Help interpreting size comparison photo...

[Dreamer_D]

Thought I''d ask this here in hopes of more people seeing it.. .was buried in another thread before.

OK, someone give me a hand here. This image shows two diamond that differ in diameter by about .4mm, but it is a .80ct versus a 1.0ct diamond. This is about the same mm difference as you would find between a 1.2ct diamond and a 1.5ct diamond (actually that difference would be .5mm).
Since the image is 2D, can I ignore the carat weights and simply conclude that this is what a .4mm difference in size in a round diamond will look like? Can I extrapolate that a 1.2ct diamond next to a 1.5ct diamond would look similarly different?

 

[hmr_mama]

Hi Dreamer,
I think this is a good comparison between a 1.2 and 1.5--BUT there are three things I worry about with this comparison:

1. It is not the same comparison. There is a 0.1 difference....and that MIGHT make a difference (in your eyes).

2. Also, you don''t know the actual dimensions on the diamonds. One may be small for carat weight the other might be large.

3. The band in the picture may distract you or sway your opinion. If it were JUST diamonds I would say this comparison would hold a little more ground for me.

I think you need to go to a good B&M and try some different size stones on! What''s more fun than that?!?!?!?!

 

[stone-cold11]

I think it is best to shrink the size to actual stone size.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 3/17/2010 5:18:16 PM
Author: Stone-cold11
I think it is best to shrink the size to actual stone size.

I agree.

 

[Dreamer_D]

On my screen, this makes the smaller diamond the same size as my present diamond.

The smaller diamond is .38mm smaller than the larger diamond. So the difference between my diamond and a 1.5 would be larger, more like .50mm.

I agree I need to try some on! Most stores locally to me do not stock diamonds in this size though

And when they do they are terrible quality. So I will need to go into the city.

Still, I think this comparison is informative. I actually think the size difference is quite noticable, more than I would have thought.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 3/17/2010 5:37:20 PM
Author: dreamer_d
On my screen, this makes the smaller diamond the same size as my present diamond.

The smaller diamond is .38mm smaller than the larger diamond. So the difference between my diamond and a 1.5 would be larger, more like .50mm.

I agree I need to try some on! Most stores locally to me do not stock diamonds in this size though

And when they do they are terrible quality. So I will need to go into the city.

Still, I think this comparison is informative. I actually think the size difference is quite noticable, more than I would have thought.

You could try cutting paper circles D, it isn''t absolutely accurate but it would give you a visual.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 3/17/2010 5:38:42 PM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 3/17/2010 5:37:20 PM
Author: dreamer_d
On my screen, this makes the smaller diamond the same size as my present diamond.

The smaller diamond is .38mm smaller than the larger diamond. So the difference between my diamond and a 1.5 would be larger, more like .50mm.

I agree I need to try some on! Most stores locally to me do not stock diamonds in this size though

And when they do they are terrible quality. So I will need to go into the city.

Still, I think this comparison is informative. I actually think the size difference is quite noticable, more than I would have thought.

You could try cutting paper circles D, it isn''t absolutely accurate but it would give you a visual.

LOL! I think my scissor skills are not precise enough to create a half mm difference!

 

[jan can]

You could be like me and sit with your metal ruler beside you. Everytime someone mentions a size in mm, I grab the ruler and check it out on my finger. Glad no one is around watching me do this.

 

[MustangGal]

You could order some cheap CZ''s in 7mm and 7.5mm sizes, then you can carry them all around and try different lighting, etc.

 

[HopeDream]

Date: 3/17/2010 5:52:44 PM
Author: jan can
You could be like me and sit with your metal ruler beside you. Everytime someone mentions a size in mm, I grab the ruler and check it out on my finger. Glad no one is around watching me do this.

I do this too!!

I like mustang gal's suggestion.

 

[vanderaf]

Boy, I wish I took pictures of my OEC before Brian recut it due to a chip. It was 7.35mm before the recut and my ering diamond is 7mm and there was a very noticable size difference to me. I was actually surprised at how much larger it seemed to me. On the cusp of BIG. Maybe Brian can take a picture of a 1.20 and a 1.5 side by side for you?

