Mara, F& I, Giangi, all...stephcola still looking - help pls!!!!!!

[stephcola]

Most of you know that I have been looking for a few months now. I have in my possession a 3.01 H SI1 1.2 FIC. The stone is very eyeclean and gorgeous. My problem is....I had a 3.38 and a 3.29 (both (I) color) and returned them. Now, and I do say it is quite "piggy" but the 3.01 looks very small to me. The 3.29 had med flour. but was an EGL stone and I don''t think it was rated correctly. The stone took sometimes took on a violet case in natural light.
I have totally shied away from flouresc. until now......

After reading several posts, including F & I''s, I might be willing to consider a GIA stone with med. flour. in (I) color to get a larger stone.
ALthough I do not know the pav and crown angles yet..... I have found a 3.15 (I) med flour. ex/ex VS2 and was wondering what you all think.

Will a GIA rated med. flouresc. stone in a 3.15 ct. still have a yellowish tint??? and...will it also from time to time take on a purplish tint??? This is what scares me. The Egl stone _ which I later learned - had terrible proportions... went from white to yellowish to purplish all in a matter of seconds in outdoor sunlight.

As I jokingly refer to this ring as the "second wife ring", I do not plan on ever getting an upgrade. I want this to be it!!!!! If....the angles are all as good as the 3.01 H, would all of you recommend staying with the (H) or giving the (I) w/flour. a shot. If I could see them side by side would that help me???

In one of Mara''s polls, when asked about what you would change about your ring....many said larger size, while many said better color. The size difference would be between a diameter of about 9.29 -9.33 to 9.47 - 9.51.

I am very torn because the 3.01 H is beautiful and totally clean but I am looking to up the size if at all possible. In my price range ( and I have done an exhaustive search) these are pretty much my choices. All opinions welcome,please help!!!

 

[fire&ice]

I'd stick w/ what you have. I think you are just experiencing shrinkage & *remember* the other diamonds as much larger. It's just not that much bigger.

Plus, don't forget to keep the stone clean. Dirty diamonds can & will appear smaller.

 

[stephcola]

F & I,

Thanks so much for your advice. For the last few months I have looked at so many diamonds, I almost don't want one anymore - mostly for fear of making the wrong choice. You have been a champion for the flouresc. diamonds so if you say to stick....I'm happy with that. I will wait a week or so before having it set and then hopefully get someone to post a pic.for me. Thanks again and have a great day!!!

 

[fire&ice]

Yeah, I'm a nut about Bl. Fluor. But, you mentioned you did not like the purple hue in sunlight. I think it makes the stone more plugged in & is pleasing to my eyes. But, some don't like it.

 

[Giangi]

I agree with F&I... You got an eye-clean SI 1, which is very rare at this size, a great cut and a very good price. An I with medium blue fluorescence will look about like a good H... But it's always an I and from the side it will look like an I should. I'm not trying to discourage you, but I think you're remembering those 3.38 & 3.29 much bigger than what they were. A 0.20mm difference is noticeable, but in a 3ct stone it will be much easier to tell the difference between H (since it looks like you got a VERY white H) and I than a a 0.14ct difference. It's just shrinkage!

Don't worry, it's common, but as soon as you'll have it mounted it will look soooooo large!

 

[Mara]

I agree with the others...stick with what you have. I would love to have a bigger stone..but alas its just not in the cards right now. I know you say you don't want to upgrade in the future, but don't entirely rule it out. I would upgrade in a heartbeat--to me its not really a sentimental thing (wedding ring may be different), but I know not everyone feels this way. (Plus my better half has made me promise that we will keep this original stone...he's sentimentally attached to it. But that doesn't mean I can't get an entirely new and bigger one come some lucky anniversary!)




As you saw with the last month of stress, your budget was very tight with your requirements. Most people who want size are willing to sacrifice more color or similar, you are already as low as you can go on clarity with a stone that size to keep it eye clean. Your color requirements are what are holding you back. Want a I or J stone with fluor? Run a search on Pscope for *well cut stones* with those colors and see how many of those are in your size with med or strong blue fluor. I think it's harder to find than the stone you have in your hand now was to find! And that was pretty agonizing! Do you want to start all over?




Set the stone in a higher up setting (Cathedral or similar) with a very thin band and it will look larger than it is. Use the setting to enhance and enlarge the look of the stone, that is what my setting does, and it suffices (for now!).

You have a very lovely stone and you worked hard to get it. That 3.15 will not look that much bigger from a diameter perspective....and maybe in 5-10 years you will feel a little different about upgrading!

 

[aljdewey]

My honest opinion is this: I think your fixation on getting an even larger stone is all in your head. Not to be an armchair shrink or anything, but I think Mara's right....your remembering them much bigger than they were because you KNOW they were 30 points more. What do you think that will lead to next if you get the 3.30 ct.......? That's right....then you'll want 3.5. At what point is it enough?




There will always be someone out there with a bigger stone. You've found a gorgeous stone, and it's 3 CARATS!!!!! You were fortunate to find such a gorgeous stone and you've pushed as far as I think you can in your budget range without taking a hit in cut, and if you have to do that, it may be heavier, but it won't look bigger. If this discussion were the difference beween a 2.25 and a 3.25, then I could see it. That would be a noticeable, significant difference. This difference is negligible.




You've found a beautiful stone, and I agree with the others....I'd keep it.


It will look much bigger than a crappily cut 3.5 stone anyway, so you're not losing anything. Embrace what you have, enjoy it, and wear it proudly.