1.5 carat round quality factors-Help me Choose!

[volleygirl99]

I have been consumed by diamonds and comparison the last few weeks. I am ready to buy, but would like some outside opinions. I have a couple I have narrowed it down to. BTY: I am financing with 0% interest through both contenders, so online is not an option right now. Just need help choosing! Here are the stones, to the best of my knowledge. I have seen them both.

1.52 RB
H SI1
depth: 61.2% Table: 57%
Girdle: Med F
Measurement: 7.4 x 7.45 x 4.54
Pol & Sym: VG
Culet: None
Cut: Branded diamond (8 extra facets)Considered Ideal

Price: 11, 500
Cert: IGI (I know) but having SEEN the diamond, it's great and all factors are VERY HIGH on the GEMEX light report.

Next...
1.51 RB
G VS2
Depth: 62.6 Table: 61%
Crown Height: 13% angle: 33.5
Pavillion Depth: 45% angle: 41.2
Girdle: Med F
Pol & Sym: VG
Culet: None
Price: 12,000 but I get my band and mounting at a great price, plus the diamond was orig. $14, 250
Cert: EGL-USA (I think, not sure NY, LA, CA???)
The notes on the report state Premium/Ideal cut. Nil Graining

Seen it, love it, just the same, but I am having a hard time staying "mind clean." I would prefer smaller table, but it does a great job with light refraction, though there is no light report. It is very clean under the scope as well.

So, color/clarity, size/proportions, certification? Help, what would you choose? How do the stats compare?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/15/2009 5:01:28 PM
Author:volleygirl99
I have been consumed by diamonds and comparison the last few weeks. I am ready to buy, but would like some outside opinions. I have a couple I have narrowed it down to. BTY: I am financing with 0% interest through both contenders, so online is not an option right now. Just need help choosing! Here are the stones, to the best of my knowledge. I have seen them both.

1.52 RB
H SI1
depth: 61.2% Table: 57%
Girdle: Med F
Measurement: 7.4 x 7.45 x 4.54
Pol & Sym: VG
Culet: None
Cut: Branded diamond (8 extra facets)Considered Ideal

Price: 11, 500
Cert: IGI (I know) but having SEEN the diamond, it's great and all factors are VERY HIGH on the GEMEX light report.

Next...
1.51 RB
G VS2
Depth: 62.6 Table: 61%
Crown Height: 13% angle: 33.5
Pavillion Depth: 45% angle: 41.2
Girdle: Med F
Pol & Sym: VG
Culet: None
Price: 12,000 but I get my band and mounting at a great price, plus the diamond was orig. $14, 250
Cert: EGL-USA (I think, not sure NY, LA, CA???)
The notes on the report state Premium/Ideal cut. Nil Graining

Seen it, love it, just the same, but I am having a hard time staying 'mind clean.' I would prefer smaller table, but it does a great job with light refraction, though there is no light report. It is very clean under the scope as well.

So, color/clarity, size/proportions, certification? Help, what would you choose? How do the stats compare?

Welcome volleygirl

Can you get the crown and pavilion angles or percents as the case may be for the first diamond please? It might be more difficult to evaluate this one as it is a branded cut by the sound of it with the extra facets, is it a named brand such as Solasfera, Leo etc?

The second diamond is a little deep for my liking and the table is a bit larger also, if you could get the above info for the first one plus the diameter in MM for the second we can get a better idea.

Do the prices include a setting or just the diamonds? If so, what type of setting for each - any accent diamonds, what metal etc?

Have you seen any AGS or GIA graded diamonds?

 

[volleygirl99]

The measurements for the second one are 7.3 x 7.27 x 7.56
I have seen GIA and AGS. Just when it comes time to narrow my choice, these were the two I perceived the best overall. I am a very picky buyer, I have been in the same stores/dealers several times re-checking my findings! I have "an eye for it" they keep telling me. I have been able to spot inclusions, perceptions, color off the bat, before I would even scope them.
The branded diamond, I actually chose over an H&A, just by comparison and preference. I have taken all the diamonds outside, in natural light, and that makes a huge difference in how I see a diamond. I actually think all diamonds LOOK tinged, maybe I am a skeptic, but the natural light helped me narrow my choices as well.

My setting is a Plat mix, .37 ctw rounds in a channel set prong with miligraining. The band is 1/4 ctw rounds, same style. In the end, I will be paying 13,000 for my stone set in my ring and band.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/15/2009 5:35:32 PM
Author: volleygirl99
The measurements for the second one are 7.3 x 7.27 x 7.56
I have seen GIA and AGS. Just when it comes time to narrow my choice, these were the two I perceived the best overall. I am a very picky buyer, I have been in the same stores/dealers several times re-checking my findings! I have 'an eye for it' they keep telling me. I have been able to spot inclusions, perceptions, color off the bat, before I would even scope them.
The branded diamond, I actually chose over an H&A, just by comparison and preference. I have taken all the diamonds outside, in natural light, and that makes a huge difference in how I see a diamond. I actually think all diamonds LOOK tinged, maybe I am a skeptic, but the natural light helped me narrow my choices as well.

My setting is a Plat mix, .37 ctw rounds in a channel set prong with miligraining. The band is 1/4 ctw rounds, same style. In the end, I will be paying 13,000 for my stone set in my ring and band.

Thanks! It is facing up a bit small for a 1.5ct, should be more like 7.4 - 7.5mm. If you try a search using the Pricescope your Diamond tool above that will bring up prices of similar, these are for online diamonds which are typically less than store prices. Neither of these are cut to top standards from what I can gather, but if you have done your homework as it sounds as if you have and you like both of these, what I would suggest you could do is order one of these if you have a bit of time to decide.

http://www.ideal-scope.com/cart_zoom_item.asp?Id=2&ShowAdd=Y

You might be able to get one fairly quickly, you can check out both diamonds with it and it would be really useful to you to help you choose.

Here is a tutorial on how to interpret the results.

http://www.highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=education-performance

Also if you decide to go for the EGL graded diamond ( it is priced too high for me), make the sale final on an independant appraisal - that the diamond checks out to your satisfaction in all aspects and get this in writing.

https://www.pricescope.com/appr_list.aspx

Just to clarify, are you buying the setting and band from the same store and the prices include the purchase of those, or you have the setting and band already and the price is for the diamond and the setting procedure?