Help Me Choose My Engagement Ring Diamond! 2 Choices...

[firsttimebuyergreg]

Hi all - thanks to much of the information posted on and discussed in these forums, I think I've finally narrowed down my long search for a quality diamond to the following 2 stones. I am now honestly torn between the 2, and was looking for any insight or advice from the forum on my choice. (They are similarly priced so that is not a decision point.)

As background, my GF has a ring size 4 to 4.25. The diamond (one of the 2 below) will be set in a custom design with a very thin band in a simple solitaire setting (not exactly sure how it will look, but that is the general idea). She is a more modest personality, and has mentioned she doesn't want something overly large... but does want to "grow" into her ring as well over time (so something that may feel slightly big to her now, and may not as she gets older - she's early 30s right now and works in professional office environment.

Any thoughts or insight you may have to help me make a decision would be MUCH appreciated! And thanks again - was very happy to stumble upon pricescope to help guide my search!

Diamond #1 Stats:
GIA Certified
Weight: 1.30 Carats
Size: 6.98mm - 7.00mm x 4.31mm
Proportions: 58 Table / 61.7 Depth / 35 Crown Angle / 40.8 Pavilion Angle
Cut: GIA Excellent / Holloway Cut Advisor Score of 1.8 (VG / Exc / Exc /VG)
Polish/Symmetry - Excellent / Excellent
Color: F
Fluorescence: Faint
Clarity: VS2

Diamond #2 Stats:
GIA Certified
Weight: 1.20 Carats
Size: 6.86mm - 6.88mm x 4.16mm
Proportions: 58 Table / 60.5 Depth / 33 Crown Angle / 41 Pavilion Angle
Cut: GIA Excellent / Holloway Cut Advisor Score of 0.8 (Exc / Exc / Exc /VG)
Polish/Symmetry - Excellent / Excellent
Color: E
Fluorescence: None
Clarity: VS2

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

I think hitting the 7mm mark is nice so I choose #1 (although personally I would go lower in color to go bigger )

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I also would try to get to the 7mm mark. I agree that you could go to G color and get a slightly larger stone, too.

 

[firsttimebuyergreg]

Thank you for the responses, much appreciated! I think I neglected to mention (though perhaps its obvious) that the diamonds are both Round Brilliant Cut! Sorry about that...

As you can see, unless I'm missing something, these are pretty similar diamonds except for the size as you addressed (I can actually see a difference between this F and E color.... but it is very slight and only under really "ideal" conditions to see the color differences).

My concern was actually going *too* big... girlfriend is not a big jewelry person, and has a size 4 ring finger. I used this RBC coverage chart in this older pricescope thread as a guide and reference:

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/need-help-finding-the-chart-with-ring-sizes-and-percentage-of-finger-coverage.64644/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/need-help-finding-the-chart-with-ring-sizes-and-percentage-of-finger-coverage.64644/[/URL]

So at 1.3 carats/7 mm, it falls out of the "ideal" range on the RBC coverage chart, and into the "large" category... which is why I was thinking perhaps with going with the 1.2 carat/6.86mm

The other thing I was thinking is that these diamonds are so similar, that I am really just overthinking it, and maybe just go with the bigger one .....

 

[PintoBean]

This is where a good return policy is important, in case your girlfriend DOEs find the stone too big!

 

[firsttimebuyergreg]

PintoBean - I really, really, don't want to return the diamond, hence the thread! And especially as I'm getting a custom setting designed!

But thanks for reminding me to check the return policy with the jeweler I'm using

 

[Rockinruby]

I vote for #1 especially as I think she will hopefully get used to the size within a short time. I agree that it's a good idea to check their return policy though. You are very thoughtful to put such care into her ring so I'm sure she will love & appreciate it!

 

[firsttimebuyergreg]

Thanks, Rockinruby - it is much appreciated. Shopping for an engagement ring and an expensive piece of jewelry can certainly be a daunting / intimidating experience... but places like pricescope have made it a much more enjoyable and fun process. In all seriousness, how the heck did people do this before the Internet??

And thanks for the recommendation! Looks like the slightly larger stone may end up being the one.....

 

[dontaskme]

Have you discussed diamond sizes before? I feel like something she can grow into would be bigger than 1.25 or 1.3, that is just my opinion though. Everyone's idea of large is different, I consider average to be 1-2. I wear a 5.5 and I think 9 mm round is perfect finger coverage for me, haha.

 

[firsttimebuyergreg]

Hi Dontaskme - totally hear you about what size does someone "grow into".... I was initially targeting 1.5-1.6 carat (so around 7.4mm if I recall correctly), but after some thought and research (looked at lots of photos online of Size 4 rings with RBC, as well as that RBC coverage chart as guidance), decided that would be on the border of too big for her preferences (even to grow into)... I could definitely end up being wrong here, we shall see!

We did talk about how big the diamond should be, and while I don't think she has a great feel for the actual diameter/coverage of RBC diamonds (she's not into jewelry at all, though she did try on e-rings at Tiffany's), she did say "1 to 1.5 carats at the very most feels like a good range".... so I split the difference and took the mid point...