Is it worth it or not??

[Laila619]

Hi everyone!

I have found Stone 1, a GIA excellent cut 0.77 J VS1 diamond for a killer price with excellent polish/symmetry. The cut is great, scores 1.2 on the HCA. The stone measures 5.87 x 5.89 mm.

However, I also found Stone 2, a GIA excellent cut 0.83 J SI1 diamond WITH BLUE FLUOR (my fave). The cut is also great and scores equally as well on the HCA. However, this stone only has 'very good' symmetry instead of excellent. And it has a feather which I am not crazy about. Feathers are sort of a mind clean thing for me. This stone is bigger obviously, which appeals to me. It measures 6.04 x 6.08 mm. However, whichever stone I pick would be set in a double halo so I'm not sure if the bigger carat weight of Stone 2 will be that important. It's $526 more than Stone 1. So my question is, would you pay $526 more for Stone 2, to get the bigger carat weight/face up size, even though it only has very good symmetry and it has a feather? Will I notice a big difference between the 0.77 and the 0.83, or will the difference not be noticeable?

Thanks so much for your thoughts. First world problems, but I appreciate your help nonetheless!

 

[D&T]

Hey Laila!

hmm.. since you are going to halo this diamond I would vote for the one that is much less and that $500 saving could be well spent on another item

I'm usually a fan of going up in size and dropping clarity as well as gaining blue fluoro IF it was in a solitaire setting and that .20mm difference in that size range is visually noticeable for me when in a plain setting but when you halo I wouldn't really see a difference.

 

[chrono]

I think Stone 1 will be a mind clean purchase for you. To me, an additional $500 for 0.2 mm difference isn't worth it, given the information you've shared.

 

[Laila619]

I think Stone 1 will be a mind clean purchase for you. To me, an additional $500 for 0.2 mm difference isn't worth it, given the information you've shared.

Yes, I definitely agree Chrono. Stone 1 is mind clean in just about everything (except size?). Something about getting over the 0.80 carat mark is sticking in my head. I know that logically, a 0.77 and a 0.83 are so close. But maybe down the road when shrinkage sets in, will I regret it? I dunno.

 

[Laila619]

Hey Laila!

hmm.. since you are going to halo this diamond I would vote for the one that is much less and that $500 saving could be well spent on another item

I'm usually a fan of going up in size and dropping clarity as well as gaining blue fluoro IF it was in a solitaire setting and that .20mm difference in that size range is visually noticeable for me when in a plain setting but when you halo I wouldn't really see a difference.

Hi D&T! Thanks, I agree too, that $526 could go towards a wedding band to go with the halo. But DH keeps telling me to get the bigger stone. He says I will regret it if I don't. Hmmmmm.

 

[Logan Sapphire]

Is this for a ring like the Tiffany Soleste? Is this your dream ring? Exciting!

 

[FancyDiamond]

I am not convinced that the cut performance of stone #2 is acceptable, as it symmetry is not excellent. The HCA score may not be representative. I would need to inspect the diamond in person in order to confirm acceptability.

Diamond #1, on the other hand, has a very high chance of superior optical performance. If I were to make a purchase without having seen the diamond first, I would pick #1.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I would buy Stone 1.

The size difference will not be noticeable in real life and especially in a halo.

The sltrong blue fluor would bother me if the stones in the double halo did not have fluor too.

Sounds like a fun project!

 

[Dreamer_D]

I think Stone 1 will be a mind clean purchase for you. To me, an additional $500 for 0.2 mm difference isn't worth it, given the information you've shared.

Yes, I definitely agree Chrono. Stone 1 is mind clean in just about everything (except size?). Something about getting over the 0.80 carat mark is sticking in my head. I know that logically, a 0.77 and a 0.83 are so close. But maybe down the road when shrinkage sets in, will I regret it? I dunno.

Girl, those two stones will look identical in person, getting the .83 won't help DSS if it hits

 

[Gypsy]

I would be fine with the strong blue.

But I think for a halo the first stone is going to be best, and the 500 savings is nothing to sneeze at.

 

[Laila619]

Is this for a ring like the Tiffany Soleste? Is this your dream ring? Exciting!

Thanks, LS! Yes, it's exactly like the Soleste, but without the Tiff mark up. I adore the Soleste, and it adds so much size.

 

[Laila619]

I would buy Stone 1.

The size difference will not be noticeable in real life and especially in a halo.

The sltrong blue fluor would bother me if the stones in the double halo did not have fluor too.

Sounds like a fun project!

Hi Dreamer, it's only medium blue fluor, if that makes a difference?

 

[Laila619]

I think Stone 1 will be a mind clean purchase for you. To me, an additional $500 for 0.2 mm difference isn't worth it, given the information you've shared.

Yes, I definitely agree Chrono. Stone 1 is mind clean in just about everything (except size?). Something about getting over the 0.80 carat mark is sticking in my head. I know that logically, a 0.77 and a 0.83 are so close. But maybe down the road when shrinkage sets in, will I regret it? I dunno.

Girl, those two stones will look identical in person, getting the .83 won't help DSS if it hits

LOL! But every little bit helps, right? 6mm just seems much bigger to me than a 5.8mm stone.

 

[Laila619]

I am not convinced that the cut performance of stone #2 is acceptable, as it symmetry is not excellent. The HCA score may not be representative. I would need to inspect the diamond in person in order to confirm acceptability.

Diamond #1, on the other hand, has a very high chance of superior optical performance. If I were to make a purchase without having seen the diamond first, I would pick #1.

