Choosing between stones

[JoshM_DC]

Hi all,

I have the ring (just about) picked out, and I''m trying to choose the main stone.

This list combines stones from WhiteFlash and stones from another jeweler (a friend of a friend).

I''ll post their specs (without specifying which is from which), and I''d really appreciate some thoughts on choosing between them. I understand the basics, and I''ve used the HCA tool (for the 2 stones with enough data on the GIA report), but now I''m a little stuck.

My parameters were for a 1.5 ct H-J SI2-VS2 well cut stone, with my budget maxing out around 8K.

(all are GIA certs)

Stone 1: $6,805
1.51 J SI1
Depth: 60.9
Table: 57
Girdle: M-STK
Polish: V Good
Symmetry: V Good
Culet: none
Fluor: None

Stone 2: $7,710
1.50 J VS2
Depth: 61.9
Table: 56
Girdle: Tn-M
Polish: V Good
Symmetry: V Good
Culet: none
Fluor: Medium Blue

Stone 3: $5725
1.55 ct K Si2
Depth: 60.4
Table: 56
Girdle: Tn-M
Polsih: V Good
Symmetry: Exc
Culet: None
Fluor: None

Stone 4: $7675 (HCA score 1.1)
1.58 ct J SI1
Depth: 59.8
Table: 57
Crown Angle: 34.5
Crown Height: 14.5%
Pavilion Angle: 40.8
Pavilion Depth: 43%
Girdle: Tn-M
Polsih: VG
Symmetry: EX
Culet: None
Fluor: None

Stone 5: $8325
1.66 ct J VS2
Depth: 60.6
Table: 56
Girdle: Tn-M
Polsih: VG
Symmetry: EX
Culet: None
Fluor: None

Stone 6: $8140 (HCA score 1.5)
1.34 ct H VS2
Depth: 61.0
Table: 56
Crown Angle: 35
Crown Height: 15.5%
Pavilion Angle: 40.8
Pavilion Depth: 43%
Girdle: V Tn-Tn
Polish: EX
Symmetry: EX
Culet: None
Fluor: None

 

[aljdewey]

Of these, I''d go for #4.

If #4 isn''t eyeclean, then I''d get more information on #5.

 

[Lynn B]

Need more info on 1, 2, 3 and 5!!!

 

[Dancing Fire]

my guess would be #4 and #6 is from Whiteflash . now... what did i win?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I''m not fond of very thin girdles, but I''d rather have a 1.3 H than a 1.5 J (wouldn''t even consider a K). But that is a very personal thing. I''d look a little more and try to find an I SI1 or something close to that.

I just looked on the Dimend Scaasi site (because that is where I ordered a diamond today) and they have what I would think would be a better choice than all of the above. Its an I SI1, 1.4 cts. (a personal favorite size of mine!), and has GIA Excellent cut grade (new, April 2006) and is a Hearts and Arrows stone! Bet it won''t be there long! $7560. (And no, I don''t work for DS! I''m just pretty pleased with what they offer!).

http://www.dscaasi.com/diamonds/diamondDetail.asp?stockNum=197751

 

[JoshM_DC]

Hi everyone, Thanks for your responses.

Of these, I''d go for #4.

If #4 isn''t eyeclean, then I''d get more information on #5.

All the stones are eye clean (allegedly - not that I don''t trust the jewelers, but to me "eyeclean" sounds like a subjective term, based on one''s experience and knowing what to look for). What makes #4 your choice?

Need more info on 1, 2, 3 and 5!!!

What other information.. the the crown and pavilion angles? Something else? If that information isn''t on the GIA reports, how can I get them? Do the jewelers measure them themselves?

I''d really like to learn how people make their decision, not only which you would choose (although that''s good to know too).

my guess would be #4 and #6 is from Whiteflash . now... what did i win?

Not telling at least, not until I choose a stone. I don''t want to bias anybody.

I''m not fond of very thin girdles, but I''d rather have a 1.3 H than a 1.5 J (wouldn''t even consider a K). But that is a very personal thing. I''d look a little more and try to find an I SI1 or something close to that.

