I read the first few pages, many said get the proposal ring that your gf or future wife likes. Noobie question, isn't proposal normally a suprise hence the proposal ring is a surprise as well?  How to know whether she will like it or not? 

Personally, I won't think that AGS standard is way lower. There can be discrepancy when a diamond is submitted to different lab for grading whereby one lab may say that diamond is D colour while the other the other lab may say is E colour, for example. Last time when Crafted by Infinity (a diamond brand) was still around, their diamonds have Triple Certification with GIA, AGS, and GCAL. From there you can see sometimes AGS will give higher grade, while sometimes GIA may give higher grade, in fact, there is instance whereby both AGS and GIA provide the same grade, while GCAL provide a lower grade. Nonetheless, the results should mostly be one grade apart if there is any discrepancy. Even if the same diamond gets submitted back to the same lab but graded by different peers, the result can be different. Diamond grading is still done by humans as far as I know and there can still be a subjective thing despite they are well-trained.

Another example is that the diamonds I sell sometimes can have H+ or H-. H+ means the supplier thinks that it is G colour, while GIA thinks that it is H, while H- means the supplier thinks that it is I colour, while GIA thinks that it is H. Something like that. (Updated)

Overall, the standard widely accepted in the world is still GIA. So for those people with concern or skeptical with different lab grading, best way is still stick with GIA.

Typical 4Cs are the price determining factor, including cut. But the cut in 4Cs does not determine the actual optical precision. To put in layman, imagine this as an exam, score 70% is grade A, score 90% is grade A, score 100% is also grade A.

My personal preference is actually still with cut quality that includes optical precision and for this AGS can provide more detail. Other labs like IGI or GCAL can also provide more details. All these will depend on the grading report they have chosen to use.

Lazare and Forevermark grade stones themselves. GIA and AGS are independent lab.

At the end of the day, it all boils down to what a person wants. To max value, look for typical GIA diamonds with great optical precision.

Twisted band? You bought your ring dy?

Price hike I won't be surprised. It should be more expensive to be graded by AGS since the diamonds need to send to US. AGS has only one location as far as I know. For GIA, they have multiple branches in the world.

I read the first few pages, many said get the proposal ring that your gf or future wife likes. Noobie question, isn't proposal normally a suprise hence the proposal ring is a surprise as well?  How to know whether she will like it or not? 

Went to look-see at few shops in a mall, Poh Kong, Tomei and Wah Chan. The sales assistant at Wah Chan seems to have more knowledge on diamonds among the three, at least to a noobie like me. Wah Chan says that for resizing, they have to send the ring to KL for about 3 weeks. Well known companies like Wah Chan, Poh Kong won't swap the diamond, right? 

Another question is, with the 10 digits GIA no, it is sufficient for me to check it online? Thank you

Thanks. I think buying from Zcova is much better value for money.

Using these 2 examples to educate myself, which is more preferable, or skip both? Both having feather inclusion (defect), is that a major cause of concern? In terms of Fluorescence, I suppose faint is better than medium blue? Thank you

0.45 carat
Color M
Clarity VVS1
Cut Excellent
Fluorescence Faint
Feather

0.40 carat
Color L
Clarity VS2
Cut Excellent
Fluorescence Medium Blue
Twinning Wisp, Feather, Crystal

VVS1 basically is overkill. A feather in VVS1 is nothing to be worried about. If can, I will try to lower the clarity to VS range and up the diamond colour. Personally I like VS1 because it gives me a peace of mind, but usually VS2 will be fine as well. You can ask further details from the jeweler that serves you and see if they can find out where is the inclusion, and whether the inclusion is "dark" in colour, which can be more obvious, compared to transparent inclusions.

The more fluorescence it has, the lower the price of the diamond will be, assuming other factors are constant.

I think it will be best to see what is your budget and using that, you scout for your options. While ZCOVA is a good place to begin, you can also try DeGem Gia diamond website, which is also pretty decent. DeGem website sells typical GIA diamond at a reasonable price and their ring settings are definitely on the cheaper site.

Whether you should skip both diamonds really require more details of how the diamond look like, such as whether it has good arrows or not, and good proportions or not. Excellent cut can consists of good and bad diamonds.

Is this diamond ok?

Proportions seem okay for me. I punched the figures into diamond screener cut estimator: https://www.diamondscreener.com/cut-estimator/... the image of similar diamonds provided are not the best, but not too shabby either. That being said, check the hearts of at least the arrows of the diamond to make sure they align nicely.

I don't see any inclusion description, but VS2 usually is fine, although there still can be some rare cases it is not.

Do note that this diamond is not graded by GIA or AGS. Don't know what certificate is that, so I will say so your own due diligence accordingly.

With the above, if the price is right, you can consider.

Hi Sifus, appreciate your thoughts and feedbacks on this lab grown diamond.

Besides, would like to know your thoughts on lab grown vs mined diamonds as there are still people out there that prefer the latter when the property compounds are the same for both, where price for lab grown is way cheaper if comparing apple to apple.

Nice proportions.

Some people may not know the difference. And the word "natural" appeals to alot consumers... Think skincare products.

Sooner people prefer natural because of how it was formed inside mother earth... I would think this looks antique vase and normal vase... Both also vase right.

Some may think natural looks prettier, but this is probably because they don't know the compound is the same and skeptical about it.

If you think logically... There is no way you don't prefer lab grown for is cost-effectiveness... But we humans tend to overpay for stuff for various reasons, such as branding, which honestly, makes me feel good too, even when I know inside it could just be OEM from some generic factory.

At the end of the day, only you know what you want. Just that lab-grown, try to aim for higher carat weight as lower carat weight does not carry a big significance in terms of price... For example a 0.3ct... at least to me. You still save money, but it could be less than RM 1k, depending on where you buy.

Thanks kambingkoh, i guess at the end of the day, it's all about perception when it comes to choosing mined or lab diamonds.

My understanding is that even at professional level, it's very difficult to distinguish between mined and lab diamonds.

From costs perspective, do you agree to opt for lab grown diamonds as:
1) diamonds actually do not carry much value esp resale value
2) better to spend the extra cash on smtg else, ie. trip, house renovation, savings for future, etc
3) alot of ppl associate mined diamond as "blood diamond" since it involves alot of force labour, $ generated use to fund criminal activities, etc

Truly appreciate your feedback.

https://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=6352612995
Hello sifus...
Can ask if the above diamond is ok?
Was quoted 15k just for this diamond.
Please advice me as i am kinda clueless.

TQVM