Final decision about engagement ring!

[aliza3]

I would appreciate some good advice:

I am not willing to compromise with cut. The stone must be GIA excellent (and get a good HCA score). I do not want to spend much more than $11,000 on just the stone either. I am okay with SI1 clarity. It is color and carat that I need help with.

I would love your opinion on which you would recommend:

1) Around 1.3 ct, F or better color
2) Around 1.5 ct, G to I color

I am not sure how much bigger the 1.5 actually is (assuming both have a good spread) and if it is worth it to get a worse color for that size difference. I am also not sure the actual difference between looking at a G and an F. I have seen many stones in person but I am a little overwhelmed and would love some help! Is it better to get a better color and size down? Is the 1.3 area even that much smaller? What do y'all think?

 

[Gypsy]

Aliza, I think you can just continue with one thread, instead of starting several.

You will not be able to tell the difference between an F and G face up (the way you wear diamonds).

Diamonds are graded face down. And the difference between F and G is small enough that there is no way you will be able to tell. We frequently pair F stones next to G stones for sidestones. Because the difference is not perceptible.

It's that minor.

I understand you want to get the best diamond for your budget, but you are concerned over minute differences like faint fluorescence and the difference between F and G is only going to drive you to drink.

You had a great stone in the other thread. I don't think you can get a well cut G VS2 or even an eyeclean SI1 at 1.5 for 11,000.

I think, as I said in your other thread, you should go to you local hearts on fire dealer and go see how some superideals perform in real life.

As I mentioned the difference between your stone and 1.5 carat is about .2 mm which is a visually noticeable difference. When the stones are side by side. But it's not a big visual difference.

If you are having an issue figuring out the difference you can cut out two pieces of paper, small ones, in the same size as the diamonds... one .2 larger than the other. Or just draw two small circles on one piece of paper. And then you can visualize the difference for yourself.

 

[aliza3]

Thanks for the response. You didn't mention h or I. Would you not go this low in color?

 

[Gypsy]

Thanks for the response. You didn't mention h or I. Would you not go this low in color?

I would. Absolutely.

But I've been staring at diamonds for years.

Do you have a hearts on fire dealer near you? If you do... I would call and make an appointment. Ask them before hand to have Hearts of Fire H and I stones there for you to see for yourself.

Color is personal. I can tell someone that there is minute difference between an F and G and that both are safe.

But below H you need to see and decide for yourself. At least, that's my opinion.

 

[aliza3]

I have been doing some more research and I found that I could get a 1.4s ct, F color, SI1 (clean), triple excellent according to GIA within my price range. OR I could get a 1.5 ct, G color with all the other same stats.

Which would you recommend? You said there really isn't a difference between F and G. Will there be a noticeable size difference with the 1.42 and 1.5?

I could even go up to a 1.57 ct, but then the color would be an H.

 

[aliza3]

I basically just need help deciding if its worth it to do up in down in color for a slightly bigger size.

For my price range I can get:
F 1.35
G 1.43
H 1.5

Which do you recommend and why? (assuming they are all excellent stones in terms of my other specifications).

I just don't know how much color and size make a difference to be able to decide this

 

[Gypsy]

I have been doing some more research and I found that I could get a 1.4s ct, F color, SI1 (clean), triple excellent according to GIA within my price range. OR I could get a 1.5 ct, G color with all the other same stats.

Which would you recommend? You said there really isn't a difference between F and G. Will there be a noticeable size difference with the 1.42 and 1.5?

I could even go up to a 1.57 ct, but then the color would be an H.

Are these all eyeclean, and are they all under 2 on the HCA (or 2.5 at least) and can you get an idealscope image to confirm the performance?

 

[Gypsy]

Also what are the dimensions (measurements) of each?

 

[aliza3]

I am dealing with a dealer so I do not have the stones yet but he will only get me clean ones. I will get the dimensions after he gets the stones, but before then I need to narrow down what I want so he can look for me and then I can compare their dimensions and HCA scores. I am just not sure what to compromise on and what to tell him to find for me. I am really having a hard time deciding on those three choices. Do you have any advice?

 

[insured]

Color and size are very personal preferences. I personally prefer high color over size as I'm very sensitive to any tint at all and do not personally feel bigger is better once you are past a certain threshold (well below the sizes you're looking at). Others here feel size rules and are willing to drop color quite a bit for the sake of size. All assuming the givens of eye clean and ideal cut.

It all comes down to personal taste and only you can decide which is more important to you. Good luck

 

[Gypsy]

I am dealing with a dealer so I do not have the stones yet but he will only get me clean ones. I will get the dimensions after he gets the stones, but before then I need to narrow down what I want so he can look for me and then I can compare their dimensions and HCA scores. I am just not sure what to compromise on and what to tell him to find for me. I am really having a hard time deciding on those three choices. Do you have any advice?

Yes. I can't tell you what to pick unless you have the stats. I would take a J SI2 that is ideal cut over a D IF that is poorly cut. That's how important cut is.

You can use the cheat sheet below to tell him how to narrow the angles. Then at that point you tell him biggest G or F (eyeclean is a must) that he can find. And if can't do that then he's just not competent.

depth - 60 - 62% - although my personal preference is to allow up to 62.4%
table - 54- 57%
crown angle - 34- 35 degrees
pavilion angle - 40.6- 41 degrees
girdle - avoid extremes, look for thin to slightly thick, thin to medium etc
polish and symmetry - very good and above

note - with crown and pavilion angles at the shallower ends ( CA 34- PA 40.6) and steeper ( CA 35- PA 41) check to make sure these angles complement in that particular diamond - eyeballs, Idealscope, trusted vendor input - check as appropriate!



BUT-- that cheat sheet is very restrictive. That G you found yesterday would fall outside these parameters even though it did score well on the HCA and would likely have a great idealscope image. But if you MUST give him something then this is the only thing I have that can help him narrow cut down further.

 

[aliza3]

The same dealer who posted the E 1.5 stone that you said had horrible proportions is getting kind of fed up with me. He tells me he sells stones and not the paper. He has been doing this for many years and is a family friend. I know many people that have bought from him who love their stones. Every time he gives me a GIA report I look it up in the HCA and it is not always perfect (as you saw before). My boyfriend wants me to just trust him that he will sell us a good stone because we keep going back and forth with him. Are my standard too high? Is it true that he could find us a nice stone that did not far so well in the HCA? or that isn't triple excellent cut? I am just having a hard time with all of this and am not sure whether to give him the reins and just trust him to find us something we will love. The main problem is we are in different states so every time he finds us something we cannot just go see it, but decide if we want it by doing research online. If we saw it and thought it looked beautiful we wouldn't really care about most of its proportions. What should I do?