Please help me evaluate this diamond

[ganjamarine]

Hi all,

I am new to diamonds and am looking to purchase one for an engagement ring. A jeweler recommended this but I am not sure of its quality. I am hoping to enlist help/opinions of the very helpful people in this community. Here are some details of the stone:

Table: 56.5
Crown angle: 36.6
Pavillion angle: 41.2
Depth: 63.2
Weight: 1.5
Color: G
Clarity: VS1

I was quoted $9000 for this. Thanks for any help you can provide!

 

[lovedogs]

Do you have any photos or video? I am not loving the proportions.

 

[ganjamarine]

The only photo I have is this:

 

[mayaINaU]

The only photo I have is this:

The proportions you posted above are not what we would recommend for the best light return (most sparkle). Please see this page for the recommended proportions. I would aim for the middle, green column. You will also have an easier time finding a well-cut diamond if you are open to searching online. Do you want to post your budget and other parameters and people can help you search?

Diamond Proportions

The physics of light-behavior within a diamond are reliably consistent, which means proportions measurements can be useful.

www.pricescope.com

If you go a little smaller and down one color to H, you can get a perfect, super-ideal "A Cut Above" (ACA) from Whiteflash for the same price as the diamond above. https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-di...-vs2-clarity-round-excellent-cut-sku-a4494033
I have these in earrings (smaller size than this) and can attest they attract notice from across the room. If you want to stick with 1.5 carats and G color, we can recommend stones from other vendors that will perform much better than the one your jeweler offered you.

 

[ganjamarine]

Thank you @lovedogs and @mayaINaU for the response.

My budget is 10k (can stretch it to 12k for something really nice) and I am hoping to find a 1.5 carat (+0.1) stone. For color and other properties, I am not sure how low can I drop without negatively impacting quality for a size.

 

[mayaINaU]

Thank you @lovedogs and @mayaINaU for the response.

My budget is 10k (can stretch it to 12k for something really nice) and I am hoping to find a 1.5 carat (+0.1) stone. For color and other properties, I am not sure how low can I drop without negatively impacting quality for a size.

Got it. For color, it all depends on (1) if you/your intended notice color and (2) if it bothers you. Some people don't notice, some people notice but are not bothered, or actually want more "tinted" colors. I think if you are not sure, staying with G is very safe to have it appear totally colorless to almost everyone. For clarity, I would personally be comfortable going to SI1 if the vendor can confirm that it's eye-clean at normal viewing distance for a ring (meaning, you would need magnification to see any inclusions and could not see them with the naked eye). For me, normal ring-viewing distance would be about 6-12 inches, because some people do examine their rings up close on the hand.
I am going to ask @DejaWiz and @Kim N to recommend some stones in your budget since they are better at the nitty gritty of the proportions than I am. If you want to get started looking yourself, you could use the PriceScope search feature: https://www.pricescope.com/diamonds...h=62.5&mintable=55&maxtable=58&sort=price-asc

I added in the member recommended proportions on the diamond proportions page:
Member Recommended Proportions*
Table: 55 – 58 %
Crown Angle: 34 – 35 °
Pavilion Angle: 40.6 – 40.9 °
Lower Halves: 75 – 80 %
Depth: 60 – 62.5 %
Girdle: Thin-Medium or Medium-SlightlyThick
–
If using GIA or GCAL report data some numbers are rounded up or down, therefore:
When pavilion angle is 40.8 ° any crown angle above is okay
When pavilion angle is 40.6 ° lean toward crown angle 34.5 – 35.0 °
When pavilion angle is 41.0 ° lean toward crown angle 34.0-34.5 °
When pavilion angle is 40.8 ° and crown angle is 35 ° lower halves need to be 80% *

 

[Kim N]

I would recommend sticking with GIA or AGS since this is a natural diamond. IGI may be a little softer on color and clarity, so the stone you were offered may not be a "true" G VS1, and the cut isn't good.

Here are some stones for you to take a look at.

1.57 Carat round diamond

This 1.57 carat round diamond H color vs2 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

1.56 Carat round diamond

This 1.56 carat round diamond H color vs2 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

1.57 Carat round diamond

This 1.57 carat round diamond G color vs2 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

1.50 Carat round diamond

This 1.5 carat round diamond E color vs2 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

 

[lovedogs]

The only photo I have is this:

definitel not this one. It's not well cut. I'll look around for alternatives.

 

[lovedogs]

I would recommend sticking with GIA or AGS since this is a natural diamond. IGI may be a little softer on color and clarity, so the stone you were offered may not be a "true" G VS1, and the cut isn't good.

Here are some stones for you to take a look at.

