did i make a mistake in choosing this diamond?

[inttrepid2]

Am going to propose to my girlfriend this week on our 2 year anniversary so am nervous about this:

I was at the jewelry store a few days ago and chose for the engagement ring a SI2 \ G 0.7 ct ring with excellent symmetry, cut and polish for $3000

Anyway later I was reading how si2 inclusions could be visible to naked eye sometime so I went back to store and instead got a VS2 \ F 0.72 ct ring for 1,000 dollars more. The thing that worries me now is that the new diamond is just "very good" for cut/polish/sym and now I read that cut is really important

Here is the report for the new diamond:
[url]http://www.gia.edu/cs/Satellite?reportno=1159114254&childpagename=GIA%2FPage%2FReportCheck&pagename=GIA%2FDispatcher&c=Page&cid=1355954554547[/url][/url]

I am worried it won't "sparkle" enough making me and my gf feel bad. Or do you think there won't be much visible difference in sparkle to the naked eye vs an excellent cut ring? Will it sparkle enough?

In the store, could've been that I was too nervous or maybe there is something wrong with me but they showed me lots of diamonds and I couldn't tell the difference between any of them

Thanks for any advice you can give!

 

[msop04]

Am going to propose to my girlfriend this week on our 2 year anniversary so am nervous about this:

I was at the jewelry store a few days ago and chose for the engagement ring a SI2 \ G 0.7 ct ring with excellent symmetry, cut and polish for $3000

Anyway later I was reading how si2 inclusions could be visible to naked eye sometime so I went back to store and instead got a VS2 \ F 0.72 ct ring for 1,000 dollars more. The thing that worries me now is that the new diamond is just "very good" for cut/polish/sym and now I read that cut is really important
Here is the report for the new diamond:
[url]http://www.gia.edu/cs/Satellite?reportno=1159114254&childpagename=GIA%2FPage%2FReportCheck&pagename=GIA%2FDispatcher&c=Page&cid=1355954554547[/url][/url]

I am worried it won't "sparkle" enough making me and my gf feel bad. Or do you think there won't be much visible difference in sparkle to the naked eye vs an excellent cut ring? Will it sparkle enough?

In the store, could've been that I was too nervous or maybe there is something wrong with me but they showed me lots of diamonds and I couldn't tell the difference between any of them

Thanks for any advice you can give!

You are right that you should get an excellent cut grade. Could any inclusions be seen on the SI2? Some will show, but some appear very clean. I wouldn't have paid more for a lesser cut grade, unless that was my only option and/or the inclusions were apparent. If you can return the stone, PS will help you find a fabulous stone!

 

[msop04]

OP, here are some really beautiful diamonds that meet your criteria (and your budget of $3-4K). They have better specs than the SI2 stone and better cuts than the VS2 stone for less money. James Allen also give PS members a 1% discount.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-dia...45.0&DepthTo=61.5&TableFrom=50.0&TableTo=57.5

I love the G/VS2 @ $3010 -- HCA is 0.7 and it's a smidge larger and the least expensive - GOREGEOUS!!

JA will allow you to put up to 3 stones on hold and you can request the ASET. These are the ones I like:
#245250 (0.70 ct, G/VS2, HCA 0.7, 5.76 x 5.78 mm, $3010)
#177490 (0.72 ct, F/SI1, HCA 1.3, 5.76 x 5.78 mm, $3200)
#233537 (0.70 ct, E/VS1, HCA 1.0, 5.70 x 5.75 mm, $3550)

Can you return the stone to your jeweler? If you can (or even if you're not sure...), I'd put these on hold ASAP!!

 

[inttrepid2]

no time to return it since I am picking it up tomorrow and plan on proposing the day after in the anniversary

Will it sparkle enough even though it's "very good" or will there be a HUGE difference between that and excellent ones?

 

[Christina...]

What are the proportions of the new stone? Is it possible to use the new stone to propose and then choose a different diamond together after the proposal?

 

[JulieN]

https://myapps.gia.edu/ReportCheckPortal/getReportData.do?&reportno=1159114254&weight=.72

 

[msop04]

What are the proportions of the new stone? Is it possible to use the new stone to propose and then choose a different diamond together after the proposal?

This is what I'd do...this way, you'd be more confident in the purchase, and you can still propose with a diamond. Excellent cut stones are going to have better performance (i.e. sparkle) than VG. If you were to be presented with a better diamond and a better deal, would you consider doing what Christina mentioned? If so, then GREAT!!!

However, if you intend to use the diamond you bought regardless of what is said about the diamond or recommended, then this thread is sort of pointless. <---- I swear, I mean this in the nicest possible way

 

[inttrepid2]

What are the proportions of the new stone? Is it possible to use the new stone to propose and then choose a different diamond together after the proposal?

This is what I'd do...this way, you'd be more confident in the purchase, and you can still propose with a diamond. Excellent cut stones are going to have better performance (i.e. sparkle) than VG. If you were to be presented with a better diamond and a better deal, would you consider doing what Christina mentioned? If so, then GREAT!!!

