My Engagement Ring Experience

Changes in WhiteFlash Policy

2024-10-08T23:50:00.000-07:00

WhiteFlash Trade-up Policy

WhiteFlash 30-day Money Back Guarantee

Recently I have received an email from WhiteFlash stating that they have made some changes to their policy:

1. Their trade-up policy is ONLY valid for A CUT ABOVE diamonds. In other words, you will not get this benefit if you buy Premium Select, Expert Selection, or Precision Lab diamonds.

2. Trade-up diamond must be of at least 50% greater value. For example, if the diamond is worth USD 10000 when you bought earlier, you will need to get something that is at least USD 15000 (50% extra). Check this URL for details.

3. Their one-year-buy-back program has been discontinued as of September 23rd, 2024. In other words, you can't return the diamond after their 30-day money back guarantee. Check this URL for details.

Brian Gavin Diamonds BGD Premium Lab Promo

2024-07-11T05:59:00.000-07:00

Brian Gavin Diamonds is having promotion again! This time is their Premium Lab diamonds. These diamonds are cut to exacting standards like their natural counterparts and they are graded by GIA, which sets the defacto standards for diamond grading.

With 30% of using promo code 4JULY2430, you can get get a 1.12ct D VVS2 HPHT lab grown diamond at below USD 1,000 (unfortunately, excluding shipping which probably cost around USD 150 to Malaysia). While it is cheaper than some shops that sell high precision cut diamonds, but it won't be cheaper than typical jewellers that offer lab grown diamonds. To be in simpler context, you can probably get IGI graded 1.12ct D VVS2 HPHT lab grown diamond at a price between RM 3000 - RM 4000. If we compare this price to Brian Gavin Diamond's one, which is approximately RM 5400 (including shipping), then the price difference is quite significant.

Brian Gavin Premium Lab Diamond

Some additional info - lab grown diamond raw material can be grown using HPHT and CVD methods. Usually, HPHT ones will have a higher price. Based on what I have read, HPHT method comes closer to how a natural diamond is grown.

Also, take note that most diamonds from typical jewellers will have IGI grading reports for lab grown diamonds. However, given a choice, I will still go for GIA grading reports as they have more authority. This is provided that the both IGI diamond and GIA diamond are comparable in terms of cut quality. If the GIA diamond has a terrible cut, then I would rather go with an IGI diamond with a better cut, after all, I usually just advise people to follow what is stated in the grading reports.

Now, in our case here, we have 2 things that can win over a typical IGI graded lab grown diamond. First is the cut precision aka hearts and arrows. Second is the GIA grading report. However, once we factor in the price, it may hard to swallow the significant gap in the price difference.

So, it really boils down to what you really want. If you want one of the best possible cut and able to see clearly on how good the cut is, then you probably can opt to buy from Brian Gavin Diamonds. After all, you probably only buy once for engagement ring. If you want to save more and maximize the value of your money, look for typical lab grown diamonds from any jewellers. Do note that it is easier to find better cut lab grown diamonds compared to natural diamonds because cutters usually are more willing to waste more lab grown raw material to achieve a better cut. This is probably because the raw material is much cheaper than its natural counterparts.

Brian Gavin Diamonds Promo Again!

2024-03-14T10:12:00.000-07:00

Brian Gavin Diamonds is once again having 2 good deals.

Brian Gavin Diamonds Promotion 1

Brian Gavin Diamonds Promotion 2

Now, there is a difference between these 2 promotions:

Difference between 2 Promotions

As you can see from the image above, the 0.33 D SI1 Brian Gavin Signature Round does not have a discounted price below, unlike the 0.326 E VS2 Brian Gavin Signature Round. This means the 0.33 D SI 1 will fall under Promotion 1, which requires the promotion code MM24-STONE-09 to get the discount:

0.33 D SI1 Brian Gavin Signature Round

Now, for discounted price item, you do not need to key in any promotion code, as it is already discounted. So, this is Promotion 2:

0.326 E VS2 Brian Gavin Signature Round

As you can see in the image above, the promotion code from Promotion 1 does not work.

This 0.31 E VS2 (GIA graded) will be one of the diamonds I will recommend, since this falls under their top category - Black by Brian Gavin:

0.31 E VS2 Black by Brian Gavin Round

Here comes the bad news - The shipping is not free, and will cost approximately USD 150.

So, the final total for this diamond to reach you will be USD 551.93 + USD 150 = USD 701.93. As far as I know, loose diamond should still be tax-free, but take this with a pinch of salt and do your own due diligence.

Here is the price in MYR if you transfer using WISE, which I always recommend for its simplicity and fair value:

For setting, you can look for me on Facebook, and let me know the design you want. My starting price is from RM 1800 for 18k gold for simple solitaire design.

All the best to my readers!

An Excellent 1.08ct WhiteFlash Precision Lab Diamond

2024-02-29T09:39:00.000-08:00

This beautiful 1.08ct D VVS2 Round Cut Precision Lab Grown Diamond is perfect and worthy of consideration for those seeking high colour and high clarity diamond for proposal.

Actual Diamond

IdealScope

ASET

Hearts

Honestly speaking, the price is not cheap and you can most likely find much cheaper alternatives in many places, but if you want peace of mind and guaranteed cut quality, this is one of the best you can ask for, in my opinion.

Here is the asking price on WISE:

Wise for wire transfer

Now, how much cheaper can other places offer? Well, it is possible to get an IGI lab grown diamond at half of this price, which is around RM 3600 +- from sites like Ritani or Loose Grown. Yes, the price difference is tremendous in this case. It is actually quite possible for you to be able to get a diamond that is close to such cut quality, if you put in the necessary effort to filter through a list of diamonds in their inventory. I would say lab grown diamonds have overall better cut quality compared to their mined diamond counterpart because the cutters can afford to sacrifice more carat weight to achieve a better cut as the price per carat for lab grown diamonds are much cheaper.

So, whether it is worth the price difference is entirely up to an individual. WhiteFlash provides a straightforward approach, while other sites provide a quest to find the best diamond for your budget. Regardless which approach you prefer, I will say lab grown diamonds is an excellent choice for engagement ring because they are able to satisfy a person's desire for great 4Cs (i.e. high carat weight, high colour) without breaking the bank.

Brian Gavin Diamonds Diamond Tackle Promotion 2024

2024-01-13T12:53:00.000-08:00

BGD Diamond Tackle Promotion

Brian Gavin Diamonds is once again running a promotion for their lab-grown or natural diamonds. With this, it is a good opportunity to look for very well-cut diamonds at affordable price, especially natural ones. As for lab-grown diamonds, while the prices are attractive compared to some retail shops in the mall, however, there are always cheaper options available if you are willing to do more hard work by searching on Ritani or other similar vendors' website. Of course, unless you want as easy as possible and don't mind paying the premium for a very well-cut diamond with full set of diamond images shown to you, then Brian Gavin Diamonds is certainly a good choice. Besides, since their diamonds are in-house, the shipping time will be relatively short compared to other cheaper alternatives.

Anyway, that's it for lab-grown, I find that their natural diamonds are actually more worth it compared to what you can get here locally in Malaysia, if you want the better cut diamonds. For example, this 0.62ct E VS2 diamond which falls under Black by Brian Gavin Diamonds category.

