James Allen True Hearts Vs. Whiteflash ACA (A Cut Above/ Signature Cuts)

If you’re looking for premium diamonds with exquisite cut proportions and stunning light performance, James Allen and Whiteflash are two good options to consider. Both companies offer their exclusive collections of Hearts and Arrows diamonds, which are particularly famous for their exceptional symmetry and visual brilliance.

Moving forward, we’ll explore True Hearts by James Allen and A Cut Above by Whiteflash to find out all the factors that set them apart from each other, if at all. So let’s begin!

We also compared James Allen’s True Heart series against Whiteflash’s second best series, the expert selection (ES). You can read the comparison by clicking here.

Table of Contents

What Does True Hearts Cut Mean?

True Hearts is a premier collection of perfectly cut diamonds by James Allen, offering the popular Hearts and Arrows diamonds that display eight arrows and eight hearts when viewed from the top and bottom, respectively.

Due to the rigorous standards of internal symmetry and proportions, only less than 1% of the world’s diamonds have what it takes to earn the distinction of a True Heart diamond.

In addition to flawless internal symmetry, these diamonds possess the highest gem grading for cut and polish. You can check some of the stunning examples here.

Put simply, True Hearts is a collection of the best of the best diamonds by James Allen. True Hearts are classified above the ideal cut, also by James Allen. You can read about the differences between the two in our comparison of True Hearts and Ideal Cut by James Allen.

James Allen Hearts and Arrows Illustration

What is An ACA Diamond?

A Cut Above (ACA) is the premium collection of Hearts and Arrows diamonds by Whiteflash. These are internationally recognized super ideal diamonds, skillfully crafted by master diamond cutters for ultimate precision and symmetry.

Apart from showcasing the perfect Hearts and Arrows pattern, ACA diamonds showcase superior light performance from each angle. Each ACA diamond is critically evaluated to ensure that only the most flawless diamonds are selected for their customers.

Like James Allen’s True Hearts, A Cut Above by Whiteflash offers the rarest, world-class diamonds with exceptional cut symmetry and light performance.

Price Comparison

Considering True Hearts and A Cut Above are signature collections by James Allen and Whiteflash, we evaluated how their diamonds compare against each other in terms of price to help you get the best value for your money.

Due to the unavailability of identical diamonds at both stores, we had to select a few that closely matched each other to keep the comparison as fair as possible.

A round 1.18 ct. True Hearts diamond with VVS2 clarity and color grade H is priced at $7,100. This, in my opinion, is a very appropriate price for such a high quality diamond.

In contrast, a 1.116 ct. ACA diamond with VVS2 clarity and H color grade will cost around $8.245. While the difference in the carat weight of both diamonds is minute, with that of True Hearts being higher, the ACA diamond is still costlier out of the two.

Upon choosing diamonds with higher carat weight, we found the price gap becomes considerably wider too. For instance, this stunningly beautiful 2.20 ct. True Hearts diamond with VVS1 clarity and F color grade is around $36,250. In contrast, a similar 2.168 ct. ACA diamond with VVS1 clarity and E color grade is $54,500.

In this particular comparison,

The ACA diamond has a superior color grade, but
The True Hearts diamond offers a higher carat weight.

Frankly speaking, a slightly better color grade shouldn’t translate into a cost disparity of over $18000, especially when the carat weight of the other diamond is higher.

Having said that, it is also important to acknowledge that every diamond retailer is free to establish their pricing for the diamonds they offer.

True Hearts vs. ACA Diamonds: How Are They Different?

True Hearts and A Cut Above are excellent contenders for those seeking Hearts and Arrows diamonds. However, there are a few differences you may want to consider before you choose between them.

ACA Diamonds are More Expensive

Upon comparing ACA and True Hearts diamonds, we evaluated that diamonds from Whiteflash’s A Cut Above collection are generally more expensive. While this cost difference may be minimal when considering smaller diamonds, it becomes surprisingly substantial when considering diamonds with higher carat weight.

True Hearts Offer More Diamond Shapes

Unlike ACA diamonds, which are only available in round and princess cut options, True Hearts are available in round, princess, and cushion cuts. However, this doesn’t count as a solid pro for True Hearts because a round brilliant shape is often the first choice when considering Hearts and Arrows diamonds.

True Hearts Inventory is Larger

James Allen offers a huge True Hearts diamond inventory, including around 1245 ideal cut diamonds in various color and clarity grades. While Whiteflash also offers a versatile range of ACA diamonds in various color and clarity grades, their overall diamond collection, at 729 pieces (as of now), is less than James Allen’s True Hearts, making it difficult to find identical diamonds at both places.

Yet overall, none of these differences is a deal breaker for either of these brands, in any case.

Certification

True Hearts and ACA diamonds, both, are certified by the most prestigious gem grading laboratories i.e. the American Gem Society (AGS) and Gemological Institute of America (GIA).

However, neither of these labs identifies these diamonds as Hearts and Arrows or Super Ideal Diamonds. True Hearts and ACA diamonds receive a ‘Triple Zero’ or ‘Ideal’ cut grade from the AGS lab (as in the image below), while an ‘Excellent’ cut from GIA, at most.

Website and Return Policy

Both James Allen and Whiteflash offer easy-to-navigate websites. You can find the diamond of your dreams within seconds by applying the right filters for price, color, cut, clarity grades, etc.

In addition to a user-friendly website, both James Allen and Whiteflash offer flexible payment options, accepting all major credit cards and providing easy financing plans according to the customers’ requirements.

In terms of return policy, it’s a tie between both retailers as they offer equally convenient return policies. James Allen and Whiteflash offer a 30-day, no questions asked return policy with a 100% money-back guarantee.

Final Verdict

To sum up, James Allen’s True Hearts and Whiteflash A Cut Above are both excellent competitors. They are backed by similar return and warranty policies besides offering impeccable quality and cut proportions.

In terms of price, Whiteflash does fall on the pricier side, but their diamonds are truly in a league of their own. The price, however, is way too high and not justifiable by any means when compared to what James Allen has to offer.

True Hearts by James Allen, on the contrary, are an excellent choice if you’re seeking a more budget-friendly option. The cut is, by no means, inferior to what James Allen is able to muster. Thus, going for James Allen would be the wiser choice.