Need Help Choosing a Half-ct Diamond: Clarity vs Color

[zhp997]

Hey everyone!

I'm shopping for an E-ring and I have been doing some research before making an online purchase. Since I'm a graduate student, my budget is limited (around $1500). Within this budget, I put cut as first consideration, then carat, and then clarity and color. Here I narrow down three options, but I can't decide which one is good to buy. All of them are with GIA grading report.

Diamond 1 ($1395):
0.56 ct, 5.30 - 5.32 x 3.25 mm
I, SI1
Clarity characteristics: Crystal, Cloud
table: 57%
depth: 61.1%
crown angle: 34.5
pavilion angle: 40.8
crown height: 15%
pavilion depth: 43%
star facet length: 45%
lower girdle facet: 75%
girdle: thin to medium
symmetry: excellent
polish: excellent
Fluorescence: none
HCA = 1.3

Diamond 2 ($1484):
0.56 ct, 5.28 - 5.32 x 3.25 mm
G, SI1
Clarity characteristics: Cloud, Feather
table: 57%
depth: 61.3%
crown angle: 35
pavilion angle: 40.6
crown height: 15%
pavilion depth: 43%
star facet length: 50%
lower girdle facet: 80%
girdle: medium
symmetry: excellent
polish: excellent
Fluorescence: none
HCA = 0.9

Diamond 3 ($1501):
0.55 ct, 5.28 - 5.31 x 3.25 mm
H, SI1
Clarity characteristics: Cloud, Crystal
table: 56%
depth: 61.4%
crown angle: 34.5
pavilion angle: 40.6
crown height: 15%
pavilion depth: 43%
star facet length: 50%
lower girdle facet: 75%
girdle: medium
symmetry: excellent
polish: excellent
Fluorescence: none
HCA = 0.7

The cut and carat are similar. The difference is from different inclusions and color. I don't know whether there is an obvious difference in colors of G, H and I at half-ct diamond, and whether the inclusions in 2 (cloud and feather) are much worse compared with 1 and 3 (crystal and cloud). Could anyone give me any suggestions to pick one from the three? I really appreciate some advice here. Many thanks!

 

[16ocean]

Hi zhp997-
Wow! I like the numbers on all three of the diamonds you posted.
Does the vendor you are working w/ have ASSET images? Often that can help w/ members of the forum giving opinions on the selection process.

Questions I would as the vendor:
Are all of the stones the stones eye clean or can you see the inclusions?
What is the vendor's description of eye clean does it match up to yours?
Do any of the clouds affect light performance?
If the GIA certificate says, "clarity based on or partially based on clouds not shown" for a stone w/ SI one that could be problematic.

All things being equal I think I like the crown & pavilion angles on #2 the best and color

Hopefully some one will be along with more advice.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

My preference would be G or H IF the stones are eyeclean from all directions and if you have images of the stones and idealscope images. You cannot pick a stone by the grading report alone. The I color one does have great numbers, though. Can you post the images?

 

[zhp997]

Thanks a lot for you so detailed and nice advice! I found these three diamonds on BN and I think they don't provide idealscope images for diamonds under 1 ct. I can just chat with the cs to see whether they have some comments on each diamond. Actually, I have bought the diamond 1 last month and was thinking about if to keep this one or exchange with diamond 2. I found that BN increased the price (around 40-50 bucks for the half-ct size?) of most diamonds last week. Diamond 1 at $1395 is before price increase and diamond 2 at $1484 is after price increase. So I think the price of diamond 2 should be lower to around $1440, I guess? The cut of diamond 2 is similar to 1, with better color of G, but the price is not much different. I'm concerned about whether the inclusions in 2 might be problematic, like cloud may impact light performance or feather may have durability issue.

 

[zhp997]

Thanks for your kind suggestions. I don't have the idealscope images for these diamonds, since I found them on BN and I think they don't have those images stones under 1 ct. I don't know whether H or G would look whiter than I, for such half-ct size. So I can't decide which one is better to buy.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

If you can return it, there are many vendors who do provide magnified photos of the stones and idealscope images. I think BN really needs to do that as well! There are others with competitive pricing to BN.

 

[mrs-b]

Hi zhp997

I'd go with option 2 or 3 - probably 3. The size of all three is all bar identical, so no difference there. But - yes, even for small diamonds - my sticking point in color is I. To my eye, there is a marked difference between I and G, and if you're keeping the size petite and elegant, I'd be looking for great stats - including color etc - in what i did buy. I prefer a 75% lower girdle, especially on a half ct diamond, as it's less 'needle-y' in its look, and I prefer the look of the arrows. I think a crown angle of 34.5 works slightly better, tho I have to say, you're highly unlikely to see any differences in the cut at that size.

I buy a lot of diamonds through BN and regard them very highly. I think at that size if all the stats are great, and if you love it when you see it, an idealscope or ASET doesn't give you a whole lot more. When all is said and done, it's how it looks to your eye that's going to work, and I think an I to G color change will be more noticeable than anything else, given that you're starting with three diamonds that all have terrific stats.

So for me - option 2 or 3.

 

[zhp997]

Hello,

I just found another diamond, with better color (G) and a little bit larger (0.06 mm) diameter, but costs about $200 more compared with stone 1. Could you give me some advice whether it's deserved to upgrade to this one by paying another $200? I'm not sure whether the feather on the edge of 1-2 clock might have a durability issue. Many thanks!

0.57 ct, 5.37 - 5.38 x 3.27 mm ($1590)
G, SI1
Clarity characteristics: Crystal, Feather
table: 57%
depth: 60.9%
crown angle: 34.5
pavilion angle: 40.6
crown height: 15%
pavilion depth: 43%
star facet length: 50%
lower girdle facet: 80%
girdle: medium
symmetry: excellent
polish: excellent
Fluorescence: none
HCA = 0.8

Hey everyone!

