Need help on Princess cut diamond selection + setting

[permafrost]

I've been lurking/doing my homework and have 1 week to make the final selection.

I would like to get some opinions on the following stones that we have viewed, I don't have ASET or pics available (so apology in advance)

Princess
GIA
all eye clean

Ct, Color, Clarity , Depth, Table, Polish, Symmetry / measurements / Girdle

1.81 / G / VS1 / D: 69.9% / T: 73% / Pol: VG / Sym: EX / 7.08x6.94x4.85 / Very Thin - Thick $13.5k
1.70 / F / SI1 / D: 77.6% / T: 70% / Pol: VG / Sym: G / 6.45x6.19x4.81 / Thin - Very Thick $12K
1.73 / G / SI1 / D: 72.3% / T: 71% / Pol: G / Sym: G / 6.74x6.71x4.85 / Thin - Extremely Thick $11.6K


my loose diamond budget is ~$12k with some wiggle


Also, I have concerns about AGS color grading. I've had a few wholesalers and dealers (that carry both AGS and GIA) comment on how AGS was softer on color, or at least historically had a reputation for being softer on color. Albeit, newer (in the last year) AGS certs are likely to be in line with GIA color grading.


I would like to find more selection, and I have visited preferred vendors on this site..

While I prefer the higher quality cut with lower color, my fiancee has a preference for whiter diamonds (higher color grade) with lower quality cut. This is probably a function of lighting. For my final selection process, I've taken steps to put all the diamonds under consideration on a level playing field/ exact same lighting environment and in a neutral (no sales) place. My assumption is that a superior cut stone, with lower color will outperform a whiter , lower quality cut stone.. but ultimately, it will be her decision.









As far setting goes, we are looking at the following and would like to find more/ similar


Engagement solitaire with Pave

http://www.dvatche.com/index.php?page=collection&catID=3,11&startRow=18&id=176&alt=1


Engagement solitaire w/o Pave

http://www.dvatche.com/index.php?page=collection&catID=3,11&startRow=18&id=177&alt=1

http://www.dvatche.com/index.php?page=collection&catID=2,15&alt=1


band

http://www.dvatche.com/index.php?page=collection&catID=2,16&startRow=0&id=24




Wedding band

 

[ecf8503]

You can't buy fancies by the numbers, as you probably know. And an ideal cut stone will appear larger and whiter than a less well cut one, regardless of color.

Look at Good Old Gold and Whiteflash - they are both Vatche dealers and carry ideal cut princesses, so start there and don't compromise on cut - you'll regret it.

 

[permafrost]

You can't buy fancies by the numbers, as you probably know. And an ideal cut stone will appear larger and whiter than a less well cut one, regardless of color.

Look at Good Old Gold and Whiteflash - they are both Vatche dealers and carry ideal cut princesses, so start there and don't compromise on cut - you'll regret it.

I've been out to WF a few times and will have their stones in the final selection process. I'm intentionally leaving out the ones in consideration, bc of the strong preference on this site for WF (my personal bias is towards their selection as well).


While I appreciate a well cut stone, my fiancee likes the whiter, lesser cut stone. I'm hoping that in a normal lighting environment and away from sales environment, she'll see the difference.

But ultimately, if she can't... then I'll respect her decision..


One of my concerns is that +1 or -1 color grades, ie H vs G, while relatively expensive to move up and down (vs changing clarity grades) only seem to be really different when side by side..

And without being side by side, you almost need to be +/- 2 color grades to really notice independently (at least to my untrained eye) I do understand that color is a range... not that you'll ever meet a seller who doesn't tell you that they have a "very high <letter>"


In the presentation for her final selection.. I am curious as to the best way to arrange the diamonds.. most of the time, they are sorted from whitest to least white (descending color grade).. but I think that puts undo emphasis on the whitest one (which in my case , will not be the best cut).