0.86 H vs 1.5 fancy light yellow

[teobdl]

Is there anyone here who would choose a tremendous performing GIA 0.86 Ex H I1 over a GIA graded 1.5 ct VS2 fancy light yellow for an engagement ring?

Is this even a real choice? I think I'm over thinking this...

The 0.86 ct is 6.2mm, is crazy sparkly--among the best I've seen--and the I1 inclusion is as eye clean as can be without being completely eye clean (i.e. I can see a small smudge under a crown facet if I look at about 8 inches away for like 10 seconds) in the correct light and angle. I'm okay with the feather, but I know it's a non-starter for some on here. HCA = 1.2.

The 1.5 ct is 7.5mm--way bigger than I thought I'd ever get, and maybe even bigger than she wants :-/. Depth is 58.5 and table is 60. That's not a misprint. Unfortunately because it was graded for color, they didn't grade the crown and pavilion angles. It has strong blue fluorescence, which maybe detracts from the fancy yellow. Color distribution is even. VG polish. Ex symmetry.

My biggest concern is that it will be too gaudy.

The end price with settings would be approximately the same (solitaire for 1.5, ritani endless love for 0.86).

It looks just like champagne from the angles. Here it is from the top.

 

[tyty333]

Did she ask for a color stone? I dont find that stone you posted very attractive. It is only 1 picture though. Not sure even how
to evaluate it since its colored...just thats its not to my liking and I would probably take the .86.

Have you seen the colored stone in person?

If this is for her engagment ring I wouldnt recommend picking out something non-traditional without her approval.

 

[teobdl]

We've talked about engagement rings, and she has actually told me that she likes warm diamonds. In fact, she even said she'd like a yellow diamond! I had a M color, but it was almost like it didn't know what it wanted to be--white or yellow. I have the H because I was then settled on getting a very classic ring, until this one popped up. I still think this one can be quite classic in the right solitaire.

This one definitely has a whiter face than side...

 

[Dreamer_D]

In an MRB I still weight cut as most important, and the cut on the 1.5 is not good enough for me.

 

[kenny]

Given these two choices I'd take the smaller H.

That yellow has a lot of brown in it, which is why it's so inexpensive.
This would not be an issue if the wearer actually wants a brown diamond for an engagement ring.

Few do.
I'd never surprise a gal with a brownish engagement ring.
(Unless you want her to say, Uhm, No thanks, dude.)

That said you can't judge color by pics.
Can you buy both and return one?

Frankly these are SO different that I'd say you should keep shopping till you are comparing two stones that are very close to what you want.
IOW, you don't yet know what you want.

 

[teobdl]

In an MRB I still weight cut as most important, and the cut on the 1.5 is not good enough for me.

Do you mean it's not your preference to have that depth/table?

How could you know the cut is not "good enough" without crown and pavilion angles? In fact, if you keep the crown and pavilion angles constant in the HCA advisor and plug in the depth and table, you still get all excellence--HCA 1.0 . GIA doesn't grade cuts for fancy yellows because the cut is so much less important than the color. Some even think excellent cut degrades from fancies because it washes out the color, which may be the case here when viewed from the top.

 

[Christina...]

In an MRB I still weight cut as most important, and the cut on the 1.5 is not good enough for me.

Do you mean it's not your preference to have that depth/table?

How could you know the cut is not "good enough" without crown and pavilion angles? In fact, if you keep the crown and pavilion angles constant in the HCA advisor and plug in the depth and table, you still get all excellence--HCA 1.0 . GIA doesn't grade cuts for fancy yellows because the cut is so much less important than the color. Some even think excellent cut degrades from fancies because it washes out the color, which may be the case here when viewed from the top.

The image suggests a dark table. I wouldn't be opposed to proposing with a fancy yellow stone, just maybe not this one. Would you consider another shape?

 

[Niel]

whats the budget for these?

 

[Christina...]

Have you checked out Leibish? I really don't know a lot about colored diamonds, but this one caught my eye...

http://www.fancydiamonds.net/view_diamonds/11005.htm#.UbEnpfmTjSg

 

[tyty333]

In an MRB I still weight cut as most important, and the cut on the 1.5 is not good enough for me.

That stone is very dark and does not appear to be returning light the way a well cut stone should.

