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My new 1.5 "I" coloured princess is giving me doubts.......

Re: My new 1.5 "I" coloured princess is giving me doubts....

I see the color in your images.
Truth be told, I'm not a fan of princess cuts. I just don't feel that they offer the most bang-for-your-buck. However, your ring is lovely, but I understand your concerns. My advice would be to wait on it for a short while longer. I used to think that my original stone was a bit warm, but my concerns faded away over time. If the color continues to bother you, I would definitely consider a different stone - you should be happy/satisfied with your ring, even if that means shopping around a bit more. Good luck :)
 
Re: My new 1.5 "I" coloured princess is giving me doubts....

Having just completed my diamond grading lab at GIA, I can attest that GIA teaches (rather implicitly) that clarity grading is done proportionally to the diamond size, just as colour grading of larger stones is done with a larger master set ( a 2 ct I colour master will appear to have more body colour than a 1 ct I colour master).

However, since size of inclusions is only one-fifth of the clarity grade (nature, relief, position and number being the others), it must be considered concurrently with the other factors so it is extremely difficult to create a blanket statement or conclusion that just considers the size of an inclusion in terms of the clarity grade.
 
Re: My new 1.5 "I" coloured princess is giving me doubts....

Color is probably the one thing that bothers me the most. I can distinguish nuances in colors better than most gemologists I have worked with. I only own DE color diamonds. My e-ring is an E color upgraded substantially in size from a D. However, I really could not distinguish any difference in color when I was in the process. (Inclusions that are located in the right spot and are of the right type and size dont bother me.)

I dont think the color will stop bothering you. As for size -- square stones like Princesses and Asschers -they tend to be deep. As such, I have never been a fan of Princesses. For a brilliant cut stone I would do a round and for step cut an emerald cut. Lastly, I would not do a VVS stone in a brilliant cut stone. The value of superior clarity is wasted in a brilliant cut stone in my opinion unless you require mind -clean. I would do an SI or a VS in a brilliant cut and a SI or better--but would try for at least VS in a step cut.
 
Re: My new 1.5 "I" coloured princess is giving me doubts....

laurenk|1376778834|3504998 said:
Another option could be:

2.04c princess, "H" "si1" 7.31x6.82x4.92 (72.1% depth) (1.07 ratio). This stone has 24% more top surface than my current 1.5 so not only would look bigger but would be whiter. Would an "H" be adequate for a bigger stone or should I go to a "G"? This will cost me about $9k difference (this is quite a lot).

The other 1.5c is just a tiny bit bigger in the top surface but an "E" so I know it will be icy and I have seen this in real life.

I think I'll "sleep" on it for a few days then go and see him and have another good look.

:)


Lauren, do keep us posted. It's quite nerve-wracking trying to buy the right thing when large sums are at stake, isn't it! At least, it is for me. I've been known to agonise over jewellery purchases much smaller than this.

As regards your question whether H wold be adequate or whether you should go for G, only you can answer that, since it depends how colour sensitive you are. I know you don't want to ask the jeweler to call in multiple stones, but perhaps you could look at Gs and Hs that he already has in stock, and see what you think?

Best of luck! :wavey:
 
Re: My new 1.5 "I" coloured princess is giving me doubts....

I just meant there is a lot of territory between 1.5 and 3 cts, and I would rather have a great color, clarity, cut 2 ct stone over a 3 ct that had poor color and clarity. I would absolutely consider a 2 ct H. You'd have to see it to know whether the color improvement was enough for you, but it might be acceptable to you since it is just one step down from your G. But again, even if you have to work with this jeweler because of a trade-in situation, he can get more stones in for you and I wouldn't settle until you get what you want in all specs, and especially do not settle for one that is not very well cut. I will say that sometimes these trade-in deals aren't so great, and a lot of people do just fine keeping the old stone for a pendant and start over with an internet vendor and get a better price on the new diamond.
 
Re: My new 1.5 "I" coloured princess is giving me doubts....

Is circa $16k for a 2.04 carat h colour si1 good bad or average?

I can get the 3 carat for the same price but its an I colour p1. This had no black marks but a few what I think look almost like gauges but once set not hugely noticeable.
 
Re: My new 1.5 "I" coloured princess is giving me doubts....

That price seems to be in the ballpark. There is variance depending on the specs but just doing a quick check with a couple of PS recommended online vendors shows Princess H SI1 in that range.
 
Re: My new 1.5 "I" coloured princess is giving me doubts....

Just to throw a spanner in the works - I'm now thinking of looking at a squarish cushion. These have always caught my eye and I wondered whether cushions show colour as much as princesses tend to? Ideally I love the squareness of a pricness but I love the soft corners of a cushion. Rounds are to round haha for me. Would love info re cushions. I do love the tiffany novo which looks similar to mine with a cushion instead of a princess.

Thanks so much!
 
Re: My new 1.5 "I" coloured princess is giving me doubts....

I love a squarish cushion over a princess and think they will stand the test of time better, assuming they are well cut. Good Old Gold carries several types of cushions, and Brian Gavin also has a new cushion that is well cut.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamondSearch.php (look on the right under Fancy Varieties and the first three links are types of cushions, but click on several of each kind as they differ in appearance)

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/brian-gavins-cushion-hearts-and-arrows/
 
Re: My new 1.5 "I" coloured princess is giving me doubts....

