Help Me Decide between H 1.72 or K 1.81 Center Stone

[Caza1230]

PSer I'm in need of some assistance. I've been quiet for a few months trying to figure out what to do for my anniversary. My 10 year anniversary is right around the corner April 11. I decided to turn my .5 I/J colored stone ( uncerted) into a past, present, future ring. A local jeweler with great Yelp reviews is making this ring because I didn't want to deal with mailing things and some jewelers don't like working with uncerted stones. That stone is sentimental to me as it was in my original engagement ring so I want to put it into something new. Anyways, I picked out the matching side stone to the .50 on Friday and put down a deposit.

On Friday I went into this intending to use my current center stone an 1.31 EGL I SI 1as the center stone but my husband just gave me the ok to do a bit of an upgrade within a budget max is 9k.I haven't talked to the jeweler yet about the upgrade but on the site they have two stones I am interested in seeing. I DO know this time around from being a PSer I want a excellent cut GIA stone. I want to go for the H in color as I will be trading in this stone and thing maybe going up in color and size would be a good way to maximize the trade. But there is a GIA K they have in stock that I think should match the side stones and is a bit larger. I want to try to get as close as I can to 2cts with this trade while staying within my budget.

Any thoughts on my situation and these two stones would be greatly appreciated. I plan to go look either this afternoon or tomorrow depending on guidance. Thanks!

Details on the K.
Measurements: 7.76 - 7.81 x 4.87 mm
Carat Weight: 1.81 carat
Color Grade: K
Clarity Grade: SI1
Cut Grade: Excellent
PROPORTIONS

Depth: 62.6%
Table: 58%
Crown Angle: 35.0°
Crown Height: 15.0%
Pavilion Angle: 41.4°
Pavilion Depth: 44.0%
Star Length: 50%
Lower Half: 80%
Girdle: Medium to Slightly Thick, Faceted (3.5%)
Culet: None


Details on the H.
Measurements: 7.66 - 7.71 x 4.77 mm
Carat Weight: 1.72 carat
Color Grade: H
Clarity Grade: SI1
Cut Grade: Excellent
PROPORTIONS

Depth: 62.1%
Table: 57%
Crown Angle: 35.5°
Crown Height: 15.0%
Pavilion Angle: 41.2°
Pavilion Depth: 43.5%
Star Length: 50%
Lower Half: 80%
Girdle: Thin to Medium, Faceted (3.0%)
Culet: None
FINISH

Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: Faint

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Neither of those is going to be great as they both likely will have leakage. You need the crown angles to be around 34-35.0 and the pavilion angles to be 40.6-41.0. With a 35 crown angle, you are going to have problems going to 41.4 on the pav angle. The other one has a higher crown angle at 35.5, so it needs a pav angle lower than 41.

If you had an idealscope, you'd have better luck telling which is better of the two. But I'd ask the jeweler to get a couple in for you that are within the parameters above, plus table 54-58 and depth 60-62.3.

 

[Caza1230]

Thanks DS. I will go and ask. Is one slightly better than the other? I did the HCA and they both were very good but the K scored a 4.9 :/. There are a couple other H's this jeweler has listed and I will check against the numbers you provided. I am not sure if he would be willing to bring a stone in for a trade but I guess it is worth asking. I was just hoping due to them being excellent they would visually wow me as I am a bit more informed than I was the past few diamonds I brought but no where near the experts you all are on this site.

Thanks again and will keep you posted!

 

[yrrp3738]

if only between these two, I probably will go to the H stone.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I am just at the point where diamonds are SO expensive that I would not be inclined to settle on cut. But if I had to pick from these two alone, I would pick the H. That color is so much better and the depth is better.

 

[Caza1230]

Thanks! I will go in and ask if they have anything that fit the specs you sent over. I think if not I'd prefer the H I just hope that in trade with the jeweler he will trade for that and it be in my budget. If not, that is why I was thinking the K as a backup as I think either one of those is better than what I have currently. That or I could try to be patience and wait a few years and try to do a bigger upgrade then and hope prices haven't gone through the roof by then. Sigh, I really want to do something now even if it isn't the most amazing diamond just a size upgrade/cut upgrade/ possible color upgrade and then do another upgrade in 5-10 years as eventually I want to be in the 2.5-3ct range.

