Picking between two Ovals

[drewscarter]

Hi All,

I'm looking to pull the trigger on an engagement ring and have a budget of around $14,000 for the diamond and setting (which I expect to cost around 2).

My jeweler has me nearly convinced to buy this for $10,000 after tax. It's stunning, and looks great on my girlfriend's hand. However, it seems like this diamond may be a little small for a 1.21 carat due to the medium to extremely thick girdle and the 3.83 height.

OVAL BRILLIANT
Measurements: 8.25 x 5.65 x 3.83 mm
Carat Weight: 1.21 carat
Color Grade: D
Clarity Grade: VS1
Depth: 67.8%
Table: 55%
Girdle: Medium to Extremely Thick, Faceted
Culet: None
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Fluorescence: None


Alternatively I could get this one online (for $12,800, no tax):

OVAL BRILLIANT
Measurements: 8.81 x 5.89 x 3.82 mm
Carat Weight: 1.31 carat
Color Grade: D
Clarity Grade: VS1
Depth: 64.8%
Table: 56%
Girdle: Thin to Slightly Thick, Faceted
Culet: None
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Fluorescence: None


My jeweler has said the $12,700 is over priced for a minimal size increase that would barely be noticeable. Is he right? If so, I'd be happy to pocket the $2,800 and put it towards the honeymoon.

Thanks a lot for any advice you can give!

 

[Gypsy]

Um. I don't care what your jeweler or anyone else says. We can't advise you as to what stone is best because ovals can't be bought without either 1) being seen in person or 2) with good pictures and an ASET image.

And D VSI could give you a DOG of a stone. High color and clarity are meaningless when it comes to how beautiful a stone is above a certain threshold.
The number on the certificate don't mean squat either.

LIGHT RETURN AND FACETING determine how beautiful a stone is. For all I know the one your jeweler has is GORGEOUS and the other one is dog. Or vice versa.

Here are two potentially lovely ovals. Both D color

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-VS1-Very-Good-Cut-Oval-Diamond-1203735.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-SI1-Good-Cut-Oval-Diamond-1514764.asp

Here are two ovals that are just not desirable at all. Both D color.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-VS1-Very-Good-Cut-Oval-Diamond-1512359.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-SI1-Very-Good-Cut-Oval-Diamond-1522462.asp

Also, honestly you should consider E and F color at least and VS2 as well.

 

[yennyfire]

Since you can't judge an oval by the numbers, we can't give you much of an opinion without photos. Is there a reason you want such high color/clarity? If you went with a G/VS2, you could either get a larger stone or save yourself some money. I'm on my phone, so I can't search well right now, but hopefully someone else will pop on and be able to help.

 

[Gypsy]

How about this one... James Allen (the vendor) will provide you with ASET images to help you determine light performance.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-VS2-Good-Cut-Oval-Diamond-1499144.asp D VS2 (gonna be completely clean with those twining wisps) Measurements: 5.61*8.48*3.71 It's bigger than your first option (look at measurements not carat weight with ovals) and MUCH cheaper at 5,400. Has potential to be very nice.

You can put it on hold. And ask them to get you an idealscope image (they will tell you to pick two others for comparison. Don't. You only get three total. Wait to see if this one works out, if it doesn't we can help you pick another). It will take 3 days and then you will know if it's worth pursuing or not. Isn't it worth three days it it means saving thousands?

If you want to pick a second choice as well this one might have potential : http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-VS1-Good-Cut-Oval-Diamond-1461219.asp D VS1 Measurements: 8.44*5.85*3.92 $9,500

 

[Christina...]

I'm not an expert and know little about ovals, other than that they are goooorgeous! So, I won't try to make suggestions for you, but I second both Gypsy and Yenny, color and clarity are only a small part of what is going to make your oval beautiful, much more so is the light performance and the faceting. Gypsy posted some really great examples. A D VS1 is no good if it doesn't have any life to it. I also think that you shouldn't restrict yourself to a certain color or clarity grade from the beginning. A great performing G will look whiter and brighter than a poorly cut E, and most people can't tell the difference in color grades once the stone is set until they go below a G, so I'd consider E,F and G, even H if it has a fantastic cut!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Ditto, Gypsy and the others, except you need to ask for ASET images on an oval. I am not impressed with the jeweler's stone. Extremely thick girdle is not a good thing to see on the report.

I would also go to E ot F color if you need colorless and get a little more size.

 

[Gypsy]

However, it seems like this diamond may be a little small for a 1.21 carat due to the medium to extremely thick girdle and the 3.83 height.

OVAL BRILLIANT
Measurements: 8.25 x 5.65 x 3.83 mm
Carat Weight: 1.21 carat
Color Grade: D
Clarity Grade: VS1
Depth: 67.8%
Table: 55%
Girdle: Medium to Extremely Thick, Faceted
Culet: None
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Fluorescence: None

No it's not too small. It faces up very well for it's weight. It's on the longer side, proportionally so it's thinner in the middle to make up for it. 8 x 6 is what you can expect at 1.25. This is 1.21 and it's over the 8 and under the 6. Perfectly fine give the length to width ratio.

That said, you've seen this stone in person and loved it. I would pick it over the other one (assuming you have no pictures or ASET or any way to get one). That means a lot.

The thick girdle and depth aren't killing it or making it over deep. And that depth is what is probably keeping it from having too big a bowtie.

 

[Christina...]

Does the stone that your jeweler is showing you come with a GIA report?

 

[drewscarter]

Thanks for all the replies. The information that I pasted from each diamond is from the respective GIA reports.

I would very much like a D-E stone, because when at Tiffany's some time back, my girlfriend could easily tell the difference between the lower color graded stones and the higher when comparing them. She hasn't insisted or anything, but there's something about knowing she has the whitest diamond available that I just kind of like.

Clarity on the other hand is less important to me. I just want the diamond to be eye clean and beautiful (an SI1 or VS2 would be fine). Unfortunately, the selection for ovals is just really limited.

Given Gypsy's reply, I'm leaning towards going with the diamond that my jeweler has. I know it's beautiful, and does not have any meaningful bowtie.

 

[tyty333]

I'd love to see the aset on this one. Its a G though...
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS1-Very-Good-Cut-Oval-Diamond-1518431.asp

 

[lambskin]

Ovals are stunning when cut right. Each one is unique so you really have to find a stone that sings to you. Brillance and Sparkle! E-F is just fine and with an oval cut a lot of flaws are not so eye-obvious.