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Is a small increase in mm and carat weight worth the extra??

laurenk

laurenk

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Nov 12, 2011
Messages
976
Hello again,
My vendor here in Brisbane QLD Australia has found me a 3.4carat I colour vs1 emerald cut (9.9 x 7.29) that is all I know about it currently (I have two pics but no cert yet). Comparing the "new" emerald with Jewels By Grace's 3.65 antique ring Im just wondering if 0.35mm in length and 0.62mm in length and 0.25carat weight is worth an extra $23000 AUD.

I realise this is a personal choice to spend this money or not, and I also realise Grace's is set where I would be paying say $4k to have mine set with tapered baguettes so lets revise that figure to $19k.

Would the brain distinguish such small differences?

Thanks everyone! Attached are the pics of the unset "cheaper" diamond.

Lauren

emeraldport.png

_631.png
 
Re: Is a small increase in mm and carat weight worth the ext

I'm not sure the small mm difference would register as much as the fact that these two emerald-cuts are quite different flavors in terms of faceting - the one you have in your hand looks to be a standard emerald-cut, and the JbG emerald-cut looks to be an antique/antique-style emerald-cut, with smaller table and a culet - and the JbG has more obvious cut-corners and larger windmills.

To my own eyes, the JbG has incredible personality and likely a dramatic performance. The stone in your hand looks to be a nice, well-cut standard emerald-cut. If you are pleased by the appearance and performance of the stone in your hand - meaning it has all the bells and whistles you're hoping for/expecting from an emerald-cut - then perhaps the JbG stone is not for you. But if you really want the antique cut and faceting as in the JbG stone, IMHO the stone in your hand would be no comparison.
 
Re: Is a small increase in mm and carat weight worth the ext

Agree with Marymm. I like the faceting of this one better than the JBG one. That's a huge price difference.
 
Re: Is a small increase in mm and carat weight worth the ext

This "new" EC looks to have potential, so I would definitely take the time to view it in person. Observe it under various light conditions and decide whether it wows you and if the I colour is white enough for you. $20K is a lot of money so I understand your dilemma. 0.35 mm isn't noticeable but the 0.62 mm difference is, but it still isn't a huge difference. If you have an accurate ruler or software programme, you can draw it out to see the difference. In terms of facet pattern, the two are like night and day. It is akin to the question, "Do you prefer chocolate or vanilla?".
 
Re: Is a small increase in mm and carat weight worth the ext

Let me be sure I understand you. You are saying that the JBG 3.6 ct diamond would cost you $23,000 more than the 3.4 ct stone you are showing us??? :eek:

This is a no-brainer for me, as long as the new stone is pretty well cut. I love old and new emerald cuts, but I would not even have to give a second thought with that price differential. The new one seems to be reasonably priced for a 3 ct stone and it is certainly a nice size.
 
Re: Is a small increase in mm and carat weight worth the ext

Thanks! The price difference stems from the "new" emerald being in Aussie dollars and grace's bring in U.S. Dollars. The exchange rate is awful :(

I love the antique uniqueness and I love the crispness of the "new".

I may pray for the dollar to improve but otherwise I don't think I can justify it.

Will hope for asets on this emerald soon.
 
Re: Is a small increase in mm and carat weight worth the ext

Ive found out this 3.4c emerald has an IGI cert. Now Im not too sure about that. It says IGI - Antwerp January 2015. I have attached the cert for opinion because if this stone looks great I'll consider sending to GIA.

Would love feedback.

Thanks
Lauren
 

Attachments

Re: Is a small increase in mm and carat weight worth the ext

I would be less worried about the size difference and more worried about the fact IGI is frequently not as strict grading as GIA. They are not as bad as EGL from places like Asia and India but I would suggest to you if the price seems good that it could be a VS2 to an SI1 rather than a VS1, and possibly one or two shades lower than an I in colour. The good thing I can see is that it was certified in Antwerp rather than India or somewhere else.

Go and view the stone in person, do you love it, work out how you feel about it.
 
Re: Is a small increase in mm and carat weight worth the ext

I recall a test of 10 diamonds graded by various labs and IGI was actually second behind GIA. Their color and clarity matched GIA's in most of the cases. But with the amount of money you are spending I'd want a GIA cert.

As for the price difference, that doesn't seem worth it to me.
 
Re: Is a small increase in mm and carat weight worth the ext

solgen|1436670262|3901826 said:
I recall a test of 10 diamonds graded by various labs and IGI was actually second behind GIA. Their color and clarity matched GIA's in most of the cases. But with the amount of money you are spending I'd want a GIA cert.

As for the price difference, that doesn't seem worth it to me.
Click to expand...

Yes this is true but every now and then usually dependant upon how old the certificate is and where it was graded they can be around one to two grades out on colour and one to two grades out in clarity. There is usually no more than one grades difference unless you are very unlucky. IGI stones are also cheaper to buy than GIA certified stones, so all I am saying is it's something to be aware of.
 
Re: Is a small increase in mm and carat weight worth the ext

With an emerald cut I would focus more on colour than with other stones & sacrifice carat weight. The nature of the cut means it is a lot easier to see colour, so for me I'd like 'brilliant white' or 'fancy yellow'. Also it isn't just the size of the stone is is the proportions of it relative to what it's being worn on.

I would avoid an IGI certificate and buy a colour that I *know* is going to be accurate i.e. AGS & GIA. The reason being a G colour GIA could easily be an IGI I, which would be rather yellow-looking with an emerald cut. This isn't to say that alternative labs don't get it right much of the time, but it is more of a gamble.
 
Re: Is a small increase in mm and carat weight worth the ext

I'm not a huge fan of the JbyG ring. To my eye it looks a tad drab. I would be the first to admit - I'm seeing it on photos only - but it seems to have a lot of light leakage in the inner steps. I think an ASET would tell you a lot.

But as has been said above - for $23k, this would be a no-brainer for me. I actually prefer the ring in your photos, so I'd be asking the vendor to get either an AGS or GIA grading on it. If that came back ok, that's the one I'd go with. As for the size diff, put it in a halo and you won't be able to see the difference.

Good luck!
 
Re: Is a small increase in mm and carat weight worth the ext

Ahhh In my earlier post I meant the other way around, an IGI G can easily be a GIA I...
 
Re: Is a small increase in mm and carat weight worth the ext

For me, and my personal taste - part of the appeal of emerald cuts is the sparseness of the stone. So I'd get the less busy modern cut stone and happily put the rest of that money back in my pocket!
 
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