1.25 excellent cut vs. 1.5 good cut

[Kamiawi24]

Need your honest opinion! We just purchased a diamond (with 60 day return policy) after comparing 2 at the store. I'm second guessing my decision, as we didn't ask to see the certificate (and proportions) till after we made the decision.

Diamond 1:
1.25 carat round
F color
Si2
Excellent cut, polish, symmetry
No noticeable inclusions
6.96-6.94-4.31 mm

Diamond 2:
1.52 carat round
H color
I1
good cut, very good polish and symmetry
No eye noticeable inclusions
7.10-7.15-4.63 mm

Diamond 2 was only about $400 less than diamond 1. I am a big big fan of big diamonds, and was willing to sacrifice a little on the color and clarity to get a bigger stone. However when I saw the certificate I was a little disappointed with the proportions and cut. Will i notice the larger size in a solitaire setting? Or should i go for the smaller diamond with better cut?

Thanks I'n advance for your advice!

 

[JulieN]

Is it GIA? do you have the report number? It is very deep, 65%

 

[Christina...]

Visually, because of the depth of the stone, it won't look as large as a well cut 1.5ct stone which should be around 7.4mm. The size difference between these two stones is about the width of a single sheet of copy paper. A well cut stone will always look brighter, whiter and larger than a poorly cut diamond.

 

[TheDude4no1]

I was in the same boat you are. Bigger is always better, right? ...Right? These stones are at different ends of the spectrum. Lets compare these two:

The first stone is an 'F' color stone and the second is an 'H' color stone. Unless you or the person wearing the stone is a trained gemologist, the difference to the eye is minimal. In the right lighting and/or background, you might be able to notice a tinge of yellow in Diamond #2. You would have to be actively looking for color. Held individually I doubt you would see a great difference. Held side by side, most pedestrians would notice a slight color difference between an 'F' and an 'H'.

Both of these stones have a lower clarity but are 'eye-clean'. Depending on the nature of the inclusions, a better color could work against you. If the inclusions are feathers and not dark crystals, this would work in your favor. As long as you are happy with the quality, there is nothing more to discuss about the clarity.

Here is where these two stones vary greatly. Diamond #1 is a 1.25ct Ex, Ex, Ex. Diamond #2 is a 1.52ct G, VG, VG.

The size difference here may seem major because of the 0.25ct weight difference. Actually looking at the stones from the top down, again, most pedestrians wouldn't be able to notice a difference. The measured size difference ranges from 0.14-0.21mm. For ease of understanding lets call it 0.15mm. Try Google to find things that are 0.15mm thickness. You'll find things like paper, tape, and eye lash. Now imagine I hand you two stacks of paper. One stack has 48 sheets of paper, the other has 46 sheets of paper. Would you notice a difference? The weight difference makes you think the stone is larger than it really is.

In my opinion the Cut of the stone is the most important quality. A smaller Excellent cut stone will outshine a larger Good cut stone every day of the week. Excellent cut stones are generally more brilliant and have more fire and spread than lesser cut stones. This is how a stone is noticed from across a room. A quality cut stone not only looks more brilliant, but the brilliance can help mask inclusions and lower color grade as well.

If the $400 price difference is a deal-breaker or if you're dead set on being able to say you have a 1.52ct stone then Diamond #2 is for you. I'm not sure of your budget, but for my money Diamond #1 wins this round.

Diamond #1 is eye-clean, colorless, roughly the same size as Diamond #2, and probably multiple times more brilliant and eye-catching.

Hope that is beneficial!
My $0.02

 

[valchiria]

If you find a 1.52 with the dimension of a 1.52, take it.
If your choice is only between these 2 stone, take the #1, better color, better clarity (look at it with your eyes to be sure it is eye clean), better cut.

 

[sakari_8]

I think you should go for 1.52ct as stone is bigger and eye clean

 

[Kamiawi24]

Thank you so much for this very helpful advice! We went back this morning and made the switch and got Diamond #1. This was my gut feeling as soon as I got home and saw the certificate, just wanted to make sure! I am so much happier with this diamond and know I made the right choice this time around

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Thank you so much for this very helpful advice! We went back this morning and made the switch and got Diamond #1. This was my gut feeling as soon as I got home and saw the certificate, just wanted to make sure! I am so much happier with this diamond and know I made the right choice this time around

Very wise decision because the second one wouldn't have looked anywhere near the size of a 1.5 ct. stone!