Given the same cut and carat, what rock would you prefer?

[schoppy]

Would you prefer an F, SI1? Or an H, VS2? Or finally an I, VS1? I have been trying to purchase some earrings for my girlfriend and can't seem to see where the tradeoff should be. Does color matter more than clarity? I am trying to buy one that is best as seen by the naked eye, neither I or her are going to be taking this thing to a microscope, so I decided to turn to the experts! Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you!

 

[Niel]

Re: Given the same cut and carat, what rock would you prefer

Now in a vacuum, if EVERYTHIEVERYTHING ELSE WAS EQUAL, I would pick the F (assuming its eye clean) because I follow the believe that you should put your money into what you can see. The color difference would be visable. If they are all eye clean the clarity would not be visable. So I pay for what I can see.

With that said, its quite likely that the cut isn't exactly the same on all three, and the price may be difference. With the subtle differences in cut, I may change my mind.

 

[elle_chris]

Re: Given the same cut and carat, what rock would you prefer

What size?

No one can say what matters most, that's an individual thing. Like the idea of going below VS2 is very unappealing to me even if you can't see the inclusions (which I believe is nearly impossible in larger stones anyway). At the same time, I'm also a fan of colorless diamonds.

But for the ears, I'd do an H, VS2. Kinda middle of the road.

 

[RandG]

Re: Given the same cut and carat, what rock would you prefer

Which is the largest in terms of mm?

 

[schoppy]

Re: Given the same cut and carat, what rock would you prefer

I was looking into 1 carat tw earrings so each rock would only be approximately .5 carats, so I'm not sure how much will even be visible give the size not being very large. I do like that color concept because it does seem more noticable to the naked eye.

 

[schoppy]

Re: Given the same cut and carat, what rock would you prefer

In just a round cut, I like the way that they look the most and she doesn't have anything other than that in her CZ earrings, I kind of like the martini prongs, just the three but she only has ones that have four prongs so I'm a little torn based on what how they should be set. I am totally out of my element when doing this kind of stuff but I know it's some thing she really wants so I'm trying to do everything I can to make her happy.

 

[Paul-Antwerp]

Re: Given the same cut and carat, what rock would you prefer

Hi Schoppy,

You are asking probably the question most struggled with in the purchase-process.

In the few cases in which I interact personally with consumers, I generally first show them a number of equal-weight diamonds of various colour, in order to determine up to what colour they are comfortable with. Then, I show them various examples of clarity, both with and without magnification, again to determine their comfort-level.

Once that is established, we can generally move on to various stones, all at or below a stated budget, all the same cut-quality, generally around the same size, but with various colour-clarity-combos. Having all options in front of them, it appears to be an extremely difficult decision.

A surprise to me is that very often the chosen one is not the cheapest. I remember very clearly a specific case, in which the showing clearly established that J-colour was perfectly acceptable to the customer. Still, he finally decided to go for F, even if a same-clarity J was possible 40% below budget.

I have seen this decision-process so many times by now, and my conclusion is that fthis choice is extremely personal. Sometimes, I cannot help but see one specific favourite based upon logic, and the customer goes for something different. And if I try to predict the final choice, after I know where the customer's comfort-levels in colour and clarity are, I am most often found incorrect.

Live long,

 

[telephone89]

Re: Given the same cut and carat, what rock would you prefer

I care much less about clarity, so I would go for the F (or larger carat, if that was an option).

 

[schoppy]

Re: Given the same cut and carat, what rock would you prefer

Awesome, yea knowing my girlfriend she will care mainly about how much sparkle she gets out of it which seem to be more due to the cut and the color as opposed to the clarity, the carats are an obvious number one to her but luckily she doesn't want too big thank you for the help everyone, I feel somewhat comfortable going into a store and getting something she will love!

 

[elle_chris]

Re: Given the same cut and carat, what rock would you prefer

This is interesting to me.
I wouldn't consider a colorless diamond in anything less than the VS clarity range. It just doesn't make sense to me to go for such a high color, but low clarity.

It's a mind thing to me. I just wouldn't be able to do it.

 

[E B]

Re: Given the same cut and carat, what rock would you prefer

H, VS2

 

[heididdl]

Re: Given the same cut and carat, what rock would you prefer

AFter owning 4 pair (upgrades to my now 2.40) It is all about the cut for me as well as eye clean. my second pair had a black carbon spot that only I could see but it drove me to the point I couldn't wear them any more.

That being said. if you have the budget then H s1i eye clean..