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Can't decide between these two round diamonds - Opinions?

Rabeatz

Rough_Rock
Joined
Sep 24, 2014
Messages
5
I'm getting ready to make a purchase on a diamond for an engagement ring and I'm having a hard time deciding between two diamonds that are about $50 apart.

One of them has a smaller table than I'm used to seeing when I've been looking and I don't know enough about diamonds to know how that would affect the diamond's appearance. I've noticed that the table on the .73 almost looks like a perfect square while the .74 kind of curves in on the lines. Is that normal?

Even though the .74 is an I and the other is an H, my personal non-professional opinion is that it's a better cut, or at least appears to be when looking at it. My only fear is the smaller table might make it look smaller.

Any opinions or advice would be greatly appreciated!


Diamond #1
img_13.jpg

0.74 Carat
Color - I
Clarity - VVS2
Cut/Polish/Symmetry - Excellent
Clarity Characteristics - Needle, Feather, Internal Grading

Depth % 62.5
Table % 54
Crown Angle 34.5
Pavillion Angle 41
L/W/D (mm): 5.82*5.80*3.63

Diamond #2
img_14.jpg
0.73 Carat
Color - H
Clarity - SI1
Cut/Polish/Symmetry - Excellent
Clarity Characteristics - Cloud

Depth % 62.3
Table % 58
Crown Angle 35.0
Pavillion Angle 41.0
L/W/D (mm): 5.73*5.76*3.58
 
Re: Can't decide between these two round diamonds - Opinions

Run the numbers through the HCA - under 2 is worth further consideration. https://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca

Get idealscope images.
 
Re: Can't decide between these two round diamonds - Opinions

The entire purpose of faceting a diamond is to reflect light.
How well or how poorly a diamond does this determines how beautiful it is.
How well a diamond performs is determined by the angles and cutting. This is why we say cut is king.
No other factor: not color, not clarity has as much of an impact on the appearance of a diamond as its cut. An ideal H will out white a poorly cut F. And GIA Ex is not enough. And you must stick to GIA and AGS only. EGL is a bad option: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/egl-certification-are-any-of-them-ok.142863/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/egl-certification-are-any-of-them-ok.142863/[/URL]
So how to we ensure that we have the right angles and cutting to get the light performance we want?
https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/diamond-cut
Well one method is to start with a GIA Ex, and then apply the HCA to it. YOU DO NOT USE HCA for AGS0 stones.
https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/holloway-cut-advisor
The HCA is a rejection tool. Not a selection tool. It uses 4 data points to make a rudimentary call on how the diamond may perform.
If the diamond passes then you know that you are in the right zone in terms of angles for light performance. Under 2 is a pass. Under 2.5-2.1 is a maybe. 2.6 and over is a no. No score 2 and under is better than any other.
Is that enough? Not really.
So what you need is a way to check actual light performance of your actual stone.
That's what an idealscope image does. https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/firescope-idealscope
It shows you how and wear your diamond is reflecting light, how well it is going at it, and where you are losing light return. That is why you won't see us recommending Blue Nile, as they do not provide idealscope images for their diamonds. BGD, James Allen, GOG, HPD, ERD and WF do.

The Idealscope is the 'selection tool'. Not the HCA.
So yes, with a GIA stone you need the idealscope images. Or you can buy an idealscope yourself and take it in to the jeweler you are working with to check the stones yourself. Or if you have a good return policy (full refund minimum 7 days) then you can buy the idealscope, buy the stone, and do it at home.


Now if you want to skip all that... stick to AGS0 stones and then all you have to do is pick color and clarity and you know you have a great performing diamond. Because AGS has already done the checking for you. That's why they trade at a premium.
 
Re: Can't decide between these two round diamonds - Opinions

Smaller table doesn't make them look smaller. Any more than an larger table makes them look bigger. That's false.
 
Re: Can't decide between these two round diamonds - Opinions

I was able to get some idealscope images and information from the gemologist.. I threw a third stone into the mix while I was getting those done. Diamonds 2 and 3 have some obvious table leakage. My gut was with diamond 1 previously and still seems to be based on the idealscope image - can anyone tell me any issues they see in diamond one with the IS image?

This is what the gemologist had to say regarding the diamond: " [Diamonds 1 and 3 are both] bright and fiery and come highly recommended! Both possess great fire, brilliance, and scintillation, which balances beautifully throughout each diamond. As expected, they are both eye clean and have a true "I" color."

diamond_1_6.jpg
Diamond 1

diamond_2_6.jpg
Diamond 2

diamond_3_1.jpg
Diamond 3
 
Re: Can't decide between these two round diamonds - Opinions

#1
 
Re: Can't decide between these two round diamonds - Opinions

Agree, #1
 
Re: Can't decide between these two round diamonds - Opinions

Thanks for the thoughts.. that's the one my gut has been with the whole time.
 
Re: Can't decide between these two round diamonds - Opinions

I hope I'm not in trouble for reviving an 'old' thread, just wanted to report back after making the purchase.

http://www.jamesallen.com/sre1629060rd <360 degree view of ring set in diamond




635495714811140626_1_.jpg

635495714966769882_1_.jpg
 
Re: Can't decide between these two round diamonds - Opinions

:love: :appl: Beautiful. I love how JA personalized the video. When's the proposal? Be sure to post hand shots and thank you for coming back and updating us with the end result. We like to see the bling of our labor :lol:
 
Re: Can't decide between these two round diamonds - Opinions

She said yes - Watch the video on youtube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25i-Am0_3Rg

Unfortunately the restaurant was loud, so turn on the closed captions on the player!

If you want to skip the proposal and just look at it sparkle inside the restaurant, skip to the last 5 seconds of the video :naughty:
 
Re: Can't decide between these two round diamonds - Opinions

Beautiful ring for beautiful girl! Congratulations! :boohoo:
 
Re: Can't decide between these two round diamonds - Opinions

Congratulations! Very sweet proposal and beautiful ring!
 
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