Need help evaluating diamonds!

[sclaggett]

Hi all,

I've been wanting to upgrade the diamond I got my wife when I proposed with something better than what we could afford back then. After several years of waiting and saving we're finally ready to do it! We've had two diamonds brought in by Jamie at Brian Gavin and are hoping the kind Pricescopers here can provide some feedback and insight. My wife's criteria for a diamond include:

1. Not yellow
2. Sparkly
3. Decent size (her ring finger is a 4)
4. Good price

The two diamonds we've brought in are a 1.10ct G/SI1 (34187453/GIA2135892374) and a 1.13ct H/SI2 (33939224/GIA214504177. The prices are $7,106 and $6,351, respectively (with bank wire discount). At least the latter has been confirmed as eye-clean.

Below are diamond and IdealScope images and Sarin reports for the two diamonds. Can some diamond aficionados here help us out?

Thank you,
Shane

GIA213 Image:


GIA213 IdealScope:


GIA213 Sarin report:


GIA214 Image:


GIA214 IdealScope:


GIA214 Sarin report:

 

[diamondseeker2006]

The second one has a slightly better idealscope image and the numbers are more in line with the typical ideal cut. But I am not sure I'd be comfortable with the inclusions. It would have to be eyeclean from a close range from the top and sides for me to consider it. I probably wouldn't choose the first one.

 

[marchesa6989]

i think the H SI2 is the better option here - it's cheaper, they've confirmed it's eye clean AND the idealscope looks better. the idealscope on the first stone shows some light leakage under the table and is not quite excellent performance. what sort of inclusions are there in the second stone? and what sort of setting are you considering?

some people on PS would say that they like things that are totally clean from above and the sides, but in real life noone really looks at it from the side, and unless you get something like a tension setting where the highlight is the side profile - the setting can usually cover up the sides a little. and the extra money you save can go towards a great setting. i personally have an H SI2 (eye clean) and i love it

 

[sclaggett]

Thanks for your responses diamondseeker2006 and marchesa6989! Where are the inclusions you are referring to in the second stone?
I see something close to the center at 3 o'clock in the IdealScope but don't have much experience evaluating diamonds.

My wife is still debating which setting she'd like. I know she loves the classic Tiffany setting and is considering something similar.
She's a fan of Brian Gavin's replica of the Tiffany setting and a big fan of Leon Mege's work.

She showed me a tension setting last night on Pricescope. She said all the guys like it. It was pretty cool .

 

[hytso]

Definitely the second stone. Better IS image and angles are more in line with an ideal cut. The variance of the crown angles of the 1st stone is too much (over 1 degree).

 

[0-0-0]

As long as the second stone is eye clean to your standards, I think it is a great choice for the price.

 

[Gypsy]

If they say it is eyeclean (at what distance) then the SI2 would be my choice as well.

 

[yssie]

Both look like nice stones, if it's clean to your standards like Gypsy and thb said (decide what "clean" means to YOU - clean from 6" faceup? 12"? and have BGD vet them to your specifications) then I'd choose that one, it looks fine by the pics and the price difference is significant.

 

[sclaggett]

Thanks for the replies hytso, thbmok, Gypsy and Yssie! It sounds like there is a concensus that the second stone is the better option as long as it's eyeclean to our standards. One thing my wife is concerned about is the color difference between the diamonds since she isn't quite sure how a GIA G and H compare to one another. Lesley at Brian Gavin took a side-by-side picture for us:



I don't personally see any significant different in color between the two diamonds.

Once I get the OK from my wife I'll go ahead and place the order. Thanks for all your help!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

It's almost impossible to tell a G from an H side by side assuming they are both excellent cut. I'd still choose the H stone because it is better cut. But have they confirmed that it is eyeclean?

 

[Dancing Fire]

#2 if eye clean.