0.62ct E VS2

Now, this diamond is surprisingly cheap compared to its counterparts from the same company. I am guessing it has something to do with their overall cut quality:

BGD Uneven Hearts

You will noticed that the Hearts at the bottom is somewhat uneven.

BGD Uneven Arrows

You will also notice that the arrows are also somewhat misaligned a little.

Somehow, my gut feeling tells me that this might be the reason why it is cheaper. If you ask me, by right, it shouldn't even to be graded as Black by Brian Gavin to start with. Nonetheless, since it is graded at this category, the performance will be superb. In fact, the proportions is really lovely and will perform well. If one can look away from this little imperfection, then this can be a good option to choose from.

Since this is above USD 1000, with the correct promo code, you can get USD 100 off, making its selling price to be USD 1835.45. Of course, Brian Gavin Diamonds does not provide free delivery, therefore, do factor in the final price of approximately USD 150 to the final bill, hence making this diamond at approximately USD 1985.45. I highly recommend using WISE for wire transfer due to their competitive rates.

Highly recommend to use WISE for wire transfer

That's all, good luck!

A Decent GIA Graded 1 Carat WhiteFlash ACA

2024-01-10T21:56:00.000-08:00

1.02 ct D VS2 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Diamond

This beautiful 1.02 ct D VS2 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Diamond is a very nice diamond indeed. Priced at around RM 37,394.06 via Wise wire transfer, I will say the price is fair, once you compared against some locally sourced diamonds with the same 4Cs.

You will definitely see that the price for similar 4Cs vary within a range. However, do check the cut quality of the cheaper ones - does the diamond have well-aligned arrows (at least)? And also the location of the inclusions - do you see obvious dark spots on the table of the diamond? You know, something like that. While we can all agree that diamonds are mostly priced based on the 4Cs, however, there can be better discount for diamonds that do not possess good cut quality or diamonds that have obvious dark inclusions, which make them harder to sell.

Truth is, while there can be very good generic diamonds that are priced at a more affordable price than an ACA, it really takes time and effort from the jeweler that serves you to look for one - a diamond that is compatible to an ACA or close enough to compete with an ACA. And if you managed to find one, then by all means, go for it!

What makes ACA really different is the convenience it provides at a premium. The premium can be 10% - 20% compared to generic diamonds (various cut quality) in the market. Also, a full set of diamond images is also provided to show you what you are actually getting, is also part of the value-added service. If the excellent cut quality and proof of cut quality is something you aiming for, and you are willing to pay for such premium, then ACA is definitely one of the top choices among all the super ideal cuts out there.

Brian Gavin Lab Grown Promotion (End 2023)

2023-12-20T11:03:00.000-08:00

Brian Gavin Lab Grown Promo

Do not miss this opportunity to get one of the best-cut lab grown diamonds from Brian Gavin Diamonds. While shipping to Malaysia is approximately USD 150, but with the coupon code HOLIDAY234, you can get up to 15% off the total price (including wire price discount). With that, it can more or less help with the shipping cost if you buy lab grown diamonds that are weigh 1 carat and above.

Also, it is worth to know that even before discount, their prices are actually quite competitive against their competitors that sell similar cut quality diamonds. Besides that, they are using GIA grading report, which is the de facto standard when it comes to diamond grading, which is a plus point.

Since the total discount has already included wire transfer discount, one may opt to use credit card instead. However, do note that Malaysia credit cards may not be able to pass through successfully, therefore, if that happens, you can consider using Wise to wire transfer over to them. Also, Wise should have better rate that bank forex rate that is applied onto credit card.

I do provide ring setting service if you can't find a suitable jeweler to set your diamond. I usually serve PJ/KL area. You can get in touch with me on Facebook.

Brian Gavin Deluxe Lab Round

2023-10-16T12:58:00.002-07:00

Recently, Brian Gavin Diamonds just launched their Deluxe Lab Round collection. As quoted from their website:

Deluxe lab diamonds not only meet but often exceeds the quality of other precision-cut lab diamonds in the market.
Crafted using premium HPHT or CVD materials from across the globe, these diamonds embody Brian Gavin's exceptional standards.
Enjoy the unmatched allure of relaxed yet captivating Hearts and Arrows patterns, presenting a collection that defines accessible luxury.

So, what can you expect? Well, you can expect a mixture of IGI graded lab grown diamonds that are grown using either HPHT or CVD method. FYI, under normal circumstances, HPHT commands a higher price. Usually CVD is less preferred unless you know it has not gone through any treatment, which is not shown in the report most of the time, as far as IGI grading report is concerned.

Nonetheless, there is a good selection of HPHT lab grown diamonds that fall under Deluxe Lab collection. Of course, since these diamonds are in-house diamonds, the usual mark-up is expected. This is it f you are in the market looking for one lab-grown diamond that shows it all - Hearts & Arrows and ASET image. The mark-up will be more obvious as the diamond gets bigger (or heavier in terms of carat).

For this diamond: 1.13 D VS1 BG Deluxe Lab Round, the final price will be USD 1383.89 + USD 150 for shipping, making the total to be USD 1543.89, which converts to RM 7,363.76. As far as lab grown is concerned, this is not exactly cheap, instead it is far from cheap, but well, it is what it is, an excellent lab-grown diamond.

Do note that in their statement, it is said that the hearts and arrows can be "relaxed". This mean that the hearts and arrows may not be as consistent as Brian Gavin's more premium selection, such as the Premium Lab collection. Nonetheless, I find this to be nitpicking because if a diamond is as good as the one shown above, I will already consider it an excellent hearts and arrows diamond.

Again, the problem with buying from Brian Gavin Diamonds is actually the shipping cost. To send to Malaysia, this will cost USD 150, and it is under the expense of the customers.

Alternatively, you can consider Brian Gavin Premium Lab, where the diamonds are great. The diamonds are grown using CVD method but the final production is guaranteed not treated:

Experience the excellence of our premium CVD diamonds, meticulously grown by Clarity in Texas. These diamonds are shaped and polished according to Brian Gavin's patented process and stringent standards to achieve superior light performance and exacting hearts and arrows. Each piece is graded by the GIA and comes with an AGS Ideal® certification, testifying to its outstanding quality.

Also, Brian Gavin Premium Lab diamonds are graded by GIA and usually they will state there that:

Additional growth remnants are not shown. This is a man-made diamond produced by CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) growth process. No evidence of treatment was detected.

Most importantly, they are cheaper too most of the time, if not all. Just take a look at this diamond: 1.1 D VS1 BG Premium Lab Round. It costs USD 1023.35 and USD 150 for shipping, making the total to be USD 1,173.35, which converts to RM 5,596.96. The price is again, not the cheapest, but it is quite similar to the price of 1.1ct from ZCOVA,

Brian Gavin Diamonds Natural Diamond Promotion

2023-10-01T19:10:00.007-07:00

Brian Gavin Diamonds seems to be running a consistent promotion recently - 20% off their natural diamonds. So for those that prefer natural diamonds, this will be a good time to consider them as one of your options. One thing to note is that their delivery is not free. You will have to pay for it. For Malaysia, it probably cost around USD 150. So, with the promotion, it will definitely help to reduce the overall cost.

They not the cheapest around, but factoring in the stone's cut quality along with the price, they are one of the few best options around, so do consider.