1.57 Carat round diamond

This 1.57 carat round diamond H color vs2 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

1.56 Carat round diamond

This 1.56 carat round diamond H color vs2 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

1.57 Carat round diamond

This 1.57 carat round diamond G color vs2 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

1.50 Carat round diamond

This 1.5 carat round diamond E color vs2 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

These are all solid choices!

 

[lovedogs]

If you want the best possible cut (which, in general, is what matters the most in terms of how diamonds look), here are a few options:

Diamond | 1.31 ct H VS2 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond GIA Certified | 4615881

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 1.31 carat H color VS2 clarity loose diamond is graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). | 4615881

www.whiteflash.com

Diamond | 1.527 ct G SI1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4473400

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 1.527 carat G color SI1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4473400

www.whiteflash.com

The 1.5 ct stone says it's eye clean, and you can always ask WF to take IRL pictures (on someone's hand) so you can see it from a normal viewing distance.

 

[DejaWiz]

Hello and welcome to PriceScope, ganjamarine!
Some wonderful suggestions so far.
I was perusing Ritani and stumbled across this one that I thought may be worth you taking a look at:

1.50 Carat Round Diamond F Color VS2 Clarity Ideal Cut | Ritani

1.5 Carat Round Earth Diamond ID Cut F Color VS2 Clarity with diamond report number GIA #6425968326

www.ritani.com

Video in this link here:

1.50 Carat F VS2 Round Brilliant Natural Diamond GIA Certified 6425968326 Affinity Cut - D50645739

1.50 carat, Round, F Color, VS2 clarity, GIA Certified Diamond, Affinity Cut Natural Diamond, D50645739

www.adiamor.com

 

[ganjamarine]

Thank you all for the evaluation, suggestions and sharing great options!

 

[ganjamarine]

Hi all, what are your thoughts on this stone? I was quoted $9450 for this. Based on the very helpful resources shared by all you awesome folks, I think this one seems decent. So was hoping to get some expert advice on the stone and price. Any advice/feedback would be appreciated. Thank you so much.

 

[tyty333]

We recommend that you stick with stones with GIA reports because other labs are less strict. So if this stone was graded by
GIA it may come out lower like J/Vs2. You think you're getting a good deal but you are actually getting a stone that has lower
specs but the grading report (IGI) says it is higher (so most likely not a good deal).

High crown/high pavilion is not usually a good combo (35/41). 35 pairs better with 40.6 pavilions. We do need up close pictures and
videos though to actually know what the stone is doing. I see that @mayaINaU already gave you this info above for
the numbers...you need to reread her post.

Who is advising you? Are you working with a jeweler or just talking to Sales Associates at different vendors?

 

[ganjamarine]

We recommend that you stick with stones with GIA reports because other labs are less strict. So if this stone was graded by
GIA it may come out lower like J/Vs2. You think you're getting a good deal but you are actually getting a stone that has lower
specs but the grading report (IGI) says it is higher (so most likely not a good deal).

High crown/high pavilion is not usually a good combo (35/41). 35 pairs better with 40.6 pavilions. We do need up close pictures and
videos though to actually know what the stone is doing. I see that @mayaINaU already gave you this info above for
the numbers...you need to reread her post.

Who is advising you? Are you working with a jeweler or just talking to Sales Associates at different vendors?

I am working with several jewelers in India (that's where I am from). I have shared my requirements with them and then I try to evaluate the stone based on cut proportions. Most of the stones they have are graded by IGI. I am located in New Jersey so I can buy from the US as well but was told that its cheaper in India (not sure if its true based on what I've seen so far though).

 

[mayaINaU]

I am working with several jewelers in India (that's where I am from). I have shared my requirements with them and then I try to evaluate the stone based on cut proportions. Most of the stones they have are graded by IGI. I am located in New Jersey so I can buy from the US as well but was told that its cheaper in India (not sure if its true based on what I've seen so far though).

I am guessing some stones are cheaper if purchased directly from India, but it will be harder to wade through the options and find the best cut quality. I am also guessing that the best cut stones are already in a pipeline to GIA and then to certain super ideal vendors in the US. I don’t think they’ll be showing up in your search.

 

[lovedogs]

Definitely stick with GIA not IGI

 

[MissGotRocks]

There are too many available diamonds graded by GIA to consider to settle for IGI grading.

 

[WillyDiamond]

OP
Many people have responded with a resounding recommendation: stay away from IGI grading and stick with either GIA or AGS to begin your search with. If your stone is graded a "G" by IGI, very likely to be 3 shades lower by GIA/AGS.
If you are looking for a deal, in fact a great deal (who would not want that), you are working with the wrong product. There is an age old expression, "you get what you pay for". It applies to natural diamonds. Sorry for the spoiler alert. Good luck.

 

[ganjamarine]

Thank you all. I appreciate your inputs. Will keep looking for GIA and AGS certified stones.