Compromise...

[Dreamer_D]

...in diamond purchases. We all have desired specs and we all have budgets, and it seems to me that most of the time, those two things do not equate.

So when you were purchasing a significant diamond, what compromises did you make? Color? Clarity? Carat? I won''t even suggest Cut

Or maybe you made none at all? Are you happy with the compromise? Did it bother you over time?

I am just curious as I am thinking about this issue for myself.

 

[kenny]

I''m a color and clarity snob and like to stay with F VVS2 and above.

I was hesitant to get the Octavia because it is H VS2, but now that I see it I have no regrets whatsoever.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

With my last diamond purchase, I had a firm budget of $1,000 and I was putting the diamond into a pendant. Because there is a huge price jump at the .50 mark, even though I could have gotten a bigger diamond if I went lower in color (I or J), I still couldn''t find a diamond above .50 that was in that price range, so I ended up sacrificing size and spent the full amount and purchased an E VS2 .41 - WF expert selection. I would like to upgrade the stone eventually and when I do, I''ll go lower in color to increase size. (I''m not bothered by my decision, I just realize that an E stone is just a bit too icy for a pendant. I love my F colored earrings, but feel that the E doesn''t look real because it''s SO colorless!)

I''m not sure when I''ll do that. . .maybe six months, maybe a few years from now.

 

[4ever]

Well, last daimond purchase I got a lower coloured stone with a low, yet eye clean, clarity to get the bigest stone for my money as I don''t plan to upgrade. I love the pendant but feel a bit guilty for going over budget.

 

[Mrs Mitchell]

I suspect that we have very different approaches. I start with setting my budget and then see what combinations in the stones available appeal to me most.

I don''t have any particular preferences on colour, I love them all in different ways, and with clarity, as long as the inclusions don''t compromise the integrity / aren''t glaringly ugly, I don''t care.

I''ve never really viewed the process as compromising, to be honest. I look at the stone first- the cut quality and visual appeal, whether it speaks to me and whether I find it beautiful and intriguing. The colour and clarity are pretty much secondary to that, almost irrelevant to me. If it''s the stone I like, I don''t mind what its papers say.

I have no idea what the colour and clarity of my e-ring stone are. I knew at one time and I could dig out the paperwork, but I''ve forgotten now.

I posted on your SMTR thread btw, but my post got eaten, so I''ll try again here - congrats on your upgrade, it''s absolutely beautiful and I hope you enjoy it.

Jen

 

[Madam Bijoux]

Color and cut are the big items for me. If I have to sacrifice anything, it would be size first and then clarity.

 

[sunnyd]

I compromised everything for my ering diamond''s look. We had a super small budget, and I would have gone down in color and clarity in order to go up in size. But when I saw the chunky facets of my OMC, it had to be mine!

I ended up with a .48 F VS1, when I would have happily gone for an H SI1 but larger. What can I say, it spoke to me!

If there''s a next time, I''ll hold out for size.

 

[Lilac]

I sacrificed in clarity and color. I ended up with a 1.7 I SI1 - I hadn''t wanted anything less than a G VS2 but when I compared the diamonds it wasn''t worth going down *so* much in size to get a higher color when I couldn''t tell much of a difference anyway most of the time.

Once in a while the I color bothers me, but it''s usually in a yellow or brown room and even then my mom''s D diamond looks tinted

The SI1 is fine for me because the one small inclusion is only visible when I look at it very closely (and not something anyone else would ever notice). Overall I''m very happy with my diamond and love the size. I wouldn''t go any lower (I think the color would begin to bother me if I did), but I am happy with my choice.

 

[D&T]

biggest bang for my bucks of course not sacrificing on cut at the time, and I would be willing to go to an I1 if the inclusions were not seen at six inches. Now I just want one of different color and shapes

 

[lyra]

I sacrificed colour for sure because I thought I wanted size. I still don''t know what I want, but I know I don''t want to pour more money into my rings besides changing settings. I already have trouble with the fact that they are worth so much. I bought an estate diamond, so there is no upgrade policy. That was also a sacrifice I made for price I guess. I sometimes think I should have spent the same amount, but instead of going for a solitaire, maybe I should have tried a really blingy 4-5 stone instead. But I constantly second guess myself. I won''t be upgrading this stone unless some huge financial windfall suddenly drops in our laps. Not likely. But I will definitely change the setting again at some point.