For example, the stone below:

0.4 G SI1 Brian Gavin Signature Round

The price? I will just round up the stone price (wire transfer) together with shipping, which is about USD 150:

Wise - IMO, the best way to wire money

You can join Wise using my referral link.

So, it is quite possible that the final engagement ring will be around RM 4025 + RM 1700 = RM 5725. Do note that RM 1700 is my 18k ring price. It may still subject to change depending on design and ring size, but it should be around that price. To play safe, you can just round it up to RM 2000, which makes the final price to be RM 5925. Quite a decent price for a very-well cut 0.4ct engagement ring.

Of course, if you must know, I will nitpick on the 2 o'clock and 8 o'clock arrow a bit, but again, for the price, I am not complaining.

DeGem / Diamond & Platinum Engagement Ring is Definitely Value for Money

2023-08-02T00:09:00.004-07:00

As some of you may know, DeGem and Diamond & Platinum are actually sister companies. Hence, their online based GIA graded diamonds selection are actually having the same prices. However, when it comes to engagement ring designs, some of the designs may not share across these 2 different companies. Therefore, if you like a particular design from either of these two companies, just buy from that company that carries the design as you can get the same GIA diamond from either one of them.

The stone prices listed on their website are actually quite competitive, when you compared to companies like ZCOVA. Do note that I always like to use ZCOVA as a benchmark because I find that their diamond selection, ring quality, and services provided are actually very decent.

One thing DeGem / Diamond & Platinum do better than their competitors is their prices for ring settings. Starting at RM 1000 / 900 (DeGem / Diamond & Platinum), I think it is very very good, considering their workmanship is not bad at all. Personally, it is hard for me to beat their prices even if I wanted to, especially when it comes to popular carat weight, such as 0.3ct or 0.4ct.

The downside of using their website is that you will have to filter through a lot of diamonds to find the right one, and I am not sure how good is their online consultants because I have never try them before. Then again, for their prices, I will encourage those that are looking for natural diamonds to give them a shot.

Some tip I can give is that you can try to ask the consultants for more details, such as Hearts and Arrows image or even ask them to look for diamond with good Hearts and Arrows. You can also ask them to filter out diamonds that meet specific crown angle or pavilion angle. I believe it is possible for them to do so. Remember, there is no harm in asking nicely.

Overall, I am happy to see their progress in the online space and I wish them all the best!

If you are keen to explore their options, do visit:

https://www.degemdiamond.com/gia-diamonds

https://diamondnplatinum.com/customised-jewellery/gia-diamond

Buying Good Quality 1 Carat Lab Grown Diamond

2023-06-20T10:53:00.007-07:00

For this topic, I will mainly be referring to IGI graded lab diamonds. So for IGI, the top grade diamonds will be:

1. Ideal in Cut.

2. Excellent in Polish.

3. Excellent in Symmetry.

In layman term, we can assume this as IGI equivalent of GIA Triple Excellent. Don't ask me why the Cut is "Ideal" instead of "Excellent", I don't have an answer for you. But if you want me to give you my guess, then I will say this is how other labs try to differentiate themselves from GIA. IGI does have a cut grade called "Excellent", which is one grade below "Ideal". With this so-called IGI "Excellent", it may make GIA "Excellent" looks equivalent to it. Then, with an higher "Ideal" grade, it is possible that some may think that IGI "Ideal" is more superior to GIA "Excellent". So, to sum it up, to me, this is just a marketing gimmick, which I will just thrash it away, and simply focus on finding the top possible grades for a diamond, regardless of their naming convention.

So as far as Malaysia is concerned, I can see that lab grown diamond trend is picking up. Many brick-and-mortar chain stores as well as some upcoming jewellers or private labels are offering lab grown diamonds. What actually surprised me the most is actually the price - super ideal jewellers such as WhiteFlash actually sell 1 carat diamond at a more competitive price then local jewellers. A quick search at one of the local jewelllers show that it is actaully a few hundred ringgit more than WhiteFlash, considering the 4Cs and fluorescence are the same. The Precision Lab diamond that I am comparing is this 1.01ct E VS1 IGI Ideal Lab Grown Diamond. I can't say that this diamond has the best Hearts, but it certainly has a cut precision that is much higher than most typical diamonds. If you want an example of a extremely well-cut diamond, then here look at this 1.52ct G VVS2 Precision Lab diamond. However, at these 4Cs, WhiteFlash price will be more expensive compared to typical lab grown diamonds. My observation is that colourless and VS/VVS at 1 carat Precision Lab diamonds should have a price that is competitive enough to compete with local jewellers. Of course, don't take my word for it, try compare it yourself! To convert to local MYR, do use WISE to make the conversion. I also highly recommend them for wire transfer due to the ease of use.

If you want to know where can get incredible value for lab grown? Then Ritani is the place to go! You will have to spend some effort to browse through their not-so-friendly interface. I highly recommend you to use List View and then use Quick View:

Ritani search interface

When I say incredible value, I really mean it. It is below 1k for a 0.3ct D VS1:

F**cking affordable lab grown

There are 2 ways to create lab grown:

1. HPHT

2. CVD

Personally, I prefer HPHT because it is more similar to the way diamond is formed in nature. Refer to these 2 articles:

Article 1: https://finercustomjewelry.com/blog/the-difference-between-hpht-and-cvd-diamonds-what-you-need-to-know/#:~:text=A%20lab%2Dgrown%20or%20man,the%20interaction%20of%20chemical%20components.

Article 2: https://diamondtraces.com/site-page/HPHT_Diamonds_Vs_Non_HPHT_Diamonds.html#:~:text=An%20HPHT%20stand%20for%20High,environment%20in%20which%20is%20formed.

And with that being said, HPHT created lab grown usually command a higher price compared to its CVD counterparts.

One main reason I don't like CVD is because I can't know whether the diamond has been treated before. Most CVDs graded by IGI will show something this statement in the grading report:

Comments: This Laboratory Grown Diamond was created by Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) growth process and may include post-growth treatment.

Sample CVD IGI Grading Report

So yea, we won't know whether that diamond has gone through any treatment process or not, something which I don't prefer.

Now, let's take a look at a sample of IGI graded HPHT diamond:

Comments: As Grown - No indication of post-growth treatment. This Laboratory Grown Diamond was created by High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) growth process.

Sample HPHT IGI Grading Report

Now, there are other labs that grade lab grown diamonds as well, and one of them, is of course - GIA. If you still want a diamond that is graded by the world's most reputable lab, I will be considering Brian Gavin Diamonds.

Their Premium Lab diamonds have superior cut quality and their newly cut diamonds are all graded by GIA instead of IGI. Their GIA report also consist more information compared to other lab grown diamonds that are graded by GIA.

This is a man-made diamond produced by HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature) growth process. No evidence of treatment was detected.

1.07 D VS2 BG Premium Lab Round

If we compared to other GIA graded lab grown diamonds, for example, this GIA 1.07ct D VS1 diamond from Ritani, we can see that Brian Gavin Diamonds' Premium Lab offers more information.

Ritani GIA 1.07ct D VS1

As you can see, the one sold by Ritani is just using LABORATORY-GROWN DIAMOND REPORT - DOSSIER, while the one from Brian Gavin Diamonds is using full-fledged LABORATORY-GROWN DIAMOND REPORT. Heck, that 1.07ct D VS2 Brian Gavin Premium Lab diamond even has an AGS Ideal Report!

