In a dilemma: Size or Color

[dicey]

Hi everyone,
Ive been eyeing 3 diamond rings so far and I need help on deciding which one to choose:
a RB 1.06 K color cut polish, symmetry: xxx vs1 GIA graded,
a RB 1.11 I color cut,polish,symmetry:very good vs1 Graded Cut or
an RB1.5 SI1 I color (but no certificate).. Theyre all roughly the same price...
And my ring finger is 5.5
I need help on which ring to choose. Perhaps someone can share their opinion...
Thanks

 

[puppyguts]

I would not buy a diamond that wasn't certified, & SI1 (eek), if you could get a certificate & it is eye clean ... Different story.

I personally would go size over colour - but i also would take the cut grade & clarity into consideration.

 

[dicey]

thanks puppyguts...
that's enlightening

 

[makhro82]

You will find that those valuable input will want more details. If you access to the certificate information I would post it as that will be the best way for them to help you.

Ive owned two SI1 so I don't find them "eek" at all. Both were eyeclean and wonderfully sparkly. It's just a matter of personal preference.

 

[Enerchi]

Can you offer to pay the cost of having the 1.5 I SI sent to GIA for grading? If it comes back w good stats, you take it at the price + GIA cert cost already agreed upon. If it comes back with a grading you do not want, you are out the cost of approx $300-ish to have it graded.

Worth asking the seller for that kind of an arrangement??

And yes - please post more info on the other 2 that do have certs - the GIA#, otherwise there's no basis to really know which diamond is 'better' .

 

[Niel]

cut is king. I would choose the best cut first and foremost. Then size, clarity, then color. I have a K at about 6mm and i would not change a thing about it. The color is beautiful and the price i got it for spectacular.. What is your budget? If youre open to online vendors people her would gladly help you find the biggest K or high eye clean stone for your budget (and a fabulous cut too)

But if you arent will to buy online, do some research on this site as to how to pick the best cut. Cuts what makes the diamond sparkle, and sparkle is what makes a diamond desirable.

 

[ecf8503]

cut is king. I would choose the best cut first and foremost. Then size, clarity, then color. I have a K at about 6mm and i would not change a thing about it. The color is beautiful and the price i got it for spectacular.. What is your budget? If youre open to online vendors people her would gladly help you find the biggest K or high eye clean stone for your budget (and a fabulous cut too)

But if you arent will to buy online, do some research on this site as to how to pick the best cut. Cuts what makes the diamond sparkle, and sparkle is what makes a diamond desirable.

+1!!!!!!!!!!!!

NEVER compromise on cut quality - an ideal cut stone will face up larger, whiter, and sparkle more than a poorly cut one. We need much more information on the stones you've posted, starting with cert #'s or at the very least all the table and depth %'s and crown and pavillion angles. Can you get idealscope images on these to determine light performance?

If you are open to buying online, like most of us here have and will advocate (for a multitude of reasons) we can help you if you post your budget.

 

[WillyDiamond]

Why not work with a PS vendor who already has the grading reports, pictures, ASETS, etc. No guesswork, you know what you are getting.

 

[msop04]

Why not work with a PS vendor who already has the grading reports, pictures, ASETS, etc. No guesswork, you know what you are getting.

+1
...and you'll most likely end up with a better deal!

 

[dicey]

Thanks everyone. Im still in the process of researching. Unfortunately, I live in the Philippines and now I understand why diamonds with GIA reports cost so much. I didnt realize that duties and customs costs about 80% the price of the diamond! No wonder the prices here are so prohibitive.

Anyway, after looking at the selections here in Pricescope, i realize the best way is to purchase online. I looked at the prices here and they are competitive. I just need to find a trusted friend in the States who can receive my package for me and who can hand deliver it to me when she flies here

By the way, Im enjoying the eye candies here. Now I cant make up my mind what cut to even start with

 

[msop04]

Thanks everyone. Im still in the process of researching. Unfortunately, I live in the Philippines and now I understand why diamonds with GIA reports cost so much. I didnt realize that duties and customs costs about 80% the price of the diamond! No wonder the prices here are so prohibitive.

