gold Jewelry for Cash, this 1.08 carat, H color, VS2 clarity, Astor ideal round brilliant cut diamond, This 1.01 carat, H color, VS1 clarity diamond. This is definitely going to be interesting because we're going to be evaluating these diamonds together. Girdle thickness between thin and slightly thick. Despite numerous claims by diamond dealers and jewelry stores all over the world, there is no such thing as a GIA Certified Diamond. That is not something that I rely upon GemEx to measure for me. This is one of the reasons why I prefer the AGS Ideal-0 Light Performance grading platform. We get commissions for purchases made from our affiliates through links in this article. In my experience, it creates the potential to produce the best light performance: Table diameter between 53 58%Crown angle between 34.3 35.0 degreesPavilion angle between 40.6 40.9 degreesLower girdle facets between 75 80%Star facets between 40 58%Girdle thickness between thin and slightly thickCulet: AGS pointed or GIA none. I hope that you found this article to be illuminating. Which I suppose is why we see things like this: Astor by Blue Nile Diamonds are "Dual Certified". Or does the arrow in the nine oclock position appear to be different than the rest? In addition, the diamond appears to be exhibiting stronger contrast brilliance.

Would you agree? Because this image clearly shows the difference in how light is reflecting throughout the two diamonds. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. But really, I would like to see Blue Nile go back to the GemEx report with the reflector scope images. That is commonly referred to in diamond cutting circles as azimuth shift or facet yaw. Thus there is no indication of where you should look for the inclusions within the diamond. If youve read our content on the four Cs of diamonds, youll likely know that were big believers in choosing a diamond based on its cut quality. Astor Ideal Cut Diamonds from Blue Nile are the Signature flagship of their impressive online empire. Assuming that you want to buy the best Astor by Blue Nile diamond available, I would look for the following: One thing that Ive learned throughout the years, is not to buy into the illusion created by a brand name. Buying through links on our site may earn us commissions. Perhaps Blue Nile will provide us with the patent registration at some point in the future. By the way, read the line right above the section highlighted in red. Stick with the proportions I suggest, and look for diamonds with a higher score.

To my complete shock, it appears that GemEx is promoting the idea that they certify diamonds. It would be very interesting to see ASET and Ideal Scope images for this diamond. It seems to me that if were going to make this kind of comparison, we should consider all the details. Of course, I simply ignore it when consumers do this because they don't know better. Im referring to the little black asymmetrical triangles visible between the arrows in the relative 11 oclock and 3 oclock regions. GemEx Scores in the Middle to Far Right.. and Unlock the Secret for Maximizing Sparkle Factor and Light Performance. A good option if youre looking for a diamond with exceptional cut quality and dont mind paying a premium. After all, shooting a video of a Porsche 911 speeding past a rusty old pick-up truck doesnt prove a thing. For example, this 1.08 carat, H color, VS2 clarity, Astor ideal round brilliant cut diamond has an absolutely stunning appearance. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". While the generic round brilliant cut diamond on the right is not reflecting light evenly. As weve covered in our Blue Nile review, Blue Niles business model allows them to maintain a huge inventory on very low margins. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. It also implies that if I continue to read that page, then I will discover how they create sparkle which is unmatched. Apparently, that is another way to say that the results may vary by 5%, but I digress. The diamonds apparently come with a GIA Diamond Dossier, which is kind of weird from my perspective. With that in mind, Im really curious to "Discover how we [Blue Nile] create a diamond for unmatched sparkle. Obviously, I understand because I wouldnt be able to make such a large investment without them either. Learn More. Whereas their job is not to please me as a diamond buyer, but rather to create a diamond brand that attracts the broadest market share. As a matter of fact, this is the range of proportions that I rely upon as a diamond buyer. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. GCAL Report for Blue Nile Signature Diamonds. Currently, the Astor collection includes diamonds in three shapes: the round brilliant cut, cushion cut and princess cut. As you can plainly see, the Brilliance rating for this diamond is on the line between High to Very High. The _ga cookie, installed by Google Analytics, calculates visitor, session and campaign data and also keeps track of site usage for the site's analytics report. Limited to round, princess and cushion cut diamonds only. Perhaps that is why some of this marketing fluff just rubs me the wrong way: Who comes up with this stuff anyway? Buying a diamond is confusing. No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. Many people in the industry refer to Blue Nile as the 800-pound Gorilla in room. From this vantage point, all of the arrows should be dark because they should be reflecting back the dark color of the camera lens.

Plotting Diagram for an Astor by Blue Nile Diamond. Consequently, the 75% lower girdle facet length should produce larger sparkle that is bolder in appearance. Astor by Blue Nile is a little different. According to the dictionary, a certification is a guarantee. According to this, the Astor diamonds are cut to ideal proportions for maximum sparkle. Unmatched in comparison to what standards? While the 34.5 degree crown angle produces a virtual balance of brilliance and dispersion. To begin with, I openly admit that this next rant is because this is a pet peeve of mine. For example, there is a patent for Black by Brian Gavin Diamond because the cutting technique is state-of-the-art. As near as I can tell, the Astor by Blue Nile is simply the Blue Nile Signature diamond by a different name. Do I really need to point out that once again, the score for Sparkle is on the edge of High to Very High? When all else fails, give somebody the benefit of the doubt? As a matter of fact, the GIA rounds off the crown angle, crown height, and pavilion depth measurements to various degrees. Secondly, the crown angle of 33.5 degrees is shallower than I prefer. First, Blue Nile is an excellent diamond vendor, and a huge part of their appeal is their absolutely massive inventory. GemEx Report for Astor by Blue Nile Diamond. Given the position of the bar for the FIRE rating for this diamond, one could argue that this Astor by Blue Nile is a very fiery diamond. In that case, we're going to ask some tough questions like any good investigative journalist. Do you see any signs ofobstruction under the table facet of this Astor by Blue Nile diamond? Weve also given our opinion on when a premium collection such as Astor by Blue Nile is worth it when purchasing a diamond. That leads me to believe that this diamond is not cut to the higher standards of the super ideal cut classification. If youve read our review of Hearts on Fire diamonds youll be aware that, in general, were not fans of branded diamonds. In that case, I originally wrote this article "on the fly" on the day the collection was launched. There is also the chance that I might have even upset a few of my friends in the diamond division. Generally, about 25 to 30% more expensive than similar ideal cut stones. In the first place, the 41.0 degree pavilion angle is too steep for my preferences. At the same time, it appears that Blue Nile is no longer providing us with an Optical Symmetry analysis.