AGS Ideal Report... for lab grown!

Now, the one down side of Brian Gavin Diamonds is that they don't offer free shipping. Their default shipping value to Malaysia is approximately USD 150. I am not sure if this is negotiable or not, but I highly recommend you guys to consult their online consultant via their chat system. Nonetheless, let me just add in the additional USD 150 to the wire price of USD 1241.60, making the total to become USD 1391.60, which converts to RM 6,503.10. Well, if you compared to local jewellers, it is slightly expensive... BUT... it is graded by GIA and it has superior cut quality (I assume that's the case even without the Hearts & Arrows image because, well, it is a Brian Gavin production). So is it worth it? To me, a few hundred extra is worth it, and you have to make your own judgement.

And by the way, Brian Gavin Diamonds is throwing promotion:

Brian Gavin Diamonds June Promo

So, we can take additional USD 100 off the diamond earlier, making the price to be USD 1291.60, which converts to RM 6,035.94, which is actually slightly cheaper compared to some local jewellers.

Now, I have to stress that while super ideal jewellers like Brian Gavin Diamonds are competitive in terms of prices compared to local jewellers, but if you opt for a standard IGI graded lab grown in Ritani, it is possible to end up with something decent - decent cut, decent colour, decent clarity at a price below RM 4000. Do check out my Instagram for a sample of such diamonds. Now, at more than 50% savings, it certainly is something worth considering. The diamond in my Instagram is one of the diamonds I have chosen for my colleague siting next to me in office.

So, to sum it up:

1. Prices for 1 carat lab grown diamonds from super ideal sellers like WhiteFlash and Brian Gavin Diamonds are quite competitive compared against some local jewellers.

2. Ritani offers to best value for money (at least this is what I have seen so far) as far as lab grown diamonds are concerned. In fact, 2 of my colleagues, Mr O and Mr F, and a friend of my colleague did engage me to help them find their lab grown diamond on Ritani.

WhiteFlash ACA Diamond Grading Report + AGS Ideal Report

2023-06-14T11:19:00.013-07:00

With the merger for GIA and AGS, AGS no longer exist to issue grading reports. Therefore, jewelers like WhiteFlash will now rely on GIA for their grading report. WhiteFlash has done a tremendous job by using the full diamond grading report from GIA. Most of the time, this grading report is only available for diamonds starting from 1 carat and above. Now, you can even find these on a 30-pointer diamond such as this one: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/0.33-carat-e-color-vvs1-clarity-round-excellent-cut-sku-a4586405?a_aid=myengringexp

GIA Diamond Grading Report for a 30+ pointer

There is only one logical reason for WhiteFlash to use the full grading report - The inclusion plotting diagram. This is because all previous WhiteFlash AGS grading reports have it, and WhiteFlash wanted to give a very similar experience for her customers for ACAs graded by GIA. Honestly, they do not need to do that for diamonds below 1 carat, this move shows that they really care for their customers as well as make sure their ACA brand live up to its high standard. For WhiteFlash top range diamonds, the ACA, they will come with AGS Ideal Report as well.

AGS Ideal Report

So for those who want GIA graded diamonds, do filter the grading report (certification) to GIA.

AGS and GIA Merger

2023-02-20T23:26:00.022-08:00

GIA has acquired AGS Intellectual Property (IP) in November 2022 and AGS has officially closed its door on December 2022. Personally, this means that the de facto standard for diamond grading has accepted ASET as a tool to grade diamond's light performance, which is a good thing, and thus, ending the debate whether it is a gimmicky tool or not.

I have just found out this news from Brian Gavin's website. According to them, they are the industry's first to utilize this GIA Report and GIA AGS Ideal Report combo. This is indeed a good move by Brian Gavin Diamonds to make a difference to the lab-grown diamond market that is filled with IGI graded diamonds. Not that IGI is no good, but GIA is the de facto standard, and giving consumers another great option is certainly beneficiary to them.

GIA AGS Ideal Report

Now, some history... Not too long ago, there are still debates which lab is the best, and some even say IGI is not as credible as GIA (including me, when I started writing based on my own reading off the Internet). Then, down the road, my perspective started to change as I understand further that diamond grading is entirely subjective, depending on the trained diamond grader. There can always be slight discrepancies between different labs, and some time ago, there was one company called High Performance Diamonds managed by Wink Jones. He tried to bring more transparency by grading the same diamond with 3 different labs - AGS, GIA, and GCAL. Some of you may not have heard about GCAL, it is one of the labs in USA, and personally, I am quite fond of their report format. You can find more about them here.

For High Performance Diamonds collection, one may have a chance to see something like a D colour diamond graded by one lab may be graded as an E colour by another lab, and such one grade different scenario happened before with GIA being the D colour, while GCAL being the E colour. Do take note that the colours are just a sample comparison here to show the slight grade differences between different labs, it can be either COLOUR or CLARITY. However, I remember clearly that in this case, GCAL has a lower grade than GIA. Does this mean GIA is more lenient? I would not say so, and I can gladly accept that as D colour because GIA is still the de facto standard, and it will stay the way for many years to come from what I can see. What Wink Jones was doing that time was probably trying to show more transparency about the diamonds under his collection and try to make a statement that slight discrepancies do exist, and it can be either way - either graded higher/lower by GIA, or another other lab. I can't really remember which their selling price is based on whose grade though, as different grade has different pricing. Anyway, it was indeed a good deed by him, but unfortunately, the diamond collection that he was selling, called Crafted by Infinity, has ceased to exist, due to some internal issue. Wink Jones has since moved on and working for another diamond company. All the best to him.

Alright, now we come back to 2023.

So, usually, for grading, I will always advise people to just follow the grading report accordingly, as the discrepancies between different labs do appear from time-to-time. There are still other factors to consider other than grading report, such as the overall cut quality (H&A image) and proportions. If you give me 2 diamonds with similar 4Cs to choose from - a poorly cut 3EX GIA diamond and a high precision ideal IGI diamond with excellent polish and symmetry, I will take the latter any time of the day. However, if you are still skeptical and want a very well-cut lab diamond with the de facto lab standard - GIA, then thanks to Brian Gavin Diamonds, now you have a choice.

For someone that has been looking at the changing scenery as a hobbyist, this merger news is indeed refreshing. It is interesting to see how things will change with this new merger. For more info, I recommend you to read further on these 2 articles from AGS and GIA respectively:

https://www.americangemsociety.org/agslab/

https://www.gia.edu/ags-ideal-report

Till next time, take care!

Amazing WhiteFlash Precision Round Cut (Lab Grown)

2023-02-20T19:04:00.015-08:00

It has been really awhile since I last wrote anything. I am still around, just couldn't find the urge to write something. I wanted to write about WhiteFlash's Precision Lab Diamond for awhile but have been procrastinating a lot, until I saw this one:

1.06ct D VVS Precision Lab Diamond by WhiteFlash

All I can say is that this diamond is one of the very best lab grown diamonds in the world. The images - IdealScope, ASET, Hearts and Arrows look perfect to me. And the pairing of crown angle and pavilion angle is a dream come true. I liked 34 crown pair with 40.8 pavilion a lot, as I have a small 0.2ct diamond with this pairing. That diamond looks very beautiful.

