Should I upgrade to this 1.81 ct, G, SI2 round?

[upgrade-me]

I am former lurker who upgraded a few years to a 1.36 carat round, G, SI2. I am now trying to upgrade my engagement ring again. WF brought this in for me: 1.81 G SI2 TN-STK N VG GIA VG G 61.8% 56% 7.79x7.75x4.80. There are twinning wisps which are quite visible when magnified 40x. However, WF said that the diamond is eye-clean. The fluorescense is medium blue and in the picture, it looks like there is a blue hue to it. WF said that in certain lighting I may see blue. I won''t go lower in color and it is in my price range. Any opinions?

Will (try to) incl Sarin & idealscope when I figure out how to load more than 1 picture.

Thanks for your help.

Upgrade-me

 

[upgrade-me]

Here is the Sarin report

 

[upgrade-me]

Here is the idealscope:

 

[Ellen]

What is the diameter of your current stone?

 

[upgrade-me]

It is 7.2x7.24x4.35. I know that this 1.81 carat will look bigger (which is what I aiming for).

 

[Ellen]

Date: 8/26/2008 6:45:03 PM
Author: upgrade-me
It is 7.2x7.24x4.35. I know that this 1.81 carat will look bigger (which is what I aiming for).

For sure it would, but depending on the cut of your current stone (which we don't know), it could be a good, or great difference. That's a nice jump.

As for the stone, I'll be honest, I'm not loving the shallow pavilion angle.

 

[upgrade-me]

What does a shallow pavilion angle signify?

 

[Ellen]

Sorry! Had to finish dinner.

It most likely would not have the best contast scintillation (black and white areas that sparkle on and off). You want a stone to have optimal crown and pavilion angles, to give you optimal beauty. I suppose you could ask WF about it, but if it were me, I''d keep looking.

You want a crown angle at about 34-35 with a complimentary pavilion of about 40.6-41.

HTH!

 

[upgrade-me]

So, even though with a pretty good idealscope and an HCA of .9, I should pass because of the shallow pavilion? WF also mentioned that this is close to a H&A. I have e-mailed WF and hope to hear tomorrow on their opinion of the shallow pavilion/head obstruction. Any other opinions?

 

[Allison D.]

Date: 8/26/2008 7:27:38 PM
Author: Ellen

It most likely would not have the best contast scintillation (black and white areas that sparkle on and off). You want a stone to have optimal crown and pavilion angles, to give you optimal beauty. I suppose you could ask WF about it, but if it were me, I'd keep looking.

You want a crown angle at about 34-35 with a complimentary pavilion of about 40.6-41.

HTH!

I'd agree with everything Ellen said IF the goal was to get a super-duper louper. If money were no object, we'd *all* get super-duper loupers.

The diamond would rank as a 2A on the AGA cut grade charts; it ain't super-duper louper, but it's still considerably better than what's represented in the local chain stores. However, because it isn't super-duper louper, it also affords much more diameter, which seems to be part of the goal (visible difference).

In order to stay within the same price range as this stone, Upgrade_me would have to move to the 1.58 ct range to hit the super-duper cut in that same size/clarity. That would shave about .3mm off the diameter as well. I'm guessing that might not feel like "as much" of an visual difference as she's hoping for as it would measure in the 7.5-ish range, which isn't that far off from her current stone at 7.25mm-ish.

It's actually a decent 'compromise' stone for the size and price-point for someone willing to go a little less 'mind clean' on the stats. Only you can determine if this is a comfortable 'happy medium' for you.

 

[strmrdr]

Have them rerun the sarin scan.
I question those numbers based on the is image.
In not seeing the paddles that that combo would indicate.

 

[upgrade-me]

strmrdr -

What do you mean by ''paddles'' for that combo? Should I be looking for something?

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 8/26/2008 11:48:58 PM
Author: upgrade-me

strmrdr -

What do you mean by ''paddles'' for that combo? Should I be looking for something?

normally a shallow/shallow combo will show paddle like arrowheads which I''m not seeing.

 

[upgrade-me]

Ahhh, got it. I will ask WF. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[strmrdr]

If the numbers were right at least one arrowhead should look like this:

 

[Jenn5504]

I am NO pro on the angle #''s. But lucky for you, the pros (Ellen, Alj and Strmrdr) have already chimed in!

I did want to say that I have been so thrilled with my 1.82 K SI2 which is primarialy twining wisps---they are INVISIBLE to the naked eye. So if clarity is concerning you, I think the twining wisp SI2''s are a GREAT find!

I went from a 1.59ct (about 7.5mm) to my current 1.82 (about 7.9mm) and was out for SIZE and have been pleased. Your size jump would be MUCH more noticable

. I think Alj said it VERY well (as always!

), it''s going to have to be a compromise. I''m anxious to see what you decide! It''s a touch size to find, so hard to compare options really.

 

[upgrade-me]

Strmdr -

Thanks for the pic. I searched in the forum and found other pics of ''paddles'' so now I understand what you are talking about and I guess my IS pic doesn''t really show those...hmmmm.

Jenn5504 -

THanks for your input. Yes, the twinning wisps were definitely concerning when I saw them at 40x magnified. They looked like giant wisps of smoke, but when I shrunk the picture down, I couldn''t see anything.

