Please help me choose my 2.7-3ct round!

[bostongal12]

Hi everyone! I'm in the process of purchasing a diamond from BN. They are slowly but surely sending me details and pictures. Here are the first two. I would like to keep it around $25k give or take depending on the quality. I value cut the most and willing to compromise on color a bit.

Thanks for your help!


3.01ct, I SI1 ~$27800
HCA 0.7
BN comments: "Eye clean, not hazy or milky"
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD04427318?keyword_search_value=LD04427318

Table: 56
Depth: 60.9
Pavilion Angle: 40.6
Pavilion Depth: 42.5
Crown Angle: 35
Crown Height: 15
9.30-9.33mm x 5.67mm


3.52ct, J SI2 ~$26800
HCA 2.2
BN comments: "Not 100% eye clean, eye clean in some areas, not hazy or milky"
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD04111712?keyword_search_value=LD04111712

Table: 56
Depth:62.2
Pavilion Angle: 41
Pavilion Depth: 43.5
Crown Angle: 35
Crown Height: 15.5
9.73-9.76mm x 6.06mm

 

[luvdajules]

I like the looks of the 3 ct I color, but that bigger size is tempting! Lucky you! In larger stones, cut quality and color are very important so if I were upgrading, that would be my choice. It should be around 9.2 mm if it isn't on the deeper end of ideal, versus what, 9.6mm for the bigger stone? Which is a visible difference, to be sure, but not worth eye visible inclusions and dropping a color grade in that size. Please us posted on your progress, yippee.

 

[bostongal12]

Thank you for your advice! I will definitely keep you posted!

There are a few others I'm getting photos and some info on tomorrow, and I can post them as they come!

 

[ariel144]

Can't pull up the stats on these with those links can you post the stats.

 

[bostongal12]

Here is another!
3.09 ct, J SI2, ~27500
HCA: 1.4
BN Comments: "Eye clean, small black inclusion on table. Not hazy or milky"

Table: 60
Depth:59.8
Pavilion Angle: 41
Pavilion Depth: 43.5
Crown Angle:32.5
Crown Height: 12.5
9.45-9.48mm x 5.66mm

http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD04893682?keyword_search_value=LD04893682

I'm not sure why the photos is slightly red VS the other two photos I've received from BN. Also this is one of those 60/60 diamonds, which I've read aren't ideal. :/

 

[bostongal12]

Can't pull up the stats on these with those links can you post the stats.

Sure one sec and I will post the stats

 

[OoohShiny]

I am a clarity freak so I would go with the smaller but seemingly very eye-clean first stone.

HCA of 0.7 should also make it a stunning performer, you don't get much better than that for an HCA score.

 

[luvdajules]

I still like the first 3.0 ct I color versus that last one posted. Nothing against 60/60 stones, especially in a J color, but I doubt it's GIA triple X...the symmetry looks more like VG. Why give up a color grade, a clarity grade and ex symmetry for 0.2 mm increase in size. In this size, everything matters all that much more.

 

[pyramid]

I am a clarity freak so I would go with the smaller but seemingly very eye-clean first stone.

HCA of 0.7 should also make it a stunning performer, you don't get much better than that for an HCA score.

HCA 0.7 is no better than 1.6. Garry Holloway has said anything under 2 is the same and that the lower the number does not mean it is better as someone may prefer a 1.8 to a 1.0.

 

[OoohShiny]

Good point!

I just have it in my head that lower numbers must be closer to Tolk ideals?!

 

[bostongal12]

Thanks everyone for your comments and feedback!

I'm down to two - the others options were rather poor, so I didn't bother to post them.

It is between the 3.01ct for $27.7k and 3.53ct for $26.7k, which are listed in the first post. I did get a better photo of the 3.53ct because they mentioned it was mostly eye clean, which I've posted here.

3.53ct (http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD04111712)
3.01ct (http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD04427318)

The question now is, go for high color and clarity or go for the larger diamond? The specs are better in the 3.01ct BUT the other one is larger! What would you do?

Thanks for your help!

 

[LLJsmom]

I would go for the I, SI1 for sure, the smaller one. better HCA, and what is all that crap on the bottom left of this most recent photo? But I'm a person with mind clean issues. Worse if not even eye-clean. Higher color, higher clarity, better HCA score, already 3 carats. No brainer for me.

 

[FancyIntense]

+2 for the 3ct.

 

[Travelgal]

I vote the I too. I prefer the smaller stone.

 

[luvdajules]

Hi there, my vote is for the I color smaller stone, but it seems you are really wanting to give the larger one a real chance. I think the inclusions would bother me after a while, but not everyone needs a strictly eye clean stone. That's lucky cause then you get a much bigger stone to consider So, why not buy the larger one to inspect it for yourself while keeping the smaller one one hold. You should have plenty of time to consider if the inclusions bother you or if they interfere with the cut/light play, also the lower color. Then you will feel assured you made the right decision for yourself.