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 3/17/2010 8:42:59 PM
Author: vanderaf
Boy, I wish I took pictures of my OEC before Brian recut it due to a chip. It was 7.35mm before the recut and my ering diamond is 7mm and there was a very noticable size difference to me. I was actually surprised at how much larger it seemed to me. On the cusp of BIG. Maybe Brian can take a picture of a 1.20 and a 1.5 side by side for you?

I am sure he would take pictures for me, but I am still in precontemplation and don''t want to bug them

How big is your OEC now that it has been recut? Did you cut it as an old style or in a new style?

 

[vanderaf]

Date: 3/17/2010 8:50:31 PM
Author: dreamer_d

Date: 3/17/2010 8:42:59 PM
Author: vanderaf
Boy, I wish I took pictures of my OEC before Brian recut it due to a chip. It was 7.35mm before the recut and my ering diamond is 7mm and there was a very noticable size difference to me. I was actually surprised at how much larger it seemed to me. On the cusp of BIG. Maybe Brian can take a picture of a 1.20 and a 1.5 side by side for you?

I am sure he would take pictures for me, but I am still in precontemplation and don''t want to bug them

How big is your OEC now that it has been recut? Did you cut it as an old style or in a new style?

It turned out to be 7mm after the recut and 1.27 carats which is the exact same carat and mm size as my ering which is pretty funny. Brian said it was in very bad shape so he had to recut it to a modern brilliant. He did a phenominal job. I hated to recut it but it had to be saved. I have been following your thread because my diamond is close to the same size as yours. I reset to a 3 stone 8 years ago for more bling coverage but If I really had a choice I would love just one big diamond. I also feel that 2 carats would be too large for me and would be happy with something just shy of it. I love my 3 stone but I think that Pricescope has ruined me! LOL... My sister wears 2.5 carats and it looks great on her and ridiculous on me.

 

[vanderaf]

Maybe a local jeweler will have a 1.5 (7.4mm) for you to look at just so you can get an idea.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 3/17/2010 9:00:24 PM
Author: vanderaf

Date: 3/17/2010 8:50:31 PM
Author: dreamer_d

Date: 3/17/2010 8:42:59 PM
Author: vanderaf
Boy, I wish I took pictures of my OEC before Brian recut it due to a chip. It was 7.35mm before the recut and my ering diamond is 7mm and there was a very noticable size difference to me. I was actually surprised at how much larger it seemed to me. On the cusp of BIG. Maybe Brian can take a picture of a 1.20 and a 1.5 side by side for you?

I am sure he would take pictures for me, but I am still in precontemplation and don''t want to bug them

How big is your OEC now that it has been recut? Did you cut it as an old style or in a new style?

It turned out to be 7mm after the recut and 1.27 carats which is the exact same carat and mm size as my ering which is pretty funny. Brian said it was in very bad shape so he had to recut it to a modern brilliant. He did a phenominal job. I hated to recut it but it had to be saved. I have been following your thread because my diamond is close to the same size as yours. I reset to a 3 stone 8 years ago for more bling coverage but If I really had a choice I would love just one big diamond. I also feel that 2 carats would be too large for me and would be happy with something just shy of it. I love my 3 stone but I think that Pricescope has ruined me! LOL... My sister wears 2.5 carats and it looks great on her and ridiculous on me.

And that is why I think I am going to nix the three-stone idea. The $1000 I would pay for side stones I would much rather "invest" in my center diamond since I have now resigned myself to eventually upgrading to the 1.7-1.8ct range, G/H SI1. When I was trying on rings, that size looked "big" to me. Anything smaller looks nice, but I didn''t get that BIG feeling. My first diamond was a .80ct, and when I went up to a 1.2ct I certainly though it looked bigger, but still not BIG.

What I am puzzling over now is whether I should stick with a G/H color in the 1.2-1.3ct range (with a new setting), or jump the 1.5ct mark and go down to a J color (with a new setting too) and then upgrade color as I am able. Although it would be nice to jump to an H color over the 1.5 mark, it ain''t gonna happen. I am pushing my luck even contemplating a J color 1.5ct!

