Picking between two J colored 2 carats?

[indirak]

Thanks in advance for the help! Really appreciate this community; this has been so helpful during this journey.

I've narrowed down diamond options to these two bellow. Which of the two would be the best purchase?
Would love to hear any alternatives that could be good as well!

Sorry for the weird formatting, GIA reports are attached:

Carat.

Color

Clarity

Depth

Table

Crown

Pavilion

2.01	J	VVS1	63	55	36.5	40.6
2.04	J	SI1	60.7	57	34	40.6

2.01: https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...-color-vvs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-8226045
$13K

2.04: https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...excellent-cut-sku-8735623?a_aid=55f8cd4e21a11
$10K

To my understanding, the 2.04 diamond is the best cut of the two. However, I've asked around (mostly James Allen consultants) and the 2.01 diamond looks to have more fire? I think I can notice more fire as well, but I'm a little confused why as the 2.04 is better cut. If the 2.01 is more fiery, I'm also wondering if it would be worth the $3K upcost? My budget is 10-13K for the diamond, so happy to pay extra if it's truly noticeably better looking.

Thanks for the help!

 

[SimoneDi]

OP ask JA for IS images and post them here.

 

[indirak]

Thanks SimoneDi! I'm attaching the IS for both:

2.04:


2.01:

 

[AprilBaby]

The Si1 is eye clean?

 

[indirak]

The Si1 is eye clean?

Yes, it's eye clean. The SI1 has a twinning on the edge but it's not super noticeable. No major points on the table, no black spots.

 

[SimoneDi]

@indirak the 2.04 gets my vote. It’s a lovely diamond, well cut, great IS and it’s much spreader than the other stone (although there is something lovely about the make of the other stone, despite the leakage under the table). I also don’t think that you will have any problem covering the inclusion with a prong. And it provides savings that can be used toward setting or other things.

 

[lovedogs]

2.04 is also my favorite of the 2

 

[headlight]

The additional cost is due the the much higher clarity. There are clarity comments on the larger stone that you should inquire about. I the love the profile of a small table and higher crown, and it must be providing the fire that the reps told you about. You should verify that the strong blue fluorescence is not hazy. If not, I think it will be really cool. As for spread, it’s really a matter of if you think 7.98mm is large enough for you. My small table, high crown, a little deeper diamond looks and performs so similar to my spreader super ideal, honestly only a veteran PSer would notice a difference. There is something really special about my small table high crown stone that draws me to wear it more than my BGD.
I also see some reflections in the larger stone... did you notice that?

 

[indirak]

Thank you @SimoneDi and @lovedogs. Really appreciate the help and your expertise

@headlight Thanks, I didn't notice those reflections in the 2.04 stone actually. Is that ok or is that a bad thing?
I'll definitely ask about those comments on that one.
I do really like the smaller table on the 2.01 and the fire it has. It's such a hard decision.

 

[SimoneDi]

Thank you @SimoneDi and @lovedogs. Really appreciate the help and your expertise

@headlight Thanks, I didn't notice those reflections in the 2.04 stone actually. Is that ok or is that a bad thing?
I'll definitely ask about those comments on that one.
I do really like the smaller table on the 2.01 and the fire it has. It's such a hard decision.

The 2.04 stone doesn’t have a shallow crown and it will display plenty of fire. The 2.01 definitely has some leakage under the table, that will translate in darker appearance when you look at the stone. The 2.01 also imo shows more body color. Lastly, there is an over 0.2mm difference between the two stones, that is significant!

 

[headlight]

The 2.04 stone doesn’t have a shallow crown and it will display plenty of fire. The 2.01 definitely has some leakage under the table, that will translate in darker appearance when you look at the stone. The 2.01 also imo shows more body color. Lastly, there is an over 0.2mm difference between the two stones, that is significant!

I wasn’t implying the larger stone has a shallow crown (although while the smaller one has a mm size under what a 2.01 should be, the 2.04 has a mm size larger so that would imply “spreadiness”, thus a flatter look)... I was just giving my input that I find the profile of the small table with the higher crown to be visually pleasing. I don’t personally care for the “flatter” 57.4 table with the 14.2 crown on my BGD as much as I am drawn to my 3X’s 55 with 16. Just a different flavor....
I do agree that it seems like there’s more body color in the smaller stone. But does anyone else see reflections in the larger stone?
This is a downside of not being able to compare stones in person. If one is not familiar with what the profile of those proportions look like, they would have no idea that there’s a difference. Also, they are telling her that the one with better proportions has more fire. Would be nice if JA could provide some real life videos....
Maybe it would be valuable to have a 3rd option???

 

[meesmom]

The 2.04 diamond is my diamonds twin!! My 1.5 ct. has the exact same dimensions, and it is lovely.

 

[headlight]

The 2.04 diamond is my diamonds twin!! My 1.5 ct. has the exact same dimensions, and it is lovely.

I am sure it is! Maybe you could post some real life photos so OP can see what those proportions look like IRL.

 

[meesmom]

I am sure it is! Maybe you could post some real life photos so OP can see what those proportions look like IRL.

Its the one in my avitar but sure, I can in just a bit!

 

[meesmom]

Ok so i picked out a few..
My camera is terrible, next phone will be an iphone for sure!!! Hope this helps, but what I see normally doesn't translate into the photo.

In window:

Tried some glamour shots:

Colors under trees:

 

[matt_k]

Thanks SimoneDi! I'm attaching the IS for both:

2.04:


2.01:

i'm no expert, but the 2.01 is DEFINITELY showing significantly more table light leakage. i would save the $3,000 and go with the 2.04 SI1.

 

[matt_k]

i'm no expert, but the 2.01 is DEFINITELY showing significantly more table light leakage. i would save the $3,000 and go with the 2.04 SI1.

there is no sense in paying all that extra money on clarity when the other stone is eye-clean, IMO(especially when the idealscope on the SI1 is better, anyway).

 

[indirak]

Thank you all so much for all the help and advice! Really, really appreciate it

@meesmom, thank you for posting those pictures. That is a beautiful ring! Also the exact setting I'm doing for mine <3

We've just bought the 2.04 SI1. I'll post pictures when it comes in. I'm super excited!

 

[headlight]

Just saw your post. Congrats, enjoy, and please post pics!!! Very exciting!!!

 

[heretofindoutmore]

Congratulations on your purchase! Can't wait for you to share the pics, so excited for you!!

 

[matt_k]

Thank you all so much for all the help and advice! Really, really appreciate it

@meesmom, thank you for posting those pictures. That is a beautiful ring! Also the exact setting I'm doing for mine <3

We've just bought the 2.04 SI1. I'll post pictures when it comes in. I'm super excited!

congrats!

 

[meesmom]

Thank you all so much for all the help and advice! Really, really appreciate it

@meesmom, thank you for posting those pictures. That is a beautiful ring! Also the exact setting I'm doing for mine <3

We've just bought the 2.04 SI1. I'll post pictures when it comes in. I'm super excited!

You are very welcome. I know you will be very happy with it, congratulations!!