Opinions please-which diamond would you select

[twigski]

SO has totally left it up to me in selecting my E-ring, all I have to do is worth within his budget

. I''ve decided to go w/a 3ct brilliant center stone w/a custom eternity band style setting & matching band. My problem is that I can''t decide on color & clarity of the center stone. Should I go with a
I VS2 or H SI2. TIA!

 

[lyra]

Did you say 3.0 carats!

I think you need to provide more information on the stones you are looking at. This is a big, big decision. Good luck!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

We''d need to see more details on the stones. Actually, cut is more important than the color and clarity. I''d probably go with an H SI1 over an I VS2, but I''m not sure about the SI2. It would depend a lot on the type of inclusions. A 3 ct. stone is big enough that you need to be sure the stone is completely eye-clean.

 

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

*whistling* very nice. *whistling* I think this is one worthy of some serious observation time.

Clarity and color both really need to be handled on a case by case basis. The grades are obviously very important for pricing, and good labs will grade fairly consistently, But even so within any particular color of clarity grade there can be alot of discrepancy as to how it looks to the naked eye, especially everyday conditions.

I would recommend you search through what is available and get several options representing a variety of color/clarity combinations, and then take a look for yourself in person. This should eliminate all of the debate over which combination is "better" while leaving you free with maximum options. And of course there will be alot of people supporting both sides of the camp on this one, and all the while it is really going to come down to the particular options available and how each of those particular diamonds look to the naked eye, rather than the theoretical discussion of what might be available and how they might look to the naked eye.


And don't forget to give heavy consideration to cut, the angles and all the other man designed factors will be critical to overall beauty, as you probably know.


finally, can you share an approximate budget cap for the stone and setting, I know others (and myself) would love to go browsing through 3ct diamonds and hopefully be the lucky one to pick out a diamond that one day sits on your hand!

 

[marcy]

3 ct? Ooh, that''s going to be pretty. I would go for a G/H ideal cut with SI clarity as long as it''s eye clean. Have fun looking for your gorgeous diamond.

 

[Ellen]

Yowzers, that''s a mighty fine budget you must have.

Are you looking online or in local retail stores? Either way, a very well cut (and that IS what is most critical, even over size) 3 ct. will be rather hard to find.

I agree that if you haven''t already, go look at some really well cut stones, like Hearts on Fire and other brands, and/or AGS0 graded stones to get an idea of how much color you can tolerate. The bigger you go, the more it will show (more from the sides). And the less well cut, the more it will show, even face up.

And just to reiterate, I personally (and I think most on here would agree with me) would rather have an ideal cut 2.5, than an average cut 3.0. The better the cut, the more light return, the bigger it will look.

As to your question, as far as color and clarity, IF the SI2 were acceptable to me, I''d rather have the higher color.

 

[twigski]

Thanks everyone for your input. I am actually looking to purchase it from a B & M store that a good friend referred me to. The H SI2 was very clean to the eye. My max budget is a little over $30K (for just the center stone). I even saw an I SI2 which was very clean to the eye too and at 3.1cts it looked much larger than some of the larger ct stones. They quoted me $21K for it but I figure that I would try to go up in color or clarity. I''m really new at selecting diamonds. So as long as the SI2 is clean to the eye I should go up in color? I would go w/ a SI1 but my jeweler does not have it in the cut, carat,& color combo I want. He can get it for me but it would cost a little more since it is not from his current inventory.

 

[3shebabes]

Hey there,

Just stopping by to read your post -- and it seems you and I are on the same track ring-wise! Only mine is a 10th anniversary gift -- My hubby has just purchased a 2.86 carat (okay, so maybe it's not quite 3 carats...but it's close!) AGS Triple 0 Round Brilliant diamond for me. G color, SI1 clarity (though the appraiser said he'd give it a VS2 clarity grade). I am also looking for an eternity (or semi-eternity) style setting & matching band. Who will be making your custom eternity set? Personally, I am getting more and more confused!

I received the stone on my birthday a week ago and it is really beautiful. So much fun to experiment with it in the light!

Anyway -- in looking at eternity style settings, I am finding that I like the daintier settings with smaller stones because they make my center stone look so much larger, but I like the slightly chunkier eternity settings/bands because of the added bling-factor involved!

I have also been warned by lots of Pricescope folks that eternity sets often have rubbing issues -- the two bands rubbing together & causing problems -- but I am hoping to find one that I think will work for me. It really is the look I am after...

Just wanted to say hello & compare notes! What a lucky girl you are to receive such an amazing e-ring! Mine will be an upgrade from my original 1 carat pear shaped solitaire...and I am very excited!

 

[3shebabes]

Hey -- I realized I sorta hijacked your thread asking for opinions -- and started comparing it to my project. Sorry! Your post just caught my eye because we''re both after something so similar...

Anyway -- if choosing between I VS2 and H SI2, I assume you are referring to specific diamonds that are available to you. My vote between those two would be to check to see if the SI2 is eye-clean - which is important in such a large stone! But like someone else mentioned earlier in response to your post, a nice compromise between the clarity/color grades you mention would be an H SI1. I am reading and finding out that there really are a good number or really good SI1s out there. I think eye-clean SI2s, while possible, will be much harder to find in a 3 carat stone.

Have you seen both of the stones you mention? How did the H SI2 look to you?

 

[twigski]

3shebabes-

No problem I really appreciate your opinion. It''s funny because I started out looking at princess cuts but I like the classic shape of the round. Last week when I went to see the diamonds, there were so many I looked through that I can''t really recall the H VS1 but I do remember that it was very clean to the eye. I also saw a E SI2 that was to die for but its towards the max of my budget. I''m going today w/SO to get his opinion. I will let you know if we make a decision!

 

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

so what happened? Make sure you get all of the information on the diamond and bring it back here for a quick look through before making your final purchase.