Advice on RB stone choice for Upgrade please!

[Lily_Ireland]

Hi everyone,
First time poster, but have really enjoyed reading through lots (and lots!) of the really interesting and informative posts here since discovering pricescope recently. You are a very knowledgeable bunch!

I am currently looking to upgrade my diamond engagement ring from a 3 stone (1.8 tcw) to a solitaire approx 2 carats.
I live in Ireland and am upgrading through my jeweller's upgrade policy, so buying online from JA etc. isn't an option unfortunately.

I have been presented with a 2.06 carat stone for consideration. It is colour I and an eyeclean Si2. However the Cut is graded as a "Very Good" (as opposed to Excellent which the centre stone of my current 3 stone ring is). Polish and symmetry are graded as Excellent.
Should I be concerned about the cut being graded as Very Good? Im not looking for perfection but definitely want my stone to look bright and sparkly! I've attached the statistics from the HRD cert (European cert, well known here) and also a photo of the stone, just sitting in a temporary setting, unset, under bright store lights. Would really really appreciate some if your valued opinions and advice before I say yes to this big purchase!
Thanks in advance
Lily

 

[Snowdrop13]

Hi Lily,

Here are the cut parameters that are usually recommended, ask your jeweller to get stones in that are within these limits,

table: 54-58

depth: 60-62.3

crown angle: 34-35.0

pavilion angle: 40.6-40.9 (sometimes 41.0)

The stone posted above is cut very shallow, giving it a good spread but it scores 3.3 on the HCA and only gets a "good" for light return.

 

[MissGotRocks]

I would definitely pass on that stone. It just doesn't have the attributes to make it a real sparkler. It has a shallow pavilion and a shallow crown - just doesn't work. Use the guidelines posted above when looking for diamonds.

 

[Lily_Ireland]

Thanks @Snowdrop13 And @MissGotRocks , appreciate your advice. I'm going to pass on this stone and hopefully I'll be given some more options soon

 

[MissGotRocks]

Keep us posted on what you find next! Would love to see pictures of your current three stone ring!

 

[Lily_Ireland]

Keep us posted on what you find next! Would love to see pictures of your current three stone ring!

Will do, thanks!
Here is my three stone ring. Centre stone 1.01ct, G, Si2, GIA XXX, side stones 0.4ct each. Do really like it but looking forward to getting a solitaire

 

[ringo865]

You can ask your jeweler to only pull stones within the above parameters (of course with GIA or HRD cert). Then post those option s here for the PSers to weight in on.

 

[MissGotRocks]

Will do, thanks!
Here is my three stone ring. Centre stone 1.01ct, G, Si2, GIA XXX, side stones 0.4ct each. Do really like it but looking forward to getting a solitaire

Your ring is just beautiful! Hope you find an equally beautiful stone for a solitaire!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

The measurements above are to look for within GIA Excellent cut. That's your starting point. GIA Excellent is a broad category, so the measurements above help you get in to the better stones within that category. Definitely don't settle for less than excellent cut.

 

[Lily_Ireland]

Thanks everyone, really appreciate your advice. I've gone ahead and said no to that stone and have asked that I only be shown stones which are graded as Excellent cut. Hopefully I'll have more options to show you soon.
Thanks again

 

[Rivendell]

Your current ring looks a much nicer colour than the solitaire. Maybe it's just the photo that's making the solitaire look a bit tinted. Hope they get some more choices for you to view soon. What parameters did you give them?

 

[Lily_Ireland]

Your current ring looks a much nicer colour than the solitaire. Maybe it's just the photo that's making the solitaire look a bit tinted. Hope they get some more choices for you to view soon. What parameters did you give them?

Hi Rivendell, thanks for your comment.
The stones in my current 3 stone ring are colour G, the solitaire stone I was shown was a colour I, so there will be some colour difference alright. Although I do think the photos of the solitaire aren't the best, they were taken under bright lights in the jewellery store just with my phone, I think the colours are a bit off in general in those solitaire photos - my hand looks a bit of an odd colour!
For the solitaire upgrade, in order to get the size I want in budget I've said that colourwise, I'm looking for a H or an I. I've also now said that I'm only interested in Excellent Cut.

 

[Rivendell]

Hi Rivendell, thanks for your comment.
The stones in my current 3 stone ring are colour G, the solitaire stone I was shown was a colour I, so there will be some colour difference alright. Although I do think the photos of the solitaire aren't the best, they were taken under bright lights in the jewellery store just with my phone, I think the colours are a bit off in general in those solitaire photos - my hand looks a bit of an odd colour!
For the solitaire upgrade, in order to get the size I want in budget I've said that colourwise, I'm looking for a H or an I. I've also now said that I'm only interested in Excellent Cut.

The perfect one will come along for you. I live in the UK and got my ring from a shop in my hometown. They got a selection of diamonds in for me to see and I was able to choose. I did make it clear to them that I wanted to see a selection and have them all there at the same time so I could compare them.

 

[Lily_Ireland]

Hi everyone, it's taken a while but I've now been offered another stone. What would you think of this one?

GIA Cert 1172775168
Stats: Colour G, Si2, Triple Excellent
1.68 carats

Dimensions: 7.54-7.58 x 4.74
Depth: 62.7
Table 56
Crown Angle 36.5
Pavilion Angle 40.6

It comes up as 2.4 on the HCA score and scores a "Very good" under all categories.

 

[Texas Leaguer]

Hi Lily,
The Si2 grade is quite broad. Since you are going for 'bright and sparkly', you might want to pay particular attention to the internal characteristics determining the clarity grade. Twinning wisps and clouds can negatively impact light performance if they are too concentrated. In the Si2 grade, when these are the grade setting characteristics (listed first as keys under the stone plot), combined with comments on the report of additional characteristics not plotted, there is potential for diminished sparkle.

In terms of light performance, it's entirely possible for a non eye-clean Si2 that has say a black crystal tp have much better sparkle and be more beautiful than an eye-clean stone with characteristics that cause slight haziness.

It would be a good idea to have an independent expert examine the stone for you before you are fully committed to the purchase.

 

[Lily_Ireland]

Hi Lily,
The Si2 grade is quite broad. Since you are going for 'bright and sparkly', you might want to pay particular attention to the internal characteristics determining the clarity grade. Twinning wisps and clouds can negatively impact light performance if they are too concentrated. In the Si2 grade, when these are the grade setting characteristics (listed first as keys under the stone plot), combined with comments on the report of additional characteristics not plotted, there is potential for diminished sparkle.

In terms of light performance, it's entirely possible for a non eye-clean Si2 that has say a black crystal tp have much better sparkle and be more beautiful than an eye-clean stone with characteristics that cause slight haziness.

It would be a good idea to have an independent expert examine the stone for you before you are fully committed to the purchase.

Thanks for the advice, really helpful!

 

[Lily_Ireland]

Hi everyone,
Just wanted to update that I finally have chosen a stone!
It's 2.01 carat, I , eye clean Si2, GIA certified XXX. Here are some pictures of it sitting loose in some sample setting - first picture taken by the window is probably best. I have chosen a simple 4 prong setting with a plain white gold shank, similar enough to the Cartier 1895 solitaire setting. Excited to get it in a few weeks!

 

[ac117]

Congrats! It's beautiful!