Be sure to provide all the details, so that we can fully appreciate the dramatic differences. Of course, it's likely that more questions will arise as we move down the page. nile At the same time, my job is to help you circumvent all the marketing hyperbole. 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. astor By searching for Astor by Blue Nile diamonds, youre essentially skipping the process of having to screen diamonds for quality on your own. Which lets face it, is the suits job. Look at the GemEx score for this 1.00 carat, G-color, VS-2 clarity, Astor by Blue Nile diamond. You can use them as a basis of comparison for deciding which Astor Diamond to choose. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. astor However, if thats true, why does their disclaimer state that its not a guarantee? Lets read that again, "Every Astor by Blue Nile diamond receives the highest grade for each by GemEx.. That way we can see what they look like and evaluate them properly. With that in mind, this initial statement by Blue Nile got me thinking. Installed by Google Analytics, _gid cookie stores information on how visitors use a website, while also creating an analytics report of the website's performance. While the 34.5 degree crown angle produces a virtual balance of brilliance and dispersion. If youre using Blue Nile to search for diamonds, you can narrow your selection to display Astor diamonds by choosing the Astor Ideal option in Blue Niles sliding cut quality selector. Do the arrows appear to be symmetrical in size and shape? Next, were going to right-click our mouse over the orange arrows on the right side of the listings. Do you see any obstruction? astor How can Blue Nile possibly claim that a diamond that scores in the low range of very high for SPARKLE delivers "unmatched sparkle? Blue Nile is one of our top recommendations for buying diamonds online thanks to their massive inventory, competitive prices and excellent customer service. I hope that you found this article to be illuminating. As we move further down the page for Astor by Blue Nile diamonds, we get to the proportions. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. With that in mind, Im really curious to "Discover how we [Blue Nile] create a diamond for unmatched sparkle. Then you'll open each diamond details page in a new tab in our browser. Astor by Blue Nile is a little different. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); DISCLAIMER: We don't use your email for marketing. As a matter of fact, these two paragraphs give me hope. Therefore, this review of the Astor by Blue Nile diamond is going to be more like a casual conversation among friends. For example, there is a patent for Black by Brian Gavin Diamond because the cutting technique is state-of-the-art. Second, Blue Niles criteria for selecting diamonds for its Astor collection is very strict, meaning the diamonds that are available definitely live up to the standards youd expect for a high quality, premium collection. Although I wonder whether this claim will hold water as we move through the evaluation process. The collection includes some beautiful, very well-cut diamonds and is worth considering if youre looking for the very best. But if youre like me, that means youre super detail-oriented, and youre going to want to know more. How is the Astor by Blue Nile diamond different? These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. This1.00 carat, G-color, Blue Nile Astor diamond also has an overall cut grade of GIA Excellent. Consequently, the next step of the evaluation process is to actually look at the diamond. In other words, they put their money where their mouth is and back up the grade with a financial guarantee. How did Blue Nile determine that it offers unmatched sparkle? In other words, the new report for the Astor by Blue Nile diamond does not provide Hearts & Arrows scope images. At this point, I did not adjust the parameters for total depth or table diameter since I dont even know what it looks like yet. Probably theMad Men of Marketing. Once again, the diamond grading report does not feature a plotting diagram.

Actually, it raises several very good questions. Prior to taking this information into account, there were 27 Astor by Blue Nile diamonds available for our consideration. Perhaps you had a few of those A-ha moments while reading this article. Once again, they just giving us a bunch of marketing hype: "Every Astor by Blue Nile diamond is cut to ideal proportions to reflect light and ensure maximum sparkle.. The reality is that you dont know what you dont know until you know more. By the way, read the line right above the section highlighted in red. Diamond Grading 101 Through The Looking Glass, Astor Ideal Blue Nile Diamonds vs GIA Excellent Cut. Obviously, I understand because I wouldnt be able to make such a large investment without them either. Please enter your email address to receive your personal one-time use unique coupon code for 25% off engagement rings: Guides Blue Niles Astor Collection Diamonds Review.

