Please help me choose a diamond for my ering upgrade!

[Kissmark]

Hi everyone,

I used to come here a lot when dear husband (then dear fiancé) and I were trying to pick an engagement ring. You were all very helpful and knowledgable. Now 5 years and a baby later, we are trying to find a diamond for an upgrade. I would really appreciate it if you guys can chime in and help us decide again!

Although this is the second time we pick a diamond, I still don't know too much beyond color and clarity. I see terms like feather, leakage, cloud, etc on ps but I don't really know what they mean. My original diamond is 1.27 F/VS1. Now for the upgrade my SA suggested I go down to VS2 to get a bigger size. But I am little worried about the VS2 as I've heard that many of them are not really "eye clean". I must also admit that I am very bad at judging what is "eye clean". Most of the time when I look at a diamond I don't know if I can spot the inclusions, or if what I'm looking at are really inclusions. My SA has recommended two stones, almost same price but as you can see the VS2 is much bigger. So which one would you choose? Or would you pass on both? I guess you guys will need more information but as this is not an online store I'm not sure if they will email me a copy of the actual report.

Thank you!

1. 1.74ct F VS2
 
Total depth % 61.6%
Table size %  55%
Crown height % 15.6%
Crown angle 35.0
Pavilion depth % 42.5%
Pavilion angle 40.6
Lower half length % 78%
Star length % 51%
Culet None

HCA 0.8

2. 1.57ct F VS1

Total depth % 61%
Table size %  59%
Crown height % 14.2%
Crown angle 34.2
Pavilion depth % 43%
Pavilion angle 40.8
Lower half length % 78%
Star length % 50%
Culet None

HCA 1.6

Thanks for any comments and suggestions!

 

[stone-cold11]

Which lab graded the stone?

If GIA/AGS, VS2 should be pretty eye-clean. From the numbers alone, prefer #1.

 

[Kissmark]

Hi think you. These are actually from Tiffany ao it's their own lab.

I have two more that I like, what do you guys think? Would love to hear some more feedback

3. 1.74ct G VS1
 
Total depth % 61.8%
Table size %  56%
Crown height % 15.7%
Crown angle 35.2
Pavilion depth % 43%
Pavilion angle 40.7
Lower half length % 79%
Star length % 54%
Culet None

4. 1.83ct G VS2

Total depth % 62.6%
Table size %  55%
Crown height % 15.8%
Crown angle 35
Pavilion depth % 43.3%
Pavilion angle 41
Lower half length % 79%
Star length % 51%
Culet None

Right now my favorites are the two 1.74 ct. Which one looks better?

 

[Dreamer_D]

If you cannot see the inclusions and you get to see the stones in person, then get a VS2 and get the biggest stone you can . You can also compare G to F to see what you think. Me? I'd get the G VS2.

 

[Kissmark]

I just want to add the HCA scores for each one:

1 1.74 ct F/GS2 HCA 0.8
3. 1.74 ct G/VS1 HCA 1.5
4. 1.83 ct G/VS2 HCA 2.2

Price wise, 1.83ct is 1,500 less than the other two.

I really cannot decide between the three. No 4 seems to give me the most bang for my buck, but No1. has the best HCA score. Experts, what do the specs look tell you? I don't know much except what the HCA scores tell me, but I know I cannot only rely on the scores......

Thanks!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

You need to be posting diameters particularly when one of the stones is deep...62.6 (#4). I would eliminate that one, but you still need to be looking at diameters as part of the specs to consider since deeper stones can face up smaller than they should for the weight.

With the info listed, I would choose #1 or #3.

 

[Circe]

HCA is just an elimination tool - so long as the score is below 2, it's all good. So the G VS2 looks better and better ....

 

[diamondseeker2006]

The G VS2 is too deep.

 

[Laila619]

I'd get the biggest stone I could find. In fact, I might even consider dropping to H color. Does Tiffany have any H VS2 in the 1.8 to 2 carat range?

 

[Kissmark]

Thank you for your replies everyone!

Laila I think Tiffanys does have H but I personally don't want to go below H

Diamondseeker, very good points about the diameter, why didn't I think of that!
I asked my SA about it and here is what she told me (if just judging by max girdle then no4 isn't much bigger than no.1)

1. 1.74ct F VS2
 
Total depth % 61.6%
Table size %  55%
Crown height % 15.6%
Crown angle 35.0
Pavilion depth % 42.5%
Pavilion angle 40.6
Lower half length % 78%
Star length % 51%
Culet None

HCA 0.8

Min girdle diameter7.68
Max girdle diameter 7.8
Dept 4.77


3. 1.74ct G VS1
 
Total depth % 61.8%
Table size %  56%
Crown height % 15.7%
Crown angle 35.2
Pavilion depth % 43%
Pavilion angle 40.7
Lower half length % 79%
Star length % 54%
Culet None

HCA score 1.5

Min girdle diameter 7.64
Max girdle diameter 7.70
Depth 4.78

4. 1.83ct G VS2

Total depth % 62.6%
Table size %  55%
Crown height % 15.8%
Crown angle 35
Pavilion depth % 43.3%
Pavilion angle 41
Lower half length % 79%
Star length % 51%
Culet None

HCA score 2.2

Min girdle diameter 7.81
Max girdle diameter 7.84
Depth 4.9

 

[Kissmark]

Hi, I just got the plot chart for the two 1.74 ct diamonds. The graphs are not too clear but as you can see, the F/VS2 has cloud, cyrstal, feather, needle, and pinpoint. The VS1 only has cloud and pinpoint. The inclusions are located at around the same place. I have eliminated choice no 2 and choice no4, so need to decide between these two. I need to decide soon and would love to hear more feedbacks based on the chart and the diameters info.

Thanks!

 

[Kissmark]

No one?

 

[Laila619]

It's really a toss up, do you want the higher color or higher clarity? They both look nice from the numbers.

 

[ame]

I prefer the VS1 plot but you preferred the VS2 stone more as you stated elsewhere in the interwebs. So go with the one you like!

 

[Amys Bling]

If you cannot see the inclusions and you get to see the stones in person, then get a VS2 and get the biggest stone you can . You can also compare G to F to see what you think. Me? I'd get the G VS2.

Ditto. If I'm upgrading from a 1.2 I'd want the biggest size difference that was an excellent cut, eyeclean and white. G VS2!

 

[Laila619]

The F VS2 is a tiny bit bigger than the G VS1, mm wise. If that matters to you, get the slightly bigger one.

 

[Kissmark]

Thank you for your responses.


I spoke to my SA, unfortunately there are only a few G/VS2 in my budget and they are not great cuts.
Do the inclusions on the f/VS2 look like hey might be a problem?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

There is no way to tell about the visibility of inclusions by looking at the report, unfortunately. It does look like the inclusions are in the center of the F stone, so you'd absolutely have to see it to know whether it is 100% eye and mind clean for you. I have a G VS1 myself, so you can tell what I chose! I could go with a F VS2 if I couldn't see anything from the top or sides and if it didn't look too bad with a 10x loupe!