I''m at my wit''s end!

[Aeromax]

OK, I''ve got 5 weeks until zero-hour, and I''m starting to get frantic. I went to ERD today (which my review can be read in another thread.) and the diamond I saw there that I liked best had these numbers:

.80 G SI1
EX cut, EX polish, EX symmetry
depth 62.2
table 57
crown 35
pav 41
price $2600

It scores a somewhat respectable 2.4 on the HCA.

When I went to another pricescope vendor later on in the day and I found a .7 that was I color, SI1 clarity, and it was an AGS H&A that scores 1.2 on the HCA. It cost $2,564, so very similiar in price.

My dilemma is I really like the size of the .8, and the G color is an added bonus. Gary at ERD is holding the .8 for me while I look. Should I jump on the H&A stone, get the larger, non H&A stone with better color? Should I have Gary keep looking for an H&A stone for me, perhaps he can beat the other vendor? I know nobody can probably give me an answer because it will always be up to my own preference, but I just needed to vent!

I guess what I''m trying to ultimately decide is, will I be dissapointed with not getting an H&A stone for sparkly factor? I couldn''t tell a difference between the sparkliness of the two stones, but it was at 2 different vendors, hours apart, under slightly different lighting, so I can''t really use that as a good judgement.

Signed, Going nuts in Connecticut.

 

[elle_chris]

Since neither stone spoke to you more in terms of sparkle, if you didn't run the numbers through the HCA, which would you get?

 

[Aeromax]

If I had no idea hearts and arrows existed, and I didn't run the large stone through the HCA, I'd get the larger one.

Truth be told, this site has made it so much easier- yet so much harder to buy a diamond.

 

[elle_chris]

I just purchased a stone that''s not an H&A. To me, a great cut, color and clarity were more important than the H&A and "I" honestly can''t tell the difference
between this stone and my h&a stones.

If you really can''t decide, get both, go to an appraiser and see them side by side then return the one you don''t want.
You won''t be paying for both if you charge it then return it.

Since you''re in the New York area and ERD is so close to Just Appraisers (one block away), I''d recommend going there. You can even return the ERD stone the same day if you choose the other.

 

[Aeromax]

Ya know what... you''re right. I can''t tell the difference. And nobody other than me (and pricescope.com) will ever know. My fiancee to be certainly won''t know, and couldn''t care less. I should just stop worrying so much and have fun... *sigh*. I think I''ll call Mark tomorrow and arrange the sale.

 

[elle_chris]

Congrats

I''m sure the the stone is a killer.

Please post pics when you get it

 

[pixley]

Just in case you needed another female vote, I'd much rather have a larger, non H&A stone with a higher color than a smaller H&A that's two color grades lower.

 

[Aeromax]

I hope I can get some pictures and idealscope images from Gary, just to have for reference and to show off.

 

[elle_chris]

Date: 3/6/2008 8:37:32 PM
Author: Aeromax
I hope I can get some pictures and idealscope images from Gary, just to have for reference and to show off.

I''m sure you can and I''d love to see them.

Just a quick comment about "And nobody other than me (and pricescope.com) will ever know. My fiancee to be certainly won''t know, and couldn''t care less."

This shouldn''t be about whether or not the stone is an H&A, it should be about a beautiful stone. You''re right, most of the world doesn''t know what H&A''s are and doesn''t care. Most of the Pricescope community just cares about how well the stone performs. The H&A really is a secondary

 

[Yekutiel]

You must not forget that the larger diamond is in the upper level of near colorless (G) and is certified by GIA. The color grade you would see the difference but you cant tell the difference between H&A and ideal with the naked eye.

 

[Aeromax]

Date: 3/6/2008 8:57:32 PM
Author: Yekutiel
You must not forget that the larger diamond is in the upper level of near colorless (G) and is certified by GIA. The color grade you would see the difference but you cant tell the difference between H&A and ideal with the naked eye.

That''s what I was looking for. THANK YOU.

 

[marcy]

You couldn''t tell the difference with the naked eye and the other diamond sounds lovely. I''d rather have a larger diamond.

 

[hairgirl95]

Ditto on the larger diamond!!

 

[Fly Girl]

I have a beautiful well cut diamond that is about a 2.4 on the HCA. I get all sorts of compliments on it. If you have seen that diamond in person, in different lighting situations, and love it, that trumps the HCA. Remember, the HCA is most useful as a reject tool for when you can''t see the diamond in person.

Good luck!