DIfference between 1.3 - 1.5 for Micahel B setting

[jamie1963]

I am currently upgrading my Michael B petite princess from a VVS2, .944 ct. round brilliant ideal cut diamond, K-L color.

I''m working with Bill Pearlman at Pearlmans and my "goal" is around a 1.3 carat VS2 - SI1, round ideal w/ color H (which is the lowest color grade he goes).

My question (or statement

):
This is my first diamond purchase (my original stone is my mom''s). I have set aside the budget for about a 1.3 carat with the above specifics. HOWEVER, I''m willing to spend the $$$ for a little bigger, i.e.. about a 1.5 if it means a substantial increase in the look of my diamond.

I guess bottom line...I''m going from a .944 ct (6.24 x 6.26). I would love to keep to the budget of 1.3, H, VS2 -SI1, but, since I know diamond shrinkage sets in FAST

, is it worth it in your opinion to go up to the 1.5 ct range? Or for that price hike is it better to wait. I can do it (yikes)

; not sure if it''s worth it.

Opinions GREATLY appreciated and I will definitely share pictures when done!!!

 

[MissAva]

I think it will make a difference it is a fifth of a carat. However it is your eyes not mine that matter. Do you know the difference in the measurments? If so you may want to look at some of the charts that have been posted recently that you could cut out and have them sit on your finger. I dont want to pressure you and I know you are a frequent lurker here on PS but there have been several price hykes mentioned for recent times and again in December. Is the size going to mean you lose out on something else?

 

[Mara]

I agree, get as big as possible for your budget...you already know you don't have color sensitivity if you have a K/L in your current setting.

Doesn't GOG have something like a 1.5 or 1.6 K VS or K SI in his stash? Thought I remembered seeing something like that.

Anyway...I went from a 1.29 to a 1.60 earlier this year and the size difference was definitely visible on the hand. Really made me much happier and the funny thing was now I feel like my diamond is *finally* 'big'. I know that 1.29 in many worlds is big, but I just feel like 1.60 is so much more 'me'....and that we should have started off there if we only knew....costs would have been about the same if we had bought a 1.60 J SI2 2 years ago rather than the 1.23 G VS I first started off with (1.29 H SI was my second stone), but I was more interested in getting a good color/clarity than really cut or size and look what happened!

So I would definitely try to get as close to 1.5 as possible with your budget...and maybe even over depending on the color/clarity combo!!

Edited to add: Oh I just noticed Bill only goes down to H? What a drag!!!! That's wasted money you could be using for larger size, to have to buy an H when you could get an I or J which is still a visual step up from K/L!

 

[Mara]

So in checking out PS pricing...

a 1.28 H SI1 would be around $6500....

a 1.50 J SI2 would be around $7000...

a 1.54 H SI2 would be around $9000...

So assuming you are thinking of paying around $6500-7500 for a 1.30 H VS2/SI1 stone...I would see if you could spend that $7000 on a J SI2 (eye clean of course!!)...or drop that SI1 to SI2 and keep H for around $9000 if you can spend a bit more. A great SI2 that is eye-clean is a REAL bargain, trust me (and Lynn just got her new SI2 and adores it too!!). Depending on what your selection is, pricing may vary, but there is a PS pricing sample for you on existing stone as of today. All of these are AGS0 ideal-cut stones with HCA scores under 2.0.

Let us know what you decide!!

 

[Mara]

For comparison''s sake...

Here is a WF picture that they did for me when I was deciding on my upgrade.

The smaller diamond is a 1.28 (even though the pic says 1.26, it''s a typo), and the bigger is my 1.60.

Here is my upgrade thread url for more pictures and also other comparisons aka on the hand, I have one more pic to post here too.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/its-done-a-1-60-j-si2-has-found-a-new-home.26190/

Your upgrade will be MUCH more visible but as you can see, there is a difference between 1.3 and 1.6 or around there. So I say get bigger!!

 

[Mara]

and here is something I did to compare how the stones looked on my ring. The old is the 1.29 and the new is the 1.60.

 

[jamie1963]

Thanks Matatora, Lynn B, and Mara (thanks for the research and your pics!!).

I''ll keep you posted on what I decide!!! I appreciate the feedback and the pictures. Of course I would always opt to go bigger (w/in reason)!

I swear, before I became a "PS lurker" I thought my stone was HUGE

, especially on my 2 mm Michael B. Now I''m certain it shrinks every day.