Pluses of option 1: less money (about $700), higher color.
Minusus of option 1: smaller diamond. Would I want to upgrade sooner and thus waste a setting? Will diamond prices rise a lot by the time I make the big leap?

Pluses of option 2: Bigger diamond. Can use the same setting for color upgrades over the coming years. Bigger leap now while diamond prices are (presumaly) lower. Canadian dollar is par.
Minus of option 2: lower color. Would it really bug me so much? I love my G, but I love big diamonds more

.

Anyways, people hae given their opinions to me but in the end I guess I need to decide for myself. Drat!

 

[yssie]

I certainly can''t speak for your mind, but I know that mine works such that If I made the size jump now, to a colour lower than what I wanted, when it came time to upgrade I''d want to go up again in both colour and size. Go figure

So I''d probably keep the old setting and sink some money into colour now - much higher than you know you need, E or F, say, and then make a huge jump in size and save on not having that intermediate setting..


I''m looking forward to seeing what you decide dreamer!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 3/17/2010 11:33:03 PM
Author: yssie
I certainly can''t speak for your mind, but I know that mine works such that If I made the size jump now, to a colour lower than what I wanted, when it came time to upgrade I''d want to go up again in both colour and size. Go figure

So I''d probably keep the old setting and sink some money into colour now - much higher than you know you need, E or F, say, and then make a huge jump in size and save on not having that intermediate setting..


I''m looking forward to seeing what you decide dreamer!

You are probably right

The main reason I am even thinking about an upgrade is for clarity, and I cannot help but think, "Well if I have to spend some money I better get some size!"

I really dislike my present setting because it does not match my half eternity band and with the last change of head it got a little jacked up, so that is something I will be doing for sure. I am tired of not liking my setting

 

[vanderaf]

If it were me I would get the size you want and go down to a J and then upgrade the color later. There is a vast difference from J and K. The diamond Brian cut for me into one of his signature diamonds was graded a J by AGS and it looked plenty white to me. With the setting you want you would not see the side. I have a diamond pendant that is a K and it drives me batty. I am always scrubbing it trying to make it look cleaner and whiter but the J just looks white and sparkly. My ering is a GIA graded E and from the top there was not a huge difference between the two. The BGD stone out performs my ering so that was a contributing factor. I think that going for your dream size and setting will really put you at ease. I do love my 3 stone and I would not switch it back to a solitaire because I would be downgrading the bling factor and I could not handle that. I think that it is a good option if you are not upgrading your center stone to the size you want. In order for me to upgrade I would have to buy a new ring outright and I would keep this one for sentimental reasons.

 

[karpouzi]

Date: 3/17/2010 4:44:41 PM
Author:dreamer_d

Since the image is 2D, can I ignore the carat weights and simply conclude that this is what a .4mm difference in size in a round diamond will look like? Can I extrapolate that a 1.2ct diamond next to a 1.5ct diamond would look similarly different?

I know the discussion has turned a bit but I thought I would address the mathematics of the OP.

The answer is no! You cannot ignore the carat weights. As you go bigger and bigger in size, the .4mm difference becomes less noticeable. To take it to an extreme, imagine that you pretended that the smaller diamond pictured was 25mm. Would you still assume that a 25.4mm diamond would look like the larger diamond in comparison?

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 3/18/2010 8:10:11 AM
Author: karpouzi

Date: 3/17/2010 4:44:41 PM
Author:dreamer_d


Since the image is 2D, can I ignore the carat weights and simply conclude that this is what a .4mm difference in size in a round diamond will look like? Can I extrapolate that a 1.2ct diamond next to a 1.5ct diamond would look similarly different?

I know the discussion has turned a bit but I thought I would address the mathematics of the OP.

The answer is no! You cannot ignore the carat weights. As you go bigger and bigger in size, the .4mm difference becomes less noticeable. To take it to an extreme, imagine that you pretended that the smaller diamond pictured was 25mm. Would you still assume that a 25.4mm diamond would look like the larger diamond in comparison?

I thought there might be something more to it and a straight mm transposition.

