Mara, Diamonbob, and other experts...please help!!!

[Fancy]

I'm not an expert just a consumer, but it sounds like the 1.21 will be the winner ... it will probably look the same size if not bigger than the 1.28 just because of the incredible light return and performance (experts, correct me please if I am wrong). And I wouldn't think it's worth it to go down in size just to go to a 1.2 score when the 1.21 diamond is 1.4 on HCA.

 

[Hest88]

I'd go with the 1.21 as well. I doubt you're going to notice any difference in light performance between it and the smallest stone, but you will notice the size difference.

 

[aljdewey]

I'd also go for the 1.21.....you don't have to sacrifice any appreciable size and you can still get a great cut.




Great work, Andy.....I can't wait to see the final pick!

 

[Mara]

I would estimate that all three of the stones would look pretty much the same when viewed by an untrained eye in regular lighting. The ACA and SC may look *slightly* better, but I don't really know how much of a difference you'd view when viewing those side by side by an 'ideal' cut that is not H&A.




If you want to ensure a beautiful look without the guesswork at the same price or similar, in my opinion...I'd go for the ACA or SC...esp since they are H&A. They have to be gorgeous, esp with the companies that they come from. The DCD diamond is probably very beautiful as well--but without that true H&A differentiation...if the pricing is the same, I'd drop to the 1.21 carat weight and then you are only making a slight compromise on size and still keeping the cut amazing and the stone eye-clean.




If I were choosing and all three were priced the same or similarly..I'd go the 1.21. If you are choosing between the two larger stones...definitely the SC is what I would choose.




Good luck!

 

[AudiOn19s]

WOW...the 1.21 seems to be the hands down winner!. I wavered between the 2 all weekend and think that I let my inexperience take over again. I kept putting down the 1.21 stone because of the inclusions on the table vs. the 1.28 carat stone which was completely clean under 10x on the table and appeared to be a borderline VS2 stone not SI1. I guess that I forgot that the 1.21 was still eye clean which means that I'll never see the inclusions. I might actually go look a stones again tonight 1 more time. it's tough for me seeing as few stones as I have to really quantify what a 1.4 HCA stone will look like vs. a 2.1 HCA stone. I wish I could take the handy HCA calculator with me.

I think that I'm making this harder than it needs to be.....but it's something I don't want to mess up on.

Andy

 

[aljdewey]

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On 10/13/2003 1:40:28 PM AudiOn19s wrote: I think that I'm making this harder than it needs to be.....but it's something I don't want to mess up on.

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Yeah, I think you are.......making it harder than it needs to be.

Let me reassure you. All of these look to be beautiful stones. It is unlikely that you'd be able to see any discernable difference in light performance with your unaided eye even if they were all sitting right next to one another for comparison----(which won't happen when you choose one.)

What I'm trying to tell you is.......relax. You cannot go wrong with these no matter which one you pick. You've done your homework, and that hard work has resulted in having found beautiful stones to choose from. The tough part is over. Now just think about what's most important to you in the priority list, and go with it. Don't get so bogged in the details that you lose the enjoyment of doing this!

Good luck, and let us know what you decide.

 

[Mara]

Hmmm well I just took a good look at the 1.28 and the 1.21 and compared their scope images, their real images etc. The DCD diamond will most likely be great looking. But I don't know...I really like the 1.21 alot!! If you look at the scope images of both, it's hard to really make a decision--but it looks almost like the DCD diamond may have a little bit less light return around the edges than the SC stone. But the SC stone looks slightly paler in the table area than the DCD--slightly less light return. It's hard to tell though because the light source that these scope images were taken at makes a difference too, makes it hard to compare shades of 'red' vs 'pink'. The SC stone image itself looks almost slightly more symmetrical than the DCD stone, and also seems to have less 'black' areas around the edges of the stone, possibly the light leakage that is noted in the scope image. The SC stone has better looking edges.




Really hard decision but I think I would go for the SC stone. If its EYE CLEAN..it doesn't matter if you can see the inclusions under 10x. My opinion anyway. I really like the larger size of the 1.28 but in this case the diameter difference is small, so it's not as though you would sacrifice anything visual.




AL makes very good points...these are all going to be amazingly beautiful stones. Now close your eyes and pick. I also would not really consider the ACA stone in this case because of its small size and it's the same price as the other stones. I love ACA stones, but in this case..I would do the 1.21...or if you wanted to go for size over the 'branding' and still get an amazing stone, the 1.28 will be lovely. The difference IMO of 1.4 and 2.1 on HCA is minimal.

Good luck!!

 

[AudiOn19s]

Well....I was soo busy running around yesterday getting funds transfered and what not that I forgot to post my final decision. I went with the SuperbCert 1.21 stone over the larger 1.28 stone. I can't thank everyone here enough....you guys really helped me along with this and gave me piece of mind that I'm getting a very good stone at a very good price.

I'll make sure to post some pictures in the near future when I get the stone...unfortunatly the setting won't be here for a few weeks beyond that but exciting times are right around the corner.

Al, Mara, and all...thanks again.

Andy

 

[aljdewey]

Andy, the pleasure was all mine.....really.




I just love happy endings.

You did a great job....now sit back and enjoy the results!

 

[Mara]

YAY congrats! Can't wait to see pictures....every SC stone I have seen posted in the past has been amazing. You can also ask Barry and/or the team at SC to take a few pictures of the stone for you as they are very experienced with the imagery.