Need an opinion on a few diamonds!

[Dreman]

Just wanted to say, this website is one of the best as far as diamonds are concerned. Very imformative and helpful. I am in a bit of a rush to propose to my beautiful girlfriend. She knows its coming, and I want to do it before her expectations...The ladies in waiting threads helped me out quite a bit as well...if you know what I mean

. The diamond is going into a super clean, cathedral euro shank setting. So here are a few of the diamonds that I have been looking at:

ONE:
Item Code: 9851512
Price: $3,194.00
Report: EGL
Shape: Princess
Carat: 1.03
Color: G
Clarity: SI1
Depth: 71
Table: 69
Girdle: M-
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 5.58-5.45X3.92
Length/Width: 1.02

TWO:

Item Code: 10181264
Price: $3,086.00
Report: EGL
Shape: Princess
Carat: 1.01
Color: H
Clarity: VS2
Depth: 73.6
Table: 71
Girdle: TK
Polish: Good
Symmetry: Good
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 5.35-5.34X3.94
Length/Width: 1.00

THREE:

Item Code: 10516017
Price: $3,205.00
Report: GIA
Shape: Princess
Carat: 0.95
Color: H
Clarity: SI1
Depth: 73.2
Table: 75
Girdle: M-STK
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Very Good
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 5.31-5.29X3.87
Length/Width: 1.00


I guess what I am trying to figure out is:

Is the GIA - EGL certification really going to matter that much.
Since I am putting this into a white gold setting, I am a bit worried about the G vs H color. Is it going to make that much of a difference? Reason for the concern, is that I saw an I colored diamond and it was pretty yellowish.
When measurements are concerned, as far as princess cut diamonds go, I read somewhere that you want it to be as square as possible. When selecting diamond is this that big of a deal?

Thank you for your replies and recommendations!

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Without some aids like ASET or at least ideal-scope photo''s the data you present is of no use to me what soever to know about the diamonds cut quality.

EGL USA is an OK lab. EGL in many other countries is not one that i would use without seeing the color (and clarity).

AGS princess cost a lot more, but guess why?

 

[Dreman]

Thank you for the reply Gary, unfortunatly I was not looking for answers on the cut quality (as per my questions below)...but rather the overall qualities of the diamond (according to the specs).

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I''m sorry I don''t know much about princess stones, but G and H color(GIA and AGS) are both fine for a diamond. You''d have to have an EGL stone independently appraised to see if the color was accurate on those. If the color or clarity is not accurate, then the price isn''t quite as good as it seems. My understanding is that it is preferable to get very good or excellent on polish and symmetry.

 

[Sundial]

I guess what I am trying to figure out is:

Is the GIA - EGL certification really going to matter that much.
Since I am putting this into a white gold setting, I am a bit worried about the G vs H color. Is it going to make that much of a difference? Reason for the concern, is that I saw an I colored diamond and it was pretty yellowish.
When measurements are concerned, as far as princess cut diamonds go, I read somewhere that you want it to be as square as possible. When selecting diamond is this that big of a deal?


To answer your questions, yes the certification matters because that is the assurance that you have from a lab that you are getting what you paid for. EGL does not seem to have as good a reputation for accuracy as GIA and AGS. If it were me I would stick with an AGS 0 ideal cut princess.

In my opinion princess cuts show color a little more than rounds, but I think you should still be okay with a well cut and properly graded G or H. Personally I wouldn''t go any lower for a princess.

I think princess cuts are perceived as a square stone so I think the squareness is somewhat of an issue particularly in certain settings. If you personally prefer a more rectangular shape however there is nothing wrong with that.

 

[Dreman]

Thank you very much for the replies...that made things a bit easier!

 

[JulieN]

yes, it does matter how square it is. rectangular diamonds may (not will) have more leakage.

also, princesses are a very handy shape if you want to hide weight, so a rectangular princess serves that purpose.