1 Ideal vs 2 Steeper Diamonds - which will perform best?

[Jeanne61]

I've been looking for a diamond for a ring. The Pricescope community helped me to narrow my options to a beautiful ideal cut diamond (Diamond #1).

While doing some research on the GOG site, I read that some steeper VG and EX stones can be very bright with beautiful fire. Looking around some more, I found these 2 diamonds (#2 & #3 below), and I've be interested in some opinions on how these would compare against the ideal cut Diamond #1. I'll post IS images for all 3 next week when the pics for #2 and #3 are available. Thanks!

Diamond #1: AGS ID/ID/ID, Depth=61.4, Table=56.4, Crown=34.8, Pav=40.7, Star=61, lower half=79, HCA EX/EX/EX/VG 1.1 TIC

Diamond #2: GIA EX/EX/EX, Depth=62.2, Table=56, Crown=35, Pav=40.8, Star=50, lower half=80, HCA EX/EX/EX/VG 1.6 TIC

Diamond #3: GIA VG cut/EX pol/VG sym, Depth =61.6, Table=58, Crown=36, pav=40.4, star=50, lower half=75, HCA VG/EX/EX/VG 1.7 FIC

 

[marcy]

IMO I think #1, the AGS would perform the best. It looks like a real beauty.

 

[Jeanne61]

Thanks Marcy. I'm leaning towards #1 too! I guess I was hoping to hear that #2 or #3 could perform nearly as well as #1...because #1 is the most expensive of the 3 and I'm trying (really trying) to be good with our the budget!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

#2 is within the ideal cut range just like #1. I stick within the measurements of #1 and #2 when buying diamonds for myself because that is a safe zone. So I'd eliminate #3, personally, just because I feel that #1 and #2 have the measurements that usually result in a gorgeous diamond and #3 is more of an unknown. It's fine when you can examine all the stones and develop your own preferences, but because I buy via long distance, I choose the traditional ideal cuts since I know I love them.

 

[bunnycat]

#2 is within the ideal cut range just like #1. I stick within the measurements of #1 and #2 when buying diamonds for myself because that is a safe zone. So I'd eliminate #3, personally, just because I feel that #1 and #2 have the measurements that usually result in a gorgeous diamond and #3 is more of an unknown. It's fine when you can examine all the stones and develop your own preferences, but because I buy via long distance, I choose the traditional ideal cuts since I know I love them.

+1

 

[AprilBaby]

You KNOW you can't go wrong with #1.

 

[Jeanne61]

Thanks everyone. #1 it is and I'll stop looking around now and second guessing myself!

Will post pics when I get the diamond! Bye for now!

 

[Jeanne61]

Hi everyone, me again.

So I'm back to considering diamond #1 and #2. The vendor for #2 can give me a really, really good price for the same size, color and similar grade, so I'm really tempted and put the savings towards the setting - but I don't want to end up with a poor performer just to save a few $$....so HELP!! I have both diamonds on hold, but need to decide today....

Here are the specs again along with IS images. I KNOW the #1 should be a stunner, but how will #2 look in terms of brightness, fire and scint? any issues or concerns you see from the specs and images?

Diamond #1 (on the left): AGS ID/ID/ID, Depth=61.4, Table=56.4, Crown=34.8, Pav=40.7, Star=61, lower half=79, HCA EX/EX/EX/VG 1.1 TIC

Diamond #2(on the right): GIA EX/EX/EX, Depth=62.2, Table=56, Crown=35, Pav=40.8, Star=50, lower half=80, HCA EX/EX/EX/VG 1.6 TIC

BTW - Both diamonds are from reputable vendors here on PriceScope.

THANK YOU!!

 

[bunnycat]

They both look good. Does the vendor for diamond 2 have a setting you like?

 

[Jeanne61]

yes, both vendors have settings I like... If it wasn't for the price, I'd jump at #1...but there's DH and that darn budget!

So, it's either the BEST diamond with a simpler setting or a SECOND-BEST diamond with a nicer setting.

 

[bunnycat]

yes, both vendors have settings I like... If it wasn't for the price, I'd jump at #1...but there's DH and that darn budget!

So, it's either the BEST diamond with a simpler setting or a SECOND-BEST diamond with a nicer setting.

Well- it may just come down to your personal preference, which vendor you prefer to work with. It's pretty easy to tell by the photos which once's they are.

Here are some other ideas you might ponder to help you choose between the two.

1- Both of them have very nice idealsope images. What I think you should ask yourself is if you feel you will be settling by going with your "second best" choice. That may only set you up for Diamond Disgruntlement Syndrome. (I made a new term.) And that can be expensive to fix if it gets to you. Settings are relatively cheap compared to a diamond to change out so you want to get one you KNOW you'll be happy with.

2- You may want to look at the upgrade policies of both places. I believe one of them will require spending double on an upgrade and one does not.

3- You haven't posted any other specs on these (Color Clarity....) so you should also take in to consideration how "eye clean" you need to make a stone "mind clean" for you.

 

[Christina...]

I actually don't consider either of these stones to be 'second best' based on the IS and the proportions listed. GIA rounds and averages it's proportions so the two stones could be more similar in those terms than you think. As bastetcat said though. you haven't mentioned color and clarity, is that what separates these two stones in your eyes?

 

[Jeanne61]

Bastetcat - you've got me SO pegged! Even as I'm being good and dutifully considering the better-priced diamond, I'm already asking myself..."what if #1 would have been my forever stone?" So... I think I'm already showing signs of Diamond Disgruntlement Sydrome (DDS - hilarious! ). I think this can be more contagious than DSS!

I had also assumed both vendors had the same upgrade policy. After reading your comment, I reread the policy for Diamond #2 vendor and you are absolutely right, the lifetime upgrade is only if I buy a diamond at least 2x the value...that's going to be hard to sell to my DH.

Christina - Thanks for your input also! I do like the look of both IS images, but the one from Diamond #1 just seems to speak to me a bit more and I'm really intrigued by the 61 star length. I've never seen this before but both Lula and Rhino (aka Jonathan ...I later learned) gave it thumbs up especially with the 79 lower half. Oh, and both diamonds are I, eye-clean SI1 so color and clarify are not deciding factors.

I know I've said this before but I really mean it this time...Diamond #1 it is, and I'll be the proud owner by tomorrow.

Bastetcat, Christina - thanks so much for making me think about the right questions, I'll post pics later!

 

[Christina...]

Congratulations. I'm sure it's going to be a beautiful stone! I'm looking forward to seeing lots and lots of photos when you receive it!!

 

[diamondloveaffair]

Link for diamond #2? Looks slightly cloudy from the small images you posted.

ok. ignore this post. read that you got #1 after posting.

 

[bunnycat]

Glad to help! Can't wait to see the pictures!

 

[Jeanne61]

Link for diamond #2? Looks slightly cloudy from the small images you posted.

ok. ignore this post. read that you got #1 after posting.

Hi Diamondloveaffair,

Yes, I've gone with #1 and I'm really glad I've decided to do that!

But you're right; the pic of #2 (even in the bigger pic on the vendor' site) looks hazy and washed out. The vendor's gemologist assured me that it WAS 100% eye-clean. However, I did notice that none of the other pics on their site had the same hazy look. I would have assumed that retailers use the same setup and lighting condition when getting the pics,so that was also a bit of a concern...but now, nevermind since I'm waiting for #1 to arrive! Thanks for posting!

 

[Dancing Fire]

Well done GOG and Rhino ...