comparing stones

[kolchak]

Hi
I''ve been looking for about a month now & while I''ve learned a lot the priorities keep changing.
My initial expectations regarding price & the 4 C''s were set by a friend of a friend offering deep cut EGL stones. I now understand that the GIA diamonds in my price range and desired cut quality are not going to be perfect H&A cut diamonds, so I''ve been trying to find the nicest looking eye clean diamond close to 1.5 carats for ~ 6,000 with inclusions that can be hidden.
Sarah from GOG did a great job finding some stones that fit my criteria. The two links below the H&A pattern are pretty nice even though she says there is leakage under the table.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/6743/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/6744/

I wanted to compare the bigger stones with a smaller H & A so this is a video they made -

http://vimeo.com/7826313


After showing the video to my GF she prefers the smaller, better stone even though we didn''t notice much difference.
Maybe I should split the difference and look for an H&A ~ 1.25?
Any advice before I pull the rest of my hair out? If inclusions can be hidden do you think we will notice much performance difference between the larger stones with a little leakage & a smaller H&A?
TY!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/27/2009 1:05:04 PM
Author:kolchak


Hi
I''ve been looking for about a month now & while I''ve learned a lot the priorities keep changing.
My initial expectations regarding price & the 4 C''s were set by a friend of a friend offering deep cut EGL stones. I now understand that the GIA diamonds in my price range and desired cut quality are not going to be perfect H&A cut diamonds, so I''ve been trying to find the nicest looking eye clean diamond close to 1.5 carats for ~ 6,000 with inclusions that can be hidden.
Sarah from GOG did a great job finding some stones that fit my criteria. The two links below the H&A pattern are pretty nice even though she says there is leakage under the table.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/6743/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/6744/

I wanted to compare the bigger stones with a smaller H & A so this is a video they made -

http://vimeo.com/7826313


After showing the video to my GF she prefers the smaller, better stone even though we didn''t notice much difference.
Maybe I should split the difference and look for an H&A ~ 1.25?
Any advice before I pull the rest of my hair out? If inclusions can be hidden do you think we will notice much performance difference between the larger stones with a little leakage & a smaller H&A?
TY!

Hi Kolchak

If your GF preferred the smaller better cut diamond then I would try to find a top cut quality diamond rather than maximize size if she has expressed a preference for the finer cut. Yes you could maybe compromise and look for something in the 1.20 ct region.

 

[FB.]

What you like needs to come second to what she likes.
She is the one who will have to wear it and feel pride in doing so. You ought to go with what she wants - subject to remaining within budget.

Would you wear high-heeled leather boots for the rest of your life, just because she thinks that they look good?

 

[FB.]

Feel free to tell me to mind my own business, but with the budget that you have available, I would be very disappointed to receive an I1 clarity diamond.

For $6000, I'd suggest that a good balance of features that would allow the recepient/owner to have pride in their stone would be an ideal cut (triple-ex), just over the 1ct mark, G colour and SI1 clarity.
In fact, it seems a remarkably popular combination. According to stats on Bluenile's website, their most common sale for 1.00-1.02ct stones is F-H colour, VS2-SI1 clarity - accounting for 42% of all sales around the 1ct mark.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I wonder what it was about the smaller diamond that she preferred? Was it knowing it is an H&A? Is it the clarity difference? Maybe she wants something smaller? I ask because to my eye the larger diamonds look about the same as the smaller. So I am curious about the *reason* for her preference. Knowing that, then you should do whatever she wants

ETA And just for balance, I would wear an I1 with no hesitation

That is why you need to know what it was that caused HER preference and ignore anything we say.

 

[FB.]

Date: 11/27/2009 2:34:24 PM
Author: dreamer_dachsie
I wonder what it was about the smaller diamond that she preferred? Was it knowing it is an H&A? Is it the clarity difference? Maybe she wants something smaller? I ask because to my eye the larger diamonds look about the same as the smaller. So I am curious about the *reason* for her preference. Knowing that, then you should do whatever she wants

ETA And just for balance, I would wear an I1 with no hesitation

That is why you need to know what it was that caused HER preference and ignore anything we say.

I apreciate that many of the exceptionally diamond-savvy Pricescope members would be happy to wear K I1 stones of larger size. But the average person - with only a little knowledge - might feel second best.
Whenever someone speaks of I1-I2 stones, I immediately think of discount jewellers that sell "frozen spit" set in 9ct gold.
When she notices the inclusions (it's incredibly rare to find a 100% eye clean I1; in fact, even SI1 -two grades higher- is 50/50 whether eye clean), how long and how much anguish will it take to explain to a lesser-diamond-knowledgable person (or their similarly diamond-educated friends) that they actually got a nice stone?

I recently squabbled with someone regarding a website that claimed to have sold 70% flawless stones this year. I stated that for most people, flawless is unnecessary.
But clearly, lesser-educated-diamond-consumers (and their friends who will be admiring it) are brainwashed into higher colours/clarities.