What if I think of it as a percentage increase in diamter. So the picture is a 6.0mm stone and a 6.38mm stone, which means the larger diamter is 1.06 times the smaller. That means that if the smaller was in fact 6.85, the larger would be 7.26. Does that type of mm transformation work?

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 3/18/2010 6:15:11 AM
Author: vanderaf
If it were me I would get the size you want and go down to a J and then upgrade the color later. There is a vast difference from J and K. The diamond Brian cut for me into one of his signature diamonds was graded a J by AGS and it looked plenty white to me. With the setting you want you would not see the side. I have a diamond pendant that is a K and it drives me batty. I am always scrubbing it trying to make it look cleaner and whiter but the J just looks white and sparkly. My ering is a GIA graded E and from the top there was not a huge difference between the two. The BGD stone out performs my ering so that was a contributing factor. I think that going for your dream size and setting will really put you at ease. I do love my 3 stone and I would not switch it back to a solitaire because I would be downgrading the bling factor and I could not handle that. I think that it is a good option if you are not upgrading your center stone to the size you want. In order for me to upgrade I would have to buy a new ring outright and I would keep this one for sentimental reasons.

Thanks for the comments vanderaf. I think I need to go see some Js in person. I know it will not be a G, but that is ok as long as it is not a K. I do love the icy G color, but I also love size, and something has to give at this point in time. I just don''t have the spare 10k lying around to get the size and color I would like

Does your recut qualify as an upgrade stone?

 

[karpouzi]

Date: 3/18/2010 12:44:26 PM
Author: dreamer_d

Date: 3/18/2010 8:10:11 AM
Author: karpouzi

Date: 3/17/2010 4:44:41 PM
Author:dreamer_d



Since the image is 2D, can I ignore the carat weights and simply conclude that this is what a .4mm difference in size in a round diamond will look like? Can I extrapolate that a 1.2ct diamond next to a 1.5ct diamond would look similarly different?

I know the discussion has turned a bit but I thought I would address the mathematics of the OP.

The answer is no! You cannot ignore the carat weights. As you go bigger and bigger in size, the .4mm difference becomes less noticeable. To take it to an extreme, imagine that you pretended that the smaller diamond pictured was 25mm. Would you still assume that a 25.4mm diamond would look like the larger diamond in comparison?

I thought there might be something more to it and a straight mm transposition.

What if I think of it as a percentage increase in diamter. So the picture is a 6.0mm stone and a 6.38mm stone, which means the larger diamter is 1.06 times the smaller. That means that if the smaller was in fact 6.85, the larger would be 7.26. Does that type of mm transformation work?

Yep, now that will work perfectly. As long as you are talking in terms of the relative proportions of the stones, and not absolute measurements, you can ignore the carat weights.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 3/18/2010 12:57:47 PM
Author: karpouzi

Date: 3/18/2010 12:44:26 PM
Author: dreamer_d

Date: 3/18/2010 8:10:11 AM
Author: karpouzi

Date: 3/17/2010 4:44:41 PM
Author:dreamer_d




Since the image is 2D, can I ignore the carat weights and simply conclude that this is what a .4mm difference in size in a round diamond will look like? Can I extrapolate that a 1.2ct diamond next to a 1.5ct diamond would look similarly different?

I know the discussion has turned a bit but I thought I would address the mathematics of the OP.

The answer is no! You cannot ignore the carat weights. As you go bigger and bigger in size, the .4mm difference becomes less noticeable. To take it to an extreme, imagine that you pretended that the smaller diamond pictured was 25mm. Would you still assume that a 25.4mm diamond would look like the larger diamond in comparison?

I thought there might be something more to it and a straight mm transposition.

What if I think of it as a percentage increase in diamter. So the picture is a 6.0mm stone and a 6.38mm stone, which means the larger diamter is 1.06 times the smaller. That means that if the smaller was in fact 6.85, the larger would be 7.26. Does that type of mm transformation work?

Yep, now that will work perfectly. As long as you are talking in terms of the relative proportions of the stones, and not absolute measurements, you can ignore the carat weights.

OK, good. So in fact the above is akin to a comparison between my 1.2ct stone (6.85mm) and an approximately 1.4ct stone (7.26mm).

