Down to two rocks...please provide advice

[TDAlmighty]

Hey y''all,

My requirements for the diamond:
I want it to be completely eyeclean, and have a great cut that really is going to dazzle her.
After that, I want the biggest possible "looking" rock (at least 1.75 actual carats if I can) for under 17K -- but on the other hand if she will not tell the difference between two rocks I would opt for the cheaper.

So here are the two that I am looking at, please let me know which you think will better meet my requirements (or is just a better deal). Also let me know if you think there is anything to worry about with either of the two. Lastly, note that I am waiting on the verification of the second one being "eyeclean", which the first one they have pasted what they sent me below...

If you see any other alternatives out there that you think are better deals, please let me know also.
Let me know what you think and thank you for your help.

Rock 1 ($16,446):
GIA Cert: 16163514
Carat weight: 1.80
Cut: Excellent
Color: F
Clarity: SI1
Depth %: 59.9%
Table %: 57%
Symmetry: Excellent
Polish: Excellent
Girdle: Thin to medium
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Crown: 33.5
Pavilion: 40.8
Measurements: 7.91 x 7.96 x 4.75 mm
HCA score: .8 --but I am worried about how it is outside the AGS 0 zone and almost outside the GIA excellent zone
Notes: Dealer claims "They have viewed it from the top down with the naked eye in an effort to determine whether or not a casual observer could see the inclusions. I am pleased to say that they are considering the stone to be Eye-Clean, meaning the inclusions should not be visible." -- They claim this to even be a "conservative" observation.

Rock 2 ($14,233):
GIA Cert: 16153424
Carat weight: 1.79
Cut: Ideal
Color: G
Clarity: SI1
Depth %: 61.4%
Table %: 55%
Pavilion: 40.8%
Crown: 35.0%
Symmetry: Excellent
Polish: Excellent
Girdle: Medium
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 7.81 x 7.83 x 4.80 mm
HCA: 1.5, within AGS0 and GIA excellent, but towards the other end of the scale.
Notes: I am waiting on them to get back to me with an "eyeclean" observation on this one.

Thanks again.

 

[JulieN]

is she near-sighted?

Ideal Scopes? Pictures?

 

[echelon6]

Rock 2 has my vote. (I assume those c/p %''s are actually angles)

Better proportions imo, Rock 1 has a shallow crown at 33.5.

May I ask who the vendor is? his prices are very good.

A G SI1 1.79 eyeclean for 14k is a very competitive price!

 

[TDAlmighty]

Hey--Thanks for the thoughts already!

Unfortunately, nothing beyond the scanned GIA certifications is going to be available.

The girlfriend wears contacts--but this sounds bad, I do not know if she is near or far-sighted (I know that sounds bad, but they are monthly contacts so she is never going around blind or anything).

As far as the vendor goes--I would rather not mention for no other reason than I think I may get better unbiased opinions if the vendor issue is left out of the post. I hope that is ok and people understand.

 

[JulieN]

what about having them both sent to a local appraiser, where you can view. or sent to one of the PS appraisers who can discuss pros and cons?

 

[TDAlmighty]

Yes, I could probably do those things, but I was hoping that people could just look at the numbers and my desires and steer me one way or the other. I have been putting off buying the diamond for months and now I am starting to get closer to when I have my proposal planned (and still want to make the right decision on the diamond). AAAAHHHH!!!!!! I am even torn about whether to go up to a VS2 because I am paranoid she will be put off by any visible inclusions.

 

[phoenixgirl]

Assuming that the second stone is eye-clean, I do not think an additional $3k is worth a slightly bigger spread. That said, I don''t believe #1 has any cut issues to worry about. I''m a big believer in the HCA because it pairs up angles rather than giving a range for them. So if you can order the second stone and easily return it if you don''t like the inclusions, I''d save the money.

I should tell you about my recent experience. I ordered my Mom a 0.82 SI1 stone for a pendant. It fits the description that the casual observer will not see anything from the top down. However, there is a tiny black inclusion visible from the top if you know where to look for it (and hold it very close to your eye). Not a big deal, but from the bottom (which is easily visible if you turn the pendant upside down) there are two black inclusions that are easy to see. For a pendant for someone older who won''t be able to see them anyway, that''s fine, but I was honestly surprised that a GIA rated SI1 stone in that size would have inclusions like that.

So after my experience, I would say that if you don''t think you''re going to go to the trouble to return the stone if you don''t like it, then VS2 wouldn''t be a bad idea. Many people enjoy SI2''s, larger SI1''s, and even I1''s when the nature of the inclusion/s is not noticeable when the ring is worn, but you can''t always be sure if you''re ordering blind.

In that case, it will be hard to stick with F-G color and your budget and size requirement. Here''s what I could find in VS2 for stones without pictures:

1.80 H VS2 for $15365 -- 1.8 HCA (36 crown angle)

1.80 H VS2 for $15871 -- 1.3 HCA (very small culet)

1.70 F VS2 for $16268 -- 1.0 HCA (strong blue flourescence)

1.71 G VS2 for $16897 -- 1.7 HCA
(There was a 1.73 G VS2 but it scored 3.3 on the HCA and this one''s spread is nearly as large)

1.84 H VS2 for $15260 with PS discount -- 0.7 HCA


A bit over budget but with promising pictures clarity-wise:

1.83 F SI1 for $17942 H&A -- 1.8 HCA

1.75 F SI1 for $17357 with PS dicount, H&A -- 1.1 HCA

 

[echelon6]

Oh, yes I thought these were the superideals that come up when you check the box "H&A" in the PS search.

These prices seem are pretty reasonable.