Size vs Quality

[kanye19191]

I spent yesterday diamond shopping and was in the same situation a few times.

The salesperson would take me through some diamonds and then make the point that you could get the slightly bigger diamond with slightly inferior colour for approximately the same price.

For instance

.61 F VS1 = £5375
.70 H VS1 = £5475

Prices are just for example, not saying I would go for this.

To be honest, the differences in terms of size and quality were almost imperceptible to me, so my head says go for the slightly bigger. However, the fact that the sales people used this technique of pushing me towards the larger stone three times is making me feel that I should be going the other way,

Any thoughts?

 

[secretagentlaura]

That's what happened to me when I started reading through Pricescope, to be honest. I'd started off scoping out stones in the D-F colour range and VVS1-2 clarity range for my anniversary ring, but so many posters here offer advice similar to what you were told in the shops. I lowered my search instead to stones lower in colour and clarity grade, and my budget could go further in terms of carat weight and cut grade.

 

[SB621]

I personally do not mind lower colored diamonds. I honestly am not color sensative and would never notice the difference in color between a D or a J unless they were right next to each other. So yes I agree with your sales associate that I would go for a lower color and a lower clarity (as long as it was eyeclean from 6 inches away) and get a bigger diamond with a better cut. Once again though this is just my .02 cents.

 

[lapelirroja]

Everyone can rank the C's as they see fit, but I always put cut first, then carat, then I went for lower color with VS2 clarity for a big (to me) beautiful stone.

I wouldn't think of it as the salesperson trying to steer you wrong, just wanting you to get the most for your money. Just make sure your intended is OK with the near colorless range.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I think the G-H range, which is at the top of the near colorless range, is a great choice to still have relatively white stones but get a little larger stones. I always get VS1 or VS2 for clarity in modern round brilliants. VS1 is so clean you may not be able to see inclusions with a 10x loupe, so higher clarity than that is really unnecessary, in my opinion. But it is all personal preference. Someone came here once with a budget of $20,000 for a single diamond engagement ring once and could have bought a 2 ct. diamond. But because of her profession, she did not want anything greater than a 1 carat stone. So he bought her a D VVS or VS1 stone. Most here would have chosen a larger stone with that budget. But it shows that preferences differ.

Here is a great tutorial on color that will show you a fairly realistic view of colors:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/content.php?c=14 (scroll down that first page...there is a gap)

 

[stargurl78]

It's really a matter of personal preference. I'm very color sensitive and would choose the F stone, no question. However, I think most women would choose the H stone, and may not even notice a difference between the 2 stones. H is still plenty white.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

And you don't have to go down to H. G is safer if high color is important.

 

[Rhea]

I'm not sure I've ever seen a cert'ed high coloured diamond, but I'm fine with lower coloured diamonds to get a larger size. I don't think you should pay for something that you can't see or that doesn't bother you.