Oh, did it bother me over time--of course! I wouldn''t be a PS''er if I ever was truly completely satisfied! JK!

 

[Sabine]

Unfortunately, my ering was picked out before I found ps, and I have yet to make another significant diamond purchase. To be honest, the only diamond purchases I forsee in my future would be a pair of diamond stud earrings, and an upgrade to my ering. And those purchases are VERY far in my future.

However, when the time comes, the only thing I would be willing to compromise on would be carat, and only to a point. When it comes time to make the purchase, if I can''t get what I want, I''ll wait.

 

[Haven]

I don''t think I compromised on anything when we chose the diamond for my engagement ring.

DH (then BF) had a budget for the stone, so we looked at stones that fell within the budget. We ended up choosing a 2.01 ct G, SI1 cushion modified brilliant, and that''s what I wear today. I love it, I don''t plan on changing it for a long time.

 

[iheartscience]

I sacrificed size. I really wanted a 2 carat but that size just wasn''t in the budget because I had my heart set on a particular setting that was on the pricier side. If I had to do it again I would have probably gone for a 2 carat in a simple setting and then upgraded the setting later. However, I found PS while I was Googling for diamonds and settings, so I was ready to buy by the time I came here. I ended up getting engaged 3 months after I joined PS, so all the knowledge I''ve gained here has been mostly after the fact. I did go with a great vendor with an upgrade policy (WF) and my diamond is well cut, so PS definitely still helped me in that respect!

I have a 1.5 carat, G SI1 radiant in a halo setting and have been thinking about upgrading the center stone to a 2 carat round in the near future, but I''m waffling because I really do love my ring. If only I could have both...I don''t think that''s going to happen though! I would definitely keep my setting and put a custom cut colored stone in it, but I just don''t know if I''d be happy if I gave up my original diamond. I plan on trying on some 2 carat rounds (hopefully at our DC GTG in a week!) to see if getting one on my finger is enough to get me over my waffling!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

My hubby picked out the rock and ring on his own, but sacrificed size for cut, color, and clarity (more or less in that order).

He wanted a colorless (F or above) and Vs2 or above stone with excellent cut, but as a result had to buy one under the 1 ct mark because he couldn't find one over a carat at the store (that's right, singular store, lol) he went to. I'm perfectly happy with the size though, and kind of happy he didn't know about online vendors because I wouldn't have wanted him to spend the extra money to jump past the 1 ct mark. I think my .9 is a perfect size for me!

No plans on upgrading, and I don't really know when my next diamond purchase might be since I am more partial to colored stones.

 

[NewEnglandLady]

I was dead-set on getting an asscher and didn''t want any tint of color, so I ended up sacrificing size for color/clarity. I got an F/VS2 since that''s the most I was willing to compromise on color and clarity. I hate to say I compromised on size since I did not want anything above a carat (this was prior to PS) and DH thought 2 carats was better. I ended up with 1.5. For a future RHR I''m going the other direction--larger stone (non step-cut), lower color and clarity.

 

[AmberGretchen]

I actually compromised on the vendor we got my stone from - DH (BF at the time) and I had developed a relationship with a local shop who had been very good to us, and he really wanted to get the stone from there rather than from a PS vendor. I really wish I had insisted on getting it from a PS vendor though, because when it comes time to upgrade, we will have to basically start all over again. Also, the stone I have is very nice - G SI1, 1.12 ct, very good cut, but I wish I had held out for a true H&A ideal cut. I honestly don''t think it would make a huge difference in how the ring looks day to day, but I think it would have made a big mental difference for me.

All of that said though, I do love my ring, and I love what it represents even more

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 12/31/2009 10:57:48 AM
Author: AmberGretchen
I actually compromised on the vendor we got my stone from - DH (BF at the time) and I had developed a relationship with a local shop who had been very good to us, and he really wanted to get the stone from there rather than from a PS vendor. I really wish I had insisted on getting it from a PS vendor though, because when it comes time to upgrade, we will have to basically start all over again. Also, the stone I have is very nice - G SI1, 1.12 ct, very good cut, but I wish I had held out for a true H&A ideal cut. I honestly don''t think it would make a huge difference in how the ring looks day to day, but I think it would have made a big mental difference for me.