GemEx Disclaimer Regarding Diamond Certification. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Previously, Blue Nile sold its premium diamonds as Blue Nile Signature diamonds. The Astor collection essentially replaces Blue Niles Signature collection and uses the same strict criteria regarding cut quality. To put into perspective how selective Blue Nile are for Astor diamonds, consider the following at the time of publishing this guide, Blue Niles inventory includes more than 99,000 ideal round diamonds and just under 200 Astor ideal round diamonds. There is also the chance that I might have even upset a few of my friends in the diamond division. You can view the Astor collection online here by selecting Astor ideal when searching for loose diamonds with Blue Nile. The fact of the matter is that we simply found it to be unreliable. In the first place, the 41.0 degree pavilion angle is too steep for my preferences. The following Astor by Blue Nile diamonds from this search, meet my proportions criteria. As did the majority of my competitors who gave this machine a go a few years ago. 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Blue Niles Astor collection, often marketed as Astor by Blue Nile, consists of diamonds cut to maximize brilliance. With all due respect to the Gorilla in the room, I dont see how Blue Nile has created anything new here. But they all know that Todd Gray from Nice Ice is a perfectionist, who focuses primarily on the niche of super ideal cut diamonds. As a matter of fact, the GIA rounds off the crown angle, crown height, and pavilion depth measurements to various degrees. Perhaps that is why some of this marketing fluff just rubs me the wrong way: Who comes up with this stuff anyway? Remember that Im learning about the Astor by Blue Nile diamond right along with you, step by step. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. James Allen will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring. The 34.5 degree crown angle should produce a virtual balance of brilliance and dispersion. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. As a matter of fact, Brian Gavin is the only diamond cutter in the world with a patent for maximizing light performance in the modern round brilliant cut diamond. Thats just the type of diamond buyer that I am. Generally, about 25 to 30% more expensive than similar ideal cut stones. Hold on a second! Keep in mind that every cut grade represents a range or spectrum. 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. Apparently, that is another way to say that the results may vary by 5%, but I digress. 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. As weve covered in our Blue Nile review, Blue Niles business model allows them to maintain a huge inventory on very low margins. As a matter of fact, it doesnt seem to matter whether I check or uncheck the box for a 360 view. FIVE PERCENT. Its not that I expect every Astor by Blue Nile diamond to exhibit the highest score.

To that regard, theyve probably accomplished the task. The 40.6 degree pavilion angle should produce a high volume of light return. Of course, this might be due to the alignment of the camera lens to the surface of the diamond. We get commissions for purchases made from our affiliates through links in this article. Every Astor by Blue Nile diamond receives the highest grade for each (category) by GemEx. As a matter of fact, the proportions of this Astor by Blue Nile diamond do not meet my selection criteria. This is usually an indication that the diamond has not been cut to exhibit the highest degree of optical precision. 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. Its still better than nothing. In my experience, super ideal hearts and arrows diamonds offer the best light performance. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. First, Blue Nile is an excellent diamond vendor, and a huge part of their appeal is their absolutely massive inventory. That is the only way to accurately judge the degree of optical precision. Every diamond in the collection has an exceptional level of cut quality, meaning you can shop with total confidence that youre getting the best. Another thing I want you to notice is the way light is reflecting off of the arrows pattern. These statements imply several things from my perspective. For the sake of clarification, brilliance is white sparkle and dispersion is colored sparkle or fire. With the aforementioned in mind, it's time to run a search for Astor by Blue Nile diamonds. 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. Be that as it may, I would still like to see the plotting diagram for this 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. Blue Niles use of the word "create in conjunction with a new brand led me to believe that they had created something new. According to the dictionary, a certification is a guarantee. Do the diamonds have the same proportions? All diamonds come with a GIA or AGS certificate, as well as a light performance certificate from GemEx. I love to share my diamond buying knowledge with people and see the look of understanding dawn upon their faces. From this vantage point, all of the arrows should be dark because they should be reflecting back the dark color of the camera lens. No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. By all means, feel free to contact me if you want help with your diamond buying quest. Blue Nile will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring. Astor by Blue Nile is, as mentioned above, Blue Niles exclusive collection of diamonds cut for optimal brilliance. Slight price premium compared to ideal cut diamonds. All diamonds come with a GIA or AGS certificate only. As such, I assume that this type of product benefits statements is 100% accurate. As a matter of fact, Blue Nile did not provide their affiliates with advance notice of the change. Disabling or refusing the use of cookies might cause some elements of the site not to function properly. For personalized help, you can also contact us to talk directly to our diamond experts. Currently, the Astor collection includes diamonds in three shapes: the round brilliant cut, cushion cut and princess cut. That is another thing that used to appear on the GemEx reports for their Blue Nile Signature diamonds. That first shot of them looks kind of wonky, dont you think? Perhaps doing so will provide us with some quick and easy answers to the questions from above. Exceptionally well-cut diamonds consisting of the top 0.1% of Blue Niles inventory. Thankfully, things straighten up a bit when you click to watch the video: Astor by Blue Nile vs Round Brilliant Cut Diamond. That is what I deem to be "the highest grade available from GemEx. Once again, I fail to see the correlation between this and the highest score available from GemEx. