HELP! Newbie looking for help

[alveoli]

I am replacing my wifes engagement ring with a new, bigger stone and need some help.
We are comparing two stones

1. IGI certified- 1.08 carat, Ideal Cut, F colour, VS1, very good symmetry, ex polish, faint flour , med girdle
2. EGL certified - 1.00 carat, ideal cut, f colour, VS1, excellent symmetry (no other info available on certificate)

I''ve been reading alot about EGL and IGI which have on common theme which is neither is as good as GIA grading. When I look at the two stones, the IGI stone looks "brighter" and to my untrained eye but it is 1300$ more. When I view the EGL stone next to a "g" colour GIA stone the colour appears to be somewhere b/w the "F" stone and "G" stone.

What I guess I am asking which certification is better and more likely to be accurate.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/23/2008 8:19:15 AM
Author:alveoli
I am replacing my wifes engagement ring with a new, bigger stone and need some help.
We are comparing two stones

1. IGI certified- 1.08 carat, Ideal Cut, F colour, VS1, very good symmetry, ex polish, faint flour , med girdle
2. EGL certified - 1.00 carat, ideal cut, f colour, VS1, excellent symmetry (no other info available on certificate)

I've been reading alot about EGL and IGI which have on common theme which is neither is as good as GIA grading. When I look at the two stones, the IGI stone looks 'brighter' and to my untrained eye but it is 1300$ more. When I view the EGL stone next to a 'g' colour GIA stone the colour appears to be somewhere b/w the 'F' stone and 'G' stone.

What I guess I am asking which certification is better and more likely to be accurate.

Welcome to Pricescope,

You have an advantage in being able to view these diamonds in person, but we need a bit more info to be able to help you.

Can you find out which EGL lab graded that diamond please? EGL USA is said to be the strongest lab, so it would be useful to know whether it is USA, Antwerp, Israel etc. The seller should be able to tell you. This info should be able to tell you how the grading labs rank -

http://diamonds.pricescope.com/grading.asp

As to the diamonds themselves, we need the following info to be able to help you determine which is the best cut.

depth %
table %
crown angle or %
pavilion angle or %
polish and symmetry grades
diameter measurements
girdle thickness
fluorescence if applicable

 

[alveoli]

I have the specs for the IGI (mumbai) stone 1.08 carat (which I have a deposit on). Would appreciate your thoughts:

Description
Natural Diamond

Shape And Cut
Round Brilliant

Carat Weight
1.08 Carat

Color Grade
F

Clarity Grade
VS 1

Cut Grade
Excellent

Polish
Excellent

Symmetry
Very Good

Measurements
6.45 - 6.53 x 4.13 mm

Table
57%

Crown Height - Angle
15.5% - 36°

Pavilion Depth - Angle
44% - 41.3°

Girdle Thickness
Medium To Sl. Thick (fac)

Culet
Pointed

Total Depth
63.5%

Fluorescence
Slight

 

[Lorelei]

Thanks for the additional info! Alv, I would recommend passing on that diamond, it is what we call a steep deep with the crown and pavilion angles, it is likely it won''t perform as well as it could. Also it has some extra depth, I would keep looking.

 

[dockman3]

Ditto Lorelei.

I would also like to add that it will probably look smaller than it is. This stone has the diameter measurements of a well cut 1.0 ct diamond, not the 1.08 you are paying for. A well cut stone will face up a little bit bigger than this one. I suggest to keep looking. I would ask your jeweler to look at some "AGS000" or "AGS triple zero" stones. These will be excellent cut diamonds and you can see the difference next to yours. If you still think yours out shines or outperforms the AGS000, then go for it. Ultimately you are the one who can see the stones, we are just going off of some numbers. Good luck, and keep us posted!