1.06ct D VVS2 Precision Lab Diamond by WhiteFlash

To purchase, I highly recommend you to use Wise for wire transfer. Setup and transfer process is fairly easy and straight-forward. You will be seeing the amount you need to pay in MYR. There are no hidden fees, but you may probably get charged RM 1 if you use FPX (this was the case last time, so I usually use direct bank transfer).

Wise is recommended for wire transfer

To register with Wise, use my referral link, you can get fee-free transfer for up to RM 2500.

Thanks for reading!

Brian Gavin Diamonds April 2022 Promo

2022-04-11T20:01:00.001-07:00

Brian Gavin Diamonds is throwing a promotion for the month of April 2022. Based on the terms, it seems that this promo includes Black by Brian Gavin diamonds, which is a good thing.

Do note that this promo is 5% + 3% wire price, as stated in their terms.

Brian Gavin Lab Diamonds

2022-03-31T11:21:00.003-07:00

Wow! I did not expect Brian Gavin Diamonds will start their own signature lab diamonds. And as usual, it is a Brian Gavin production so expect them to be cut to the same exacting standards as their other signature diamonds.

Take a look at an example below:

1.25 D VVS2 Brian Gavin Premium Lab Grown Round Diamond

Brian Gavin LAB - Premium cut quality at affordable prices!

This is definitely crazy, and is definitely good news for those who want to hit the 1 carat mark at affordable prices and do not mind the diamond being a lab grown diamond. And damn, that Hearts image looks stunning!

With the high price of natural diamonds in the market now, I think this is a good move by Brian Gavin Diamonds. I believe the Ukraine-Russia war also somewhat costs the production of raw diamonds from Russia encounter limitations, which subsequently affect the overall price. Do note that this is just my guess.

The lab report is also different from the any natural diamond report and buyers should not have any difficulty in distinguishing the differences between a natural diamond and a lab-grown diamond report.

BGD Gavin LAB Diamond Grading Report

The girdle of the diamond has an inscription to indicate that this diamond is lab-grown as well. But to my little surprise, this time, the Brian Gavin signature is no longer etched on the girdle. Perhaps it is to cut any additional cost in adding the signature and also making the diamond easier to "float" back into the market if it is left unsold for a certain period of time. Again, this is just my guess.

Nonetheless, this is once again a Brian Gavin production, an as mentioned above, I have no doubts with the overall quality of the stone.

If you can't find something you like, you may also request from the enquiry form and their team will be probably help you search for it or probably grow it. Do note that lab-grown diamonds are within colourless range (D-F) and clarity is VS2+ (higher than VS2, but lower than VS1). However, from the list of diamonds in their inventory, this statement does not hold true, as there is a one diamond that falls under G colour:

1.317 G VS1 Brian Gavin Premium Lab Round

So in this case, we can see that AGS doesn't care what Brian Gavin Diamonds think (D-F) and they make their own judgement on what the colour of the stone should be. AGS seems independent enough in this case. This being said, there is a possibility that a lab diamond that a customer order from Brian Gavin Diamonds may not be the expected colourless range (D-F). In this case, I will suggest you to consult with their consultants first on how to resolve this problem before making any purchase or down payment.

Grow Your Diamond

Overall, it is good to see some more affordable options popping-up, especially from companies like Brian Gavin Diamonds that cuts diamond to a high-level precision. In the end, consumers will have more options on how they want their engagement rings to be like.

Oh, and one last thing - There is basically no visual difference between a lab-grown and a natural diamond, assuming both diamonds are well-cut the same standard. People won't know whether your diamond is a lab-grown or a natural diamond if you don't tell them.

All right, til next time!

Increase of Diamond Price & Gold Price

2022-03-13T19:18:00.004-07:00

Recently I noticed there is an increase in diamond price. For instance, previously my selling price for this 0.43ct D VS2 GIA 3EX is at RM 4655, now it is selling at RM 4850. This is probably due to the Russia-Ukraine war, as Russia is one of the main raw diamond producer in the world.

So if you are in the market looking for a diamond and already engaged conversation with any jeweler, don't be alarmed if the price is higher than before.

Even ring setting price can be higher now as the gold price has increased as well.

WhiteFlash 1.103 ct G VS1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Diamond

2022-02-28T23:51:00.002-08:00

This 1.103ct G VS1 WhiteFlash ACA diamond is certainly a decent buy. After comparing the price against the local market price, I found that this diamond is actually cheaper than some of our local jewelers (not all), if we compare the 4Cs alone. Do note that this ACA is 1.1 carat, which is bigger than typical 1 carat. If you are interested in a 1 carat and above diamond, I highly recommend you to survey the market a bit, give yourself ample time to make the best decision for you and your partner.

The wire transfer price for this diamond is stated as USD 9191, but for new registered customer, you can get an additional USD 100 off, making this diamond priced at USD 9091. Below is the exchange from Wise (a regulated money remittance platform). You can join them using my invite link here, which entitle you to get a a fee-free transfer up to 500 MYR.

Since normal consumer can only transfer max RM 30k per day, you will need to ask WhiteFlash to split the bill into 2 halves, and then transfer 2 times, each on different day. Of course, this will also mean that the amount of RM 38,292.37 may not be the exact amount, but from the looks of it, the service charge is somewhat relative to the amount sent (the higher the amount, the higher the service charge). I have tested by keying in USD 4545.50 and USD 9091 respectively, and the service charge is RM 93.35 and RM 184.24 respectively. Since 4545.50 x 2 = 9091, the service charge will be RM 93.35 x 2 = 186.70. This means that if you transfer all at one shot, you can actually save some money, but since we can't do that, we will have to split the bill. You will end up at he same service charge amount even if you split the bill into USD 7000 and USD 2091 respectively, so it is up to you on how you going to split the bill. It will work as long as each bill is not more than RM 30k after convert.

For 1 carat diamond, the ring setting chosen may be slightly wider and thicker than a 0.3ct diamond that uses the same ring setting, so naturally, the price for the ring setting may be more expensive as well. However, some jewelers will offer you a fix price for the ring setting regardless it is a 0.3ct or a 1ct diamond, probably because the diamond margin can cover their cost.

Usually the price will be higher if the finger size of the ring setting goes up higher and crossed a certain threshold, for example, ZCOVA's ring setting will be more expensive when it reaches HK 14.5 for finger size. This is probably because when the ring diameter gets bigger, more gold is needed as well (just my guess).

Do remember that most jewelers these days do not prefer to set diamonds not sold by them. If you ask me, this is probably because they want customers to buy the whole package from them to earn more, and probably to increase the inconvenience for customers so that customers can only buy locally. Again, this is just my opinion. If a person manage to find a jeweler that is willing to make the ring setting, it is highly possible that there will be a mark-up for customer own loose diamond. Nonetheless, if you do not manage to find jeweler that is willing to make the ring setting for you, you can always come look for me as I do help people that buy from overseas to custom make their diamond. You can see one of the latest engagement ring that I custom made for a Black by Brian Gavin diamond here.

0.417ct D VS1 WhiteFlash ACA and GIA Option

2022-02-21T00:32:00.002-08:00

This 0.417ct D VS1 looks pretty decent. If I want to get a diamond at this carat weight, this will be one of the diamonds that is going to be shortlisted.