I never thought of that, thanks FD! So very good symmetry can affect the performance?

 

[FancyDiamond]

My thinking - Very good (instead of excellent) symmetry does not affect optical performance, but it makes the performance prediction based on HCA questionable. HCA calculation is based on a few sample measurements. How do we know the sample measurements are representative of the entire diamond if the symmetry is not excellent?

 

[SB621]

I would be fine with the strong blue.

But I think for a halo the first stone is going to be best, and the 500 savings is nothing to sneeze at.

yup this exactly.

 

[yssie]

Laila, have you seen the second stone in-person or can you have a trusted pair of eyes inspect it? I ask because fluor seems to be an important characteristic for you, and it has been my experience (and I've also heard some trusted vendors suggest) that GIA's fluor evaluation is... bizarrely unpredictable, to say the least. If MBF is something that tips the scale then definitely have someone have a look and confirm it's actually a reasonable "medium"!

I would buy Stone 1.

The size difference will not be noticeable in real life and especially in a halo.

The strong blue fluor would bother me if the stones in the double halo did not have fluor too.

Sounds like a fun project!

You, my dear, must never get a halo - I can't think of a single popular PS vendor who matches fluor in melee!

 

[Gypsy]

I actually asked Yssie for my first halo for Ocean to make sure that NONE of my halo stones had any because my center doesn't. I was that anal.

Then when Steven re-did it, I didn't care. I've become a lot more live and let live. And one of my halo stones has strong blue one has medium. I know know because one the Psers here in Nor Cal carries around a blue light pen.

 

[yssie]

Wow. I'm honestly surprised Ocean was willing to sort melee for you without charging for it - that goes well above and beyond, IMO!

I sorta know what you mean re. "live and let live"... I have a pic a vendor took of a bunch of stones under 365nm. I've cropped out the rest of the pic here, but according to the GIA reports both stones on the ends have fluor "none", and of the middle two one has "faint" and the other has "none". These lil' guys must've had the graders with the good stuff
It's exactly the sort of thing that *should* bother me but... it just doesn't. I never see any fluor IRL outside of the rare occasions I'm somewhere with blacklights, and even then it's a quirk, not an annoyance worth addressing. I'd prefer they all matched, of course, but... well, live and let live

 

[Laila619]

The fluor matching the halo stones wouldn't bother me one bit. I am more just wondering if I should spend the extra money for the slightly bigger stone. Based on the replies, I'm starting to think I should go with the 0.77 and pocket the extra cash.

Yssie, no chance to see stone 2, it's a drop shipper. But they do have an excellent return policy.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Laila, have you seen the second stone in-person or can you have a trusted pair of eyes inspect it? I ask because fluor seems to be an important characteristic for you, and it has been my experience (and I've also heard some trusted vendors suggest) that GIA's fluor evaluation is... bizarrely unpredictable, to say the least. If MBF is something that tips the scale then definitely have someone have a look and confirm it's actually a reasonable "medium"!

I would buy Stone 1.

The size difference will not be noticeable in real life and especially in a halo.

The strong blue fluor would bother me if the stones in the double halo did not have fluor too.

Sounds like a fun project!

You, my dear, must never get a halo - I can't think of a single popular PS vendor who matches fluor in melee!

LOL yeah. After I wrote it I thought it was silly. Fluor Schmore.... ETA: If I got a halo I would likely opt for no fluor in the center stone, rather than look for matched melee. But, if Laila doesn't care then I don't either That said, my second point below still stands.

Still like number 1 better bc it's less money and I doubt medium fluor is going to have much effect anyway -- as in, I would not consdier medium fluor to be a benefit, just a neutral feature.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Wow. I'm honestly surprised Ocean was willing to sort melee for you without charging for it - that goes well above and beyond, IMO!

I sorta know what you mean re. "live and let live"... I have a pic a vendor took of a bunch of stones under 365nm. I've cropped out the rest of the pic here, but according to the GIA reports both stones on the ends have fluor "none", and of the middle two one has "faint" and the other has "none". These lil' guys must've had the graders with the good stuff
It's exactly the sort of thing that *should* bother me but... it just doesn't. I never see any fluor IRL outside of the rare occasions I'm somewhere with blacklights, and even then it's a quirk, not an annoyance worth addressing. I'd prefer they all matched, of course, but... well, live and let live

How bizarre!

 

[Gypsy]

Wow. I'm honestly surprised Ocean was willing to sort melee for you without charging for it - that goes well above and beyond, IMO!

Okay to be fair. We are taking 16 stones here. I had 1 pointers in a halo for a 5.8 stone. And ONLY the halo, no pave anywhere else. And all it takes is a black light.
But yes. It was above and beyond. It's one of the reasons I thought she'd do a great job.

My mistake.

 

[distracts]

I would go with Stone 1... if feathers are a mind-clean thing for you, don't get Stone 2 unless you are 100% SURE that it won't bother you to know about.

 

[MissGotRocks]

I would go with stone #1 as well. Sounds like it will be a crisper looking stone. I'm not a fluro lover but if I had a stone with fluro, I think I'd much prefer it in a solitaire. I wouldn't want color change between the center stone and the halo - even if it was only in certain conditions. That's the kind of stuff that would drive me up a wall but fortunately, everyone is not like me - ha! I also don't think the size difference is enough to worry about and the double halo will beautifully enhance the stone.

Sounds like it will be beautiful - can't wait to see it!