All of that said though, I do love my ring, and I love what it represents even more

Can you upgrade with your jeweler? You can get an H&A from them if you look.

 

[rainwood]

I don''t feel like I sacrificed anything because only the cut and the size range were truly important factors. I was absolutely fine with both the I color and the SI1 clarity. I didn''t go look or try to distinguish different color grades, I don''t notice them in my ring or other people''s and I''m not one to stare at my diamond trying to spot the inclusion. I didn''t want to talk myself into "mind clean" territory because of the price tag associated with it.

I ended up with a Whiteflash Expert Selection rather than an ACA, but the arrows look really good to me and the thing sparkles like crazy. By doing that, I was able to get a 1.54 carat stone which is just a great size for me, and stay relatively close to budget. The medium blue fluorescence helped seal the deal. If I were to get a different stone, I''d stick with the I and probably go to an SI2 as long as it wasn''t some big splotchy thing on the table or something that might adversely impact durability.

 

[elrohwen]

I'm totally willing to compromise clarity and color. I love old stones and after owning one realized that I don't really care about a chip or a low color (I even like low colors). I wouldn't want a stone with a giant black dot in the center, but if it's something I have to look hard to see and is in a reasonable location, I don't care. My heirloom stone has a big chip and a few black spots that I can see with my bare eyes - only about 2 people I've pointed them out to can even see them and everyone else thinks I'm making it up.

ETA: I should've just ditto-ed Mrs Mitchell.

 

[Gypsy]

My engagement ring we compromised on size. It's an F VS1 asscher. The cut is excellent confirmed by Neil and Karl. But the carat weight was less than we had wanted. It's a 1.09 and we really wanted something in the 1.5 range. Still it was a pre-PS buy and we didn't know we could drop in color or clarity and didn't know cushions existed.


Does it bother me? A bit, and only if I let it. If I had known what I know now I would have gotten a larger I SI cushion... and tried for a speady one. But we did pretty well for a couple of complete newbies.

 

[Mrs Mitchell]

Ah, but your asscher is gorgeous and the setting is to die for.

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 12/31/2009 6:18:01 PM
Author: Mrs Mitchell
Ah, but your asscher is gorgeous and the setting is to die for.

Thank you Mrs Mitchell. What a lovely compliment. I am very happy with both the stone and the setting and wear them with joy and pride, and that of course is what I think of when I look down at them... not the compromise.

Just about everything involves some level of compromises.... you just have to know which ones you can live with and which ones you can''t. I am very happy with stone in its current setting. And the halo really does make it look like a 1.5 carat center, so I got what I wanted, visually in the end.

 

[AmberGretchen]

Date: 12/31/2009 1:47:49 PM
Author: dreamer_dachsie

Date: 12/31/2009 10:57:48 AM

Author: AmberGretchen

I actually compromised on the vendor we got my stone from - DH (BF at the time) and I had developed a relationship with a local shop who had been very good to us, and he really wanted to get the stone from there rather than from a PS vendor. I really wish I had insisted on getting it from a PS vendor though, because when it comes time to upgrade, we will have to basically start all over again. Also, the stone I have is very nice - G SI1, 1.12 ct, very good cut, but I wish I had held out for a true H&A ideal cut. I honestly don''t think it would make a huge difference in how the ring looks day to day, but I think it would have made a big mental difference for me.


All of that said though, I do love my ring, and I love what it represents even more

Can you upgrade with your jeweler? You can get an H&A from them if you look.

Possibly, but I know that the prices wouldn''t be the best. Also, the gemologist that we liked/trusted doesn''t work there anymore, and they are in San Francisco (DH and I now live in Houston). So all around, it seems unlikely. On the bright side, I think in a few more years we should be able to buy me something very nice from one of the PS vendors.