Yes, I realize my diamond choice is a compromise. I just don''t want it to look dark in the middle of the diamond. When we admire our diamonds (and other people''s diamonds), you want it to look bright, shiny, sparkly, etc., not dark.

THanks to all !

 

[Lorelei]

This diamond could be a good pick to get some size Um, still a nice make of diamond!

 

[Ellen]

Date: 8/26/2008 11:52:07 PM
Author: strmrdr

Date: 8/26/2008 11:48:58 PM
Author: upgrade-me

strmrdr -

What do you mean by ''paddles'' for that combo? Should I be looking for something?

normally a shallow/shallow combo will show paddle like arrowheads which I''m not seeing.

I wouldn''t (and didn''t) call this a shallow/shallow. The crown angle is fine. Just wanted to point that out.

And Alj, I wasn''t alluding to her needing a sdl (super duper pouper) either, I just said if it were me, I''d keep looking. There are non sdl''s with a bit better angles. That''s all.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 8/27/2008 8:13:42 AM
Author: Ellen

Date: 8/26/2008 11:52:07 PM
Author: strmrdr

Date: 8/26/2008 11:48:58 PM
Author: upgrade-me

strmrdr -

What do you mean by 'paddles' for that combo? Should I be looking for something?

normally a shallow/shallow combo will show paddle like arrowheads which I'm not seeing.

I wouldn't (and didn't) call this a shallow/shallow. The crown angle is fine. Just wanted to point that out.

And Alj, I wasn't alluding to her needing a sdl (super duper pouper) either, I just said if it were me, I'd keep looking. There are non sdl's with a bit better angles. That's all.

I wouldn't either actually....

LOL @ sdl - or sdlp ( super duper louper pooper!)

as the case may be....!

 

[Ellen]

Date: 8/27/2008 8:14:51 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 8/27/2008 8:13:42 AM
Author: Ellen


I wouldn't (and didn't) call this a shallow/shallow. The crown angle is fine. Just wanted to point that out.

And Alj, I wasn't alluding to her needing a sdl (super duper pouper) either, I just said if it were me, I'd keep looking. There are non sdl's with a bit better angles. That's all.

I wouldn't either actually....

LOL @ sdl - or sdlp ( super duper louper pooper!)

as the case may be....!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 8/27/2008 8:49:22 AM
Author: Ellen

Date: 8/27/2008 8:14:51 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 8/27/2008 8:13:42 AM
Author: Ellen


I wouldn''t (and didn''t) call this a shallow/shallow. The crown angle is fine. Just wanted to point that out.

And Alj, I wasn''t alluding to her needing a sdl (super duper pouper) either, I just said if it were me, I''d keep looking. There are non sdl''s with a bit better angles. That''s all.

I wouldn''t either actually....

LOL @ sdl - or sdlp ( super duper louper pooper!)

as the case may be....!

 

[Allison D.]

Date: 8/27/2008 8:13:42 AM
Author: Ellen

And Alj, I wasn''t alluding to her needing a sdl (super duper pouper) either, I just said if it were me, I''d keep looking. There are non sdl''s with a bit better angles. That''s all.

Ellen, I wasn''t correcting you by any means; I hope you didn''t take it that way.

I understood what you meant, but I also know your individual preferences would give up some weight for top-shelf cut. I know you didn''t say she needed an s/d/l, but the range of crown/pav combos you suggested would largely constitute top-make stones.....which will be significantly more expensive than what she''s looking at.

Couple that with the fact that even ''above-average'' stones are super slim-pickens in that size bracket, and I thought it was relevant to mention that this stone is far from being junk.

Sure, it''s not an A+, but it''s probably a solid A- or B+. I just wanted to make sure the OP understands that she she can factor that in when figuring out how to make her compromises.

 

[Ellen]

Alj, no, I didn''t think you were correcting me.

 

[upgrade-me]

Update!-

I bit the bullet and just sent my ''old'' engagement ring back to WF so I can upgrade to this diamond. I hope I made the right choice. I will have to wait a bit because my old engagement ring needs to be sent back to GIA to ensure it is the original diamond that was sold to me so I am fine with that. Hopefully in a couple of weeks, I''ll get my ''new'' engagement ring!

Thanks everybody for your help!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 8/27/2008 2:16:42 PM
Author: upgrade-me
Update!-

I bit the bullet and just sent my ''old'' engagement ring back to WF so I can upgrade to this diamond. I hope I made the right choice. I will have to wait a bit because my old engagement ring needs to be sent back to GIA to ensure it is the original diamond that was sold to me so I am fine with that. Hopefully in a couple of weeks, I''ll get my ''new'' engagement ring!

Thanks everybody for your help!

Most welcome - can''t wait to see it!

 

[Jenn5504]

Date: 8/27/2008 2:16:42 PM
Author: upgrade-me
Update!-

I bit the bullet and just sent my ''old'' engagement ring back to WF so I can upgrade to this diamond. I hope I made the right choice. I will have to wait a bit because my old engagement ring needs to be sent back to GIA to ensure it is the original diamond that was sold to me so I am fine with that. Hopefully in a couple of weeks, I''ll get my ''new'' engagement ring!

Thanks everybody for your help!

Yeah! I''m sure it''s going to be AWESOME! Congratulations and PROMOSE to keep us posted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can''t wait to see it!