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that the Astor by Blue Nile scores in the higher range? Other options worth considering for exceptionally well-cut diamonds include James Allens True Hearts collection and Brian Gavin Diamonds. Because you'll begin to see how varying degrees of optical precision affect light performance. The correct way to say this would be that Astor by Blue Nile diamonds are graded by two gemological laboratories. Interestingly enough, the first few GIA diamond grading reports for the Astor by Blue Nile diamonds in the list, do not contain a plotting diagram. As much as I object to their implying that they do when they clearly do not. Although that may be true, it is actually a redesign, largely built upon the work of Marcel Tolkowsky's Diamond Design from 1919. Diamonds that are extremely well cut can also look larger, thanks to the effects of the stones cut on its proportions and brightness. The factor that separates one diamond from the next is Light Performance. The plotting diagram of the Astor by Blue Nile diamond on the GIA diamond grading report shows a modern round brilliant. It would be very interesting to see ASET and Ideal Scope images for this diamond. Because the Light Performance grading platform of the AGSL is far superior to the GIA. While the Astor by Blue Nile diamond on the left appears to be cut much better. GemEx Report for Astor by Blue Nile Diamond. Chew on that concept for a moment and let it sink in. Other times, it is a matter of the pavilion main facets being slightly off axis. A better option if youre looking for a diamond that looks attractive but offers optimal value for money. Nor does it matter whether I adjust the sliders for Excellent polish and symmetry. As a result, I'm curious to see how https://goto.bluenile.com/4e5Ge9 is creating diamonds guaranteed to deliver unmatched sparkle. Did Blue Nile really create a new diamond cut? However, since the Astor by Blue Nile diamond page seems artfully vague. If you have keen eyes, then you might be able to find them within the clarity video. That will enable us to examine the facet structure of the diamond. An Exclusive Collection Cut for Optimal Brilliance. Not the least of which is: The screenshot above is a claim made by Blue Nile on their website. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". All right, now were getting somewhere. After all, Ive been at this game since 1985 and the promise of anything new is exciting. The GIA Gem Trade Laboratory does NOT certify diamonds. My guess is that somebody in the marketing division is trying to meet your expectations. By the same token, I interpret the highest grade to mean the highest scores for Light Performance on the GemEx grading platform. However, if youre looking for the best from Blue Niles massive range, this small premium is often worth it. This 1.01 carat, H color, VS1 clarity diamond also has a stunning cut that provides unmatched brilliance. Consequently, Im not a fan of the GemEx system, but to each their own as they say. While the generic round brilliant cut diamond on the right is not reflecting light evenly. In that case, I expect you to prove it beyond a shadow of a doubt and I'll hold you to it. As you can plainly see, the Brilliance rating for this diamond is on the line between High to Very High. Under those circumstances, I fully expect to be impressed. Lets see how many of those diamonds have the proportions within the range that I adhere to. 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. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. All Rights Reserved. Thus there is going to be a low end, a high end and that no-mans land in the middle. Copyright 1996 - 2022Gray Matter Development, LLC. Save 10% off Lab Created Diamonds during limited time sale! Do both round brilliant cut diamonds have the same facet structure? As a matter of fact, this looks like a standard round brilliant ideal cut diamond to me. __CONFIG_colors_palette__{"active_palette":0,"config":{"colors":{"34e1f":{"name":"Main Accent","parent":-1},"44b22":{"name":"Accent Dark","parent":"34e1f"}},"gradients":[]},"palettes":[{"name":"Default","value":{"colors":{"34e1f":{"val":"var(--tcb-color-1)"},"44b22":{"val":"rgb(3, 5, 43)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":238,"l":0.09,"s":0.86}}},"gradients":[]},"original":{"colors":{"34e1f":{"val":"rgb(55, 179, 233)","hsl":{"h":198,"s":0.8,"l":0.56,"a":1}},"44b22":{"val":"rgb(13, 49, 65)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":198,"s":0.66,"l":0.15,"a":1}}},"gradients":[]}}]}__CONFIG_colors_palette__, __CONFIG_colors_palette__{"active_palette":0,"config":{"colors":{"29581":{"name":"Main Accent","parent":-1},"a33b7":{"name":"Accent Low Opacity","parent":"29581"}},"gradients":[]},"palettes":[{"name":"Default","value":{"colors":{"29581":{"val":"var(--tcb-color-0)","hsl":{"h":0,"s":0.01,"l":0.2,"a":1}},"a33b7":{"val":"rgba(41, 40, 40, 0.5)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":359,"l":0.16,"s":-0.17}}},"gradients":[]},"original":{"colors":{"29581":{"val":"rgb(55, 179, 233)","hsl":{"h":198,"s":0.8,"l":0.56,"a":1}},"a33b7":{"val":"rgba(57, 163, 209, 0.5)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":198,"s":0.62,"l":0.52,"a":0.5}}},"gradients":[]}}]}__CONFIG_colors_palette__. However, that might be one of the reasons we returned the GemEx machine after playing with it. While it is still not the absolute highest score Ive ever seen, it is on the higher end of the spectrum. Am I missing something? The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Ill bet that GemEx could provide these images if enough of us ask for them. If you were keeping count, only 16 of the 27 Astor by Blue Nile diamonds made the cut.