 

[gemgirl]

My compromise came in the form of waiting until I could afford what I wanted. We got engaged in March of ''95 and I finally bought my diamond in Sept. of ''99 which was a year and a half after the wedding. I wish I had known about Pricescope and upgrade policies back then. It''s the only thing I regret.

 

[MrsK]

Hi Dreamer!

I adore my diamond ring, and I chose size, cut and colour over clarity. Mine is a 2.76ct G colour I clarity RB. Although it''s not H&A or an ''excellent cut'', it is stunning, white and it sparkles beautifully. I can see the inclusions when I look closely but only in certain light. There are no black dots, so the inclusions don''t really bother me. Instead, they make me think about how history formed it.

I don''t feel like I compromised at all. My husband and I are 31 and 32 respectively and he has only been in the country (Australia) for 3 years. We are middle class and far from rich, particularly given my husband is a new migrant. My DH prioritised buying me my diamond ring over so many other things (eg. we drive a 26 year old car

, and this ring far outweighs my hopes and dreams! For me, this ring symbolises his love for me and how impractical that makes him!

I feel incredibly blessed.

 

[marcy]

Weeks before finding Pricescope I got my upgrade. When we decided to get me a new ering I did enough research to know I wanted an ideal cut diamond. We narrowed it down to 2 ideal cut diamonds - one was E VS1 and the other was G SI2. We got the E and I have not regretted it for one moment as I really love my diamond. The G was cheaper but side by side the E was by far the best diamond. The G by itself was amazing and I would probably have gone for it but always wondered if I should have bought the E diamond. My husband knows me very well and said to get the E.

The other diamonds I have bought since joining Pricescope were PC studs, EC RHR and diamond dangles. The PC studs are the WF ready set to go earrings and they are marvelous. The EC RHR I tried to find something online but the PS EC experts did not like them so I finally went looking on my own and found one that really popped. It is an E SI1 but remarkably clean. The diamond dangles I bought I was not so picky on them because I was trying to keep them under $1000 for the pair; I picked out two .44 ct diamonds. One is G SI2 and one is I I1 but they face up white and I honestly can''t tell them apart on my ears.

Any future purchases I would stick with ideal cut, colorless and naked eye clean if they were for rings. If they were for pendants or earrings I would drop in color.

 

[luv2sparkle]

I VS1-VS2 is my sweet spot. Some would call that a compromise, I call it perfect.

 

[Kelli]

I was DETERMINED I wanted a colorless diamond for my engagement ring. Then I saw what well cut near colorless stones looked like, so I went with an I, which was then recut and graded an H. I call it an H/I. But honestly, I don''t see it as a compromise at all. It looks perfect to me!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 1/3/2010 10:53:05 PM
Author: MrsK
Hi Dreamer!

I adore my diamond ring, and I chose size, cut and colour over clarity. Mine is a 2.76ct G colour I clarity RB. Although it''s not H&A or an ''excellent cut'', it is stunning, white and it sparkles beautifully. I can see the inclusions when I look closely but only in certain light. There are no black dots, so the inclusions don''t really bother me. Instead, they make me think about how history formed it.

I don''t feel like I compromised at all. My husband and I are 31 and 32 respectively and he has only been in the country (Australia) for 3 years. We are middle class and far from rich, particularly given my husband is a new migrant. My DH prioritised buying me my diamond ring over so many other things (eg. we drive a 26 year old car

, and this ring far outweighs my hopes and dreams! For me, this ring symbolises his love for me and how impractical that makes him!

I feel incredibly blessed.

I would love to see pictures of this ring, I didn''t see a thread about it!

 

[Snicklefritz]

I guess I compromised color, vendor and cut (somewhat) for size. I was originally going to buy a 1.5 ct diamond in the I/J color range from a PS vendor, but ended up with a 2.70 ct, K/L color diamond from CL for the same price. I was never planning to get an ACA or a H&A diamond but I wanted that excellent cut range with some visible arrows. My diamond has a Very Good cut and visible arrows, and strangely I don''t regret the loss of the excellent cut at all. If I had a diamond that were somehow more sparkly than mine I''d probably go blind! I admit I have had some moments where I question it''s color, but I can''t see myself ever trading it in. We''re a pair, and I''m really falling in love with it''s romantic warmth.