- Custom Collection Links to High Quality Diamonds Under $5000
- What Custom Collection Links Are
- Notes on Color and Clarity
- Notes on the Grading Labs Used
Custom Collection Links To High Quality Diamonds Under $5000
| Vendor | Custom Collection Link | Custom Collection Link Details* |
|---|---|---|
 | True Hearts™ Diamonds | ✅ Color Grades: D to I ✅ Shapes: Round, Princess, Cushion ✅ Clarity: VS2, VS1, VVS2 ✅ Grading report by: GIA, AGS |
 | Astor By Blue Nile™ | ✅ Color Grades: D to I ✅ Shapes: Round, Princess, Cushion, Oval ✅ Clarity: VS2, VS1, VVS2 ✅ Grading report by: GIA+Gemex |
 | A CUT ABOVE® | ✅ Color Grades: D to I ✅ Shape: Round, Princess ✅ Clarity: SI1, VS2, VS1, VVS2 ✅ Grading reports by: AGS |
 | Canera H&A + more | ✅ Color Grades: D to I ✅ Clarity: VS2, VS1, VVS2, VVS1 ✅ Shapes: Round, Princess, Emerald, Cushion, OEC ✅ Grading reports by: GIA, AGS |
You can adjust the parameters once you land on each merchant’s site.
What Custom Collection Links Are
The links in the table above are one-click-searches with a number of parameters already filled in. Following the links in the middle column will show you high quality diamonds which are below $5000 at each respective merchant. Parameters such as color grades and clarity are prefilled. I’ve also listed which shapes are usually found in each collection (in the right column).
Notes on Color and Clarity
I’ve set each link to show D to I color diamonds as most people find that color grades lower than that are where the color starts to be quite noticeable. As far as clarity grades go you’ll notice that I included one lower clarity grade in the Whiteflash diamonds Custom Collection Link. This is because listings for SI1 diamonds in the A CUT ABOVE® collection include a note as to whether each stone is deemed eye-clean or not.
The color grades used by GIA and AGS are based on the same master stones.
Notes on the Grading Labs Used
GIA and AGS are sister organizations both established by the same person with the goal of consumer education and protection. GIA is where many diamonds get graded and it’s arguably the best known grading lab in the world. AGS has narrower grades so if a diamond manufacturer wants to highlight the excellence of a diamond’s cut quality they will send the diamond to AGS for grading. It’s not super common for diamonds to be AGS graded as the majority of diamonds on the market would not qualify for AGS’ top cut grade. Since GIA’s top grade has a broader definition than AGS’ it’s understandable that manufacturers would rather send a diamond to GIA than to AGS. Occasionally I have come across jewelers who have never even had the opportunity to deal with AGS graded diamonds.
Here is a chart showing the AGS cut grading levels and how it compares to the GIA/industry standard: www.americangemsociety.org/buying-diamonds-with-confidence/4cs-of-diamonds/understanding-diamond-cut-the-4cs-of-diamonds/
This does not mean that either lab is better, it simply means that the method of determining the cut quality is executed in a different way at each lab.
Gemex, used by Blue Nile, in addition to GIA, for their signature Astor diamonds, performs additional tests on diamonds to quantify a stone’s brilliance, fire, and sparkle.
