Exchange for larger diamond?

Your gf has to wear it. For some people, there really is such a thing as too big. I don''t think I''d be comfortable with 2.2 carats, honestly, it just doesn''t suit my lifestyle. Find out if your gf really means it when she says that 2.2 is too big - it''s her ring.

The HCA came up all Excellent based on the stats for the second diamond, however, for such a good sized diamond, a thin girdle may be more susceptible to chipping.  Also, a strong blue fluorescence, may, cause the second diamond to take on a milky appearance in certain lighting.

While the first diamond doesn''t have the excellent polish & finish, the fluorescence is less and the girdle is better since it is not only thin. 

Bigger is not necessarily ... better.  1.66 is a good starter size diamond.  It is relatively substantial on a finger and ... if you get this size, maybe you can get a better upgrade in a couple of years - 3 or 4 carats?  

I agree with Milton, maybe when she says 2 carats is too big, maybe she means it.

Both are good diamonds - pros & cons on both sides - all it really comes down to is whether or not you really want to go bigger.  If you want to go bigger, go for it!  If she will be equally pleased with the purchase you have already invested in, stick with it.

Good luck!  Let us know what you decide. 

I think she would be pleased with the 1.66 cts, since I had conditioned her to expect only 1.3 cts . And it's a nice stone. But for only a few thousand more, I could get a near-colorless, eye-clean stone a full 1mm larger. On the other hand, I could just spend the money on a super nice setting (I just got a simple solitaire in the expectation that we'll pick out a setting together later). I'm going to sleep on it but would be curious to hear other people's thoughts. Thanks for the replies so far!

Knowing me, I would go with the bigger one `if` it looked pleasing to the eye. If the fl. does not negatively impact the look, and it is eye clean, I would be all over it like a rash!!!

I am not an expert but does the shallow crown of 33 combined with a thin girdle spell any trouble? i.e. prone to chipping and also other issues with the shallowness of the crown?

Again, not an expert, just .02c

I''m not an expert either but I remember reading somewhere that only very thin or extremely thin girdle is a concern.  Also, I have two diamonds with girdle "thin to medium" and I;ve had absolutely no problem. 

On the fluor, two of my diamonds have medium and strong blue fluor and it has no negative impact on them, only the opposite.  I think you should ask the vendor about this and see it for yourself when you receive it.

I used to think 3 carat was HUGE but think it''s ok now.  DSS DOES indeed set in and the older you get the worse it becomes, LOL!!  Why don''t you talk to your GF again and if she''s deadset against it, then that''s a different story.  JMHO.

Date: 12/5/2007 12:37:09 AM
Author: Sparkalicious
The HCA came up all Excellent based on the stats for the second diamond, however, for such a good sized diamond, a thin girdle may be more susceptible to chipping. Also, a strong blue fluorescence, may, cause the second diamond to take on a milky appearance in certain lighting.

While the first diamond doesn't have the excellent polish & finish, the fluorescence is less and the girdle is better since it is not only thin.

Bigger is not necessarily ... better. 1.66 is a good starter size diamond. It is relatively substantial on a finger and ... if you get this size, maybe you can get a better upgrade in a couple of years - 3 or 4 carats?

I agree with Milton, maybe when she says 2 carats is too big, maybe she means it.

Both are good diamonds - pros & cons on both sides - all it really comes down to is whether or not you really want to go bigger. If you want to go bigger, go for it! If she will be equally pleased with the purchase you have already invested in, stick with it.

Good luck! Let us know what you decide.

This is very,very rare occurance and can be double checked by having the seller look at it outdoors in the light.  In fact, the flourescence may make the diamond appear whiter. 

Date: 12/5/2007 2:58:09 AM
Author: Phoenix
I''m not an expert either but I remember reading somewhere that only very thin or extremely thin girdle is a concern. Also, I have two diamonds with girdle ''thin to medium'' and I;ve had absolutely no problem.

On the fluor, two of my diamonds have medium and strong blue fluor and it has no negative impact on them, only the opposite. I think you should ask the vendor about this and see it for yourself when you receive it.

