Polish/Symmetry vs. Color - is ''GOOD'' not so good?

[carbon_based]

Long time lurker, first time poster, great forum.

I''ve been shopping around the internet for a while, I plan to buy a 1ct round, F-ish, VS2-S1, with the best make I can swing. I''d like to get the best I can afford, and I''m trying to weigh criteria. I went to what I thought was a quality jewelry store at the mall to comparison shop,  and was surprised at how little the salesperson was able to help. There was one diamond at the store that was supposedly an ''ideal cut'', but they had no information about it''s dimensions or polish/symmetry grading.

I have found several stones on the internet that I like, and seem to have all the right stuff, except the polish and symmetry are not excellent or ideal. For example;

On Dirtcheap:
1.00 ct RB, GIA cert.
E color VS2 clarity
60.4% depth
55% table
med. to sl. thick girdle
no cutlet
no flourescence
POLISH: GOOD
SYMMETRY: GOOD
$5232

compared to this stone, also on Dirtcheap;
1.01 ct RB, GIA cert.
G color VS2 clarity
61% depth
55% table
med. girdle no cutlet
med flourescence
POLISH: EXCELLENT
SYMMETRY: EXCELLENT
$5680

So for $450 more, I get 2 grades LESS color, a little flourescence, and excellent polish and symmetry. Is polish & symmetry more noticeable than color? Could I tell the difference between to otherwise equal stones, one with good pol & sym, one with excellent?

Since the info is generally not listed, I don''t have crown & pavillion angles, but for the sake of argument consider them equal.  Thanks for any input. I want to put my $ where it will do the most good.

 

[Richard Sherwood]

For the sake of argument, you can't consider them equal, until you know the crown and pavilion information.

The 1.01 might be a blazing ball of fire with a beautiful blend of crown and pavilion angles while the 1.00 is a dead dog, limp, lifeless and with the mange. Then you'll understand why its two color grades more but costs less.

 

[carbon_based]

The mange huh. That's pretty bad.

Alright then, in equivalent stones, can an educated consumer distinguish excellent & good polish and symmetry?

 

[Richard Sherwood]

Gemological translation of the polish/symmetry grades:

Excellent.....Ferrari
Very Good.....Porsche
Good..........Mustang
Fair..........Escort
Poor..........Wrecked Escort

 

[Richard Sherwood]

While an educated consumer probably wouldn't be able to spot the difference between an "excellent" and "very good" symmetry, he might be able to spot it between "excellent" and "good".

If you're a perfectionist, I'd stick with "very good" and above. If you're more of a laid back, fast times at Ridgemont High sorta guy, good will be fine.

 

[carbon_based]

LOL. You're killing me Rich. Thanks, I think I can understand that scale. Is the Mustang a GT?

And I'll be sure to ask for those angles, now that the image of that poor sick dog is in my head.

Considering how important these specs are, why is it that the certifications don't list them?

 

[carbon_based]

I just did a search on this issue and got a million posts, sorry.

 

[DBOF]

Each stone is individual, and there is no other way of telling without looking at them. As far as a G next to an E, this may be something you could detect with your eye, although it may be very subtle sometimes depending on how hard you want to look at the diamond

Now although polish & symmetry being excellent is generally a sign of closer attention in the craftmanship, it doesn`t necessarily mean that the stone with the good won`t stand out either. Remember these features are being graded under a scope, but will be seen under normal conditions with your eyes

It is even hard for many in the trade to distinguish good, verygood, excellent sometimes. So it is what is important to you, and to weigh out the details.
I myself can appreciate the ex/ex, but have seen many stones with gd/gd that were very lively too, although the ex/ex can cost more.

Brad

 

[DBOF]

If you're more of a laid back, fast times at Ridgemont High sorta guy, good will be fine.
---------------------------------------------------------

Hey Bud, let`s party

 

[trichrome]

I dont think that because P&S is only good, you should
discard a stone because of that..

as rich said, focus on cut... Use your eyes...

Trichrome.