However, if you intend to use the diamond you bought regardless of what is said about the diamond or recommended, then this thread is sort of pointless. <---- I swear, I mean this in the nicest possible way

well I want people's opinion if the diamond I bought (here is the report again: http://www.gia.edu/cs/Satellite?reportno=1159114254&childpagename=GIA%2FPage%2FReportCheck&pagename=GIA%2FDispatcher&c=Page&cid=1355954554547 ) will still be nice and sparkly (even if its not as perfect as a "Excellent") or did I choose a really bad diamond and its going to look very numb or something and not sparkling at all

 

[soxfan]

you said you saw the diamond in the store?

 

[inttrepid2]

you said you saw the diamond in the store?

yes but like I said all diamonds looked sparkling to me so maybe I'm just not sensitive enough to that but am worried about what she might think

anyway did anyone look at my certificate and can tell me if it looks like a nice stone and whether it will sparkle beautifully or is it a horrible choice

 

[soxfan]

you said you saw the diamond in the store?

yes but like I said all diamonds looked sparkling to me so maybe I'm just not sensitive enough to that but am worried about what she might think

anyway did anyone look at my certificate and can tell me if it looks like a nice stone and whether it will sparkle beautifully or is it a horrible choice

no one can tell you that without seeing it in person. I have a diamond that is a very good cut. I saw mine with an ex cut couldn't tell the difference between mine and an excellent cut.

But, NO one here is going to tell you that a very good cut stone is going to sparkle more than an excellent. If you saw it next to excellent stones and couldn't tell the difference, then what's the difference?

 

[msop04]

you said you saw the diamond in the store?

yes but like I said all diamonds looked sparkling to me so maybe I'm just not sensitive enough to that but am worried about what she might think

anyway did anyone look at my certificate and can tell me if it looks like a nice stone and whether it will sparkle beautifully or is it a horrible choice

no one can tell you that without seeing it in person. I have a diamond that is a very good cut. I saw mine with an ex cut couldn't tell the difference between mine and an excellent cut.

But, NO one here is going to tell you that a very good cut stone is going to sparkle more than an excellent. If you saw it next to excellent stones and couldn't tell the difference, then what's the difference?

Like sox said, no one can really tell you if it's good or bad since we can't see it. We can tell you it's not gonna be as sparkly or perform as well as an excellent cut stone. We can tell you that the HCA score was not ideal. We can only provide info based on the numbers. It scored HCA 2.7. We shoot for under 2.0 (this is a tool used to "weed out" stones, NOT to be used for selection). Based on this, the stone doesn't show potential to perform well. That said, I have a stone that scores 2.6 and I love it, but... I probably wouldn't have chosen it if I had the help of PS or been on here a little longer.

The Good: You've seen the stone in the store and it looked sparkly.
The Bad: You thought all of them looked sparkly.

Well... they will all sparkle under the store lights -- that's what they're there to do... make all their diamonds look great. I would ask to look at the stone in as many real life lighting conditions as you can. (including outside on a sunny day, outside in the shade, under fluroescent lighting, in your car, anywhere you can think of to see it IRL light. They should be more than happy to escort you to do so for as long and in as many situations as you like...

If you still like it, then don't worry about it. If you are concerned, then you need to think about how you'd like to proceed.

 

[inttrepid2]

how did you get 2.7? i went into the hca tool and put the numbers from the cerificate and I got 3.5? did I make some mistake or did you

 

[soxfan]

you said you saw the diamond in the store?

yes but like I said all diamonds looked sparkling to me so maybe I'm just not sensitive enough to that but am worried about what she might think

anyway did anyone look at my certificate and can tell me if it looks like a nice stone and whether it will sparkle beautifully or is it a horrible choice

no one can tell you that without seeing it in person. I have a diamond that is a very good cut. I saw mine with an ex cut couldn't tell the difference between mine and an excellent cut.

But, NO one here is going to tell you that a very good cut stone is going to sparkle more than an excellent. If you saw it next to excellent stones and couldn't tell the difference, then what's the difference?

Like sox said, no one can really tell you if it's good or bad since we can't see it. We can tell you it's not gonna be as sparkly or perform as well as an excellent cut stone. We can tell you that the HCA score was not ideal. We can only provide info based on the numbers. It scored HCA 2.7. We shoot for under 2.0 (this is a tool used to "weed out" stones, NOT to be used for selection). Based on this, the stone doesn't show potential to perform well. That said, I have a stone that scores 2.6 and I love it, but... I probably wouldn't have chosen it if I had the help of PS or been on here a little longer.

The Good: You've seen the stone in the store and it looked sparkly.
The Bad: You thought all of them looked sparkly.

