Please help me make an educated choice

[neocontra2513]

Hello,

I have round brilliant diamonds that I am comparing and must choose one. Both are the same price so the cost is not an issue, just choosing the best one. I'm having a hard time, and I know the immediate thing would be to go with the GIA rated diamond. I've read a lot that IGI is not as strict or the grading wouldn't hold up.. but based on what you guys and girls could tell me, how do they look on paper? Which is the better diamond? I know it's subjective, but thank you for the help.

P.S. I've ran the Halloway test on both diamonds. The IGI came back at 3 something and the GIA came back at 1.3, if that helps. Personally, with my eyes, I can't see a difference. The only reason this is up in the air for the most part, is because the IGI diamond is a tad bigger but it's noticeable. That said, i want to go with the overall better diamond.

IGI Rated Diamond:

1.08 carat
6.66 x 6.69 x 3.98 mm
I color
VVS2
Cut Very Good
Polish Excellent
Symmetry Excellent
Girdle Medium to lightly thick, Faceted
Depth 59.5%
Table 61.5%
Crown Height 11.5%
Crown Angle 31.5 Degrees
Pavillion Angle 41.5 Degrees
cutlet none
Fluorescence Medium Blue

GIA Rated Diamond:

1.00 carat
6.46x 6.48 x 3.94 mm
I color
VS1
Cut Excellent
Polish Excellent
Symmetry Very Good
Girdle Thin to Medium, Faceted
Depth 60.9%
Table 58%
Crown Height 11.5%
Crown Angle 33.5 Degrees
Pavillion Angle 41.0 Degrees
cutlet none
Fluorescence none

 

[neocontra2513]

Hello,

I have round brilliant diamonds that I am comparing and must choose one. Both are the same price so the cost is not an issue, just choosing the best one. I'm having a hard time, and I know the immediate thing would be to go with the GIA rated diamond. I've read a lot that IGI is not as strict or the grading wouldn't hold up.. but based on what you guys and girls could tell me, how do they look on paper? Which is the better diamond? I know it's subjective, but thank you for the help.

P.S. I've ran the Halloway test on both diamonds. The IGI came back at 3 something and the GIA came back at 1.3, if that helps. Personally, with my eyes, I can't see a difference. The only reason this is up in the air for the most part, is because the IGI diamond is a tad bigger but it's noticeable. That said, i want to go with the overall better diamond.

IGI Rated Diamond:

1.08 carat
6.66 x 6.69 x 3.98 mm
I color
VVS2
Cut Very Good
Polish Excellent
Symmetry Excellent
Girdle Medium to lightly thick, Faceted
Depth 59.5%
Table 61.5%
Crown Height 11.5%
Crown Angle 31.5 Degrees
Pavillion Angle 41.5 Degrees
cutlet none
Fluorescence Medium Blue

GIA Rated Diamond:

1.00 carat
6.46x 6.48 x 3.94 mm
I color
VS1
Cut Excellent
Polish Excellent
Symmetry Very Good
Girdle Thin to Medium, Faceted
Depth 60.9%
Table 58%
Crown Height 11.5%
Crown Angle 33.5 Degrees
Pavillion Angle 41.0 Degrees
cutlet none
Fluorescence none

Bump? Anyone?

Also I was mistaken about the crown height on the GIA when I said it was 11.5. I don't know what I actually is.

 

[ac117]

We always recommend sticking to GIA or AGS graded diamonds so I would eliminate the IGI stone just for that, but it also got a VG cut grade, which isn't good at all.

The GIA stone has good numbers...got dinged on symmetry but we can't say why since we can't see any images. Could be a nice choice if the price is right. Then again, there are SOO many round stones, I'd personally keep looking and try to find a stone that will also have light return images.

If you post your budget, we could help you take a look.

 

[neocontra2513]

Thanks for responding

From what I was told from IGI (we got a gemologist on the phone and a more detailed report), the IGI was graded "very good" because the crown height was 11.5 instead of 12 or it would have been excellent.

With the GIA, how important is symmetry overall? I'm definitely leaning toward the GIA stone at this point because it seems like a no brainer, and the Halloway Tool came back pretty good (see below). I guess my overall concern is, is IGI really that lax when it comes to grading stones?

If it helps both stones were graded prior to mounting and both are laserscribed.

Here is the GIA report: https://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=2175848186

And halloway results:

Selected: 60.9% depth, 58% table, 33.5° crown angle, 41° pavilion angle,
The result is for a symmetrical diamond with a medium girdle and very good polish
HCA scores were adjusted Dec. 15, 2001 and Feb. 6, 2003.

Factor Grade
Light Return Excellent
Fire Excellent
Scintillation Excellent
Spread
or diameter for weight Very Good
Total Visual Performance 1.2 - Excellent
within TIC range

 

[neocontra2513]

Also, another thing throwing me off is I've been told that in the last few years IGI has severely tightened up their grading while GIA's "excellent" category has been overly broad.

Heh, reading my posts it's almost like I'm trying to convince myself..this stuff makes you overthink. I guess it comes down to how much tighter GIA is over IGI.

Due to constraints that I would like to not delve into, the choice is between these two stones only.

 

[ac117]

I would stick to the GIA stone if you must choose between these two only. Besides IGI being softer on color and clarity, the crown angle is way too low at 31.5 (we recommend 34-35) and the pavilion angle is too high (we recommend 40.6-41). The angles do not compliment each other and it's very likely that this stone will have light leakage. The GIA stone has a much better chance of being a decent performer. It also is a bit shallow but has a complimentary PA - it should be a bright, white stone but not super fiery.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Definitely GIA Excellent cut or AGS Ideal cut only. I'd choose neither. But the GIA stone is clearly better than the other of those two. I'd want excellent on cut, polish, and symmetry, though.

These are measurements to help you stay in ideal cut territory with a GIA excellent cut stone.

table: 54-58

depth: 60-62.3

crown angle: 34-35.0 (up to 35.5 crown angle can sometimes work with a 40.6 pav angle)

pavilion angle: 40.6-40.9 (sometimes 41.0 if the crown angle is close to 34)

 

[neocontra2513]

Thanks for the responses. It's incredibly helpful. The GIA stone seems to fall within the table and depth (crown angle is off by .5 degrees at 33.4, just missing the 34 mark). But I guess that's enough. While everything else seems great, the symmetry is listed as "very good" , should that be a deal breaker?

 

[Texas Leaguer]

As a vendor I cannot recommend one stone over another. But I can say generally, that all things being equal, the GIA diamond is preferable. If you think at all in terms of liquidity - i.e. you or an heir ever wants to sell or trade the diamond - the GIA report is more recognized and valued by the market. The blue fluorescence is also a limiting factor from a resale perspective. While some people like it, many don't - thereby reducing your pool of prospective buyers and/or the offer price you are likely to receive.

I would add that the market is moving rapidly towards better cutting. Even though GIA "Triple Ex" is becoming an expectation in the market, you do have the best overall cut grade offered by GIA . Going with an IGI that does not have the best cut grade, would be a non starter for alot of buyers. Especially those you are likely to encounter here!