Help with these two diamonds

[zhaoyun]

Diamond 1 (Local Jewler)
EGL-USA report
Weight 2.06 CT
Shape ROUND BRILLIANT
Color H
Clarity VS2
Measurements 8.29 x 8.25 x 5.01 mm
Depth 60.6%
Table 56%
Crown 16.1%
Pavilion 42.3%
Crown Angle 35.5°
Pavilion Angle 40.4°
Girdle THIN
Polish VERY GOOD
Symmetry VERY GOOD
Fluorescence NONE
Culet N/A
Cut Grade IDEAL PLUS
Comments
UGS Appraisal Value N/A

HCA result -
Factor Grade
Light Return Excellent
Fire Excellent
Scintillation Excellent
Spread or diameter for weight Very Good
Total Visual Performance 0.6 - Excellent within TIC range

Diamond 2(Whiteflash)AGS

CARAT 1.538
COLOR G
CLARITY VS2
CUT EXPERT SELECTION

DEPTH % 61.8
TABLE % 55.5
CROWN ANGLE 34.8
STAR 58
PAVILION ANGLE 40.8
CROWN % 15.4
LOWER GIRDLE % 75
MEASUREMENTS 7.41X7.42X4.58

HCA
Light Return Excellent
Fire Excellent
Scintillation Excellent
Spread or diameter for weight Very Good
Total Visual Performance 1.5 - Excellent within TIC range


What do you guys think of these two diamonds?
1) It seems like people have different view on EGL? Can the numbers be trusted?
2) Will the color H be very noticeable?
3) Which is a better deal if the price difference is 2k, i.e. go bigger and gain some color/lose clarity or go smaller and get better clarity?

I want/need to make a purchase decision within these two days. Thank you guys for your help.

I have learned a lot from reading this forum in the past three months, but I still can''t really tell how color/clarity when I see those rocks in person, when they are F/G/H.

Are there any other questions I should ask these two jewelers?

 

[stone-cold11]

Idealscope image for the WF stone?

Can the local jeweler get you an idealscope for that stone? The proportion might have some obstruction issue.

If well cut and correctly graded, H is nowhere noticeable unless it is side by side with a lower color stone.

 

[zhaoyun]

I attached the the IS image for WF stone.

Date: 4/26/2010 10:02:41 PM
Author: Stone-cold11
Idealscope image for the WF stone?


Can the local jeweler get you an idealscope for that stone? The proportion might have some obstruction issue.

If well cut and correctly graded, H is nowhere noticeable unless it is side by side with a lower color stone.

Thanks

Edit - the local jeweler couldn't provide the image. I am going to the store and see the diamond soon The two carat is cheaper than the 1.5 and has a good HCA score.

If it's not too much trouble can you elaborate on the "obstruction issue"?





Thank you for your fast response.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 4/26/2010 10:16:29 PM
Author: zhaoyun
I attached the the IS image for WF stone.



Thanks

Edit - the local jeweler couldn''t provide the image. I am going to the store and see the diamond soon The two carat is cheaper than the 1.5 and has a good HCA score.

If it''s not too much trouble can you elaborate on the ''obstruction issue''?

Thank you for your fast response.

b/c its cheaper for good reasons.

btw; the IS from WF looks good.

 

[yssie]

The EGL H VS2 would most likely be a GIA I/J SI, which accounts for a good part of the price difference. Nothing to say EGL stones can''t be beautiful, it''s just easier to find an excellent performer that has an AGS or GIA cert because their cut, clarity, and colour standards are more stringently applied.



WF IS looks good. Might be worth it to buy your own IS and take it in when you see the other stone.

 

[stone-cold11]

WF stone looks good.

Obstruction is the stone looking black/dark to the observer due to the light source being black by the observer. The idealscope image simulates the observer looking at the stone at about a distance of a foot away. The black you see in the image, the arrows, are due to obstruction. Having some obstruction is good, increases the contrast of the stone, and once you move further away, these obstruction will disappear. But stones with obstruction issue will show way more black, especially under the table, making the stone look darker, some proportions are such that the arrows are always dark.

A video of what obstruction looks like.

EGL stones are discounted in trade because of their tendencies to be softer in color and clarity grading. They are usually priced at what the vendor think is the grade they would get if reliably graded by GIA/AGS. There is nothing stopping the vendor from sending the stone to be graded by AGS/GIA to get a better sale price, higher profit if they really think the stone deserve the grade EGL awarded it. With a GIA report, the vendor could easily sell the stone for 20k USD instead of the price he is selling now, for a grading cost of around 200 USD and a turn around time of 1 month or so.

Since you can see the stone yourself, compare it with a GIA/AGS well cut stone of the same grade from the side, to see if there is a significant difference.
http://diamondscope.pricescope.com/?src=Head_Obstruction_1.wmv

 

[Lorelei]

Hi zahoyun

The WF diamond has definite potential, the first might suffer from obstruction as mentioned, due to the slightly shallow pavilion angle. Obstruction can be seen in some diamonds with shallower pavilions or shallow crown and pavilion angle combos, as a darkening of the stone when viewed closely. In diamonds that are intended for a ring, obstruction can be a issue if the stone looks dark when observed by the wearer. An Idealscope image would help to see if obstruction is an issue in this case or not. Such diamonds can sometimes be better suited for pendants or earrings where normal viewing distances and angles don''t apply.

 

[zhaoyun]

Thank you guys again for your input.

I understand that a stone is cheaper for a reason.

It is just that my non-diamond-savvy males friends have all been telling me GO BIGGER since the diamonds always get dirty. And you can''t tell the difference then. I figured that you can just get it clean here and there (by then I hope I will have researched and read the how to clean your diamond threads...)

I am leaning toward getting the WF stone and just to bring it to compare with the 2 carat. Because I am trying to surprise GF, I can''t just ask my girlfriend to go in with me and make the comparison herself. I just feel this exercise may still be futile, since I won''t be able to tell the difference. And it will be hard to look for an obstruction issue when it''s a loose diamond. But, might as well give that a try, since I am proposing very soon...

Thanks again for the advices. I will talk to both vendors again and hopefully make my decision soon.

 

[zhaoyun]

I pulled the trigger on the WF ring. Thanks for all your help.

Because the search function is down any anyone give me some insurance carriers suggestions?

The only quote that I gotten so far is from State Farm for a ring worth - 15k
$0ded: $417 premium.
$100 Ded: $388 premium
$250 ded: $354 premium
$500 Ded:$313 premium
$1000 ded: $250 premium

It looks reasonable. I know that I should not get a appraisal simply to get a higher insured value. But, does appraisal really help with getting back the "same ring" from the insurer when a ring is lost or is the certifications good enough alone?