Newbie need some help for picking HW engagement ring

[OneRing]

I have been lurking on this site for a while and have learned a lot for different resources.

My finance and I went to the HW salon last weekend. She really liked the HW setting and I think this is the one we are going for. Here is an picture for the setting.

So far we have narrowed to three diamond:

#1 1.03ct/D/VS1
Measurement: 6.43 x 6.46 x 4.01
Table: 58%
Crown Height: 14.5%
Pavilion Depth: 43.5%
Crown Angle: 35◦
Girdle thickness: Med. to Slightly Thick
Fluorescence: None

#2 1.07ct/F/VVS1
Measurement: 6.55 x 6.56 x 4.06
Table: 58 %
Crown Height: 14%
Pavilion Depth: 44%
Crown Angle: 33.5◦
Girdle Thickness: Med to Slightly Thick 4 %

#3 1.01ct/E/VVS1
Measurement: 6.47 x 6.49 x 3.97
Table: 57%
Crown Height: 14.5%
Pavilion Depth: 43.5%
Crown Angle: 34.5◦
Girdle Thickness: Thin to Med. 3%
Fluorescence: None


The price difference between them is #2 is 2k higher than #1 and #3 is 4k higher than #2. I ran the numbers using difference tools such as the HCA tool, #3 is the best option in terms of optical performance (though from the numbers), but also being the most expensive one. I guess my question is whether the difference between #1 and #3 would be significant enough to represent the $6k premium?

Any suggestions or insights are sincerely appreciated!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

We need the pavilion angles on each of those stones and then we can help you!

I would go for the largest if they all end up having good numbers. Are they all GIA Excellent cut?

I lean towards #2 not only because of size but because there is no way I'd pay $4k more for #3. You are already paying a huge premium for the brand and I'd rather have a larger diamond than E VVS.

 

[ccuheartnurse]

I'm with DS on #2 out of the group you have listed.

If you choose a PS vendor, a few of them have their own "branded" verions. Just follow the numbers that pertain to AGS or GIA, & you should be just fine. I would however 1st consider colour then clarity, after size of course. Why pay for what you can't see vs what you can?
There is a way to balance them altogther.

 

[OneRing]

hi diamondseeker2006,

Thanks for the reply. I thought pavilion depth and angle can always be converted using tan/arctan, is that not the case? I will ask them if these two numbers are different.

The only issue with #2 is when I input the numbers into HCA (using Pavilion Depth %), I got 3.7...which kinda concerns me. #1 is slightly better with 2.6 and #3 is 2.0, but with a steep $ premium.

Regarding GIA cut grade, they are all triple-EX.

We need the pavilion angles on each of those stones and then we can help you!

I would go for the largest if they all end up having good numbers. Are they all GIA Excellent cut?

I lean towards #2 not only because of size but because there is no way I'd pay $4k more for #3. You are already paying a huge premium for the brand and I'd rather have a larger diamond than E VVS.

 

[Niel]

hi diamondseeker2006,

Thanks for the reply. I thought pavilion depth and angle can always be converted using tan/arctan, is that not the case? I will ask them if these two numbers are different.

The only issue with #2 is when I input the numbers into HCA (using Pavilion Depth %), I got 3.7...which kinda concerns me. #1 is slightly better with 2.6 and #3 is 2.0, but with a steep $ premium.

Regarding GIA cut grade, they are all triple-EX.

We need the pavilion angles on each of those stones and then we can help you!

I would go for the largest if they all end up having good numbers. Are they all GIA Excellent cut?

I lean towards #2 not only because of size but because there is no way I'd pay $4k more for #3. You are already paying a huge premium for the brand and I'd rather have a larger diamond than E VVS.

Most are more familiar with angle numbers. And though here to help you, typically we don't get our calculators out to do extra work.
Still though, I think the HCA let's you put things in % or °.
Maybe she meant depth, I don't see depths listed, explicitly.

 

[OneRing]

hi ccuheartnurse,

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, the cut grade of all these three are triple-EX from GIA. My sales executive told me they don't carry reports from AGS. I'm just trying to make sure the proportion numbers are good enough as I know GIA kinda have a loose standard for their EX cut grade. Regarding color and clarity, HW only carries ones above F/VS2. with which my untrained naked eye is already pretty satisfied

I'm with DS on #2 out of the group you have listed.