At approximately RM 5750 (wire price) for the diamond alone, I won't say that this diamond is on the cheaper side, but if you want a well-cut diamond with a peace of mind, you can go for it. All WhiteFlash ACAs are sell at a premium price, but the premium is fair enough, in my opinion (just my opinion, you have to make yours).

My 18k white/rose/yellow solid gold custom ring setting starts from RM 1500. So total will be from RM 7250.

Can you get something that is similar in the mass market? I am sure you can get something similar or close to it. The problem is that such well-cut stones sometimes is hard to come by and don't always pop-up often in the supplier inventory. So, if you wish to get something similar, you have to make sure you give yourself enough time in months. For now, I can probably get something like 0.43ct D VS2 GIA 3EX Non Fluorescence at RM 4655. 18k white/rose/yellow solid gold custom ring setting starts from RM 1500. So total will be RM 6155.

My 18k gold ring settings are made in Malaysia. Although I have some sample rings, I think it is easier for you to find a design that you like and let me know how you want to custom it.

Actual Diamond Image

Actual Diamond H&A

So WhiteFlash ACA is a AGS graded VS1, while my option is a GIA graded VS2 with pretty decent Hearts & Arrows.

At the end of the day, it really boils down to what you as a buyer is looking for.

My Brian Gavin Signature Quadex Experience

2021-05-25T03:45:00.005-07:00

Brian Gavin Signature Quadex

I was caught by surprised when I saw this. Yup, I didn't know that Brian Gavin once have a modified square brilliant called Quadex in their inventory before. That was probably some time ago before I actually bought any diamonds before. I was pretty excited when I saw this because these days I admire all these custom/modified fancy cuts from exquisite diamond cutters like Brian Gavin, hence it did not take long for me to decide to get myself one for review. It is really easy to decide to get a diamond from Brian Gavin Diamonds simply because they are selling extremely well-cut in-house diamonds at reasonable prices.

If you Google around and search for Quadex diamonds, you can probably find some old IdealScope or ASET images, you will see that the original Quadex diamonds tend to have light leakage at the table of the diamond, but this is rarely the case for the new and updated Quadex. We now see superb light performance on the Quadex collection and it some of them have earn themselves the Black by Brian Gavin hallmark.

Alright, next, I will talk about the packaging. This will be standard Brian Gavin Diamonds packaging, not the Black by Brian Gavin packaging. While the Black by Brian Gavin do come with a magnetic rectangular box as part of the branding, but the grading report does not come with the standard AGS cover. Instead, the original grading report is just folded 3 times and slide into the box itself. Personally, it is not something I really fancy. I still prefer the good old AGS cover that can provide adequate protection for my grading report. On top of that, the standard Brian Gavin Diamonds packaging is nice and simple and I don't see that the Black by Brian Gavin packaging can add a lot of point to the overall appeal. In fact, I actually prefer the standard packaging due to its simplicity.

The standard packaging does come with a small ring box that is small enough to store a complete engagement ring for a surprise proposal, but I have to say it is not something that looks luxury enough for an engagement ring, but rather, it is something that can play its functional role good enough, so it may not appeal to everyone.

Since the Quadex I purchase is part of the Brian Gavin Blue collection, I do not get a Hearts & Arrows scope. Instead, I get an UV LED blacklight torch. This torch will emit UV rays that can excite the fluorescence in my diamond that has strong blue fluorescence and makes it go blue in colour. Oh yes, this time I have get myself a 0.305ct K VS2 Signature Quadex diamond, which so happened to have strong fluorescence, making it to become a Brian Gavin Blue collection as well! Feels like killing two birds with one stone for me. Nice.

0.305ct K VS2 Signature Quadex

While this stone is not the nicest Quadex within my budget. Yes, there is a nicer one, which is this 0.317ct K VS1 Signature Quadex. You can compare the fire video between these two diamonds and see the differences. However, I chose the earlier diamond because it is something rare in Brian Gavin Diamonds inventory - It is hard to see any Brian Gavin Blue Quadex at this carat weight. This reminds me of my regret of missing out the Black by Brian Gavin Cushion Cut that is also around similar carat weight last time. Secondly, I also wanted to review a Brian Gavin Blue for sometime, so well, this seems like a more logical choice to me. However, if I were to buy the best performing diamond, the 0.317ct K VS1 Signature Quadex will be the one. I can tell the differences based on the videos of the two diamonds, and Emily, my Brian Gavin Diamonds consultant also tells me that the latter diamond performs better as well due to better contrast. Will it be a huge difference? Perhaps not, but in real life, I will probably see the slight difference and THAT is really all that matters for me to fall for that diamond. This will probably be one of the reasons some jewelers will ask you to see the diamonds yourself and see if you like it or not, which is a fair point. Since we can't view the diamonds from Brian Gavin Diamonds physically, having videos like will probably help us to make a judgement call. I will say that it is the closest thing we have to real life viewing.

Alright, to be continued...

Ok. Here is the video:

Brian Gavin Diamonds March 2021 Promotion

2021-03-13T10:34:00.003-08:00

For the whole month of March 2021, Brian Gavin Diamonds is giving out a 10% promotion! It did not state whether it is valid for Black by Brian Gavin or not, but experience is that there will be no discount for Black by Brian Gavin collection.

Nonetheless, interested peeps may ask their helpful sales consultant and find out more.

Brian Gavin Diamonds March 2021 Promotion

Brian Gavin Diamonds Promo Code

Also, do take note that there will be no free shipping to Malaysia. You can try to ask for it, but these days I think it is harder to get. Still, their diamond prices are pretty reasonable even when shipping cost is included. I would suggest you to compare against other super ideal sellers.

Do take not that if you are paying via wire transfer, which most of us from Malaysia would (since Malaysia credit card sometimes will have problem passing through), there will already be a 3% wire transfer discount, so the actual discount left will be 7%, which is still a good discount considering diamond is not something cheap.

Brian Gavin Diamonds 0.4ct - 0.49ct

So let's see what we can get. Ok, we have a few choices, but I see that the face-up of the 0.405ct G VS1 is pretty good, and the colour and clarity is also quite decent, so I will take that as an example. The wire transfer price is USD 1158. So let's minus off 7%, we will get USD 1076.94. Shipping will be approximately USD 60, so let's make the total to be USD 1136.94. Transferring using TransferWise will be around RM 4,711.29. In comparison, in Malaysia, you can probably get a 0.4ct D VS1 already, but then, if you want something that can match the cut quality and optical precision of Brian Gavin Diamonds, it will be almost impossible. The premium you are paying is really for the optical precision of the diamond, but whether you can see the differences between a pretty good diamond and a high optical precision Hearts & Arrows diamond, it will be another story.

From my experience, I can see some subtle differences, but not all the time, when compare to the diamonds I have on hand, including diamonds from other vendors as well as diamonds I get from my own supplier. I have to say that I that the diamonds I got from my supplier has pretty decent cut and proportions, and they are some of the best diamonds available in virtual inventory, hence they can perform pretty well. You can see the diamonds I have through my Facebook page and see what I am talking about.