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Why not go to a jeweler who is known for well-cut stones and compare in person? Online pictures can be deceptive and also how a size actually looks like on your hand can depend upon the shape & length of your fingers.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 3/18/2010 1:18:52 PM
Author: MC
Why not go to a jeweler who is known for well-cut stones and compare in person? Online pictures can be deceptive and also how a size actually looks like on your hand can depend upon the shape & length of your fingers.

Yes this is step two. There are none in my town so it will have to wait until I go to the BIG CITY!

Should be the last weekend of March!

 

[jill_s]

DD - I''ve been reading all your posts. I''m excited to hear what you decide. Just thought I''d give my 2 cents since I''ve gone from a 1.63ct (7.6mm) J to a 1.97ct (8.15mm) K to a 2.40ct (8.7mm) J in the last couple of years. In no particular order, here are a few of my observations:

**To my eyes, I can definitely tell a BIG color difference between J and K. Now that I have the new J, there are a handful of lighting environments that I can see some tint. With my old K, I could *always* see the tint. Also, there is a large color difference that I can see between my 0.83 K earrings and my 2.40 J. I was actually pretty surprised that I could see such a large difference in color, especially since it was only one color grade and the earring diamond is about 1/3 the size. I thought that color would be harder to see in a smaller stone.

**With my original J, the 1.63, I can''t remember ever really seeing color - that''s what really sold me on J stones in the first place. It always looked white white white. I do think that color is a little more apparent the larger the stone size.

**After going back and forth about all the 4 Cs, I realized that I really was a size girl above all else. For me, I was willing to compromise a little on the other 3 Cs to get the size I ultimately wanted. Now that I''m at the size I always secretly wanted, I can tell you that I''m pretty satisfied. Sure, there are days when I wish I had an H color stone instead of a J, but I''m really OK if this is my forever stone. Especially since it''s the size that I thought always best suited my hand. And I can totally relate to something you said earlier about being thrifty. I am completely the same way. And now that I have the size I want, I spend much less time thinking about the next upgrade. In fact, I''ve hardly considered it, except for the occasional "if we win the lottery" thought. Honestly, I don''t know if I''ll ever get to the place where I can justify spending another $8-10k to upgrade the color a couple of grades. I think I''d rather spend that money on other jewelry pieces, a new final setting for my 2.40, or traveling.

**As for your current thread question, each time I''ve upgraded, my new stones have been about 0.5mm bigger. You will definitely notice a difference, although it does become less apparent the longer you live with the new stone (you''ve probably already experienced this to some degree). The other thing that I found was that a thinner shank really does a lot to make a stone pop and appear larger - especially on my hand (I have short pudgy fingers). I feel like I gained about .2mm in relative diamond size when I thinned out the shank of my legato from 2.5mm to 2mm.

So to sum it all up, if you are really a size girl at heart, then I recommend spending all your current resources to get you as close to your "dream size" as possible. And I would consider going down to a J since you had one before and didn''t mind it. I think you''ll be much happier when your diamond matches what your mind is telling you is the perfect size for your hand. And if after wearing it, you want to work on the color, then you can do that as you''re able. But at least, the diamond on your hand will be matching what you mind thinks is the right size for you.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Jill, thank you! I read back through your threads... we have the same hands and finger size

Here was something I wrote in one of your threads: "What size leap are you considering? I went from a .80J to a 1.17K and I am very happy with the result. To be honest, though, I think I will go back to a J on my next upgrade, but that will depend a little on the $$ difference between a J and a K. Ever practical I am! Its mostly a "mind clean" thing since in reality I don''t think there is a difference in visual appearance between the two."

I have noticed that with each of my upgrades I think the diamond is much better than the last one... and then something starts to bug me. Really, I know, it is size. I want a BIG ring and for me that feeling of BIG doesn''t hit until about 1.75ct. Maybe even 2ct. I do think that if I hit that *perfect* size I will feel satisfied, like you. And if not I will sell my diamond and get a life

Your comment about the thinner shank hits home. I think perhaps I will take that into consideration when I am resetting my diamond. I just have not tried the *perfect* setting yet!