Oohhh I've found 3 cushions in the circa 2 carat region. Ill post specs soon!
 
Re: My new 1.5 "I" coloured princess is giving me doubts....

Smith1942|1376841565|3505346 said:
I thought it was generally received wisdom that the larger the diamond, the more careful you have to be with clarity? Lumera Diamonds has a great education section on their site, which says this at the bottom of the linked page:

"The larger the diamond, the easier imperfections are to detect; therefore Clarity becomes more important. For diamonds over 2 carats, a clarity grade of VS2 or higher is the safest bet for avoiding any signs of visible inclusions. In diamonds between 1 and 2 carats, clarity grades of SI1 or better will not have inclusions easily visible to the naked eye. In diamonds under 1 carat, clarity should be considered the least important of the traditional 4 Cs." http://www.lumeradiamonds.com/diamond-education/diamond-clarity

This echoes advice I've seen on PS a few times to stay at VS2 or above in larger stones. But if I'm wrong, I take it back. Of course, stones should assessed (although I've had great luck buying blind from BN - admittedly in small sizes!)I've just read a number of times that in general clarity is more of an issue when you get to the larger sizes, that's all I was saying. It was just a general remark echoing what Lumera says about clarity in larger stones, same as the other general remark here about colour being more easily visible in larger stones. I didn't do a ton of scientific research for before posting it - I had heard about the need for raising clarity grade in larger stones a number of times, and it makes sense that this is because inclusions are often proportionally larger in larger stones. Perfectly willing to take it back if I'm wrong! :wavey:

Perhaps, though, I could contact Lumera and ask them to explain precisely what they mean. If I'm wrong, it would be good to know. :)

ETA: If it's wrong that inclusions are, in general, easier to spot in larger stones, I wonder why I've heard this a number of times, Lumera being an example?

Perhaps it's just one of those things that's often said but isn't actually true. Maybe it's even a way for jewellers to make more money by encouraging buyers of larger stones to stay at VS clarity. I've always been really happy with my Si1 and Si2 clarity. If I ever bought a larger stone, I'd like to think I could stay in that clarity range.

Just seen that a new thread has opened up about this - pardon the threadjack.


According to AGS, you are correct.
"Generally, the larger the inclusion, the greater the impact on the clarity grade. If inclusions are large enough, they can also impact the durability of the stone. The inclusions with the largest impact on the clarity of the diamond and determine the grade are called “grade setters”. Also, the size of the inclusions and their cumulative effect are considered relative to the size of the stone."

http://www.agslab.com/education-diamond-clarity-grade.php

Scroll all the way down in the article to where it says "Tips" and you'll see: "Diamond size has an effect on clarity. It’s easier to see an inclusion in a larger diamond than in a small one."
 
Re: My new 1.5 "I" coloured princess is giving me doubts....

I have 3 potential CUSHIONS that Im now considering:
1. 2.03, G, si2, (7.3 x 6.69 x 4.46) - Polish - ex, Symmetry - good, girdle - very thick to extra thick, fluoro - faint. 66.6% depth, 58% table. GIA cert - 5141900920 $14122

2. 2.01, G, si2, (7.36 x 7.19 x 4.72), polish - ex, symmetry - very good, fluoro - very strong. 65.5% depth, 56% table. GIA cert - 5136951841 $15050

3. 2.04, H, si2, (7.84 x 7.05 x 4.87) - polish ex, symmetry - good - 69.2% depth, 56% table, GIA cert 2155399696 $12919

Colour, as Ive recently found out, is much more important to be than awesome clarity. Im happy with a lower clarity as my first diamond was an s12 and never bothered me once because its G colour made it look amazing.

I obviously have to see these in person but they look ok. I also wondered whether cushions are cheaper than princesses on the whole? These prices for these cushions are, in my opinion, pretty great.

Would love some input.

Thanks
Lauren
 
Re: My new 1.5 "I" coloured princess is giving me doubts....

So..... I saw the 3 carat princess. I must say I'm a little bit in love. The p1 clarity consists of one tinsy spec of carbon (not visible without a loup) and two what look like "scratches" in surface which once set aren't that obvious. We put it in a loose mount to get an overall effect and its so much whiter than my 1.5 "I" colour princess.

I still don't know if I'm being spoilt even considering this stone.

Compared to my current stone I feel the colour is great and if I am happy with clarity and these issues are set well within stone (so it cannot fracture or hurt it) then with the good "h" colour I'm wondering if I'm crazy not to take this opportunity to get myself a 3 carat?

My jeweller is very relaxed and honest with me (I've known him for many years) and he said clarity is an issue but that I need to decide if I can handle it and if I can then its a good stone for its size and colour.

My only alternative is doing a halo to my current "I" colour 1.5 - what I want is that "bling" effect but good colour. If I haloed my "I" colour would this further bring out the warmth or make it better?

Thanks to you all - I want to make a good decision and would love any advice further to what you have kindly offered this far

:)
 
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