Anyway, since this is a one in a lifetime thing for most people, personally, I don't think I will mind the slightly higher premium to get the best cut diamond. As long as the cut quality and optical precision is proven, I can know what I am paying for and I will be satisfy with it. That is why IdealScope, ASET and Hearts & Arrows play a vital role in buying a diamond, as far as I am concerned. At the end of the day, I will still encourage people to balance out what they want accordingly. If you want value for money diamonds, I will say that my diamonds will be some of the worthy ones, like this 0.43ct E VVS2 GIA 3EX diamond. If you want the best possible cut, then look for super ideal vendors from the US. If you don't mind an even higher premium, then Jann Paul in Singapore is a worthy consideration. No tax is incurred if you buy from Malaysia as a loose diamond.

Thanks for reading and all the best in getting your diamond.

2 Exceptional Black by Brian Gavin Diamonds with Superb Value!

2021-02-04T01:10:00.002-08:00

Black by Brian Gavin is the pinnacle of Brian Gavin's work. I always wonder how to differentiate between his usual Signature diamonds and his Black collection. Even after talking to him personally, I still can't find a way to best describe it, until recently.

After having some time to think things through, I find that my explanation is pretty simple - Black by Brian Gavin is simply a collection of high quality diamonds that have well-proportioned secondary angles (ancillary angles), which in lower girdle, upper girdle, and star facets. As some of you may know, to find good diamond, the main thing we focus will be the pairing between the crown angle and the pavilion angle, which is something most diamond crafters focus on, according to Brian Gavin Diamonds' explanation. In other words, less focus will be given to the other "not-so-important" facets. But as light reflects within the whole diamond, no matter how minor a facet is, it will somehow play a role in the overall performance, and this is where Brian Gavin focuses on improving.

After dissecting and experimenting with different facets, Brian Gavin manages to come out with a set of proprietary techniques / rules / formula, which is now patented, to optimize the secondary angles to make them perform even better than their Signature diamonds. So naturally, with more care given to the minor facets, the time taken to polish a diamond will definitely be longer, which warrants the slightly higher price. Also, we have to consider the carat weight loss that can incur if he wants to optimize minor facets even when the crown angle and pavilion angle is already very well-paired. Sometimes, this kind of persistency in optimizing a diamond's beauty may actually caused them to earn even lesser because the diamond fails to hit the next magical mark, and this kind of attitude should be well-respected because the man himself cares about his craft above anything else.

Now, with that being said, today, I happened to bump into such diamonds that are optimized for beauty, rather than focusing on hitting the magical mark, which is:

0.497ct G VS2 Black by Brian Gavin Diamond

and

0.492ct G VS2 Black by Brian Gavin Diamond

Just look at their size! It is even bigger than some GIA 3EX 0.5ct diamonds facing-up! And those 0.5ct will be more expensive as well because the magical mark has been hit! For instance, this 0.5ct G VS2 Faint Fluorescence GIA 3EX diamond, which costs approximately RM 6,800.00. However, for both Black by Brian Gavin Diamonds above, the price is RM 5,490.56 (same price for both) using TransferWise. In this case, you are getting a slightly bigger diamond facing-up, with much better cut precision, well-optimized at every angles, at 4 digits cheaper, what is there not to love?

p.s. Personally, I like the 0.492ct more because it is larger facing-up and it has a pairing of crown angle and pavilion angle that I like slightly better.

An Exceptional Stone from WhiteFlash

2021-02-02T05:23:00.002-08:00

This gorgeous 0.326ct E VVS2 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Diamond has some exceptional performance. Surely you can still pick on some thing if you want to be very particular, but I find that when

0.326ct E VVS2 A CUT ABOVE

I came across this nice article by ProsumerDiamonds - https://www.prosumerdiamonds.com/diamond-analysis-ags-104108318035/ and I find that his explanation is pretty helpful when it comes to evaluate diamonds.

In the article, he is concerned about the performance of the diamond table. He is picking on the brightness level of the diamond table. This is certainly a good and simple way to see if a diamond is worth consideration. The 0.326ct above is picked using this criteria.

Another core determining factor is the video performance of the diamond. Based on my own experience, it will correlate with real life performance, hence, it will be useful to see if a diamond sparkles beautifully in the video. Of course, surely can still pick on a thing or two with the Hearts, but that is for nitpicking when we are talking about diamonds that are already at exceptional cut quality. Your chances to hit this sort of cut quality in virtual inventory is very low.

Lastly, I will check on the measurements of the diamond and see if it comes close to the calculated ideal weight using the formula length x width x depth x 0.0061 = 0.3275ct, therefore we can safely say the diamond is cut for performance.

With worldwide free delivery, zero tax for loose diamond when import to Malaysia, and 100% money-back guarantee for 30 days, I think this is certainly a good buy at the price of RM 3,693.46 using TransferWise at the time of writing.

The In-Between Carat Weight - A Great Way to Balance Out Performance and Budget

2020-12-06T01:50:00.004-08:00

I always like diamonds that are in between 2 magical marks. For example, a diamond between 0.3ct and 0.4ct. Even better if the diamond is around 0.35ct and above. This is because we can get such diamonds at affordable price, while getting closer to the next magical mark. The visual difference is somewhat more subtle.

For example, we can get a GIA 3EX 0.4ct E VVS2 at around RM 4500. Then, assuming the ring setting costs us an additional RM 1600, so the total price will be approximately RM 6100. Now this is just an approximate price. Different vendors can have around 3 digit differences. Nonetheless, if you are interested to buy at least a 0.4ct diamond, I have one remaining GIA 3EX 0.43ct E VVS2 diamond for sale. Details can be found via this link: https://www.facebook.com/myengringexp/posts/1307240142978169

Ok, so let's move on.

So today I am going to introduce you a very decent 0.356ct E VVS2 diamond. The selling price? USD 992, which converts to RM 4054.53 using TransferWise. Do note that the exchange rate will change from time-to-time so by the time you read this, it can be higher, same, or lower. Ok, now we take back the RM 1600 ring setting and do the summation - The total will be RM 5654.53. This is a decent price for someone that cares about how good the cut quality of the stone that he or she is going to buy is, and at the same time, does not want to sacrifice too much on the carat weight. This kind of stone is a great way to balance out performance and budget, in my opinion.

My company does provide ring setting service for stones from my affiliate companies, such as WhiteFlash, Brian Gavin Diamonds, and High Performance Diamonds. If you are staying in KL/Selangor area, then we can meet up and we can proceed to discuss your ring setting.

My JannPaul Decagon (White Series) Experience

2020-11-25T04:54:00.003-08:00

Alright, sorry to keep you guys waiting.

Exciting times I would say. I have heard good things about JannPaul for a long time. Did not want to buy their standard round brilliant because the price is higher than what I can get from the States. Then again, this does not stop me from enjoying their exceptional diamond craftsmanship as the images can be easily found by Googling it.

If we consider:

1. How they filter out their raw material (aka rough diamonds)

2. How they determine the diamond's proportions

3. How they design the diamond to avoid durability issue in the final product

4. The cut precision of the final product

5. All stones are in-house, not virtual-inventory

6. Having a brick-and-mortar store

7. Great in-store consultation or virtual consultation

8. The exceptional packaging. Yes, exceptional.

I don't think it is hard to justify the price of JannPaul's diamonds.

After knowing that they are grouping all their signature cut diamonds into a new brand called the "White Series", with some new fancy cut introduced, I am seriously excited. If it is a JannPaul production, anything is worth to be excited about, and Decagon, is one them that intrigues me.

