New and figuring things out....Trade offs

[scostell]

Hi everyone! I''ve been lurking around these forums for about a month so please excuse my beginner questions.

I am dating this incredible girl and without a doubt I want to marry her We''ve looked together in a few stores so I can learn her tastes. What I know about her tastes...

-bigger is better hehe...she likes to be the center of attention. (so I may sacrifice quality for size, but not to much)
-She wants a solitair diamond ERing
-Platinum band (I really like the paved look)
-Round or princess cut (I prefer the round because it sparkes more)
-Color range I would say something between a "G" to "I".

I listed two diamonds I like below thar are in my price range....


My questions....

1) is the increase from 1.41ct to 1.5 worth the decrease in quality?
2) is a medium(slightly thick) to thick girdle decrease the value of a stone?
3) which of the two has the more desirable Table and depth and why?

I''m sure I''ll have more questions later...thanks alot for any help!!!

Diamond 1
http://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/Round-Ideal-Cut-cut-diamond-1014333.htm

Price: $8,668.00
Report: GIA
Shape: Round Ideal Cut
Carat: 1.41
Color: I
Clarity: VVS1
Depth: 61.8
Table: 58
Girdle: M-TK
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Culet: None
Fluorescence: No
Measurements: 7.13-7.20X4.43

Diamond 2
http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?pid=LD00338034&filter_id=1
Price: $8,007
Report: GIA
Carat weight: 1.50
Cut: Very Good
Color: I
Clarity: VS1
Depth %: 64.0%
Table %: 57%
Symmetry: Very good
Polish: Very good
Girdle: Slightly thick to thick, faceted
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 7.13x7.19x4.58 mm

 

[blueroses]

Welcome!! I will let the experts chime in with their more valuable opinions on the specs of those 2 stones, but I will say that the larger stone is VS (not VVS like the 1st) and that if you want more bang for your buck sizewise, then I''d definitely avoid the premium that VVS quality will cost when VS (and good, eye clean SI!) will not have visible inclusions anyway.

 

[Mara]

i don''t like EITHER of these stones.

the first one with it''s thick girdle and too high table (for my preferences) and the second with it''s horrible depth!! that second one will LOOK the same size wise as the FIRST one..so no it is not worth it to sacrifice anything for horrible diamond #2.

also that first one, why pay for VVS1 clarity with an I color? I would go for I SI and maximize the budget is you are really considering an I. make sure it''s eye clean and no one will know the difference. color is seen more than clarity as long as the stone is eye clean.

make sure to pay attn to diameter widths as that will corroborate good or bad numbers and show you how the diamond will face up to the eye.

 

[Mara]

okay want a comparison?

check out this eye popper at GOG:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/1_35ct_i_si1_h&a.htm
1.35 I SI1 AGS0 for $7025 Pscope price

It's got a diameter of 7.19mm as the average..look it is the same visually as your larger and more expensive stones.

The optics on this stone are AMAZING, look at that LS and the BrillianceScope report, almost off the charts.

This would be way more up my alley than the first two stones. If it is eye-clean, and it most likely will be, that blowup diamond image looks very clean to me at 40x. OH and it's $1000 cheaper!!!

Make sure to continue to do the research and keep looking around! Use a stone like this one to compare others to.

 

[Mara]

oh my god..what about this one!!!

http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/diamond_Details.aspx?itemcode=GIA-13111631
1.54 I SI1 AGS0 HCA 1.2 EX for $8075 Pscope price

The measurements on this are 7.46mm diameter, definitely what a 1.54c should look like .... far cry from that 1.5c you were considering eh?

The specs are amazing, the images are eye popping. Inclusions look small and scattered...hopefully white.

Anyway, I would consider both of these stones, definitely. This one is much bigger...will show up visually as well so if you want to spend all of that $8k stone budget, get one like this. If you want the extra $1k and something that still will look larger (but not as large), get the $7k stone or something similar.

Here is one more...but I don't know how you feel about SI2 though the inclusions looks very clean here as well:
http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/diamond_Details.aspx?itemcode=GIA-13695991
1.53 I SI2 for $7800 Pscope price

The diameter on this one is 7.5mm average, so definitely a tad bigger than the I SI from WF and much bigger than the I SI from GOG. Some food for thought! eyecleanliness is the key.

What size is your gals ring finger? If it helps, I used to have a 7.10mm stone and just upgraded to a 7.6mm stone and the difference on my finger is huge, my visuals and images are in the Show me the Ring ....my ring size is 6.25 in case it helps.

Above all, make sure the CUT is the top priority, as that will ensure whatever you choose looks it's most fabulous on the hand!

I'll stop now, this is alot to digest! Good luck.

 

[michela002]

The girdle on both of them seems a bit thick. Thin or medium is probably better. The second one is also a bit deep.

Also, make sure when you are comparing stones that you compare their measurements:

Stone 1
Measurements: 7.13x7.20x4.43

Stone 2
Measurements: 7.13x7.19x4.58 mm

If you notice, the second one is deeper (as I mentioned above). The extra depth adds carat weight (1.50 vs 1.41) but no visible size. For all intensive purposes they are the exact same size. Not to mention light reflection etc in deeper stone. Noticing measurements is a good way to tell if you''ll be able to see the difference.

Have you considered going to an eyeclean SI? Might save some bucks/get a bigger stone/both. And as Mara said, smaller stones with bigger surface area are also a great option.

Have a look at Whiteflash Expert selection ... I''m personally leaning towards using Whiteflash myself!

Good luck! I''ve found there''s no shortage of helpful people on Pscope!

 

[TLS]

ooooh I really like that firs stone that Mara found, that looks like a beauty. I didn''t see the price listed, anyone know what it is?

I would talk to Jonathan and make sure it is eye clean and see how the color looks... I bought an "H" through Jonathan that he called a "high" H and the appraiser agreed and said he would have actually graded it a G.... so you never know. Also, with a cut like that it is bound to face up nice and white - but it is all about personal preference when it comes to color, so you have to see with your own eyes!

The others Mara mentioned looked nice too and bigger! I personally like the hearts and arrows though, i love to see the arrows.

 

[scostell]

Thankyou all very much for the advice, I see what you all are saying and it makes alot of sense. Those linked stones look very beautiful!!

Mara, for some reason I kind of glazed over the dimensions of the diamond (beginners'' mistake I guess). I didn''t realize they diameters where the exact same.

I will continue to hunt and learn Oh and Mara, my Girlfriends ring size is a 6.5.

Thanks again!!