please help!!! my first diamond purchase.

[2picky]

Hi, i have spent 100+ hours researching (picking my own engagement ring . I have never owned a diamond before and cannot beleive how complicated this is. I have finally narrowed down to 2 stones. I have a feeling at this point i am asking you to compare two apples. I need to make the purchase decision by Thursday. I have #1 below on hold and appt set up with appraiser for monday.

#1
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-10232107

#2
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-1040363310034

I am leaning towards #1.

If i consider #2, is moving to SI1 worth color up to E? (yes i like white white white . Looks like Girdle on #2 is better? isn''t "thin to Medium" better than "Thin to slightly thick"? What are the black spots on Hearts image of #2?

Thank you so much for any help! and helping me finally pull the trigger!

 

[kenny]

It's personal preference but I'd take F VS2 over E SI1, unless there were other considerations about these particular stones.

We have an E and an F and the F is amazingly colorless even though it is 3 times as heavy (heavier/thicker means more color in the same color grade).

If you go with the SI1 make sure it's eye-clean; discuss the meaning of that term with the vendor so you are both on the same page.

 

[yssie]

reckon in that size an F and an E would be identical to the most discriminating viewer

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 3/24/2010 1:20:26 AM
Author: yssie
reckon in that size an F and an E would be identical to the most discriminating viewer

Yes, I think even side by side you could not tell them apart. I would go for the F VS2 because it is a more balanced choice with regard to those two Cs.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 3/24/2010 1:04:00 AM
Author:2picky
Hi, i have spent 100+ hours researching (picking my own engagement ring . I have never owned a diamond before and cannot beleive how complicated this is. I have finally narrowed down to 2 stones. I have a feeling at this point i am asking you to compare two apples. I need to make the purchase decision by Thursday. I have #1 below on hold and appt set up with appraiser for monday.

#1
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-10232107

#2
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-1040363310034

I am leaning towards #1.

If i consider #2, is moving to SI1 worth color up to E? (yes i like white white white . Looks like Girdle on #2 is better? isn't 'thin to Medium' better than 'Thin to slightly thick'? What are the black spots on Hearts image of #2?

Thank you so much for any help! and helping me finally pull the trigger!

No. Both girdles are right within desirable range. Especially with diamonds of this calibre. Read more on girdle thickness here from the Pricescope Tutorials.

Both look excellent, if the SI is eyeclean then you could definitely consider that one, ask Brian if it is in fact eyeclean to your standards. With the black spots, it would appear that is an inclusion which is reflecting around the stone. Well cut diamonds can act like mirrors so this is something that can happen.

 

[tyty333]

I would go with the F/VS...like DD said...more balanced.

 

[2picky]

thanks everyone! I will rule out #2.

My diamond budget is ~3k and i am focusing on AGS0000 E/F VS1/VS2 (BG, WF, GOG, Wink). I dont have a lot to choose from and the F/VS from BG seems to be perfect. But because i am an obsessed/perfectionist please let me ask you about just two more :

#3 is .728, F/VS2 AGS0000 like the BG (my #1 above) but it s $270 more than my #1? am I missing something here, or is the BG just as good (on paper) as the WF? http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/round-cut-diamond-2231208.htm#

#4 from GOG for just a little more $ than BG F/VS2 (#1) I can get E/VS1 also AGS0000. I was all ready to pull trigger with BG but now this one has me thinking.... http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/6067/

Also, what did you guys mean by the F/VS2 being more balanced than E/SI1? Do you mean that if i am paying for an E i should have better clarity? or did you mean that the diamond specs/images looked like a more balaned cut?

Thanks again, you all have been invaluable on ps.

 

[yssie]

Like #1,2,and 3 - just saw you ruled out 2



don't like 4 - knowing about the leakage under the table would bother me even if not visible IRL.



ETA: re. pricing - different vendors, different rough, different times of year, different lunar cycles.. noone outside the industry knows for sure! Point is that either choice will be beautiful, so choose by vendor policies and don't worry about it

 

[2picky]

Is the light leakage on #4 the lighter area in GOG ASET and DiamXray? i never noticed that before. That exlains the minimal price delta for E/VS1 comparted to my #1. I will rule #4 out as it would bother me. From my experience so far both BG and WF are very nice to deal with. I guess i just flip a coin as it sounds like i have a couple excellent options and the sooner i pull trigger the sooner it''s on my finger!