Can''t Decide on these 2...

[hashofet]

Hey All,

I was going to make a quick purchase a little while ago, but decided not to so I could make the best choice. I''ve been really searching and found 2 similar diamonds but I''m not sure which is better... Please give thoughts..



http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5761/

and...

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4967/


Both are similarly priced,
First choice is larger, with AGS H&A cert,
Second choice is a little smaller, but higher clarity (VS1) and only GIA cert...

 

[jet2ks]

As long as it is eye-clean to your standards (ask GOG), I would go for the larger one.

Both are really well cut, but size trumps all.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 5/29/2009 4:25:01 PM
Author: jet2ks
As long as it is eye-clean to your standards (ask GOG), I would go for the larger one.

Both are really well cut, but size trumps all.

Ditto

 

[hashofet]

Date: 5/29/2009 4:25:01 PM
Author: jet2ks
As long as it is eye-clean to your standards (ask GOG), I would go for the larger one.

Both are really well cut, but size trumps all.

Thanks for the quick reply. I would probably agree with you about size, but I''ve been really drawn into really picky details of quality. I''ve been studying the pictures and the perfectionist in me is leaning toward the smaller one for it being a VS1 and E color. Also, I''m not really sure what some of the graphs mean, but the smaller one has a BrilliantScope/Gemex that looks like it can''t get any better, but I''m not sure how that translates into real-world difference to the other diamond.

I kinda wanted someone to look over the small details and help me weigh them.

Is a AGS H&A cert "better" then the GIA?
What about the differences with the DiamXray? or the ASET Images?
Am I just being too picky here?

Also, originally, I was looking at the 1ct range, but decided to come down a little to make up in other qualities, like better cut etc... If size trumps, should I just go back up to a 1ct range and look again?

 

[jet2ks]

OK, actually cut trumps all. I was just mentioning that since both are so well cut, I would go larger.

Date: 5/29/2009 4:34:16 PM
Author: hashofet
Is a AGS H&A cert ''better'' then the GIA? Not necessarily, AGS grades light performance and has tighter limits on ideal compared to GIA Excellent. There are GIA Ex stones that would earn AGS0 ratings.
What about the differences with the DiamXray? or the ASET Images? DiamXray is basically just showing where the inclusions are at. As long as the stone is confirmed as eye-clean, I wouldn''t worry. Both ASETs are very good.
Am I just being too picky here? Probably, both are awesome diamonds. Remember that these photos are greatly enlarged--the actual diamonds are about 6mm across. Check that out on a ruler and compare to the photo.

Also, originally, I was looking at the 1ct range, but decided to come down a little to make up in other qualities, like better cut etc... If size trumps, should I just go back up to a 1ct range and look again? You will have to sacrifice something (either color, clarity or size) no matter what diamond you buy--stay with the best cut. You could drop a little in color to G or even H, still have a very white stone and get a larger size. If you would like to give us a budget, we might be able so suggest some possibilities.

 

[hashofet]

Date: 5/29/2009 4:46:06 PM
Author: jet2ks
OK, actually cut trumps all. I was just mentioning that since both are so well cut, I would go larger.

Also, originally, I was looking at the 1ct range, but decided to come down a little to make up in other qualities, like better cut etc... If size trumps, should I just go back up to a 1ct range and look again? You will have to sacrifice something (either color, clarity or size) no matter what diamond you buy--stay with the best cut. You could drop a little in color to G or even H, still have a very white stone and get a larger size. If you would like to give us a budget, we might be able so suggest some possibilities.

Thanks Jet2ks, I think I was looking to spend about $5500. These were priced at $5700 for the .91ct, and $5400 for the.85ct.

I''ve also spent a good deal of time in a local store this past week and have been surprised with my being able to tell the difference between a D color and and F. Maybe it was the lighting (case below had lots of yellow backdrop), but the F still had yellow in it, which kinda bugged me. The sales person took me outside with the diamonds and in the natural light and I couldn''t tell the difference then, but inside I could. Anyway, that made me want to go less in color as well.

 

[jet2ks]

Date: 5/29/2009 4:56:29 PM
Author: hashofet

Thanks Jet2ks, I think I was looking to spend about $5500. These were priced at $5700 for the .91ct, and $5400 for the.85ct.

I've also spent a good deal of time in a local store this past week and have been surprised with my being able to tell the difference between a D color and and F. Maybe it was the lighting (case below had lots of yellow backdrop), but the F still had yellow in it, which kinda bugged me. The sales person took me outside with the diamonds and in the natural light and I couldn't tell the difference then, but inside I could. Anyway, that made me want to go less in color as well.

We'll take a look for you.

Were the store's diamonds GIA or AGS graded? In-house or lower lab grading can easily be two or more grades off. Also, a poorly cut stone will show color much more than an ideally cut one. Combine those and if you are looking at a poor-average cut stone that GIA would grade as an H, you would see a tint. There are many threads on PS showing well cut I, J and even K color. Here are a couple of color comparisons to look at that might help.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/photographic-death-match-f-versus-k.116295/

http://vimeo.com/3288695


EDT: How about

http://www.whiteflash.com/round/Round-cut-diamond-2106431.htm#

or

http://www.whiteflash.com/round/Round-cut-diamond-2106430.htm#

Ask about eye-clean and WF does offer a PS discount of the displayed price.

There is a pretty drastic price jump at the "magic" 1ct weight. These both look like good stones, though I'm not sure I like either them more than the .91 from GOG. The other thing to keep in mind is that GOG has an excellent trade in policy, so you could go with the smaller stone now and trade up to over 1ct in the future.

 

[hashofet]

Date: 5/29/2009 5:01:54 PM
Author: jet2ks

Date: 5/29/2009 4:56:29 PM
Author: hashofet

Thanks Jet2ks, I think I was looking to spend about $5500. These were priced at $5700 for the .91ct, and $5400 for the.85ct.

I''ve also spent a good deal of time in a local store this past week and have been surprised with my being able to tell the difference between a D color and and F. Maybe it was the lighting (case below had lots of yellow backdrop), but the F still had yellow in it, which kinda bugged me. The sales person took me outside with the diamonds and in the natural light and I couldn''t tell the difference then, but inside I could. Anyway, that made me want to go less in color as well.

We''ll take a look for you.

Were the store''s diamonds GIA or AGS graded? In-house or lower lab grading can easily be two or more grades off. Also, a poorly cut stone will show color much more than an ideally cut one. Combine those and if you are looking at a poor-average cut stone that GIA would grade as an H, you would see a tint. There are many threads on PS showing well cut I, J and even K color. Here are a couple of color comparisons to look at that might help.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/photographic-death-match-f-versus-k.116295/

http://vimeo.com/3288695

The stones I was comparing at the store were an F GIA cert and a D IGA cert, and then also an F "Hearts on Fire" diamond that was about 13k!. I loved that diamond, but not the price. The F GIA diamond was ok, and even a better cut the the D IGA, but the color was still noticable to me.. kinda looked like that K Diamond in the link you showed me. In either case, I think I''m mostly concerned with haveing the "best" cut I can find with color coming next... all trying to get as big a diamond as I can in my budget .