Advice on engagement diamond

[kpui]

Hi guys,

I found two stones that I thought looked good and in the budget range I am looking for, but I''m looking for some advice on whether or not these are good or not:

1) NiceIce
0.952 ct, D, VS2
61% depth
57.3% table
1.4 - 3.8% f girdle
6.34x6.37x3.88
$7510

http://www.niceice.com/certcopies2007/ags0009172207/index.htm

2) James Allen
1.00 ct, G, VS1
61.5% depth
57% table
medium to slightly thick girdle
$6850

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1101963.asp


What are your thoughts?

Thx.

 

[DiamondGirlHH]

I guess all depends on if you want to spend another seven hundred or so for a D color.

 

[kpui]

The size difference between 0.95 and 1.00 is not great right? If given the choice between the two, I wonder which is the better choice.

 

[DiamondGirlHH]

0.05 point difference is very minimal to the eye but not to the valet. Once you come closer to or higher than 1.00ct then you''ll see that prices jump up.

Of course D color is nice to have if you have extra money to spend and I am sure it''ll retain it''s investment value better but if you are in a budget G is a good color as well. You just need to decide if makes that much difference to you.

 

[jackk]

I would definetely go for the James Allen. Its a H and A too.

 

[kpui]

That''s true. But in the end, the difference isn''t up to me because it''s my future fiancee that will be wearing it for the rest of her life (unless she upgrades later on! lol).

Thx for the advice.

Date: 3/5/2008 3:49:58 PM
Author: DiamondGirlHH
0.05 point difference is very minimal to the eye but not to the valet. Once you come closer to or higher than 1.00ct then you''ll see that prices jump up.


Of course D color is nice to have if you have extra money to spend and I am sure it''ll retain it''s investment value better but if you are in a budget G is a good color as well. You just need to decide if makes that much difference to you.

 

[kpui]

I found the other stone from NiceIce through PS and it was marked under "H&A" as well. Is it possible that it''s not H&A?

Date: 3/5/2008 4:24:46 PM
Author: jackk
I would definetely go for the James Allen. Its a H and A too.

 

[Sparkalicious]

Hi Kpui!

Both of your diamond choices are lovely!

Do you know if you are color sensitive? The reason I ask is b/c since the size difference is negligible as .95 is basically a "light" carat, so to speak, so this is not so much of a consideration, per se, therefore the most "noticeable" difference, if you are color sensitive, would be the difference b/n the D and the G color.

They are both well cut and since they are in the VS range there shouldn''t be any visible inclusions but you may just want to confirm that with the VS2 and ensure it is completely "eyeclean", in an effort to be thorough. It should be but just to be safe, right? No harm in asking.

Given that they are "equal" in every other regard ... which color would you prefer more? If you don''t feel as though you would have a personal preference, go for the one that costs less ... why pay a premium if the D color means nothing to you, right?

As to my own though ... my personal choice would be #1.

 

[kpui]

Fantastic, I appreciate the feedback Sparkalicious!

I don''t think my gf is color sensitive.. nor am I, but I also know it''s nice to know that you have a "D" diamond as opposed to a "G". A friend of mine gave his fiancee(now wife) an 0.73 E-VS1 and out of all our friends, my girlfriend keeps telling me that the E-VS1 outshines/sparkles them all (and incidentally, he also bought it from NiceIce too!).

My girlfriend is tiny (barely 5''0) so 0.95 would look great for her, but I also know that there''s something to be said about that magical level of 1.00 ct. Right?

Date: 3/5/2008 4:47:46 PM
Author: Sparkalicious
Hi Kpui!

Both of your diamond choices are lovely!


Do you know if you are color sensitive? The reason I ask is b/c since the size difference is negligible as .95 is basically a ''light'' carat, so to speak, so this is not so much of a consideration, per se, therefore the most ''noticeable'' difference, if you are color sensitive, would be the difference b/n the D and the G color.


They are both well cut and since they are in the VS range there shouldn''t be any visible inclusions but you may just want to confirm that with the VS2 and ensure it is completely ''eyeclean'', in an effort to be thorough. It should be but just to be safe, right? No harm in asking.


Given that they are ''equal'' in every other regard ... which color would you prefer more? If you don''t feel as though you would have a personal preference, go for the one that costs less ... why pay a premium if the D color means nothing to you, right?


As to my own though ... my personal choice would be #1.

 

[jackk]

Date: 3/5/2008 4:34:33 PM
Author: kpui
I found the other stone from NiceIce through PS and it was marked under ''H&A'' as well. Is it possible that it''s not H&A?

Date: 3/5/2008 4:24:46 PM
Author: jackk
I would definetely go for the James Allen. Its a H and A too.

I did not see that it was H and A, if it doesn''t say it and you are going to buy it I would ask.

Also, I personally think G will be fine. VS2 should be eye clean and you can ask just to be sure. A lot of people even go down to SI1 and its often still eye clean (I personally went with VS2). If you are unsure about the difference in color you could go to a store and look at the difference. Personally I would take the bigger diamond especially since its less money.


Also, I bought a much smaller H and A from James Allen and I was really impressed.

 

[kcoursolle]

Both are lovely stones! I would probably save some money and go for the jamesallen stone. Honestly, G is still very very white and even icey white. When it comes to sparkle, it''s not color so much that is determining it, cut is king! Both are well-cut, so you don''t have anything to worry about there. You could even go lower in clarity to save a little more money or go larger. Many SI stones are eye clean and look identical to the naked eye compared to FL stones. Personally I think it''s meaningful to hit the 1 carat marker, so I''d definitely go for the jamesallen stone or maybe even drop in clarity and go a little bigger or put the extra money into a great setting.