As weve covered in our guide to diamond certification, the GIA and AGS are the diamond industrys two most well-respected grading entities, and their reports are highly accurate and reliable. Those diamonds also came with diamond grading reports fromGCALthat provide images. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website.

Other times, it is a matter of the pavilion main facets being slightly off axis. However, I would like to see the diamond grading reports for both diamonds. At least when it comes to the world of internet diamonds where they command one of the largest market shares. If you were keeping count, only 16 of the 27 Astor by Blue Nile diamonds made the cut. Then what the Freaking Frak are they Certifying? In my experience, super ideal hearts and arrows diamonds offer the best light performance. A better option if youre looking for a diamond that looks attractive but offers optimal value for money. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Perhaps you had a few of those A-ha moments while reading this article. For that reason, the Blue Nile Signature diamond was replaced by the Astor by Blue Nile collection in 2017. Due to the manner in which the search engines work these days, Im not going to label each of these an Astor by Blue Nile diamond. This usually creates a higher degree of brilliance, but at the expense of dispersion. In the first place, I see that the new report format does not contain the same images that were available for Blue Nile Signature diamonds. Since that is not an option, were going to have to dissect the Astor by Blue Nile diamond to see what makes it special. In addition, they have also been cut to achieve precise symmetry for maximum sparkle. As such, they are always looking for new ways to improve the components of their brand and marketing. About one out of every 1,000 diamonds in Blue Niles inventory is classified as Astor Ideal, meaning only a tiny percent of diamonds are picked for the collection. Do both round brilliant cut diamonds have the same facet structure? While the Astor by Blue Nile diamond on the left appears to be cut much better. Set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie is used to record the user consent for the cookies in the "Advertisement" category . However, since the Astor by Blue Nile diamond page seems artfully vague. Therefore, this review of the Astor by Blue Nile diamond is going to be more like a casual conversation among friends. If you have keen eyes, then you might be able to find them within the clarity video. Although it might be acceptable if the pavilion depth were 43%. While their Astor collection isnt for everyone, its worth considering if youre looking for an exceptionally well-cut diamond. Do you see any obstruction? Probably theMad Men of Marketing. That is what I deem to be "the highest grade available from GemEx. Perhaps we should just assume that somebody in the marketing division really doesnt know that much about diamonds? However, that might be one of the reasons we returned the GemEx machine after playing with it. So what youll want to do is click and hold your mouse down over the video and drag the diamond left and right. But I have to say that Im a bit disappointed not to have access to the usual reflector scope images. As much as I object to their implying that they do when they clearly do not. Once again, the diamond grading report does not feature a plotting diagram. But they all know that Todd Gray from Nice Ice is a perfectionist, who focuses primarily on the niche of super ideal cut diamonds. However, that is a topic for another blog post on the differences between theGIA vs the AGS Laboratory. In other words, the new report for the Astor by Blue Nile diamond does not provide Hearts & Arrows scope images. Diamonds that are extremely well cut can also look larger, thanks to the effects of the stones cut on its proportions and brightness. To make finding an extremely well-cut diamond easier, online diamond vendors have introduced their own ranges of premium diamonds that are cut for optimal brilliance. However, if youre looking for the best from Blue Niles massive range, this small premium is often worth it. Consequently, Im not a fan of the GemEx system, but to each their own as they say. As a matter of fact, the modern round brilliant cut diamond has been the bread and butter of the industry since the mid-1950s. Other options worth considering for exceptionally well-cut diamonds include James Allens True Hearts collection and Brian Gavin Diamonds. As a matter of fact, these two paragraphs give me hope. Look at the GemEx score for this 1.00 carat, G-color, VS-2 clarity, Astor by Blue Nile diamond. This is going to keep me up at night. As with other collections of diamonds with extremely high cut quality, youll pay a premium for an Astor collection diamond compared to an ideal or excellent cut diamond from the standard Blue Nile inventory.

Then were going to run through the lab reports again, eliminating all the options that dont meet my selection criteria. What are the proportions of the Astor diamond? Blue Niles use of the word "create in conjunction with a new brand led me to believe that they had created something new. As such, I assume that this type of product benefits statements is 100% accurate. In fact, if know anything about diamonds, then you can see that the diamond on the right is leaking light. In this case, the arrows will fire as the diamond goes into rotation. Keep in mind that every cut grade represents a range or spectrum. That way we can see what they look like and evaluate them properly. Generally more affordable than diamonds in the Astor collection, although price can vary based on cut quality, shape and other factors.