Princess or round ? experts wanted ! advice on cut quality

[txideal]

Hi Everyone!! I''m a longtime lurker from Houston and am just now getting around to posting for the experts / diamond lovers out there!

I''m facing a dilemma about the shape of a diamond that I want. My boyfriend and I tend to both like the round, but since he''s given me a budget of approx. $5K (which I think is very difficult to meet -- we are still discussing this cap). But, I want a nice size stone that is more than 1 ct without sacrificing color, clarity, and most importantly cut. I have found that the princess shapes tend to be a few hundred dollars less for the same size than the rounds, so I am willing to look at other shapes so I can get a larger stone.

Here are some stats on some princess stones that I have found. Please give me your honest critiques on these stones! We are planning on visiting some stores in the NY diamond district later in the week and I just want to go with some more information. I have been doing a lot of research on the rounds, but now am exploring new territory. I know nothing about princess shapes, other than they tend to lack some brilliance and fire that I just love with rounds!

Please take a look and tell me your thoughts on these 3 samples. Any thoughts are much appreciated!!

Love this forum! Keep the postings going, I am learning more and more.....
txideal

1)
Shape: Princess
Carat: 1.13
Color: G
Clarity: VS1
Depth: 74.3
Table: 78
Girdle: STK-TK
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Culet: None
Fluorescence: No
Measurements: 5.95-5.67X4.21
Length/Width: 1.05

2)
Shape: Princess
Carat: 1.06
Color: F
Clarity: VS1
Depth: 73.6
Table: 69
Girdle: XTN-M
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Culet: None
Fluorescence: No
Measurements: 5.54-5.50X4.05
Length/Width: 1.01

3)
Carat: 1.21
Cut: Princess
Clarity: SI2
Color: F
Measurements: 6.13 x 5.71 x 4.29
Depth: 75.1
Table: 60
Girdle: THIN TO SLIGHTLY THICK
Culet: NONE
Polish: EXCELLENT
Symmetry: GOOD

 

[lsmathis1]

I like #1 the best. I don't know much about Princess measurements, but the rest of the qualities are nice. I wouldn't sacrifice the quality and go to S2 for the size increase - I think you will be much happier in the end with the higher quality VS1 (or VS2) stone.

Also, keep this in mind...(because I can't remember if you've seen these in person) When we started looking, I had Princess' in mind, but then after seeing them in person next to a well cut round of the same carat weight...I was convinced that round was the way to go. The princess looked 10 - 25% smaller as it holds much of the wieght in the bottom. Although less expensive...you can "say" you have more carat weight, but you may not be able to "see" it.

Anyway, good luck

~Lisa

 

[wonka27]

I have to believe it will be hard to purchase excellent cut stones over 1ct. for $5K.

 

[moremoremore]

The best candidate is #2 despite it's X thin girdle. It's better than the others which I'm not real crazy about either. You also need to think about this- while per carat, the round is more expensive than the princess, the princess is going to be smaller than a round of the same carat weight. By nature, it;s a much deeper stone...plus, the princess stones you are looking at are on the deep side.. You shouldn't be thinking about carat weight but mm measurements. You're barkin up the wrong tree if you think a 1.0 princess will be bigger than a 1.0 round...which I think you'd really prefer!!!

 

[ep6585]

If you're in Houston, take a look at Whiteflash. They're another great Pricescope vendor and they're in Houston.

 

[txideal]

Thanks for the all the tips.

Yes, I've been to whiteflash, but of course I want to go to see others too before deciding. We will be going to NYC anyway, so I figured, we should stop by the diamond district to see what they have in person.

We're planning to stop by superbcert. They say that their superbcert princesses are unlike any other, that they are supposed to be different from the "typical" princess shapes. Theirs is supposed to be cut better. Anybody bought a princess from superbcert? I just want to see them in person and compare them to what I've seen at the retail stores.

Thanks and I'll keep looking. Anymore feedback?

 

[ChooChoo]

http://www.dirtcheapdiamonds.com/diamond_detail.cfm?did=6838724

Here is a G SI1 round over a carat - you're not sacrificing cut, color, or clarity with this one. I have to echo what Lisa said - don't go with a princess just to get a higher weight for a lower price. An ideal cut round will look larger, sparklier, and whiter than a princess with the same color, clarity and weight - so you're comparing apples to oranges with the different prices!

 

[aljdewey]

TX: It's important to make the distinction about carat weight.....it's just that: weight. It doesn't necessarily translate to *size*.

Look at the princess stones you posted. They are all over 1 ct, but look at the diameters. For instance, the 1.06 princess measures 5.50mm.....by comparison, a 1 ct. round brilliant measure approx. 6.50mm.....a full MM bigger! So, you should decide which is more important to you - being able to say it's "over a carat", or having it actually BE *bigger*.....measure bigger.

Also, keep in mind that you can safely go to an eye-clean SI1 or even SI2 in a round brilliant stone because the cut will mask inclusions more than a fancy shape like princess.

Lastly, you absolutely CAN buy an excellently cut 1 ct. round brilliant stone for your $5k budget. Where you're in Houston, I'd strongly recommend calling Whiteflash. They are right in Houston also, and you can go in and see with your own eyes the difference an excellently cut stone can make.

Whatever you decide, let us know how we can help.

 

[wonka27]

I should restate my earlier statement. You can get an excellent cut stone for 5K. However, it may be difficult to do it without sacrificing color and clarity...as the original poster stated. When I hear those words, I'm thinking the person wants colorless and VS or better clarity.