Color or Clarity? Which one would you compromise on?

[Asscherhalo_lover]

If it's for an RB I'm fine with any clarity where I can't easily see the inclusions, I have plenty of SI2 clarity RBs that once set, I couldn't see anything (hidden under prongs/bezel). Then there are VS2 or SI1s that I've seen with a carbon spot smack under the table (yuck!). So for me, it's all about the nature of and location of the inclusions, much more so than the actual grade.

As for color, I'm very tolerant, I have happily worn J & K in rings with no problems at all. As long as they are well cut, all I've ever seen is white light return, gorgeous. Granted I'm not holding them next to an "F" but I've never been bothered and no one has ever said anything anyway. My ER is a "L" asscher in a "GH" halo and again, no issues for me.

So, I would compromise on both to my limits and get the largest stone I could, I'm a size girl

 

[eirwen]

I don't compromise on cut, all my diamonds are Ex/Ex ACA and the latest being a Royal Asscher. I'm colour sensitive so would not go below F (my first RB was a G and I've always think it looked a tab warm to me Clarity is my compromise in my latest purchase as it would either be a 1.72ct F SI2 or a 1.05ct E VVS1 or a 1.75ct F VS1 for which I'd be able to buy both the earlier mentioned stones.. Royal Asschers are so limited! So it was a no brainer for me. It's eye clean till bout 10cm away under daylight.. that's when I see the white crystal.

Like everyone else mentioned, it's all personal preference

 

[baroque]

Wow, I am loving all the comments, thank you so much for replying! I should have mentioned that the stone is RB, that's my husband's "rule" for the ER. I know it is all personal preference, but you are helping me think it out. I wish there was a way to see a bunch of these diamonds online...in person first. I suppose ordering them one at a time will be the only way to do it. I will look at the ones at JA and have at least 2 that I think might have potential and get further opinions from them on that. Ritani will ship to my local store for preview, that sounds good, too!

 

[cflutist]

Wow, I am loving all the comments, thank you so much for replying! I should have mentioned that the stone is RB, that's my husband's "rule" for the ER. I know it is all personal preference, but you are helping me think it out. I wish there was a way to see a bunch of these diamonds online...in person first. I suppose ordering them one at a time will be the only way to do it. I will look at the ones at JA and have at least 2 that I think might have potential and get further opinions from them on that. Ritani will ship to my local store for preview, that sounds good, too!

Wink has a See It to Believe It Policy. I invite you to use it as you really have not seen nothing yet until you see a CBI
diamond, live and in living color (no I'm not a used car salesman, just a Gemologist (GIA) consumer who is really impressed with
their product.

http://highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=sitbi

 

[baroque]

Wink has a See It to Believe It Policy. I invite you to use it as you really have not seen nothing yet until you see a CBI
diamond, live and in living color (no I'm not a used car salesman, just a Gemologist (GIA) consumer who is really impressed with
their product.

http://highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=sitbi

That sounds great! I went to the website, and unless I am doing something wrong, I don't find that they have any diamonds at or about 2 carats under $25000, and that would be my totally Max budget.