There was a time when I wanted to get a Solasfera diamond from JannPaul due to the rave reviews of that brand. Yes, Solasfera is a brand carried by JannPaul. It is not an in-house brand like the White Series. Then I did not do anything for reasons I can't remember. Lol. To be honest, I still wanted a Solasfera, but that will be a story for another day. For now, let's focus back on Decagon from White Series by JannPaul, as well as the overall experience dealing with this highly reputable vendor.

The diamond I have gotten from JannPaul was a White Series Decagon 0.354ct F VVS2 Negligible Fluorescence AGS-104112018032. By right, since I am purchasing as a sample for me to write about, I would like to just get the cheapest possible option, which is a G VS2. However, there is no readily available stock and I would have to wait for some time, usually in months, to have a chance for something within that range to be available. Since the F VVS2 is available, I decided to just go with it instead. For your info, to purchase from JannPaul, I would advise you to start early so that you have ample time to get what you are looking for. While their diamonds are in-house, but usually a lot of the diamonds are actually pre-booked by customers even before they are cut, hence, they don't even have the chance to upload the whole inventory into their website. This shows how well their business is. Of course, this is based on what they told me. According to them, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, consumers are more cautious in terms of how they spend their money, so they will try to research more and understand better on what they are buying for that amount of money. Naturally, the value proposition provided by JannPaul exceeds a lot of well-known brands for the same amount of money.

Then again, they are not the cheapest around if you simply want a super ideal round brilliant diamond. As mentioned, you can simply get it from the States from companies like WhiteFlash and Brian Gavin Diamonds. Personally, I believe this is one of the reasons why the White Series is introduced with a collection of diamonds in different shapes so that JannPaul can have a competitive edge against their competitors. Because of this, they managed to earn my business as well! So, well done!

So, let's get into the diamond I purchased:

Alright, most of these the typical stuff you can expect to get when you buy from true super ideal cut sellers. You won't be getting any of these 99% of the time from typical jewelers that rely on virtual inventory. Those videos you may see on their website or sent to you via WhatsApp or e-mail are actually captured by the suppliers themselves, and not the jeweler. To put it simply, the main benefit of buying from virtual inventory is the cost of the diamond itself, with the risk of getting a sub-par diamond, while the main benefit of buying from super ideal vendors like JannPaul, is of course, the top-notch craftsmanship of the diamond itself, but this will also make the diamond to be more expensive.

So, I believe up to this point, some may think that the best way to purchase a diamond is find the best possible diamond from virtual inventory, since not all diamonds in virtual inventory are sub-par. Well, I can agree with this if you want to get the best bang for your buck, but I have to highlight that such diamonds are a rarity. And even if you manage to find one, there is a good chance that it may not beat the cut precision of a true super ideal cut such as those by JannPaul.

Nonetheless, the competition between a virtual inventory diamond and an in-house super ideal cut diamond is usually limited to round brilliant diamonds, as this is the most common diamond shape that usually exists in both inventories. If you want something like the Decagon with 10 Hearts & Arrows, you can only get it from JannPaul simply because it is a patented cut and it belongs to JannPaul alone, exclusively.

Now, some may say that we do not need to be obsessed about the cut precision or overall cut quality. For me, one of the point I consider is the purpose of the diamond. If it is for engagement ring, personally, I don't mind getting the best possible cut available at a higher cost, since this will be once in a lifetime thing. Besides, I am a curious person that usually wants to learn more, especially if that thing is something expensive, since I want to make sure my money is well-spent.

The questions is - Does JannPaul manage to give me the "money well-spent" feeling? My answer is a solid "Yes". First of all, I appreciate the online consultation session provided by JannPaul's Eugene, it was a great session. Despite that, I think that it still has room for improvement, especially if the audience is a total newbie / skeptic, but I will keep it for another day. I was also given a comparison between a JannPaul super ideal round brilliant and a Decagon and in zoomed-in view. Both are beautiful diamonds, but the Decagon truly stands out with its scintillation, which is expected from a 111 facets stone. More facets mean more windows, and hence, more scintillation as light is passed through more windows. Theoretically, more facets also reduce the overall sparkle boldness of the diamond, but in real-life view, I believe one will appreciate the scintillation that is offered by the extra facets more, as it is a feature that is more obvious with all that crazy bling!

At 0.354ct, I won't be truly able to appreciate the decagon shape of the diamond because it is not that obvious if I glance it quickly. It looks more like a round brilliant at quick glance. However, it will only take awhile to observe the decagon shape if you pay slightly more attention to it. Nonetheless, decagon shape is still something I will go after because it is something out of the modern round brilliant norm and offers superbly crazy performance. That being said, it is certainly a good choice for those looking for something that is out of the ordinary and possesses great performance.

This diamond is certainly a diamond that you will want to bring to a place with spotlights or candle lights, whereby you will see the Decagon performing like a wild beast. Simply breathtaking. However, (yup, however), in normal office light environment (a.k.a. diffused lighting environment), I still prefer the good old modern round brilliant. The reason being that the arrows on a modern round brilliant looks nicer and slightly fatter and it is aesthetically pleasing to look at in such environment. Of course, that is just me.

Overall, the Decagon is a representation of a new breed with high performance and the diamond designer, Paul Hung, co-founder for JannPaul, has certainly put in a substantial effort into it to make it look astonishing. With the knowledge that this sort of cut requires a highly skilled diamond master cutter to cut it into high precision, and utilize substantially much more time compared to a round brilliant, one will probably appreciate the Decagon even more. To me, it is like enjoying the work of a Swiss watchmaker crafting a complicated in-house movement into a luxury Swiss watch.

Now, I have to say that the packaging from JannPaul really edged their competitors. I did not expect such packaging from them. The outer box is a made of high quality plastic in classic black colour, with their company name "JannPaul" carved into it. The bottom of the box contains suede material that prevent the box from sliding. If you ever buy a branded bag like LV before, you will know that these bags usually come with a box. Just that, this box by JannPaul actually feels more luxurious. I can see that they really put in effort to maintain the "luxury" feel when purchasing a diamond from them. So kudos to them for their excellent work!

Within the box, you can find a compartment that holds the AGS grading report, as well as the invoice. Remove that, you will see the items that come together with the box, including a ring box, a loose diamond box, and a Hearts & Arrows scope. While the loose diamond box and Hearts & Arrows scope is the typical stuff that you will get when purchasing from other super ideal vendors, that ring box does stand out. It is not too big, not too small, a very decent size, and made out of high quality plastic. The rose gold tone that is blended carefully along the border of the ring box, together with the JannPaul branded logo at the hinge of the box, screams luxury. It is not hard to see how thoughtful they are when designing the whole packaging that will make some luxury brands look pale in comparison.

To sum it up, the experience with JannPaul embodies excellent personalized education, a range of exquisite diamond collection, and elegantly designed packaging. And if one decides to go with their ring settings, you will get a meticulously crafted engagement ring as well. Yes, from price point of view, it is somewhere between a typical jeweler and the high-end international renowned jeweler, so I won't call it exactly cheap. But for what you are getting, especially for that once-in-a-lifetime engagement ring, I will say that the value proposition is there.

Now, if you are interested, you can just get in-touch with them via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JANNPAULDiamonds