 

[TitanCi]

Like DS says, I'd skip on both. Pav angle is a bit much on both, esp. 41.4. Will you see the leakage in real life? Probably not. Will it bug you knowing it's there? It did for me, so I skipped on a nice F diamond with a 41.2 PA and found a better one with a 40.8! Did it make a difference where I could see it? You betcha!

I'd say keep finding a stone with tighter specs!

 

[Caza1230]

Hey thank you all for being the voice of reason. They had a few other diamonds that were not listed but none I saw met the specs or passed my eye test :/. The K mentioned is the one that is the best cut and did look ok in person so I know the color won't bother me as I can't tell the difference between H and K face up. He is willing to call in some stones that will fit into my budget but I also just started looking on ID Jewelry with the specs you provided and am finding things close to what my budget is without the trade. There is a 2.02 J that is over my budget but I thought would be a good deal at 11K with trade but it isn't exactly what I want from a cut perspective and cut is king and after looking up report there is a chip in it! I knew going into it it I was going to take a loss but didn't think it would be that significant. I know BM stores have to pay their rent and diamond prices are going up.

I think tomorrow I will go in and say I slept on it and can he go ahead and source some stones with the guidelines DS gave in a J color. Hopefully can find something that fits my budget. Thanks again for the guidance.

 

[ariel144]

I know you want a larger size but here are some true H & A if you want a great performer. Both of these vendors have an upgrade policy.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/10518/

this one is really large but over budget...2.2c J SI2 ;

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/10282/

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.730-k-si1-round-diamond-ags-104061000014

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/2.018-k-si1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104063998022

Have you considered an Old European Cut?

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9842/

 

[Caza1230]

Thanks Ariel. I took a look at all the stones you linked to. I'm not considering an OEC as this will be the center stone in a three stone ring and the side stones are both RB. I like the 2.20 J from GOG but is is over budget and I am not sure if can do an SI2 as I was able to see the inclusions at the jeweler without any effort. I really like both of the BGD but for the 2ct should I be worried about the very strong blue fluorescence? Do you all think the H&A would be a better choice initially? I'm working on my budget to swing any of these.

Question for you PSers. If you had to choose between these two K's which would you go with?

 

[Caza1230]

Thanks Ariel. I took a look at all the stones you linked to. I'm not considering an OEC as this will be the center stone in a three stone ring and the side stones are both RB. I like the 2.20 J from GOG but is is over budget and I am not sure if can do an SI2 as I was able to see the inclusions at the jeweler without any effort. I really like both of the BGD but for the 2ct should I be worried about the very strong blue fluorescence? Do you all think the H&A would be a better choice initially? I'm working on my budget to swing any of these.

Question for you PSers. If you had to choose between these two K's which would you go with?

 

[ecf8503]

this will be the center stone in a three stone ring and the side stones are both RB. ........... I really like both of the BGD but for the 2ct should I be worried about the very strong blue fluorescence?

What color are the side stones (do you already have them?)? A larger stone is going to show more body color, so personally I wouldn't do a K unless the sides are also in that same range.

All BG Blue's have already been determined not to exhibit any negative effects from the fluor.

Don't settle on cut quality......

 

[ariel144]

i would definitely go with the BG Blue K stone. The cut quality will out perform both of the 2 stones you posted.


http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.730-k-si1-round-diamond-ags-104061000014

The bl. fl. is a bonus as it will give your stone more personality because in some lighting it will glow with a blue hue which is very desirable to most people. It will also make a lower colored stone face up whiter in some cases.

