0.50 L SI2 or 0.52 K SI2?

[phoenixgirl]

If you had to choose between the following stones, which would you go for (for a pendant set in YG)? Because I set everything in yellow gold and am not color sensitive, I tend to look for the warmest stones I can to save money. I am very happy with the 0.72 ctw K SI1-SI2 studs I got last fall. A bonus was their large spread with depths under 60% on each stone.

So I'm looking to replicate the feeling that I'm getting a good deal and can justify the purchase for no special occasion. So my questions are:

Should there be a difference between an L and a K at this size?
Will color in a larger stone on my chest be more of a problem than color in smaller stones in my ears? Should I bump up to J?
Which is less troubling: a crystal or a feather and an indented natural?
Will the difference in size be noticeable at all?
Which would you choose?

0.50 L SI2 0.52 K SI2
5.08 x 5.13 5.13 x 5.18
GIA cut: VG GIA cut: excellent
D 61.3 D 61.9
T 58 T 56
CA 34.5 CA 34.5
PA 40.6 PA 40.8
SL: 60% SL 55%
LH: 75% LH: 75%
med to sl. thick med. to sl. thick
no culet no culet
VG polish VG polish
VG symmetry VG symmetry
faint fl. faint fl.
crystal feather, indented natural
HCA 0.9 HCA 1.3

The K stone costs 10% more than the L stone. Is the slightly larger diameter and higher color grade worth it? The fact that the L stone receives a lesser cut grade from GIA but gets a lower HCA score (although they're pretty comparable in that regard) also intrigues me and says better deal to me.

P.S. This came about after my husband and I went to a going out of business sale for a local jeweler. A solitaire pendant is next on my wish list, so we looked at those. We saw a bunch just under half a carat, all uncertified. One of them they said was an SI1, but my husband immediately spotted a big black inclusion. It was like in A Christmas Story when the family goes to buy a Christmas tree: "What? That there's no tree. Now this here's a Christmas tree!" The salesman was like, "Oh, that was mislabelled, oops, now look at this pendant, now this pendant is really nice!"

My husband gave me the go ahead on getting it if I wanted, but it was uncertified and in white gold, so it wasn't the deal it seemed to be. I'm looking to spend about that much to get half carat stones, and yes the color and clarity is a little lower than what they said their stones were, but I don't have much confidence those grades were accurate after the black spot incident.

 

[Lorelei]

Both of these look good! I have a large L in a ring and it faces up plenty white to me, so in the size you mention, either would work well for a pendant. Personally I think a slightly larger table helps the warmer colours face up a little whiter/brighter, but that is my observation. I would get more info on the feather''s location of the K before pulling the trigger.

 

[phoenixgirl]

If color is a concern, third option:

0.53 I SI2
5.31 - 5.35
GIA cut: VG
D 58.7
T 61
CA 31.5
PA 41
SL 55
LH 80
v. thin to sl. thick
no culet
VG polish
G symmetry
no flourescence
feather
HCA 1.7

This option costs 25% more than the L stone and 15% more than the K stone. Is it worth it? It''s got less of a conventionally desired cut, but it''s very similar to the cut of my earrings, which both wound up having arrows. Does a symmetry grade of only good mean that this is less likely?

I''m figuring this stone''s spread really would look bigger than the other two . . . correct?

 

[ladykemma]

i like #2. smaller table will look spiffy

number three do you have depth and table reversed?

 

[phoenixgirl]

Nope, that''s why #3 spreads so much bigger than the other two.

My diamond earrings have similar specs and the combination of angles works for them -- they''re sparkly and have arrows. Here''s a (blurry -- sorry!) pic.

 

[phoenixgirl]

I''ve got all 3 sitting in my shopping cart . . . would love some honest feedback! I know the color and cut may not be to everybody''s taste, but if you were I, what would you do? (Sorry, I''m an English teacher, had to phrase that correctly.)

 

[Jelly]

I would get the K because it has the better cut. How do these compare with PS vendor''s ideal cut stones?

 

[kcoursolle]

I''d get the K/SI2, the specs are right on and it will still be white enough for a pendant. The L/SI2 has a larger table than I''d like and I think that the difference between a K and an L is actually quite noticeable.

You are considerably compromising on cut quality on the third stone. It''s way to shallow and the table is too large. I''d skip this stone.