I used to think 3 carat was HUGE but think it''s ok now. DSS DOES indeed set in and the older you get the worse it becomes, LOL!! Why don''t you talk to your GF again and if she''s deadset against it, then that''s a different story. JMHO.

I''ve heard that too.

I''d check with your gf again that she means it when she says that she wouldn''t feel comfortable with the 2ct. If she''s happy to go with it, I''d get it for her, but if she really wouldn''t feel happy with it then I''d get the 1.6ct.

" girlfriend has said that she thinks 2 carats is big."

By this do you think she means " wow 2 carats is BIG" or '' 2 carats is too big...Once you know which one it is, then you can decide.  Either diamond looks like a very nice choice.

I think your girlfriend needs to make the decision.  I would go for the bigger one - but thats just me!  And I have large hands and could definitely carry off a larger stone. 

Date: 12/5/2007 2:09:58 AM
Author: angeline
I am not an expert but does the shallow crown of 33 combined with a thin girdle spell any trouble? i.e. prone to chipping and also other issues with the shallowness of the crown?

Again, not an expert, just .02c

That should be fine, discussions here in the past have noted that a CA of 32.5 deg and less might cause flags to be raised, but you need to look at the whole diamond, as the crown angle alone isn't necessarily enough to rule one out.  Also depending a think girdle is often fine, it can be very thin or ex thin which may cause concern, this isn't always the case and an expert vendor can advise.  Also if you are interested, here are GIA's definitions of shallow crowns.

Slightly shallow crown = at or near 31.5
Moderately shallow crown = at or near 26.5
Shallow crown = at or near 22.0
Very shallow crown = at or near 20.0
Extremely shallow crown < 20.0

Also it depends on whether the bigger diamond is eyeclean in this case, as to whether it would be best to choose it.  Also make sure your expectations are known to the vendor regarding '' eyecleanliness.''

My problem with asking my girlfriend is that it would likely tip her off that I''m going to propose soon, and I want it to be a complete surprise (we haven''t really talked about diamonds since the summer). I''m having the first diamond appraised this afternoon and will take a copy of the GIA report of the second and ask the appraiser''s opinion. I might also ask my girlfriend''s best friend.

I happen to fall in the camp that wouldn''t want the larger diamond. *ducks while rotten fruit and veggies are thrown*


Ideally, it would be nice if she could pick, but I see that''s not an option. Let me ask this, are you buying from a place with an upgrade policy? Here''s the thing. If you get her the smaller stone and someday she wants bigger, you can do that. However, if you go bigger, and she really meant what she said, to upgrade/downgrade, you''ll have to buy much higher clarity/color, to make the monetary difference.

If it were me, I''d go with a smaller stone, which btw, that 1.66 is a LOVELY size, from a place that upgrades.

Date: 12/5/2007 8:08:49 AM
Author: Ellen
I happen to fall in the camp that wouldn''t want the larger diamond. *ducks while rotten fruit and veggies are thrown*

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Date: 12/5/2007 8:18:40 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 12/5/2007 8:08:49 AM
Author: Ellen
I happen to fall in the camp that wouldn''t want the larger diamond. *ducks while rotten fruit and veggies are thrown*

OW!

Date: 12/5/2007 8:30:03 AM
Author: Ellen

Date: 12/5/2007 8:18:40 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 12/5/2007 8:08:49 AM
Author: Ellen
I happen to fall in the camp that wouldn''t want the larger diamond. *ducks while rotten fruit and veggies are thrown*

OW!

Unless you think she may be offended in some way with a larger stone or that it is unacceptably inferior, when in doubt go larger. I'll bet that you rarely have a woman trade a diamond in for a smaller one. With that size, she may never trade it in for a larger one, either......  I think the SB will be beautiful (I have SB in a 2ct sq emerald). Also, you may want to aks that the setter put the stone pretty low on the prongs to keep it from catching on things--it will make the stone much more comfortable to wear in any size.....

Personally I''d take her finger size into consideration.  Mine is only a 4, so I can''t pull off wearing a 2 ct diamond as it takes up most of the top of my finger.  If she has a little larger size finger then either would look beautiful.  Personally, I''d go for the smaller diamond and accent it in a special setting.

