James Allen True Hearts vs. Whiteflash ES | An In-depth Comparison

James Allen and Whiteflash are two popular options for diamonds and fine jewelry. And like many other diamond retailers, they have their premium lines of loose diamonds. While James Allen offers a single, most popular True Hearts line, Whiteflash distinguishes itself by offering its superior diamonds in two collections: A Cut Above (ACA) and Expert Selection (ES).

These exclusive diamonds are particularly prized for their matchless cut, light performance, and brilliance. For now, we’re going to explore the James Allen True Hearts and Whiteflash Expert Selection diamonds.

So let’s see how they compare against each other!

Table of Contents

What is a True Hearts Diamond?

A True Hearts diamond is a super ideal cut diamond by James Allen. These diamonds feature perfect internal symmetry and proportions, besides having the highest gem grading for cut and polish.

Due to the exceptional cut symmetry, a True Hearts diamond displays an internal reflection of eight hearts when viewed from the bottom and eight arrows when viewed from the top.

Hearts and Arrows of True Hearts diamonds

To really put things into perspective for you, True Hearts are the rarest of diamonds, with only less than 1% of the world’s diamonds having the perfect symmetry to earn this distinction. Click here to view some stunning examples.

If you are wondering how the true hearts collection distinguishes itself from the rest of the ideal cut diamond by James Allen, read our comparison “James Allen Ideal Cut Vs True Heart”. We have also fared them up in a comparison against Blue Nile’s Astor Ideal diamond, their premier collection.

What is a Whiteflash ES Diamond?

The Expert Selection (ES) line features ideal cut diamonds possessing superior light performance and beauty. These diamonds exhibit an ideal cut symmetry producing the famous ‘Heart and Arrow’ pattern. However, they narrowly miss the technical requirements to qualify as an ACA diamond.

The Expert Selection line comes second to the A Cut Above (ACA) Super Ideal collection by Whiteflash. Still, ES diamonds are among the finest cut diamonds with a triple ideal AGS grading and only minor technical shortcomings, such as slight inclusions or cutting defects, which are imperceptible to a naked, untrained eye.

For a more detailed comparison, read our comparsion between Whiteflash’s ES and ACA collection.

True Hearts Vs. Whiteflash ES Diamonds: What are the Key Differences?

There are not many distinguishing features between True Hearts and Whiteflash ES diamonds. While Expert Selection is a secondary line at Whiteflash, it compares well to the premier True Hearts line at James Allen.

Whiteflash separates their Hearts and Arrows into a more special ACA category and a less superior ES category based on the variations in the light performance of the diamonds. James Allen, on the other hand, offers all of theirs in one place, which suggests all True Hearts offer an equally superior light performance.

So while the ES diamonds do compare well against True Hearts on paper, ES diamonds may fail to outshine a True Hearts diamond with high clarity in real life, considering they’re barred from the ACA collection by Whiteflash itself.

Nonetheless, it is pertinent to say these technical variations are only detectable by an expert gemologist with proper equipment. An average person cannot tell them apart on a day to day basis.

However, one notable difference is the availability of round, princess, and cushion cut diamonds in the True Hearts line compared to only round and princess cut options in Whiteflash’s Expert Selection.

Price Comparison

A general comparison between diamonds from True Hearts and Expert Selection reveals that Whiteflash falls on the pricier side of the spectrum, even though we’re comparing its second best diamond line with James Allen’s premier collection.

A 1.02 ct. True Hearts diamond, with VVS1 clarity and F color grade, is priced at $9,710. In contrast, a similarly specced diamond from the ES collection will cost you around $11,975. Per their respective GIA reports, these diamonds are excellent in polish and symmetry with medium fluorescence.

But, a closer look at each diamond’s specifications in the reports above reveals that the True Hearts diamond narrowly missed the exact criteria for ideal cutting proportions i.e. the depth is at 60.3% as opposed to the required 61%-62.5%.

In a separate analysis, we found one other True Hearts diamond missing the criteria for the girdle thickness, while the Whiteflash ES diamond specifications were spot on again.

Keeping in view these minor technicalities, we consider the cost difference justifiable. If you have some rigid requirements for diamond specifications, Whiteflash is worth the premium price. However, the minor deviations in James Allen’s True Hearts are not a deal breaker since they won’t even make a difference to an average, untrained person.

Certification

True Hearts and Expert Selection diamonds come with either the AGS grading or the GIA lab report. However, none of these reports make a distinct mention of the Hearts and Arrows symmetry in their grading. Moreover, the reports do not mention these diamonds as Super Ideal, as James Allen and Whiteflash claim.

So all True Hearts, ACA, or ES diamonds attain the Triple Zero or Ideal Cut grade from AGS and Excellent Cut grade from the GIA lab, at most. Since the diamond reports do not explicitly mention a Hearts and Arrows cut, the value of these diamonds cannot be specified on paper.

Website and Return Policy

You can explore the complete True Hearts collection at James Allen’s website, which offers a user-friendly interface with ample filters for a quick, targeted search for your desired diamonds. James Allen also offers idealscope images for each diamond, making the purchase experience as transparent as possible.

Likewise, Whiteflash’s website is equally impressive. They offer a wide range of filters, ranging from cut grade and carat weight to color and clarity grades, making it easier to browse through hundreds of diamonds in less time. Like James Allen, Whiteflash also provides actual idealscope images of each diamond, allowing a thorough diamond examination before making a purchase.

The darker theme, however, may not be for everyone. It is visually cold, so I give the nod to James Allen, in this aspect.

As for the returns, they’re absolutely hassle-free at both James Allen and Whiteflash. They offer a 30-day, no questions asked return policy, provided the diamonds are in their original, unworn condition. At James Allen, the returns are free of cost for customers in the US and Canada. Whereas, at Whiteflash, this perk is limited to US residents only.

James Allen True Hearts vs. Whiteflash ES: Which is Better?

James Allen True Hearts and Whiteflash ES diamonds offer superior quality, light performance, and matchless brilliance. However, in some instances, James Allen’s True Hearts may fall short in meeting the exact criteria for ideal cutting proportions. Whereas Whiteflash Expert Selection diamonds specifications are generally up to par with the standard criteria but then, they’re slightly pricier too.

Having said that, an average person, even with the right equipment, will struggle to spot these minor technicalities, let alone perceive them with the naked eye. All in all, I would go for James Allen True hearts as they guarantee an H&A status at a much lower price.

You are free to disagree and either way you go, you are bound to receive something that dazzles the eyes and warms up the hearts.

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