I'm shopping for an E-ring and I have been doing some research before making an online purchase. Since I'm a graduate student, my budget is limited (around $1500). Within this budget, I put cut as first consideration, then carat, and then clarity and color. Here I narrow down three options, but I can't decide which one is good to buy. All of them are with GIA grading report.

Diamond 1 ($1395):
0.56 ct, 5.30 - 5.32 x 3.25 mm
I, SI1
Clarity characteristics: Crystal, Cloud
table: 57%
depth: 61.1%
crown angle: 34.5
pavilion angle: 40.8
crown height: 15%
pavilion depth: 43%
star facet length: 45%
lower girdle facet: 75%
girdle: thin to medium
symmetry: excellent
polish: excellent
Fluorescence: none
HCA = 1.3

Diamond 2 ($1484):
0.56 ct, 5.28 - 5.32 x 3.25 mm
G, SI1
Clarity characteristics: Cloud, Feather
table: 57%
depth: 61.3%
crown angle: 35
pavilion angle: 40.6
crown height: 15%
pavilion depth: 43%
star facet length: 50%
lower girdle facet: 80%
girdle: medium
symmetry: excellent
polish: excellent
Fluorescence: none
HCA = 0.9

Diamond 3 ($1501):
0.55 ct, 5.28 - 5.31 x 3.25 mm
H, SI1
Clarity characteristics: Cloud, Crystal
table: 56%
depth: 61.4%
crown angle: 34.5
pavilion angle: 40.6
crown height: 15%
pavilion depth: 43%
star facet length: 50%
lower girdle facet: 75%
girdle: medium
symmetry: excellent
polish: excellent
Fluorescence: none
HCA = 0.7

The cut and carat are similar. The difference is from different inclusions and color. I don't know whether there is an obvious difference in colors of G, H and I at half-ct diamond, and whether the inclusions in 2 (cloud and feather) are much worse compared with 1 and 3 (crystal and cloud). Could anyone give me any suggestions to pick one from the three? I really appreciate some advice here. Many thanks!

 

[mrs-b]

zhp997 -

I would definitely buy this stone. It's got the 34.5 angle that I like, and the G color is terrific. And that photo is REALLY lovely.

Of the 4 you've posted, this is the one I'd buy. And the fact that it's a tiny bit larger never hurt anyone; even though you might not be able to see its bigger size, the truth is that it IS bigger, and every little bit helps. It also looks very clean for an SI1. If I were you, I'd buy this quickly; once someone posts a beautiful diamond like this, they can have a habit of disappearing suddenly when others see them! If you buy this, when you have, could you come back and tell us which company it came from? It's just such a beautiful stone!

Also - what size is your girl's finger and do you have a setting chosen yet?

Nice find!

 

[16ocean]

ditto.

Looks lovely.

 

[zhp997]

Hi mrs-blop,

Thanks a lot for your reply. I'm not an expert in looking at the inclusions from the images. My concern about this stone is the feather inclusion. Since this stone only contains crystal and feather, which graded it to SI 1. Do you think the feather in this stone might have a potential durability issue? Is that a good price (nearly $1600) to buy a 0.57 ct stone at G SI 1? Thank you!

 

[16ocean]

Price wise I think so.

Brian Gavin has a 0.501 for $1754 and it is an H SI
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.501-h-si1-round-diamond-bfg-13293

In WhiteFlash's expert selection section
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/compare.aspx?idnos=3144247,2994238,3009350
The G SI is &1,556(bank wire)
Their ACA is $1,722
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2914765.htm

Good old Gold
Has a H VS1 for $1,601 but it doesn't hit the half ct mark
http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/0-46ct-h-vs1-superior-round-hearts-and-arrows-diamond.html

 

[mrs-b]

Hi mrs-blop,

Thanks a lot for your reply. I'm not an expert in looking at the inclusions from the images. My concern about this stone is the feather inclusion. Since this stone only contains crystal and feather, which graded it to SI 1. Do you think the feather in this stone might have a potential durability issue? Is that a good price (nearly $1600) to buy a 0.57 ct stone at G SI 1? Thank you!

Re price - 16ocean is right on target in my opinion. The price seems competitive.

Re the feather - you'll need to ask whoever has the diamond about the position and the depth of it. Feathers are EXTREMELY common in diamonds and most pose no problems. Pretty much all my diamonds - and I own a lot of all different sizes - are SI1 in clarity and almost all have feathers, and I've never had a problem. The relevant diamond needs to be examined, of course, but I'd happily take the word of whoever is holding it on this one, assuming it's a reputable dealer. Is the dealer a PS vendor? I'd trust all the PS vendors to give a reliable opinion on something like this.

 

[zhp997]

Hi mrs-blop,

Thanks for your reply. The vendor only told me the feather is located between 3-4 o'clock. I don't know the depth of it and whether there are some feathers on the girdle area. Actually, I bought stone 1 from BN on Jan. 9th and today is the last day for me to decide whether to return stone 1 and buy this one. I think I have no extra time to wait the checking result from the vendor and I don't really want to risk buying it until I can make sure there is no durability effect on this stone.

Anyway, still thanks a lot for your kind reply and suggestions.

 

[mrs-b]

I think you're taking a much greater risk buying an I colored stone than buying an SI1 stone with a tiny feather. Your choice, of course, but....

And who was the vendor of that lovely G SI1 .57ct stone?

ETA I can't speak to the stone, because I don't know it. But if pushed, I would say that the chance of an SI1 stone that looks like the one you posted having an integrity-affecting feather would be about...oh...nothing.