Emerald cut poll - 5 ct L color vs 3 ct E color

[Ohbois]

I am trying to choses among he following two
choices (assuming all other factors are equal):

a 3 ct SI1 E color emerald cut for $30k

versus

a 5 ct VS2 L color emerald cut for $35k

I guess the question is : is an L color versus E color an acceptable trade off for getting a 5 ct rather than a 3 ct?

 

[AprilBaby]

I would choose the smaller E. three cts is pretty big already!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Whoa! What a fun choice to have!!! Any chance you could add choice #3...a 4 ct. H color? You sort of have two extremes there.

Here is one of my favorite rings of all time, a 3.23 J VS1 in Leon Mege setting belonging to FranFine:

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/mine.55973/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/mine.55973/[/URL]

I am going to say that 3 carats would be plenty big enough for me regardless of color. However, if your lifestyle supports a 5 ct. rock, then go for it!!!

 

[marcy]

I would get the smaller carat E diamond.

 

[daintyG]

probably the 3 ct. it's si1, though--is it eye clean?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Ugh, I think you added clarity after I posted or else I didn't see that. I wouldn't do SI1 in an emerald cut, personally. It would probably have to be VS1 for me. Too easy to see inclusions in a step cut.

So my true answer is, I'd keep looking.

 

[yssie]

Ohbios - have you *seen* these two stones? If not I would strongly advise having them shipped out, or going to visit them in-person - I think you'll have your answer in under ten minutes, and really that's the *only* way to make an educated decision.

Asscherhalolover and Hot Ice both have L square emeralds - you might search through their posts for their opinions on the colour specifically (though neither are as big as the one you're considering, and bigger stones will show more body colour)

 

[Imdanny]

L VS2, is this even a hard question? You would go down from a 5 ct to a 3 ct emerald cut (it ain't huge and spready and wonderful like a RB) and give up a VS2 (when we all know clairty is more important in emerald cuts), let me repeat that -2 cts!- to get an E and avoid "color." "White diamonds" are great. White diamonds are unique. However, warm colored diamonds are fantastic too and sometimes you have to take many specific factors involved in the particular cut and diamonds before making an informed choice. I'd rather have a super-spectacular L VS emerald than a blah 3 ct SI E (big whoopy deal). To each his own, but I wouldn't waste two seconds thinking about this one.

 

[ame]

Neither. I'd see if I could find a stone with higher clarity and around a G color.

 

[chel180]

we need pictures to make this choice!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Neither. I'd see if I could find a stone with higher clarity and around a G color.

Ame, I think you and I have the same preferences!

 

[kenny]

If all other factors were equal, I'd get the 3 ct E.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Hi,
A few things stand out immediately for me:
1) if someone is quoting you $30k for a 3ct emerald cut, or $35k for a 5ct L/VS2something is very wrong someplace.
Even a "bad" GIA graded E Si1 is going to go for more than that- and in a 3ct emerald cut there are some very "bad" SI1 stones.
A price too cheap could mean a lot of things- and none of them are good- if you're dealing with a dealer.
Sounds to me like non GIA or AGSL graded diamonds, in which case all bets are off- that is to say, unless you're a trained diamond grader, you can't possibly have any idea what is being offered here- the prices are a dead giveaway.

2) not all larger stones show more color if compared with a similar cut and grade in a smaller stone. Sometimes it's the opposite- and people's perceptions come into play as well.

In general, when it comes to diamond color, one needs to look at stones to see if what is called "color" is a bother to them.

 

[Laila619]

The 3 carat E color, definitely.

 

[yennyfire]

If you've seen both stones, what appeals to your eye more? What do you think would appeal to your future FI more? That's the real question. If you haven't seen either stone, I urge you to see both of them before you commit to anything. If there's a third option of "try to find a 4ct, G-H, VS2" that's what I'd do personally.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Very good points, David! The diamonds are priced way too low. What grading lab graded them?