I agree that "when in doubt, go larger", and I also agree that you should ask her best friend.  If the best friend says your GF would really prefer a diamond, then go with Ellen's suggestion that you should go with a vendor that has an upgrade policy, just in case.

I was actually thinking about this thread today and am wondering if when your GF said 2ct is too big, might she have been thinking about you?  I am not making any assumption here, just throwing in some thoughts.  I know that if my husband had asked me at the time whether I'd have preferred a larger diamond than 1ct (well,  we would have been able to had we known more about colour and clarity, particularly the latter - he chose a VVS1 - we could have got a bigger diamond, but that's another story altogether), I would have said no since he didn't have much at the time and virtually already spent all his savings to buy me the e-ring.  Again, not making any assumptions since I clearly don't know about yr finances and of course you don't have to disclose anything at all here, but is it a possibility that she said what she said because she doesn't want you to spend a bunch of $$$$ of your hard earned mooolah (sp?!)?

According to the original post, she thinks 2cts is "big", as opposed to "too big"....  

Date: 12/5/2007 11:01:34 AM
Author: kellyfish
According to the original post, she thinks 2cts is ''big'', as opposed to ''too big''....

But his subsequent comment (I''m assuming he knows what that means from her) alludes to the fact that it means too big.

At least that''s the way I read it.

I guess that is what I get for not reading all the posts--I just thought it was his ambiviliance (sp?) .....I was so blinded by the prospect of 2.2cts

If it were me, I''d want the larger diamond. But you said your girlfriend thinks 2ct. is too big, and you should listen to her. She''ll be wearing it.

Part of it might very well be just her conditioning herself to a smaller diamond in light of my professed financial constraints (I believe in lowering expectations so that the surprise is even better ). But she also mentioned it in passing when discussing one of her friends who wants a 2 ct ring. Normally I would find this dispositive, but I also know that she hasn't actually tried on a 2 ct ring and think that once she sees it's not too flashy, she would love it.

She has a size 8 finger, which also adds to the equation.

I don't know whether the original poster said that his GF thought that 2 cts was too big necessarily, it could mean either too big, or that she thinks 2 cts is big and would love that size.  I guess those words could be taken either way, but personally I would rather be given the choice if a larger diamond is involved.

"The price difference is about $4k, and the girlfriend has said that she thinks 2 carats is big. But given the "shrinkage" effect, I'm not sure how much to weight that. What do you guys think? "  

As someone who has larger fingers also, I would personally let her know she has a chance to get a larger diamond as she may be amazed at this opportunity and jump at it!

To clarify, she thinks that it''s big as in "possibly too flashy." But again, she hasn''t actually tried on a 2ct and the friend she was referencing has small fingers.

She''s said it''s "big".  Not necessary TOO big.  You say she''s noted it''s ''POSSIBLY'' too flashy....on someone *else''s* size 4 finger (hers is a 7.)

What''s the vendor''s trade-up policy, if any?  Does it require a ton of additional money spent (i.e. at least $500 more than original purchase price)?

In your position, I''d get the larger stone as long as I could trade it back (without a lot more investment) for a smaller, higher clarity stone.  Tell your vendor your dilemma....I''d like to get the larger stone but worried she''ll find it overwhelming.  If she does, would I be able to trade it toward a 1.6-1.8-ish stone of equal/greater value?

It''s hard to imagine a vendor wouldn''t agree to this, and then you can go with the larger stone safely.   As long as she can swap it if she''s not comfortable, I don''t see a downside to going with the larger stone. 

I agree with HEPenny''s suspicion that his gal might be deferring on size to make him feel better (because he knows a friend may be getting a 2ct).

I''d MUCH rather have the 1.66 because the 2.2 size would look terrible on my 4.75 finger. 

JMO, and I''m not intending to be rude, but for such a significant purchase you should be asking your girlfriend, not a bunch of diamond fanatics here on the internet!!!  Seems diamond shrinkage is a common occurance here, but not necessarily in real life. 

Think about sitting her down and discussing this with her and if she really wants to keep her 1.66, then possibly surprise her by using the $4K to get her a pair of earrings.