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NEED HELP FINE TUNING NICE ROCK PARAMETERS

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prefvfr

Rough_Rock
Joined
Dec 17, 2003
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I had been looking in the F/VS2 to G/VS2 range until reading here about H color and eye clean SI1s and am now wondering if I’m splitting hairs to stop at G/VS2. The dollar differences are significant. All the stones I’m considering are about 1.85ct ideal cut triple zero (or id/id) stones that score 1.0-1.2 on the HCA.

1) f/vs2 1.81 $16,566
2) f/si1 1.85 $15,997
3) g/vs2 1.85 $15,007
4) g/si1 1.85 $13,602

I can afford the f/vs2 but why spend the extra $3,000 if a g/si1 is indistinguishable. What should I be focusing on here and where should I draw the line?
 
Great thinking. I'll tell you that for nearly everyone, there is no perceptible difference between an F and a G, so I think the G represents a better value.

I personally prefer to go with H....even more value and still white in most cases. My stone is 1.24 H stone and it's white, but since your stone will be more than a half-carat larger than that, I'd recommend that you go see an H stone in the 1.85 size range...in an ideal cut...to make sure you personally don't see tint.

Regarding clarity, SI represents a GREAT value and yes, the price jump is SIGNIFICANT. Not all SI stones are created equal---some are cleaner than others. You should get on the phone with the vendor and ask him/her to tell you about the stone's inclusions - are they white/black/dark, what kind of inclusions are they (wispy or crystal or feathers), and where they are.

Ask the vendor if the stone is eyeclean. If it is, you're good to go. I bought an eyeclean SI2 (and I didn't think I'd go below SI1 - thank GOD I listened to Whiteflash!) and got MUCH more stone than I could have otherwise.

Lastly, know that eyeclean means in the face up position. If you will be bothered at seeing inclusions through the side of the stone, ask the vendor about that too.....even some VS stones have inclusions that can been seen through the sides.
 
Thanks aljdewey. The g/si1 gia report lists "cloud" and "crystal" below the table. The vendor is reputable and says it's eyeclean. BTW, the thread you participated in for domer was really helpful. But like domer, despite the si1 value appeal, there is something that doesn't like an si1. I'm getting the feeling it's more of a new purchaser issue as you, mara and others seemed pretty adament on going for eyeclean si1s. I'm trying to get past the stigma, seems like the right way to go.
 
Pref, believe me, I can understand the hesitancy around the SI1. I think it comes from seeing stones that are graded by more lenient labs as SI1 (when they are really more like I1).

If you've never seen an ideal cut SI1, try to hit a local jeweler or a big place like Tiffs or Biddle Bailey and ask specifically to see some SI1 AND their grading plots. It will totally convert you.

At the end of the day, it really doesn't matter what everyone here is comfortable with or what WE think is the best choice....it matters what YOU think is the best choice for you.

I guess the question becomes this: do you care what it looks like on the hand, or do you care about what it looks like on paper? If it has to look a certain way on paper and you feel better about a vs stone, then go vs. If you would rather maximize your dollar and care more about how it looks on the hand, then consider the SI1.

I could put my SI2 diamond next to a VS diamond, and no one would be able to pick the SI with their naked eye. I could have paid $800-1000 more for my stone to get a VS.....and if I had done that and then placed it next to an eyecolean SI, still no one would have been able to see the difference to justify the extra money I spent.

Most important, so I'll repeat it: NOT all SI stones are created equal. Ask the vendor to tell you about the inclusions and if it's eyeclean. If the vendor tells you the inclusions are white and that the stone is eyeclean, you really shouldn't have worries.

OH.......and my grading report also said "additional clouds not shown". Doesn't mean it's bad, but you should ask about it. You're paying a lot of money to get a quality product, and these vendors are more than willing to provide their service and *speak* to you about these stones. I almost think they prefer it....instead of someone who buys without knowing what to expect and then is disappointed later.
 
My response to this would be which stone has the greatest optical properties? If it is the SI1 and it is eye clean go for it. If the VS is the stone with greater bang then that is what I would go for. Clarity does not determine beauty as long as it's eye clean. If there is no optical analysis I'd have both stones sent to an appraiser like RockDoc, Rich Sherwood or Dave Atlas and let them have a critical look at your top 2 pics and choose the most brilliant rock as long as both stones are in your range. At the end of the day cut is king.




Rhino
 
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