If you choose a PS vendor, a few of them have their own "branded" verions. Just follow the numbers that pertain to AGS or GIA, & you should be just fine. I would however 1st consider colour then clarity, after size of course. Why pay for what you can't see vs what you can?
There is a way to balance them altogther.

 

[OneRing]

Sure, I will update my original post with the converted number and also request the actual number from HW should there is anything different.

hi diamondseeker2006,

Thanks for the reply. I thought pavilion depth and angle can always be converted using tan/arctan, is that not the case? I will ask them if these two numbers are different.

The only issue with #2 is when I input the numbers into HCA (using Pavilion Depth %), I got 3.7...which kinda concerns me. #1 is slightly better with 2.6 and #3 is 2.0, but with a steep $ premium.

Regarding GIA cut grade, they are all triple-EX.

We need the pavilion angles on each of those stones and then we can help you!

I would go for the largest if they all end up having good numbers. Are they all GIA Excellent cut?

I lean towards #2 not only because of size but because there is no way I'd pay $4k more for #3. You are already paying a huge premium for the brand and I'd rather have a larger diamond than E VVS.

Most are more familiar with angle numbers. And though here to help you, typically we don't get our calculators out to do extra work.
Still though, I think the HCA let's you put things in % or °.
Maybe she meant depth, I don't see depths listed, explicitly.

 

[OneRing]

Here is the updated info. Thank you all for your help!

I have been lurking on this site for a while and have learned a lot for different resources.

My finance and I went to the HW salon last weekend. She really liked the HW setting and I think this is the one we are going for. Here is an picture for the setting.

So far we have narrowed to three diamond:

#1 1.03ct/D/VS1
Measurement: 6.43 x 6.46 x 4.01
Table: 58%
Crown Height: 14.5%
Pavilion Depth: 43.5%
Pavilion Angle: 41◦ (Converted from Pavilion Depth)
Crown Angle: 35◦
Girdle thickness: Med. to Slightly Thick
Fluorescence: None
HCA: 2.7

#2 1.07ct/F/VVS1
Measurement: 6.55 x 6.56 x 4.06
Table: 58 %
Crown Height: 14%
Pavilion Depth: 44%
Pavilion Angle: 41.3◦ (Converted from Pavilion Depth)
Crown Angle: 33.5◦
Girdle Thickness: Med to Slightly Thick 4 %
HCA: 3.7

#3 1.01ct/E/VVS1
Measurement: 6.47 x 6.49 x 3.97
Table: 57%
Crown Height: 14.5%
Pavilion Depth: 43.5%
Pavilion Angle: 41◦ (Converted from Pavilion Depth)
Crown Angle: 34.5◦
Girdle Thickness: Thin to Med. 3%
Fluorescence: None
HCA: 2.0


The price difference between them is #2 is 2k higher than #1 and #3 is 4k higher than #2. I ran the numbers using difference tools such as the HCA tool, #3 is the best option in terms of optical performance (though from the numbers), but also being the most expensive one. I guess my question is whether the difference between #1 and #3 would be significant enough to represent the $6k premium?

Any suggestions or insights are sincerely appreciated!

 

[Niel]

From the info provided seems best. Though I'd look for a stone that f vs2 if that's as low as they go. But if you stick with only. These 3 just based on those numbers 3 looks best.

 

[OneRing]

I got the actual data. Happy Valentine's Day!

#1 1.03ct/D/VS1
Measurement: 6.43 x 6.46 x 4.01
Table: 58%
Crown Height: 14.5%
Pavilion Depth: 43.5%
Total Depth: 62.3%
Crown Angle: 35◦
Pavilion Angle: 41.2
Girdle thickness: Med. to Slightly Thick
Fluorescence: None

#2 1.07ct/F/VVS1
Measurement: 6.55 x 6.56 x 4.06
Table: 58 %
Crown Height: 14%
Pavilion Depth: 44%
Total Depth: 61.9%
Crown Angle: 33.5◦
Pavilion Angle: 41.4
Girdle Thickness: Med to Slightly Thick 4 %
Price Premium: $2k than #1

#3 1.01ct/E/VVS1
Measurement: 6.47 x 6.49 x 3.97
Table: 57%
Crown Height: 14.5%
Pavilion Depth: 43.5%
Total Depth: 61.2%
Crown Angle: 34.5◦
Pavilion Angle: 41.0
Girdle Thickness: Thin to Med. 3%
Fluorescence: None
Price Premium: $4k than #2