Before you buy a diamond, get personal buying advice from industry veterans. This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. Generally more affordable than diamonds in the Astor collection, although price can vary based on cut quality, shape and other factors. Weve also given our opinion on when a premium collection such as Astor by Blue Nile is worth it when purchasing a diamond. 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. VS-2 clarity. From my perspective, the diamond on the right is clearly not cut well. Consequently, that would be perfectly fine, unless youre going to claim that Astor Diamonds exhibit sparkle that is unmatched. In that case, tell me what you see when you look at the arrows pattern of this diamond? Not to mention the fact that the diamond got a score in the lower range of very high for brilliance. Although it might be acceptable if the pavilion depth were 43%. Pavilion angle between 40.6 40.9 degrees. Perhaps people dont use dictionaries anymore, but there is an App for that. GemEx Certified Astor by Blue Nile Diamond. Im referring to the little black asymmetrical triangles visible between the arrows in the relative 11 oclock and 3 oclock regions. Below is the GemEx report for this Astor by Blue Nile diamond. On that note, they should also seriously consider sending these diamonds to the AGS Laboratory. I have to be honest and admit that Im not a big fan of this grading platform. If you want to impress me, show how Astor by Blue Nile diamonds stack up against a hearts and arrows super ideal cut diamond. This is one of the reasons why I prefer the AGS Ideal-0 Light Performance grading platform. As a matter of fact, this is the range of proportions that I rely upon as a diamond buyer. However, these are the questions that first come to mind. GCAL Report for Blue Nile Signature Diamonds. It is worth mentioning that the GIA rounds this measurement off to the nearest 5%. Be that as it may, the GemEx report for the Astor by Blue Nile diamonds to serve a purpose. We are reader-supported. Many people in the industry refer to Blue Nile as the 800-pound Gorilla in room. In that case, I originally wrote this article "on the fly" on the day the collection was launched. So what youll want to do is click and hold your mouse down over the video and drag the diamond left and right. To my complete shock, it appears that GemEx is promoting the idea that they certify diamonds. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. As a matter of fact, Im certain that I have no more friends in the marketing division at Blue Nile. For the record, I'm a professional diamond buyer with 35+ years experience. There is a lot you can tell about a diamond by looking at those images. Under those circumstances, I interpret the word every to mean every single Astor by Blue Nile diamond. Unfortunately, Blue Nile doesnt really tell us anything about the proportions of the Astor diamonds. 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. While the score for Brilliance is down on the line between High to Very High. In addition, the diamond appears to be exhibiting stronger contrast brilliance. Specifically, Im referring to the arrows pattern and it doesnt look very symmetrical. This diamond has a 40.8 degree pavilion angle, which should produce a high volume of light return. With that in mind, were going to rely uponmy preferred range of proportions for round ideal cut diamonds. Does the Astor diamond have a different facet structure? 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! The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognize unique visitors. Secondly, the crown angle of 33.5 degrees is shallower than I prefer. Because they suggest that Astor by Blue Nile diamonds exhibit the light performance of a super ideal. Now, the reason why I bring up this point is because the way the two diamonds look in the video frame. That is not something that I rely upon GemEx to measure for me.

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