Blue Nile Astor Princess Diamond – GemEx Certificate Useful or Not?

Q:

Hi Liz,

First of all I’d like to thank you for your knowledge & advice that you put into your website. I’ve been reading ODBA while doing my engagement ring research, in search of the “perfect” one 🙂 So, basically I have narrowed down my choices between these two stones: Blue Nile Astor Princess: https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD07514980 and Whiteflash A Cut Above Princess: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-2957773.htm

My questions are:

1. Which in your opinion is better; Blue Nile Astor Princess or Whiteflash A Cut Above princess?

2. I have found an engagement ring from Blue Nile that I prefer. Does my preference then limit my purchase to Blue Nile only?

3. Blue Nile doesn’t have ASET images (like you mentioned in your Blue Nile review), so how does the GemEx diamond light performance certificate compare to AGSL’s Diamond Quality Document? The Blue Nile Astor princess diamond appears to have very little light loss.

GemEx is an independent diamond research and identification laboratory located in Mequon, WI. Blue Nile has branded GemEx’s Diamond Light Performance Certificate. Each GemEx certified diamond has been individually measured with the BrillianceScope® Analyzer.

Thanks a lot in advance for helping me to choose.

All the best!

Chad

A:

Hello Chad,

Blue Nile’s Astor diamonds all come with a GemEx certificate which provides images taken of the diamond using a BrillianceScope Analyzer. This technology is not the same as AGSL’s ASET (Angular Spectrum Evaluation Tool).

You may be interested to know that both GIA and AGS (two of the world’s most reputable gem labs) have  tested the BrillianceScope® Analyzer and returned it based on their inconsistent findings. This means that the tool used to evaluate light brilliance for Blue Nile Astor Princess diamonds is scientifically inaccurate and in effect, misleading. Whiteflash, a retailer that specializes in super ideal cut round and princess diamonds actually used the BrillianceScope and found it to be severely lacking in consistency and accuracy with regard to a diamond’s brilliance and scintillation. You may read Whiteflash’s in-depth review here: https://www.whiteflash.com/about-diamonds/diamond-education/why-whiteflash-does-not-use.htm. 

I would not deem GemEx on par with ASET or ideal-scope light reflection. The trend in purchasing diamonds online is leaning towards magnified pictures of the actual diamond along with ASET/ideal-scope light reflection images and/or hearts and arrows images. I’m sorry if this isn’t what you wanted to hear, but I have to be honest and wouldn’t feel right in telling you a stone was a great performer if I didn’t have all the information necessary to make that decision.

However, the ACA princess cut diamond you chose is stunning. I love the brilliance and ASET image on that stone. It will be wonderfully brilliant and bright. As for the setting, there are similar settings at Whiteflash that your partner may like. Have you seen this one?: https://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/sleek-line-solitaire-engagement-ring-432.htm It is a cathedral setting with four prongs just like Blue Nile. If you look at the ring from the side profile, you’ll see that they are nearly exact.

I think it is best to order the diamond and ring from the same jeweler because it is easier and they accept any liability since they are setting the stone for you.

Let me know what you think.

Take care,

Liz

Q:

Hi Liz,

Thanks again for your advice. Honestly, that’s what I wanted to hear, and thus wrote you. I’d like to get the opinion from someone with lots of knowledge & experience before deciding which diamond to purchase as I have next to no knowledge and only can rely on whats available from the seller websites. I understand your explanation on the Blue Nile Astor princess diamond and prefer to go with Whiteflash as you suggested.

I’m actually looking at this E VVS2: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-2957774.htm

or this F VS2: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-2960822.htm

I was leaning towards the E since its 1 step color & 2 steps clarity upgrade, but the difference in color and clarity may not be noticeable anyway… correct me if I’m wrong 🙂

So, F may be the winner 🙂 Please let me know how Whiteflash knows that you gave me the reference once I decide to make the purchase. You totally deserve the credit, literally you choose the diamond for me. Thanks a lot 🙂

Thanks & take care,

Chad

A:

Hey Chad,

You are correct. The color and clarity difference between these two diamonds will not be noticeable. It is extremely difficult to color grade diamonds that are colorless (D, E, F). The differences are very slight. As for clarity, all that matters is that the stones are eye-clean. So, VVS2 and VS2 makes no difference. However, cut does make a visual difference, as the ASET image shows very clearly for both stones. One is very obviously more red and also more optically symmetrical (the .903ct F VS2).

All you have to do is click one of the links in our email exchange, as it has my reference in the link. They will know that I referred you. 🙂 Almost there! How exciting!

I wish you all the best Chad! It’s an exciting time…

Liz

Q:

Hi Liz,

Just want to inform you that I just made the purchase with Whiteflash 🙂 So, the winner is the F VS2 with the sleek solitaire ring that you pointed out as well.

Thanks for all your time and advice in helping me choosing; you literally selected the diamond for me 🙂 I can’t wait to see the ring in real… hopefully is as beautiful or even more beautiful than what I imagined.

Thanks a lot & all the best….

Chad