My G/F asked for a larger stone (1.5), and has by now (hopefully) understood that that will mean a lower color/clarity. I''ve seen I/J stones here, and I think it''ll be okay. But I appreciate your point. Both of these jewelers make a setting I like, which I why i''m flexible on which I buy the diamond from (I''ll have whoever has the diamond make the setting). That said, I could ask for more stones to choose from.

 

[aljdewey]

Date: 4/27/2006 10:03:38 AM
Author: JoshM_DC

Of these, I'd go for #4.

If #4 isn't eyeclean, then I'd get more information on #5.

All the stones are eye clean (allegedly - not that I don't trust the jewelers, but to me 'eyeclean' sounds like a subjective term, based on one's experience and knowing what to look for). What makes #4 your choice?

If all the stones are eyeclean, then i don't see the benefit in paying the premium for a VS stones.

Also, on the VS stones:

#2 costs more for less weight/spread; it's a bit deeper than I prefer, and polish/sym was VG. (VG isn't bad, but if you can do better for no extra cost, why not?)

#6 has a girdle that's only Very Thin-thin....not optimal for security and chipping. My preference is Thin-Med or Med.

#5 has potential, but it's among the most expensive in the group (premium for VS) and doesn't provide all the info. That's why it's my second pick.

This leaves 1, 3, and 4.

I personally would rather stay above a K for a stone of that size unless it was the only way to stay in budget. Clearly your other choices suggest your budget is healthy enough that you don't have to sacrifice color for budget, so #3 was out. That left 1 and 4.

#4 provided more information, and the info it provided looks amazing. Also, I'm a fan of slightly shallower stones becuase they give more spread, and I prefer thin-med girdles because you are maximizing spread for the weight.

Most important: All the pertinent info is already included for Stone #4, which leads me to think it's an inhouse stone - not a virtual stone. I always prefer inhouse...you don't have to pay to call them in and the vendor can touch/see it and tell you about it.

That's why I selected as I did. #4 looks like a real contender, so I'd check that out before going to a lot more trouble. If it doesn't fit the bill, then I'd take the next step to get more info on #5.

 

[JoshM_DC]

Date: 4/27/2006 4:43:46 PM
Author: aljdewey

Date: 4/27/2006 10:03:38 AM

Author: JoshM_DC

Of these, I''d go for #4.


If #4 isn''t eyeclean, then I''d get more information on #5.

All the stones are eye clean (allegedly - not that I don''t trust the jewelers, but to me ''eyeclean'' sounds like a subjective term, based on one''s experience and knowing what to look for). What makes #4 your choice?

If all the stones are eyeclean, then i don''t see the benefit in paying the premium for a VS stones.


Also, on the VS stones:


#2 costs more for less weight/spread; it''s a bit deeper than I prefer, and polish/sym was VG. (VG isn''t bad, but if you can do better for no extra cost, why not?)


#6 has a girdle that''s only Very Thin-thin....not optimal for security and chipping. My preference is Thin-Med or Med.


#5 has potential, but it''s among the most expensive in the group (premium for VS) and doesn''t provide all the info. That''s why it''s my second pick.


This leaves 1, 3, and 4.


I personally would rather stay above a K for a stone of that size unless it was the only way to stay in budget. Clearly your other choices suggest your budget is healthy enough that you don''t have to sacrifice color for budget, so #3 was out. That left 1 and 4.


#4 provided more information, and the info it provided looks amazing. Also, I''m a fan of slightly shallower stones becuase they give more spread, and I prefer thin-med girdles because you are maximizing spread for the weight.


Most important: All the pertinent info is already included for Stone #4, which leads me to think it''s an inhouse stone - not a virtual stone. I always prefer inhouse...you don''t have to pay to call them in and the vendor can touch/see it and tell you about it.


That''s why I selected as I did. #4 looks like a real contender, so I''d check that out before going to a lot more trouble. If it doesn''t fit the bill, then I''d take the next step to get more info on #5.

Thanks! That''s exactly what I''ve been looking for - an example of how people think in choosing a diamond.

 

[JoshM_DC]

Bump... anyone else want to voice their suggestions, either on which stone they would pick, or (preferably) how they reached their conclusion?

thanks!