Here is an example of bl. fl. and somewhere under "show me the bling" there is a thread of strong blue fl stones.

http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Rings-Antique-Vintage/356ct-Loose-Old-European-Cut/19804036_Qxwpx5#!i=1610940947&k=nKKGh89

You cannot go wrong with a BG Blue IMO as far as cut and performance. And BTW another PSr just put that 2c K BGBlue on reserve. Interesting.

OOPS! sorry...the 1.73 does not have blue fl. my mistake...but the performance will be better than the 2 you posted.

 

[Caza1230]

I'm happy/sad that someone snatched that K up! I talked to the DH and am increasing my budget and am starting my search online using DS criteria. Also decided to look in the I-J range and abandon the K idea. Also decided on GIA vis AGS. I just sent an email to IDJewelry and hoping they can help me with my search as some folks on here have had really good luck with them.

So back to the drawing board but I am more informed than before so that is a bonus. Thanks you all for your replies and help.

 

[bunnycat]

I'm happy/sad that someone snatched that K up! I talked to the DH and am increasing my budget and am starting my search online using DS criteria. Also decided to look in the I-J range and abandon the K idea. Also decided on GIA vis AGS. I just sent an email to IDJewelry and hoping they can help me with my search as some folks on here have had really good luck with them.

So back to the drawing board but I am more informed than before so that is a bonus. Thanks you all for your replies and help.

Good luck on your search! One thing to note on fluor is that I know people say you'll only notice it in black-light or some other situation like that but that is not exactly so. With med or strong fluor, you may notice it to some degree in quite a few situations. Black-light (nightclubs) would be the most drastic.

Office lighting is fluorescent and so emits some UV. Many homes now use CFL, and so also emits UV. OF course, sunshine is another case so I'd say you have quite a few places where the effect of fluor would be a bonus to you. I have an I with med fluor and can easily see the effects in the situations I mention (faces up nice and white next to my G/H melee). I wouldn't be afraid to look at I or J stones at all, certainly not I stones.

 

[Caza1230]

Thanks for all the replies. Search update... I went back and visited the jeweler on Friday after no reply to my email about sourcing other stones in the parameters from DS. They haven't been able to source stones for me due to the holiday. Jeweler is still trying to sell me the less than optimal K stone and told him I would look this weekend and let him know on Monday what I decide. I did get to look at the K along the side stones and did notice a bit of body color in the 1.81 so I know I have to go up in color.

To answer a question about the side stones. Two .5 I/J colored stones ( one is from my original engagement ring) and then 6 I .15pt. For the center stone I was looking in the 1.7-2ct range but like the size of the 1.81 next to my side stones. Is there much of a visual difference between 1.7 and 1.8?

Here is what I've been able to find within my budget. Thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated as i would like to get a new center stone ordered on Monday before reaching out to the jeweler again.

All help and suggestions are appreciated.

ROUND BRILLIANT

Stone 1: 0.7 on the HCA
Measurements 7.74 - 7.77 x 4.66 mm
Carat Weight 1.71 carat
Color Grade I
Clarity Grade VS2
Cut Grade Excellent
PROPORTIONS

Depth 60.1 %
Table 58 %
Crown Angle 34.0°
Crown Height 14.0%
Pavilion Angle 40.6°
Pavilion Depth 43.0%
Star Length 50%
Lower Half 75%
Girdle Medium, Faceted, 3.5%
Culet None
FINISH

Polish Very Good
Symmetry Excellent
Fluorescence Very Strong Blue
CLARITY CHARACTERISTICS

Clarity Characteristics Crystal, Feather

Stone #2 1.7 on HCA

ROUND BRILLIANT

Measurements: 7.85 - 7.88 x 4.87 mm
Carat Weight: 1.84 carat
Color Grade: J
Clarity Grade: SI1
Cut Grade: Excellent
PROPORTIONS

Depth: 61.9%
Table: 55%
Crown Angle: 36.0°
Crown Height: 16.0%
Pavilion Angle: 40.6°
Pavilion Depth: 42.5%
Star Length: 50%
Lower Half: 80%
Girdle: Medium, Faceted (3.0%)
Culet: None
FINISH

Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: Faint