Color or Size Preference

[Melis]

Which option would you choose if the cut quality is assumed to be the same for both? Would you go with higher size or color? The 1.8ct is about $1,700 more. Is the size difference worth going lower in color and paying more for? Can you tell a G vs H in this size stone? Thanks!!

 

[ZDZW]

Size! but G is my bottom line.

 

[Gypsy]

I assume you are talking a round. If you are talking any other shape, my answer is different. But in a round H is VERY white and I'd have no issue with it.

But I would say that it depends on your budget. You need to be responsible.

If you can EASILY go for the H, then I'd do it. Otherwise, I would save the money and go for the smaller stone.

Regarding color:

Most important to remember is that color is graded FACE DOWN. Where there is NO light return. Not face up where there is light return and refraction. You wear diamonds set. FACE UP.

Within one color grade, even the labs can't agree on the color grades of stones and something could be a "high" H or a "low" E. So... no. Not really. Within 2 color grades it is hard. Not impossible. But very hard. And it gets harder once set. If you are talking ideal rounds, or any stone with ideal light return and no sharp corners it gets harder still because the ideal light return masks body color.

Generally we say to be conservative stay above H.

If you are talking fancy shapes without ideal light return (because there is no 'ideal' for EC's Radiant, etc) it's a bit different.

This is how I think of it.

Ever gotten one of those HUGE paint fan decks? Where there are literally 100s of colors of whites? And when they are RIGHT next to each other you can TOTALLY tell that one is bluer/colder and one is a bit warmer and which one is one is TOTALLY warmer. One there's one that's slightly greener. One that's slightly pinker? But really. They are all white?

Then you pick one after agonizing over this white or that white and when it's on the walls and people are like: Oh. You painted again. And it's STILL white. Great.

And you're all... BUT it's BLUE white. Or it's a WARM white now. It used to be ____ white. It's TOTALLY different.

It's like that. You are talking about shades of white. D is colder... J is warmer. But it's all white.

YES. If you have an accurately graded F and an H THAT HAVE THE SAME PERFORMANCE you are going to be able to tell them apart when you compare them. Just like you would be able to tell if you painted your walls a warm white, but painted the crown molding a cold/straight white. But both are STILL white.


I want you notice all the qualifiers thought. I'm talking about stones with the SAME performance. An ideal H will out white an F that has compromised light performance.

GIA EX is not enough. You need the right angles to get to get ideal light performance.

NOTHING impacts the appearance of a diamond as much as cut. CUT is king.

You want the shinest whitest and brightest diamond out there: Cut is King. No other factor, not color or clarity or anything else impacts how white bright an shiny a stone is.

What you REALLY need though is to work with a vendor that offers you idealscope images. Cause that's what you really need. https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/firescope-idealscope Many of the PS vendors do. It measures light return. And light return is what makes a diamond white bright and shiny.

https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/holloway-cut-advisor
https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/diamond-cut
https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/diamond-table-size

You need a lot of knowledge before spending thousands on a diamond. Start at the knowledge tab up at the top of the screen.

If you want to skip all of that. Stick to AGS 0 stones only for cut. And then pick your color and clarity.

But GIA Ex is not enough.

 

[Andelain]

For only one color grade I'd go for the larger stone. 2 or more, and I usually prefer color over size.

 

[kellc]

What's the difference in size between the 2 stones (as in mm, not carat weight)?

 

[ecf8503]

I'd go for the best cut quality. G/H - whatever. I have a D, some G's, and a J - and they are all beautiful.

 

[Melis]

Thanks everyone for voting and responding! It looks like the 1.8ct is the favorite right now.

Gypsy - thank you for your sage advice. Both are within budget however, I am one who appreciates a saving where ever I can.

Both are rounds, AGS000 ideal cut.

Kellc-
The difference is 0.35mm between the two diamonds.

1.6 G SI1 measurements are 7.53 - 7.57 x 4.61
1.8 H SI1 measurements are 7.88 - 7.91 x 4.78

I'm also considering a 1.4ct H VS2 that I just found because it's $6k less than the 1.8ct (huge $ difference). I have small fingers (size 3) so the 1.4ct looks good to me but I have read about DSS (diamond shrinkage syndrome) and wonder if this would be an issue later on.

1.4ct H VS2 measurements are 7.24 - 7.26 x 4.49 (0.64mm less than the 1.8ct).

Should I get the 1.4ct and use the $6k for earrings? Would the 1.4ct suffice? Or is DSS real and I should just get the biggest one I can afford right now?

 

[Sakuracherry]

I have a size 3.25 finger and wear a 2.1 ct solitaire. There are many ladies on this forum who wear a big rock on a small finger. You'll get used to looking at your ring and won't think it's big anymore. It's ip to you, but I encourage you to go bigger

 

[Melis]

Thanks for the encouragement Sakuracherry!

 

[Gypsy]

big mm difference. I'd 100% get the larger.

 

[Dreamer_D]

No question for me. Bigger! BIGGER BIGGER!

 

[GreenBling]

I vote for getting the biggest. It is not just the size per se, bigger facets means bigger flashes, and you'd be able to enjoy the patterning and the beautiful arrows better.

 

[Safflower]

Gypsy,

VERY helpful advice for anyone who is debating colors. I just happened upon this forum and I'm glad I did! I have been looking for Gs, but, I might try to go with an H instead to save some $. And of course, cut over everything, I will probably go with ACA from whiteflash. Thanks again!

 

[Dancing Fire]

If eye clean... I'll take the 1.8ct

 

[LLJsmom]

I voted for the G 1.6. To make it worth my while to go with an H, I would need a larger bump up in size. If it were between a 1.6 G and a 2.0 H, I would choose the H. But at 1.8, the size difference is not significant enough for me. I'm just more color sensitive, and I prefer higher colors in MRB.

 

[FancyIntense]

I would get the 1.6 or 1.8 like you were originally thinking not the 1.4 you mentioned.
GO BIG- diamonds aren't getting any cheaper any time soon.
I agree that 1.6 to 1.8 isn't a lot bigger if you're color sensitive and want bragging rights to a G, even though an H is still white in RB. If you were thinking VVS I would say go G.
Also, remember in SI clarity in a larger stone the inclusions might be more visible because of the diamond size so pick the best eye clean stone of size.
Large diamonds are so much fun to look at!