My view is that Flawless is too good. I1 is not good enough. Somewhere in between is probably the best balance.

 

[kolchak]

Thanks for taking the time to read the thread & make comments folks.
Dreamer, the reason she picked the smaller stone was exactly what you thought - because I told her it was the "better" stone. (BTW - Doxies are awesome dogs. We have 1.5 yr old mini female that is the love of our lives) I''m sure she will love whatever I pick, but I wanted her input. I wouldn''t mind going a little smaller for an SI1 but after seeing various size stones in the Ritani setting I''ve already purchased (thanks to the BB&B BK sale) it looked better with something closer to 1.5.

I''ve explained my reasoning for wanting the larger stone and now thinks she agrees however I understand FB''s point about pride of ownership. I think I''ll probably go a little smaller and try to find a SI1 or better clarity. I wouldn''t want her looking at a flaw wishing it was a nicer, although smaller, stone.
Knowing nothing about diamonds it''s just so hard to appreciate the subtle differences that determine SI1, SI, etc and how the flaws effect visual performance.
Below are the specs on the two stones I''m considering from the video. Any thoughts on the #''s?
Thanks again!



Carat Weight: 1.52ct
Color: I
Clarity: I1
GIA Cut Grade: Excellent
Optical Symmetry: Premium
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: Faint
Lab Report: GIA
In House: Yes
Width: 7.25mm
Length: 7.34mm
Depth: 4.57mm
Table Percentage: 58.98%
Depth Percentage: 63.02%
Crown Ú: 36.22‹
Pavilion Ú: 40.87‹
Policy: Limited Guarantee

Price: $5,991
(Bank wire price: $5,789)


Carat Weight: 1.41ct
Color: J
Clarity: SI2
GIA Cut Grade: Excellent
Optical Symmetry: Premium
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None
Culet: None
Lab Report: GIA
Lab Report #: 2115251587
In House: Yes
Width: 7.15mm
Length: 7.20mm
Depth: 4.46mm
Table Percentage: 57.60%
Depth Percentage: 62.10%
Crown Ú: 33.60‹
Crown Depth: 14.14%
Pavilion Ú: 41.40‹
Pavilion Depth: 44.10%

Price: $5,739
(Bank wire price: $5,545)

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/28/2009 12:23:16 AM
Author: kolchak

Thanks for taking the time to read the thread & make comments folks.
Dreamer, the reason she picked the smaller stone was exactly what you thought - because I told her it was the ''better'' stone. (BTW - Doxies are awesome dogs. We have 1.5 yr old mini female that is the love of our lives) I''m sure she will love whatever I pick, but I wanted her input. I wouldn''t mind going a little smaller for an SI1 but after seeing various size stones in the Ritani setting I''ve already purchased (thanks to the BB&B BK sale) it looked better with something closer to 1.5.

I''ve explained my reasoning for wanting the larger stone and now thinks she agrees however I understand FB''s point about pride of ownership. I think I''ll probably go a little smaller and try to find a SI1 or better clarity. I wouldn''t want her looking at a flaw wishing it was a nicer, although smaller, stone.
Knowing nothing about diamonds it''s just so hard to appreciate the subtle differences that determine SI1, SI, etc and how the flaws effect visual performance.
Below are the specs on the two stones I''m considering from the video. Any thoughts on the #''s?
Thanks again!



Carat Weight: 1.52ct
Color: I
Clarity: I1
GIA Cut Grade: Excellent
Optical Symmetry: Premium
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: Faint
Lab Report: GIA
In House: Yes
Width: 7.25mm
Length: 7.34mm
Depth: 4.57mm
Table Percentage: 58.98%
Depth Percentage: 63.02%
Crown Ú: 36.22‹
Pavilion Ú: 40.87‹
Policy: Limited Guarantee

Price: $5,991
(Bank wire price: $5,789)



Carat Weight: 1.41ct
Color: J
Clarity: SI2
GIA Cut Grade: Excellent
Optical Symmetry: Premium
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None
Culet: None
Lab Report: GIA
Lab Report #: 2115251587
In House: Yes
Width: 7.15mm
Length: 7.20mm
Depth: 4.46mm
Table Percentage: 57.60%
Depth Percentage: 62.10%
Crown Ú: 33.60‹
Crown Depth: 14.14%
Pavilion Ú: 41.40‹
Pavilion Depth: 44.10%

Price: $5,739
(Bank wire price: $5,545)

I think that would be best personally.

Both of those are fine make diamonds you posted but they are not cut to top standards and as you know both show a bit of leakage, but there is a ready market for these - they are still good diamonds just not quite up to top picky PS standards and are sold as such.

 

[kolchak]

Lorelie - is it the cut or the inclusions that cause the leakage?
I''m going to go a little smaller in hopes of finding a better performer.
thanks again

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/28/2009 9:12:54 AM
Author: kolchak
Lorelie - is it the cut or the inclusions that cause the leakage?
I''m going to go a little smaller in hopes of finding a better performer.
thanks again

Probably some of the cut proportions causing the leakage Kolchak.