Please help! Solasfera Round: G/VS1 or H/IF

[cheucklate]

I am an amateur first time buyer and I am torn between these two specs.

Solasfera round 1.00ct G/VS1 XXX, G.I.A. Certified 2012: $11,467

Solasfera round 1.03ct H/IF XXX, G.I.A. Certified 2012: $11,137


I currently put a deposit on the H/IF because of higher value based on Rapaport List. However I've been reading about "Grading Correspondence" and that stones with closer matching color and clarity grades are better desired.

As far as I could see, both colors looked identical with a white background. Is there something my jeweler isn't telling me or is this a decent bargain? Please any advice is greatly appreciated.

(PS: My lady prefers a diamond that is 1ct)
Other quotes included:
1.01ct. H/SI1 $9,035
1.01ct. E/VS2 $12,981
1.07ct. G/VVS2 $12,929.

 

[Niel]

Haha your lady sounds like most ladies.

My take on engagement diamonds is to put your money towards things you can see

Cut: cut is what makes a diamond sparkle. You can clearly tell the difference between a poorly cut stone and an ideally cut stone. This you can see, so worth he money.

Carat weight: the larger the stone coats more, but there's a visable difference, so worth paying the $$

Color: you want white. But don't overpay if to your eyes lower colors are white. If you can't see the difference between a g and an h, don't pay extra for a higher color.

Clarity: you will bot notice a difference between a vs1 and an IF. So why pay for clarity you literally can't see. Often times you would be safe with an si1 or vs2 as, often you can find eye clean stones in that range. And if its eye clean, do you really need any higher clarity? It would still be eye clean. Just more expensive

This is not everyone's way of looking at it. Some cultures value high color and clarity. But if your girlfriend's desire is to have a white looking 1ct + stone without visable inclusions, you could get away with an H vs2-si1

 

[gregchang35]

great post niel.

i will caveat to say that i have not bought rounds before and i can only comment on what i have read and learned. I am hoping other more experienced PSer's will post to help.

solasfera cut is a branded cut (therefore more $ and hence the difference that you noted in your quotes) that is cut for performance. it looks different to most other cuts. from what i have seen on videos- the flashes of light are faster and more splintery as opposed to say and OEC (another type of cut which is an old cut) which will have broad flashes. good old gold has some information on solasfera. the link is below.
http://www.goodoldgold.com/ShapeTutorials/Solasfera/

In your: out of the 2 solasfera choices- the H would be the one: because you cant tell between the G and H (but can your girlfriend); clarity in these 2 choices would not matter as the IF is cheaper than the VS1.

However, if you are going for the MRB (modern round brilliant) cuts ( the other quotes that you have been given that are cheaper), the other factors that Niel has mentioned are important. These MRB's have about 8 arrows (see link above on what arrows are) compared to the 10 arrows that solasfera have. When buying MRB's, from what i have learned on here, ideal scope images are important. There is also the HCA tool. https://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca
To use this you will need to have the full GIA report where the angles of the crown and pavillions are put into a calculation to see if the stone is going to perform- ie give a light show vs a dud- looking dead/ no sparkle.. sorry to complicate your search for the round.......

but given the 2 choices, note that the 2 you have are branded cuts for high performance- more bling.... i would pick the H.

I hope that helps.

 

[OoohShiny]

When buying MRB's, from what i have learned on here, ideal scope images are important.

I think the same is true of most stones?? I am noob though so may well be wrong lol

Both the solasferas look nice from their various images, I think I'd be happy with either!

 

[Gypsy]

I'd get the G.

 

[E B]

If performance is equal, the G.

 

[cheucklate]

Thank you for responses! I went ahead and bought the H/IF being that it had a better rapaport value, $300 cheaper, and had a better HCA performance than the G/vs1. I am hoping I made the right choice! Is H diamond a low color? I am hoping she doesn't think I gave her a second rate stone.

 

[OoohShiny]

What setting are you putting it in? If it is a bezel or semi-bezel or similar, you won't really see the stone from the sides so you would not have any worries about seeing any tint apart from very occasionally in certain lights

Everyone is 'colour sensitive' to a different degree - by which I mean that we all perceive a tint of colour to varying degrees but not everyone cares about it, and I'm sure that your lady will just be happy with having such a good looking stone and not be worried about the colour!

Given the ridiculous amount of white light returned from a solasfera in flat light, and the massive amount of sparkle returned in sunlight or in multiple-point-source light (such as in a restaurant), I really don't think you need to worry

 

[cheucklate]

As of now it seems like a simple tiffany classic. I'm still debating on 4 or 6 prong. Some websites are saying 6 prong is better for lower colors to help mask any impurities. The stone is however IF... ahh decisions. Would white gold be ok or is platinum preferred for H color.

 

[OoohShiny]

WG and Pt are both very similar in colour, except WG will need replating because the rhodium plating wears off over time, whereas the Pt just needs a repolish once in a while

Personally I would always go Pt - it's lower maintenance in the long term!

You can get unplated WG, though, but it's not so common, you may have to request it.


re: 4 v 6 prong... that is a personal choice! 6 prongs will cover more of the stone so will be more secure, but the prongs may also cover a little more of the face of the stone and make it look very slightly little smaller.

In my head I am visualising 6-prongs for the setting, though, so perhaps it is more classic!

I would await input from someone who is far more experienced at this than me lol