Please help me choose!!!

[johnstone]

Hi folks, I just bought an EGL certified, 1.27 carat, F color, VVS1, very good proportions, Brillant diamond for $7,900 from a wholesaler friend. I got it appraised and the appraiser agreed with the certificate.

I also just found an EGL certified, 1.48 carat, G color, VS2, very good proportions, Brillant diamond for $8,390 on line at diamonds direct.

My future fiancee, however is not very educated when it comes to diamonds and in a casual discussion with her, it seems that she values size more than certain specs like color and clarity.

Should I return the first one I bought and go for the bigger rock, it being an online purchase and all? I just realy want to impress her and at the same time get a good deal.

Thanks

 

[Lorelei]

Welcome to PS

Firstly, regarding the EGL grading report, it is said that in some instances that EGL's grading is softer than GIA or AGS for example and can be off by 2 grades or so. This is also said to depend on which branch of EGL is doing the grading, EGL USA being the most reliable. Which division has certed these diamonds? You can find EGL reports from EGL USA, Antwerp, Israel, Europe and South Africa.

EGL grading diamonds also carry a lower price tag than GIA etc so this is something to consider if budget is important. When you say you had the first diamond appraised, was it an independant appraiser who did the exam? Sure, you could drop the colour and clarity to an H or lower and an SI1 or even SI2 clarity if eyeclean. Cut is the most important 'C' to have a beautiful diamond and it is this that should be a priority. EGl tend to use percents for measurements which aren't as accurate with the all important crown and pavillion angles, see if your vendor can get a Sarin Report on each diamond to help get more accurate measurements with cut quality. Or you can just buy with your eyes and decide with those which is the best choice - which is what it comes down to anyway.

I would see what the vendor of the larger diamond can offer you regarding the all important cut quality such as a Sarin report or Idealscope Image to see how well cut this diamond is and therefore how beautiful before commiting yourself. Size means nothing if the diamond doesn't sparkle. Also don't go by labels pinned on such as Ideal Cut, Premium Cut etc, they don't always mean much. Also make the sale contingent on having an independant appraisal during the return period so you know exactly what you have.

You could instead go for a smaller GIA or AGS certed diamond, but it depends on what matters to you. To be able to help you with the cut, we need the proportions of the diamond posted such as the depth, table, crown and pavillion angles and the girdle thickness but as % are used they aren't as accurate as said before. If you can get a Sarin or Idealscope Image we can go from there. Good luck!

 

[phoenixgirl]

Please post all cut information for us. I''d recommend some research on EGL certification and how to gauge the cut of a diamond.

If the cut information is equal, I would go with the larger stone.