Help comparing two RBs please

[pizza125]

Hey all,

In my search for a diamond for an engagement ring for my gf, I've narrowed it down to these two and would like some different perspectives comparing them:

Stone 1
Measurements: 5.91 - 5.95 x 3.74
Carat Weight: 0.82 carat
Color Grade: F
Clarity Grade: SI1
Cut Grade: Very Good
Proportions:
Depth: 63.1%
Table: 54%
Crown Angle: 36.5°
Crown Height: 17.0%
Pavilion Angle: 40.2°
Pavilion Depth: 42.0%
Star length: 50%
Lower Half: 80%
Girdle: Medium to Slightly Thick, Faceted
Culet: None
Finish:
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None
------------------------------------------------------------
Stone 2
Measurements: 6.11 - 6.13 x 3.69 mm
Carat Weight: 0.83 carat
Color Grade: F
Clarity Grade: SI1
Cut Grade: Excellent
Proportions:
Depth: 60.3%
Table: 58%
Crown Angle: 33.0°
Crown Height: 13.5%
Pavilion Angle: 41.0°
Pavilion Depth: 43.5%
Star length: 55%
Lower Half: 80%
Girdle: Medium to Slightly Thick, Faceted
Culet: None
Finish:
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None

They both have excellent HCA scores and are very clean SI1s.

Stone 2 has a bigger diameter, would this be noticeable once set in a ring?

I've been going around the GIA website and noticed that if the pavilion angle on Stone 1 were 0.6 deg higher, it would be an excellent cut there as well. Is there anything else they would have been picked up on to grade it very good? Is this any indication of Stone 2 visually outperforming Stone 1? I have not seen these two side by side because they are at diff jewelers, but I have seen Stone 1 visually outperform a GVS1 trip ex.; however my eyes are also very sensitive to color.

In terms of cost, Stone 2 is ~$500 more (~$3K vs ~$3.5K). The setting I would like at the jeweler for stone 1 would be ordered in and cost ~$800. The jeweler for stone 2 deals primarily with in-house handcrafted settings, and one of their settings that I liked would be roughly double that. I do plan to see if I can get one ordered in for stone 2. But I would like to know is a handcrafted setting worth it? Is it just personal preference or is it any more likely to become a family heirloom?

Any other thoughts/suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[stone-cold11]

Stone 1 probably will have obstruction issue, especially if used for a ring. Stone 2 is promising from the numbers.

 

[pizza125]

Thanks! What exactly is an obstruction, and what would that look like?

 

[stone-cold11]

Basically, most of the light drawn by a stone with obstruction issue is from the direction of the observer. Idealscope simulate an observer of average size head viewing the stone about a foot away, the black represent the obstruction. Well cut stone, only the arrows go black. Stones with obstruction issues, other facets and the arrows facets will go black too. This means that comparing a well cut stone with one with obstruction issue, when viewing at a foot away, the well cut stone will look brighter as it has more light to reflect.

 

[Amys Bling]

I guess the main difference is the spread on the stones. The spread on the first stone is "good" as you can see from the HCA numbers I ran- which is what dropped it to the very good category while all other factors are excellent. Stone #2 is excellent in all categories- including spread...

I personally would go for stone #2 as the spread is better= and the stone is facing up around .2mm larger in diameter. In the .8 carat range, I think that the .2 would be noticable... maybe not though...


Stone #1-
Light Return Excellent
Fire Excellent
Scintillation Excellent
Spread
or diameter for weight Good
Total Visual Performance 1.3 - Excellent
within FIC range

Stone #2-
Light Return Excellent
Fire Excellent
Scintillation Excellent
Spread
or diameter for weight Excellent
Total Visual Performance 0.8 - Excellent
within TIC range

 

[pizza125]

Thanks stone cold and amy!
Is there any way to quantify obstruction, or how could you by looking at the numbers? What distinctions do you think I should look for with my untrained eyes?

 

[stone-cold11]

Stones with a pavilion angle of smaller than 40.6 can have obstruction issue, depending on several factors such as optical symm, lower half size, GIA rounding of numbers.

To check, in normal lighting condition with the source behind you, move the stone to about a foot away from your face or normal viewing distance, if it goes dark other than the arrows shaft it probably have obstruction issue. Best to have a well cut stone for a side by side comparison.

 

[pizza125]

Thanks! I will have to check this out the next chance I get.