Size and Color vs. Clarity???

[maz723]

Brand new to the forum!!! Just wanted to get some opinions (I''m sure this question has been asked before...)

After reading a number of posts, I am reconsidering my original idea to purchase a round si2 stone (approx 2 cts) with a d to f color...seems like "clean to eye" may be way too subjective when purchasing an si2 stone...my question is, would it make sense to go down to a 1.75 ct vs2 with an H color...does it make sense to go down in size and color, and up in clarity...assuming prices are comparable??? Just concerned about any visual defects that may accompany and si2...a valid concern???

As a side note, I am leaning towards and "ideal" or above cut, and ex or vg polish and symmetry

Thanks so much for your help!!!

 

[dbsdiamonds]

Welcome!

Ok many will poo poo SI2''s but there will be an SI2 out there that rivals SI1''s and will have the more favorable inclusions like twinning wisps, or cloud or feather, not dead center located. If the first inclusion at the bottom left of the GIA cert says "crystal" and the inclusion drawing on the GIA cert is circular and center range then it''s probably not going to be a good one.

I''ve always said size, color and quality of cut with the clarity grade being the "adjustable" factor in relation to budget. I''d pay for the "visible" factors, not the invisible ones.

A little work and the right one can be found if you go SI2.

Marty
CEO/Pres
DBS Diamonds
www.diamondsatcost.com

 

[Cleo]

I would absolutely ditto dbsdiamonds'' post regarding the clarity.

If you deal with one of the trusted PS vendors (eg Whiteflash, James Allen, Good Old Gold) they can look at the stone for you and be your eyes. It''s imperative you explain to them your own definition of eyeclean (from what distance, angles etc) and they will give you an honest opinion of whether they think the diamond will suit you.

Many PSers have perfectly eyeclean SI2 diamonds - and they can be great value for money.

If you are happy to look at eyeclean SI1 or SI2 diamonds in an H colour, you may well find that 2 carats becomes very achievable for you.

If you let us know what sort of budget you have we can hunt some diamonds down for you..

x x x

 

[Kelli]

There are plenty of very nice SI2s. You just have to trust your vendor to tell you whether they''re eye clean or not. You could also try SI1s. I have a vs2 and I can see the inclusion from the side but not the top. I''m sure that''s the case for many SI stones too. And make SURE you go for the ideal cut, that will be MUCH more important to the beauty of your stone than clarity or color. Good luck!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Andy, I think a lot depends on the recipient and whether she would care at all about the specs on the stone. I set VS2 as the bottom I would consider, but there are others here who wouldn''t go for less than VVS. Then there are others who looked for SI2 and I1''s. So much of that decision is personal preference. But if you were to consider an SI2, it would be imperative to deal with someone like GOG of WF who would prescreen the stones for you to eliminate ones that were not eye clean. In my case, I''d rather have the 1.75 H VS2 than the larger, lower clarity stone, but again, you know your future fiance best and what qualities would be most important to her. For some girls, size is everything. For others, they''d rather have a high color and clarity in a slightly smaller stone.

 

[honey22]

I would have to ditto diamondseeker on this point. I also drew the line at VS2 clarity for my ering, but I would be ok with SI1 for pendant, earrings etc, something that I am not staring at all day.

If you aim just under the 2ct mark, you can get close to that magic size without paying the ''magic premium'', you will notice quite a jump when you hit the 2ct mark.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 8/14/2008 11:03:26 PM
Author:maz723
Brand new to the forum!!! Just wanted to get some opinions (I''m sure this question has been asked before...)

After reading a number of posts, I am reconsidering my original idea to purchase a round si2 stone (approx 2 cts) with a d to f color...seems like ''clean to eye'' may be way too subjective when purchasing an si2 stone...my question is, would it make sense to go down to a 1.75 ct vs2 with an H color...does it make sense to go down in size and color, and up in clarity...assuming prices are comparable??? Just concerned about any visual defects that may accompany and si2...a valid concern???

As a side note, I am leaning towards and ''ideal'' or above cut, and ex or vg polish and symmetry

Thanks so much for your help!!!

Hi Andy and welcome!

If you have a trusted vendor who can be your eyes and check carefully that a SI2 diamond is eyeclean to your standards, then absolutely you can find some excellent contenders as Marty says. It depends on whether your lady would prefer a larger diamond which is lower in colour and or clarity as to which route you choose, but if you get a well cut diamond, whichever you choose it will look beautiful.

 

[Ellen]

If it were totally eyeclean, I would have no problem with an SI2. If I can''t see anything with normal viewing, why not? I''m not in the habit of louping my stones.

 

[solange]

I have an SI 2 that is perfectly eye clean. It is a large stone and I waited a while for one to turn up in the size I wanted.
It depends upon the type of inclusions. You would have to discuss with your vendor what you mean by eye clean. Or you might want to go to SI I. I was able to get a much larger stone by going lower in clarity. One thing I would not sacrifice is cut. A well cut stone will look brighter and better than a poorly cut stone of the same color.

 

[stone_seeker]

dont forget the market for D / SI2''s is much smaller than H/SI2''s. Not saying resale/price appreciation should be a consideration but there is a debatable rule of thumb when it comes to matching certain color ranges with clarities.

I dont necessarily agree with it but the point is most people who want D color tend to want higher clarity. There was a table posted somewhere but to each his own. I just think if you want 2ct+ and happy with eye clean SI stones, you may be better off going with an H or I color.

I saw a beautiful I / SI1 stone last week. Great cut and looked bright white.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 8/15/2008 9:12:33 AM
Author: solange
I have an SI 2 that is perfectly eye clean. It is a large stone and I waited a while for one to turn up in the size I wanted.
It depends upon the type of inclusions. You would have to discuss with your vendor what you mean by eye clean. Or you might want to go to SI I. I was able to get a much larger stone by going lower in clarity. One thing I would not sacrifice is cut. A well cut stone will look brighter and better than a poorly cut stone of the same color.

And bigger than one of same diameter.

 

[solange]

I was just wondering whether you succeeded in finding an eye clean SI stone that works for you.