Well... they will all sparkle under the store lights -- that's what they're there to do... make all their diamonds look great. I would ask to look at the stone in as many real life lighting conditions as you can. (including outside on a sunny day, outside in the shade, under fluroescent lighting, in your car, anywhere you can think of to see it IRL light. They should be more than happy to escort you to do so for as long and in as many situations as you like...

If you still like it, then don't worry about it. If you are concerned, then you need to think about how you'd like to proceed.

Definitely take it OUTSIDE with the other diamond. Also, compare them in dimmer lighting, too.

 

[soxfan]

how did you get 2.7? i went into the hca tool and put the numbers from the cerificate and I got 3.5? did I make some mistake or did you

I got 3.5 too?

 

[msop04]

how did you get 2.7? i went into the hca tool and put the numbers from the cerificate and I got 3.5? did I make some mistake or did you

I got 3.5 too?

Damn, I may have messed it up... my eyes are crossing today!! LOL Let me look at it again.

 

[msop04]

how did you get 2.7? i went into the hca tool and put the numbers from the cerificate and I got 3.5? did I make some mistake or did you

I got 3.5 too?

Damn, I may have messed it up... my eyes are crossing today!! LOL Let me look at it again.

Yep, you are right... HCA 3.5 (sorry, OP!!)

 

[Christina...]

The new stone has a shallow crown and very thin girdle which puts it at a greater risk for chipping and breaking. That alone would eliminate it for me regardless of it's overall performance.

 

[Lula]

The new stone has a shallow crown and very thin girdle which puts it at a greater risk for chipping and breaking. That alone would eliminate it for me regardless of it's overall performance.

I agree with Christina's assessment. If you do decide to go ahead with this diamond, make sure you get it insured right away. If you are in a hurry to propose, my advice is that you propose without a ring and then take the time to find a nice diamond that you can both be proud of. Make sure that you are not shopping in haste only to regret your purchase in leisure.

 

[Christina...]

The new stone has a shallow crown and very thin girdle which puts it at a greater risk for chipping and breaking. That alone would eliminate it for me regardless of it's overall performance.

I agree with Christina's assessment. If you do decide to go ahead with this diamond, make sure you get it insured right away. If you are in a hurry to propose, my advice is that you propose without a ring and then take the time to find a nice diamond that you can both be proud of. Make sure that you are not shopping in haste only to regret your purchase in leisure.

THIS, is great....it should be your tag line! Or mine...if you choose not to??

 

[Lula]

The new stone has a shallow crown and very thin girdle which puts it at a greater risk for chipping and breaking. That alone would eliminate it for me regardless of it's overall performance.

I agree with Christina's assessment. If you do decide to go ahead with this diamond, make sure you get it insured right away. If you are in a hurry to propose, my advice is that you propose without a ring and then take the time to find a nice diamond that you can both be proud of. Make sure that you are not shopping in haste only to regret your purchase in leisure.

THIS, is great....it should be your tag line! Or mine...if you choose not to??

Thanks -- I'm happy to share, Christina!

 

[Christina...]

I missed that you had responded. Thanks! Then with your permission I'm going to change mine as soon as I can get to a laptop!

 

[Dreamer_D]

you said you saw the diamond in the store?

yes but like I said all diamonds looked sparkling to me so maybe I'm just not sensitive enough to that but am worried about what she might think

anyway did anyone look at my certificate and can tell me if it looks like a nice stone and whether it will sparkle beautifully or is it a horrible choice

no one can tell you that without seeing it in person. I have a diamond that is a very good cut. I saw mine with an ex cut couldn't tell the difference between mine and an excellent cut.

But, NO one here is going to tell you that a very good cut stone is going to sparkle more than an excellent. If you saw it next to excellent stones and couldn't tell the difference, then what's the difference?

The difference is that jewellery store purposely use lighting that masks differences in cut grade. An excellent cut stone will perform better across a variety of lighting environments.

Inttrepid in this case I do recommend that you consider an exchange for an Ex cut stone. The proportion of your stone are in my opinion not very good. I think across different lighting you will find that an Ex cut will look better -- brighter, more contrast, better patterning and scintillation. More ALIVE.

 

[SB621]

The new stone has a shallow crown and very thin girdle which puts it at a greater risk for chipping and breaking. That alone would eliminate it for me regardless of it's overall performance.

Typically I don't comment on diamonds as I have little to add, but I would highly caution against a very thin girdle. This should be a major RED- do not pass go or collect $200! The only reason I would buy a diamond that is VT would be if it was bezeled. Forget the HCA and everything else. The probability that your GF will damage this diamond in a prong set ring is very high. My very first diamond that was .76ct RB had a thin girdle and after 3 years I had major chips in it.

Take it back to the jeweler and make another selection.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

The stone is dinged by HCA mainly because of the large 62% table.
At that depth and GIA data rounding it would actually be a little better than that.
But if there is a large part of the girdle that is thin (the reason GIA made it VG and not Ex cut) then it is a risk of chipping, although the crown angle is not that low - if it were 30 degrees it would be really bad.