 

[Rockdiamond]

A lot of people do like to give yellow diamonds for engagement rings. But, a round Fancy Light yellow with strong blue fluorescence is generally not going to look very yellow in person .
I can't speak about any particular stone or how well it is cut. But I can tell you that the folks here have had a lot of experience assessing diamonds based on photographs. Bottom line: in many cases a photograph will show things that aset and other Light performance tests will confirm

 

[momhappy]

I am not a fan of light yellow diamonds. I think that when it comes to color - go bold or go home (in other words, get a fancy or fancy/intense yellow or don't go with a colored stone).

 

[diamond-enthusiast]

From a faceup view, it would appear more black than yellow. : p

 

[teobdl]

Thanks for your responses!
The 0.86 is mid $2000's. The 1.5 is mid $4000's.

 

[JulieN]

That particular one doesn't seem yellow enough.

If she likes warm, and you are ok with I1, you can easily go over 1 ct for 4500, but you probably already knew that.

 

[hippi_pixi]

i don't think you'd make a good decision if you bought now. at this point you're saying should i buy an apple or an banana and holding up an apple with a worm hole and an banana thats gone brown. neither is a good choice. as a gift i mean. if you were buying to wear yourself and liked these stones thats another story. I think i will buy one of these 'unattractive' colored diamonds and have it in rich high carat gold to enhance the gold color of the stone. but not for an ering.

once you decide if you wanna go for a white diamond or a yellow then you'll be able to learn more about what you want to get out of that specific fruit/stone and make a good decision and get the most bang for your buck. for me the white has a visible flaw and it sounds like your budget can do better. the 'yellow' the color is faaaaar from ideal or nice. and when dreamer said the cut was poor, you can tell that just by the picture. a really well cut stone will show symmetry. most well cut rounds will show arrows except for some branded cuts. also blue fluorescence will detract from the yellow color in any lighting that has some UV, light sunlight does...

the stone christina picked has a much nicer color but is a cushion cut sone not a round. modern cushions arn't my thing so i can't comment on the cut quality, but again its a cushion.

I feel like i've come across as mean/rude but i just think you're gonna lose money if you buy before you do some more research. good luck!

 

[dragonfly411]

I agree with momhappy about the light yellow. I don't even really understand how stones get light yellow vs. q-s color? But that's just me. I have to honestly ask, if you are looking at a stone in the 4000 range, why not look for a stone that is close to the .86 that is in the 4000 range and higher quality than I1?

 

[Catmom]

I am not a fan of light yellow diamonds. I think that when it comes to color - go bold or go home (in other words, get a fancy or fancy/intense yellow or don't go with a colored stone).

And then there are those of us that greatly prefer a lighter yellow because the darkers remind us of "yellow snow". Basically it's all in what your GF prefers for an engagement ring. I think you need to do more due diligence to find out what she actually wants for her ring. Settle in on that and then go from there.

 

[tyty333]

I am not a fan of light yellow diamonds. I think that when it comes to color - go bold or go home (in other words, get a fancy or fancy/intense yellow or don't go with a colored stone).

And then there are those of us that greatly prefer a lighter yellow because the darkers remind us of "yellow snow". Basically it's all in what your GF prefers for an engagement ring. I think you need to do more due diligence to find out what she actually wants for her ring. Settle in on that and then go from there.

Yep...I'm a fan of the light buttery ones....don't really like the dark, dark ones.

 

[teobdl]

I agree with momhappy about the light yellow. I don't even really understand how stones get light yellow vs. q-s color? But that's just me. I have to honestly ask, if you are looking at a stone in the 4000 range, why not look for a stone that is close to the .86 that is in the 4000 range and higher quality than I1?

I would really prefer to stay in the $2000-3000 range for a diamond and put it in a setting for beautiful overall effect. The temptation for the 1.5 ct at $4000 was simply because it was 1.5 cts, and I would have only gone for it if ya'll had approved!

I do appreciate all your advice about this. I managed to bring it up last night (tangentially), and if I did get a yellow diamond, she would definitely want a vivid yellow, not a light yellow, so I'll be passing. Definitely consistent with many of your thoughts about fancies!

That said, I still think this has a beautiful gold color to it. The darkness under the table only shows up directly overhead. But hey, I am trusting your eyes here, as I'm pretty inexperienced.

For the full rotating view to see what I mean, go here: http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-dia...w/round-cut-1.51-carat-vs2-clarity-sku-171444