Advice on two Diamonds

[bz1010]

Hello, I would like to say that I know very little about diamonds. I found this site a few weeks ago and have figured it was in my best interest to get some advice / reassurance that I am getting good stones at a fair price.

I have gone to a local jeweler that was recommended by a friend. I looked at a bunch of diamonds in the 2+ Carat range. I have it down to two even though they are about 6K difference in price. The second one, which is about 6k more and was not in the group that I was originally considering, but I could see the "color" difference with the naked eye and was kind of taken by it. Not sure if it’s worth spending the money on the “F” color grade vs. the cheaper bigger diamond which still looks very nice.

I could definitely tell the difference in color seeing them side by side, don’t think I could tell if the stones were on a ring and looked at them separately.

Are these good diamonds for the money? Which one is the better deal?

I tried looking up both report numbers on the EGL USA site and they both didn’t come up which has me worried a bit.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts or input

1st - My Cost: 22k

EGL USA
Measurement: 8.47 – 8.44 * 5.15mm

Shape and Style: Round Brilliant
Carat : 2.28 CT
Cut Grade: Ideal Plus
Clarity: SI2
Color Grade: G
Fluorescence :None
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good

Depth: 60.9
Table:58%
Crown: 15.4%
Crown Angle: 36
Pavilion: 42.1%
Pavilion Angle :40.2
Girdle: 1.4%-1.9%
Culet: None

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Second - My Cost: 28.8K

EGL USA
Measurement: 8.21 – 8.08 * 4.95mm

Shape and Cut : Round Brilliant
Carat : 2.03
Clarity: VS2
Color Grade: F

Depth: 60.7%
Table: 64%
Crown: 13%
Pavilion: 43.7%
Girdle: Thin to Medium
Culet: Very Small

Fluorescence :None
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Good

 

[jstarfireb]

I would definitely pass on the second stone. The table looks too big, the symmetry is only "good" (go for VG/ex), and it scores around 7 on the HCA (you want 0-2), with "poor" grades for fire and scintillation. That is not a well cut stone and will not sparkle! The first stone does much better for cut and looks to be a "fiery ideal cut" stone.

If you can tell the difference between the F and G face up with the naked eye, the G is probably not a G. EGL is notorious for being off a few grades on color and clarity. I would go with an AGS or GIA graded stone. I also worry about an EGL SI2 actually being an I1 or I2 stone.

So, with the first stone, the cut is fine but the color/clarity are probably not. And with the second, the cut is pretty terrible. I would not buy either of these!

 

[helios_haze]

No, you are overpaying!

 

[Lorelei]

Welcome to Pricescope,

You can do better than either of these diamonds, take a look at GIA and AGS graded diamonds also as well as EGL USA( said to be the strongest EGL lab), but to make things a bit easier, here are some numbers you can use as a guide to help you find a well cut diamond.


depth - 60 - 62% - although my personal preference is to allow up to 62.4%
table - 54- 57%
crown angle - 34- 35 degrees
pavilion angle - 40.6- 41 degrees
girdle - avoid extremes, look for thin to slightly thick, thin to medium etc
polish and symmetry - very good and above

note - with crown and pavilion angles at the shallower ends ( CA 34- PA 40.6) and steeper ( CA 35- PA 41) check to make sure these angles complement in that particular diamond - eyeballs, Idealscope, trusted vendor input - check as appropriate!

 

[Ellen]

Date: 8/2/2008 5:53:07 AM
Author: Lorelei

Welcome to Pricescope,

You can do better than either of these diamonds, take a look at GIA and AGS graded diamonds also as well as EGL USA( said to be the strongest EGL lab), but to make things a bit easier, here are some numbers you can use as a guide to help you find a well cut diamond.

Ditto.

Follow the giudelines Lorelei gave you to find a better cut stone.