 

[vanderaf]

Date: 3/18/2010 6:32:36 PM
Author: dreamer_d

Jill, thank you! I read back through your threads... we have the same hands and finger size

Here was something I wrote in one of your threads: ''What size leap are you considering? I went from a .80J to a 1.17K and I am very happy with the result. To be honest, though, I think I will go back to a J on my next upgrade, but that will depend a little on the $$ difference between a J and a K. Ever practical I am! Its mostly a ''mind clean'' thing since in reality I don''t think there is a difference in visual appearance between the two.''

I have noticed that with each of my upgrades I think the diamond is much better than the last one... and then something starts to bug me. Really, I know, it is size. I want a BIG ring and for me that feeling of BIG doesn''t hit until about 1.75ct. Maybe even 2ct. I do think that if I hit that *perfect* size I will feel satisfied, like you. And if not I will sell my diamond and get a life

Your comment about the thinner shank hits home. I think perhaps I will take that into consideration when I am resetting my diamond. I just have not tried the *perfect* setting yet!

I am with Jill on this by getting a J as it will still be white and you will have your dream size...and if that doesn''t work, you can always become a serial upgrader! LOL...It''s a good thing I don''t have the funds to purchase a diamond right now because I would definitely be a serial upgrader!

 

[vanderaf]

Date: 3/18/2010 12:47:18 PM
Author: dreamer_d

Date: 3/18/2010 6:15:11 AM
Author: vanderaf
If it were me I would get the size you want and go down to a J and then upgrade the color later. There is a vast difference from J and K. The diamond Brian cut for me into one of his signature diamonds was graded a J by AGS and it looked plenty white to me. With the setting you want you would not see the side. I have a diamond pendant that is a K and it drives me batty. I am always scrubbing it trying to make it look cleaner and whiter but the J just looks white and sparkly. My ering is a GIA graded E and from the top there was not a huge difference between the two. The BGD stone out performs my ering so that was a contributing factor. I think that going for your dream size and setting will really put you at ease. I do love my 3 stone and I would not switch it back to a solitaire because I would be downgrading the bling factor and I could not handle that. I think that it is a good option if you are not upgrading your center stone to the size you want. In order for me to upgrade I would have to buy a new ring outright and I would keep this one for sentimental reasons.

Thanks for the comments vanderaf. I think I need to go see some Js in person. I know it will not be a G, but that is ok as long as it is not a K. I do love the icy G color, but I also love size, and something has to give at this point in time. I just don''t have the spare 10k lying around to get the size and color I would like

Does your recut qualify as an upgrade stone?

Probably not but I could never trade in my grandmothers diamond anyway.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 3/18/2010 7:14:00 PM
Author: vanderaf

Date: 3/18/2010 12:47:18 PM
Author: dreamer_d

Date: 3/18/2010 6:15:11 AM
Author: vanderaf
If it were me I would get the size you want and go down to a J and then upgrade the color later. There is a vast difference from J and K. The diamond Brian cut for me into one of his signature diamonds was graded a J by AGS and it looked plenty white to me. With the setting you want you would not see the side. I have a diamond pendant that is a K and it drives me batty. I am always scrubbing it trying to make it look cleaner and whiter but the J just looks white and sparkly. My ering is a GIA graded E and from the top there was not a huge difference between the two. The BGD stone out performs my ering so that was a contributing factor. I think that going for your dream size and setting will really put you at ease. I do love my 3 stone and I would not switch it back to a solitaire because I would be downgrading the bling factor and I could not handle that. I think that it is a good option if you are not upgrading your center stone to the size you want. In order for me to upgrade I would have to buy a new ring outright and I would keep this one for sentimental reasons.

Thanks for the comments vanderaf. I think I need to go see some Js in person. I know it will not be a G, but that is ok as long as it is not a K. I do love the icy G color, but I also love size, and something has to give at this point in time. I just don''t have the spare 10k lying around to get the size and color I would like

Does your recut qualify as an upgrade stone?

Probably not but I could never trade in my grandmothers diamond anyway.

Maybe Gradma wouldn''t mind, did she love bling? Kidding! It is wonderful you have her diamond, albeit the "extreme makeover" version!