Anyway, after looking at the selections here in Pricescope, i realize the best way is to purchase online. I looked at the prices here and they are competitive. I just need to find a trusted friend in the States who can receive my package for me and who can hand deliver it to me when she flies here

By the way, Im enjoying the eye candies here. Now I cant make up my mind what cut to even start with

Wow!! That's a lot to pay! Is this based on any price paid, or is there a cap somewhere? For example, the duties on a $10,000 stone would be $8k, making the total about $18,000?? That's the highest duties I've ever heard of!! It would be worth your time to just fly round trip to LA or NYC for about $1200, and just wear it back!

 

[GreenBling]

Thanks everyone. Im still in the process of researching. Unfortunately, I live in the Philippines and now I understand why diamonds with GIA reports cost so much. I didnt realize that duties and customs costs about 80% the price of the diamond! No wonder the prices here are so prohibitive.

Anyway, after looking at the selections here in Pricescope, i realize the best way is to purchase online. I looked at the prices here and they are competitive. I just need to find a trusted friend in the States who can receive my package for me and who can hand deliver it to me when she flies here

By the way, Im enjoying the eye candies here. Now I cant make up my mind what cut to even start with

OP, what's your source for the 80% import duty information? I looked up the internet and one site says 10%. I am not familiar with the subject but thought it might worth double checking?

 

[dicey]

I was able to search at Ritani's website that was able to compute the price of the diamond in our currency, plus all the customs and duties that I can prepay. Looking at the cost of duties, I would imagine it to be highly likely. I once had music books flown here from the US (and since declared value was written on the box), i was computed taxes just about the same cost as the books.

I love MSOP04's idea of flying in to the States and wearing it back to the country! Haha, the thought made me smile. Wonderful idea!

 

[GreenBling]

I was able to search at Ritani's website that was able to compute the price of the diamond in our currency, plus all the customs and duties that I can prepay. Looking at the cost of duties, I would imagine it to be highly likely. I once had music books flown here from the US (and since declared value was written on the box), i was computed taxes just about the same cost as the books.

I love MSOP04's idea of flying in to the States and wearing it back to the country! Haha, the thought made me smile. Wonderful idea!

If you have friends you can trust in singapore/HK, you can also have the stone shipped there for you to pick up. I found buying online a less stressful and objective, informed experience

 

[heididdl]

AFter reading the posting on the color of k l m n o stones (Neil I think also just read it) I would consider the K colored VS GIA 3X stone. Cut is key and vs stones are usually okay ( of course you want to be sure it is eye clean) but you need to see the stone and decide if you are that color sensitive some of the warmer colors are really special

 

[bunnycat]

Thanks everyone. Im still in the process of researching. Unfortunately, I live in the Philippines and now I understand why diamonds with GIA reports cost so much. I didnt realize that duties and customs costs about 80% the price of the diamond! No wonder the prices here are so prohibitive.

Anyway, after looking at the selections here in Pricescope, i realize the best way is to purchase online. I looked at the prices here and they are competitive. I just need to find a trusted friend in the States who can receive my package for me and who can hand deliver it to me when she flies here

By the way, Im enjoying the eye candies here. Now I cant make up my mind what cut to even start with

When people say "cut" here they don't mean the shape of the stone, they mean the proportions the diamond cutter cut the stone to to maximize performance. Just in case you were wondering because you seemed confused about cut in your last sentance.

Unless you really don't know what shape you want to look at. Each one is going to have it'd own difficulties. Rounds are probably going to be the easiest for you to look at online because it's a lot easier to look at them by the "numbers" (proportions) than other shapes where you might really need idealscope and ASET images to make any sort of choice (like princess or cushion or oval etc...)

 

[dicey]

you're right, Bastetcat.
I think i mistakenly referred cut to shape

Thanks everyone.. Appreciate your suggestions. Aside from RB, another option im thinking of is emerald cut. Of course, emeralds are not as brilliant as rounds but now that im looking at the blings here, I can actually have an emerald cut and have brilliance if i get the right specs...