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Anyone perfectly happy with a diamond right below a certain carat wt?

jaysonsmom

jaysonsmom

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Mar 13, 2004
Messages
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We''re going to see my jeweler for my 10 year upgrade tomorrow. I asked her to pull some 1.75 ct-1.99ct stones to look at. I also have several diamonds online that I''m eyeing around 1.8ct....such as this one

Considering this one

So my question is....whether this is a mistake, and I should just pull the trigger and go for 2ct because it''s just short of that "sweet spot"?

Do any of you have diamonds you are happy with (and never upgradng again) that came just under a certain carat weight?
 
Diamonds just shy of important weights are less expensive per carat.

I'd have NO problem getting or giving a 1.75 - 1.99 ct.
Personally, I would not need to say, or even know, that it was a full 2 carat.
Plus in this larger size it is harder to notice small changes in weight.

That said, if it IS important to the giver or getter that it is a full 2 carats then so be it.
They want what they want.
 
I can probably better answer that once I receive my upgrade stone of 1.73 carats, but for me it''s more about mm size than weight. I wanted to hit 8 mm on this upgrade, but I''m a little shy of that at 7.75 mm. Will the 0.25 mm make a huge difference to me once it''s on my hand? Not sure, but I suppose I can upgrade again if necessary.
 
Can''t wait to see your ring Coda.

I''m leaning towards a 1.7-1.8 because I want to spend less than our budget, and take the family on a vacation too. But I keep thinking vacation memories come and go....diamonds are forever, and I might regret not getting a 2 ct.
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Date: 5/28/2010 1:21:38 PM
Author: coda72
I can probably better answer that once I receive my upgrade stone of 1.73 carats, but for me it''s more about mm size than weight. I wanted to hit 8 mm on this upgrade, but I''m a little shy of that at 7.75 mm. Will the 0.25 mm make a huge difference to me once it''s on my hand? Not sure, but I suppose I can upgrade again if necessary.
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Whaaaa? SPILL!
 
Dreamer, I've been increasingly unhappy with my J stone. It just showed too much of a yellow tint to me. By the way, your new J looks much whiter than my J, you got a beautiful stone for your upgrade. If my J would have been more steely in color like yours rather than a yellowish tint, I would have kept it longer.

So, my husband and I received a few $$, and he gave me the ok for me to upgrade. Just to make sure I don't get unhappy with color again, I went with an H this time. I should receive my 1.733 H, SI1 ACA in a couple of weeks. I'm hoping this is my last upgrade, but like I already said, I was hoping to crack the 8 mm mark. I couldn't justify spending the $$$ for it though.

I'll post plenty of pics once I get it!

ETA: Sorry for the threadjack, Jaysonsmom.
 
Date: 5/28/2010 2:51:18 PM
Author: coda72
Dreamer, I''ve been increasingly unhappy with my J stone. It just showed too much of a yellow tint to me. By the way, your new J looks much whiter than my J, you got a beautiful stone for your upgrade. If my J would have been more steely in color like yours rather than a yellowish tint, I would have kept it longer.

So, my husband and I received a few $$, and he gave me the ok for me to upgrade. Just to make sure I don''t get unhappy with color again, I went with an H this time. I should receive my 1.733 H, SI1 ACA in a couple of weeks. I''m hoping this is my last upgrade, but like I already said, I was hoping to crack the 8 mm mark. I couldn''t justify spending the $$$ for it though.

I''ll post plenty of pics once I get it!

ETA: Sorry for the threadjack, Jaysonsmom.
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Not at all, I was curious about how this upgrade came about too, and I think the stats of your new stone are right up my alley! I haven''t even looked at whiteflash''s inventory yet because I''m not sure about going with an online vendor. My jeweler will let me trade in my current princess cut, and that''s a HUGE incentive. But, dh said that if I can find my ideal diamond for $15K, no trade-in necessary, I can keep my princess too!
 
My diamond weighs in at 1.46, and I feel no qualms whatsoever about calling is a carat and a half - I think it''s a nice way to have saved a few hundred/thousand bucks! It measures up like a carat and a half, and that''s what matters most, I think ....
 
Date: 5/28/2010 2:51:18 PM
Author: coda72
Dreamer, I''ve been increasingly unhappy with my J stone. It just showed too much of a yellow tint to me. By the way, your new J looks much whiter than my J, you got a beautiful stone for your upgrade. If my J would have been more steely in color like yours rather than a yellowish tint, I would have kept it longer.

So, my husband and I received a few $$, and he gave me the ok for me to upgrade. Just to make sure I don''t get unhappy with color again, I went with an H this time. I should receive my 1.733 H, SI1 ACA in a couple of weeks. I''m hoping this is my last upgrade, but like I already said, I was hoping to crack the 8 mm mark. I couldn''t justify spending the $$$ for it though.

I''ll post plenty of pics once I get it!

ETA: Sorry for the threadjack, Jaysonsmom.
Click to expand...
Awesome! I suspect you will be totally happy with your new diamond, and take it from me, the size jump is *pefect*.

Brian expected my J to come back from the lab with an I grade, and I agree it is a very white J. I rarely if ever see tint, just the softness face up. I am very happy with the color. But I think finding a J like that is like finding a totally eye clean SI2. Rare. If I were to upgrade again I would be nervous about going with a J.

Its funny, although lab grading is consistent, there is still a lot of nuance to cut and color, and to clarity as well.
 
My diamond is 1.666 and I am very happy it is just under the 1.7ct mark, where there is a significant price increase per carat.

If the options were 1.8ct versus 2ct, I would go for the 1.8ct for sure. The only way I would jump the 2ct mark is if I got above it my a good margin, say 2.15ct. *Then* it would be visibly bigger than a 1.8ct and I could perhaps justify the increased cost.
 
