Blue Nile Reviews – Should You Buy A Diamond From A GIA Report Only?

Hi Liz,

I would greatly appreciate some input/suggestions on finding a loose diamond online. From my research Blue Nile offers the best prices and the most selection for my specs. Do you recommend other places with a better selection? My budget for the diamond is around $18K. I’d like at least a 1.25ct with H or better color and VS2 or better clarity.

Here are a few diamonds I’ve found on Blue Nile. Would you mind letting me know what you think?

http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD02736989
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD02218096
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD03617414

Thank you!

Adam

Hi Adam,

Although it is possible to choose a round brilliant from it’s proportions alone, I don’t recommend it. All of the diamonds you have listed from Blue Nile do not have any corresponding diamond image or light performance information. The GIA lab report lists proportions, but these are averaged out. It is completely possible to have identical GIA lab reports with one diamond looking completely different from another.

I only really feel comfortable recommending Blue Nile under two limited circumstances; if a diamond was graded by AGS with a corresponding ASET image for light performance or if the diamond is part of Blue Nile’s Signature collection and has a corresponding image on the GCAL report so that I can further evaluate it. Outside of these two circumstances, I would prefer not to recommend diamonds from Blue Nile. You can read more about my Blue Nile Reviews on ODBA as well as some additional articles you might find interesting:

Why Images of Diamonds Are So Important

Difficult Searching For Diamonds At Blue Nile

Do Blue Nile Signature Ideal Diamonds Have Perfect Hearts And Arrows?

Blue Nile Diamond Buying Guide – How To Search For Diamonds Using a GIA Report

Blue Nile Signature Ideal Reviews and Recommendations

Buying Blue Nile Diamonds Online

After reading the articles mentioned above, I’m sure you’ll see that buying from Blue Nile is a hit/miss experience. They are lacking in crucial information for diamond buying. Although I’ll help guide you towards the best diamond I can source, it simply makes more sense to search other retailer’s websites that offer actual diamond images, HD videos, and light performance information such as ASET (Angular Spectrum Evaluation Tool) in order to make a fully informed decision.

If you are open to purchasing outside of Blue Nile, I recommend this 1.52ct H VS2 from Brian Gavin Diamonds. This is a beautiful super ideal hearts and arrows diamond that is perfectly eye-clean. ASET shows bright red light reflection and sharp blue contrasting arrows. Hearts images shows perfectly symmetrical shaped hearts.

Brian Gavin is a 5th generation diamond cutter and his super ideal hearts and arrow diamonds are represent the top 1% of all cut diamonds in the world. You can easily see how he is different from Blue Nile. All of his ‘Signature’ diamonds are in-house and fully owned by them. Each diamond has been inspected and reviewed by Brian to ensure that they fit his exacting standards of a super ideal hearts and arrows diamond. The diamonds are all graded by AGS which has much stricter standards and more advanced technology in evaluating a diamonds cut and light performance. Please read my Brian Gavin Review for more information. Overall, you’ll make a much better investment with a specialty jeweler like BGD’s team.

Please let me know your thoughts.

Kind Regards,

Liz

Thanks so much for all your help! I love it!

May I ask you for recommendations for wedding bands for both men and women? The ring for my fiance will be worn, by itself, on the opposite hand of the engagement ring. I’m looking for something that has a low profile, full eternity, and large diamonds. But something not too wide, should be around 2-2.5mm. She has a size 4 finger approximately.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/wedding-and-anniversary-bands/eternity-bands/dream-full-eternity-18k-white-gold-5406w18
ctw 1.2 height 1.8 width 2.5

http://www.bluenile.com/luna-diamond-eternity-ring-platinum_43664
ctw 1 height 2.1 width 2.4

http://www.bluenile.com/riviera-1-carat-diamond-eternity-ring-platinum_47635
ctw 1 height 1.7 width 2.4

Are there any others that you know of that look better?

Thanks,

Adam

Hi Adam,

If it were me, I’d limit my search to BGD, as they use H&A melee diamonds.

My vote would be the ‘dream’ eternity by BGD: http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/wedding-and-anniversary-bands/eternity-bands/dream-full-eternity-18k-white-gold-5406w18

It has 24 diamonds that are .05ct each, 1.20ctw, and the prongs are small and delicate showing off more of the diamonds.

Hope this helps.

Kind Regards,