finding the right size vs color compromise

[OneSpeed]

HI PS! Long time lurker here finally posting!

I''m really struggling on the perfect size vs color compromise and wanted to get some opinions to open up my perspective a bit...

Just some background - when we started looking for diamonds I took my girlfriend out to numerous B&M''s to look at color/sizes and of course settings. It was very educational and we figured out some key things - she is much more color sensitive then I am. She picks out the color differences pretty quickly, even outdoors in normal sunlight. But she struggles with inclusions...she looks at the plot and is horrified but then squints through the loupe and really has a hard time picking out the inclusions without referring to the plot. We had to go to some really nasty looking SI1''s for her to start to easily identify the inclusions.

Anyways - my dilemma...I bought a H&A AGS0 RB diamond - 1.3ct F VS2 figuring that color was the most important for her. But now I''m not so sure and she has been less focused on the color and talking alot more about size of course!!

We both agree that the jump from 1.3 to a 1.50 would have very little visual impact and would mainly be for "bragging rights" when people ask how big the stone is...

Keep the beautiful 1.2? or drop color to G and go up to 1.5 for "bragging rights"
or blow the budget out of the water and drop even further to a H SI1 but go up to a 1.65-1.70 for the visual impact?

I''m driving myself crazy!

please help!

 

[stone-cold11]

Up to you and your comfort level but H SI1 should be fine unless it bug her. Let her decide, it is her ring...

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 2/3/2010 11:00:33 AM
Author: Stone-cold11
Up to you and your comfort level but H SI1 should be fine unless it bug her. Let her decide, it is her ring...

Hi onespeed and welcome!

I agree with SC, as your GF is closely involved by the sound of it maybe ask her what she would prefer?

 

[OneSpeed]

appreciate the responses! thank you

Your absolutely right in engaging her opinion - the thing is she can''t decide either! She is extremely analytical (nature of her job) and starts overthinking it which causes her to change her mind daily...

We need to move forward on getting the setting so I need to just commit us to a direction....

 

[stone-cold11]

I see, go for broke then...

H SI1 and the largest you can get for the budget.

 

[CharmyPoo]

Best thing to do in this situation is to get a 1.7 F VS2. Bragging rights on size, color, and clairty!

Just kidding - ask your GF to make the call - if she changes her mind, she made the decision and can't complain That's what my fiance does all the time.

 

[Dreamer_D]

She can tell the difference between an F and an H when next to one another... ok, so what

! The only thing that really matters is if she looks at an H diamond on its own, a really well cut one mind you, in the 1.7ct size, does she find it attractive and lovely?? That is the only important thing when it comes to color, unless she plans to walk around with an F color diamond in her pocket for comparison all the time. If the answer to that question is "yes, the H is beautiful" then get the H SI1 in the 1.7 range if you can afford it. Trust me, if she is thinking about size now, that isn''t going to go away.

Analysis is good, but she needs the right data to make up her mind.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

If you''re going to upgrade, you should do it for YOU TWO, not for "bragging rights." If your GF loves larger stones, then go for a 1.70ish size for visual satisfaction

 

[OneSpeed]

Thanks for the responses everyone! Very helpful!

Dreamer - thats what I''m scared of! ha!

MC - you are absolutely right! I guess I meant that visual niether of us think the difference between 1.3 and 1.5 is worth anything other then knowing you are at some mythical 1 carat and half limit.

 

[upgrade]

I''d go for the H/SI and get the bigger stone! I have well cut ''H'' and ''I'' stones and they''re very white. My sister''s is an ''E'' (not as well cut) and if our rings are right beside eachother, you can tell the difference. From across the table, no one would ever notice.

 

[Mrs W]

I am the minority here but I would personally get the 1.5 bc I don''t think there is enough visual impact between 1.5 to 1.7.

 

[Dancing Fire]

i''ll take a well cut G-H SI1 any day of the week.