My diamond is 1.77 ct and I can DEFINITELY see a difference with 2 ct stones. I have had my stone for 3 years now though, so maybe DSS has firmly set in. On the other hand, I have a nice setting and I no longer aspire to a larger size center. There are other pieces I would like to get instead of upgrading my upgrade.
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Carat weight was never an issue with me. Color and cut are my big concerns.
 
I got a call from our family jeweler ...and I think I may be buying something tomorrow!!!

Specs:

1.81 ct
GIA certed ex, ex, ex
H
SI1
T 57%
D 62.9%
Crown Angle 34
Pavillion Percentage 43 (don''t know why she gave %)
HCA 1.1 and it''s within AGS ideal, GIA Ex

My only concern is that it''s on the deeper end of ideal, and will probably face up like a 1.7

My jeweler said the diamond is a fireball it''s already laser inscribed and I''m SO EXCITED!!!! I totally trust her because she is a GIA certified gemologist, and she found my brother''s wife a 1.25ct nonbranded H&A that blows all the bigger diamonds among our family member''s away!
 
Dreamer and lyra,

I just took looked up both your stones, and WOW they do not look like "J" or "K" color at all....They are both lovely. I may have to reconsider my color/size combo again!
 
I know it sounds dumb... But when I was looking to upgrade my ring I looked at everything, and in between 4 - 5CT...
BUT, I really wanted to break the 5CT mark ( as I said, I know it is sooo ridiculously stoopid ). Anything at let's say 4.92CT wouldn't be a 5CT, cause it just isn't. Even bow, Lemony is 5.13CT. I say it is over 5CT, as I could never say it is "about 5.25CT".
 
Yes, when I was looking to upgrade my diamond, I wanted a 2.5 carat and actually did get one exactly that size, a 2.50 H SI1, in from WF, but I was not happy with the inclusions (indented natural that I could see and feel with my fingernail), so I settled for a 2.38. I then upgraded it to a 2.417. Had there been a 2.5+ in inventory at that time, I would have gotten that diamond instead, I am sure, but there was none.

I am happy with the size, color and clarity, so I know I don''t want to upgrade this stone. I will eventually find a permanent setting for it though, I don''t want to rush to find one.

I am so excited that you will be getting your new diamond soon! The one from your jeweler sounds nice, but I would probably go with the one from BGD as I like their service and policies. And their workmanship on settings is excellent as well.

And as a side note, don''t post potential diamonds. Someone lurking may just scoop it up!
 
Date: 5/28/2010 6:15:04 PM
Author: Amethyste
I know it sounds dumb... But when I was looking to upgrade my ring I looked at everything, and in between 4 - 5CT...

BUT, I really wanted to break the 5CT mark ( as I said, I know it is sooo ridiculously stoopid ). Anything at let''s say 4.92CT wouldn''t be a 5CT, cause it just isn''t. Even bow, Lemony is 5.13CT. I say it is over 5CT, as I could never say it is ''about 5.25CT''.
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yup, when I was upgrading, I just had to hit that 3 carat thing... i know its dumb too, but I just needed it to happen. It was a milestone in my head. I almost went for a 2.8, but I had to get every mm out of this.
 
Good question, and interesting responses.

When I was upgrading, I wanted something 2 carat in size, and there wasn''t anything available slightly under or I think I would have seriously considered it. 1.98? 1.99? Sure!!! But the reality is that there''s not a lot of ideal cut stones in those near-miss sizes; typically the cutter will save some weight (at perhaps the sacrifice of beauty) to get over the "magic mark". Anyway, since I was upgrading from a 1.53, though, it didn''t seem to make sense for me to look at 1.7''s or 1.8s... so part of it depends (IMHO) on the size you are upgrading from, too.

Anyway, I ended up with my 2.367 and I was delighted to get *that far* above 2 carats. But when people ask me "how big" it is, I always say, "Just a nudge over 2 carats."
 
Yes, I''m very happy right below a ct wt. BUT carat is not my hangup, mm is, and I would not be happy with a few tenths under my desired mm.
 
I''m with you, yssie. It''s definitely about mm for me also. That''s why I''m concerned that the upgrade I''m getting won''t be good enough because I still won''t quite hit the 8 mm mark which is my goal. Definitely consider mm as well as carat weight, jaysonsmom.
 
When I got my first upgrade to 1.7 I was happy with it but always knew I wanted to get a little above 2 ct. I wasn''t sure that was ever going to happen and if finances didn''t work out I would have been
happy to stay there. But when finances came through and I was able to, Brian was able to find a perfect 2.57 for me. It will be my forever stone and I will not upgrade again. I feel blessed beyond
my wildest expectations. Truly, I never thought it would happen.

I would be happy at that size for sure, it is great. If you really have your heart set on a certain size and you can afford it, go for it. I think it will be hard to let go of. On the other hand, a family vacation
is worth more in memories than a diamond. Kids grow up so fast. There may be funds for a upgrade again later.
 
Date: 5/28/2010 3:48:45 PM
Author: dreamer_d
My diamond is 1.666 and I am very happy it is just under the 1.7ct mark, where there is a significant price increase per carat.
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I had no idea 1.7 was a price jump point. Doh.. mine iis 1.71.
 
I''m fine with mine - it''s 2.71... kind of an awkward size. It''s not quite 2.75 and it isn''t 2.5 or 3... but who cares? If it was 2.99 I would NOT pay the premium to push it to 3 carats... nor would I from 1.9 to 2. I would consider my budget heavily and then sacrifice color to Z hahahahaha :)
 
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