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Smaller F colored diamond vs. large I colored diamond?

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jasonbourne

Rough_Rock
Joined
Aug 18, 2012
Messages
2
So I've been looking at two GIA Cushion Brilliants. I like both of them, but am torn between the classic issue of big vs. small and varying colors.

One diamond is a 0.8 carat Cushion Brilliant with an F color and SV2 clarity (small white feather on edge of one side). Excellent polish and excellent symmetry.

The second diamond is a 1.05 carat Cushion Brilliant, I color and SV1 clarity (inclusions on face you can't see hardly). Excellent polish and very good symmetry. This large diamond is roughly 1k more than the smaller one.

They both look amazing in person, but I couldn't put it past myself that I could see the visible difference between the colors. The off-white color is barely visible by eye sight, but I snapped a photo that seemed to accentuate the color difference. In normal light and especially outside, the diamonds look very similar. To make matters worse when placed on a ring setting, they both look amazing.

So I'm torn between a high quality I that is a nice healthy size carat and a smaller high quality F color diamond that is just a little smaller than I had initially been interested in, but that I love the color of.

From people's experience, which one would you think would be the better buy? From preference only, which would you want? Photos below.

0.8 Color F on the left and 1.05 Color I on the right



This time 1.05 Color I on the left and 0.8 Color F on the right



This time 1.05 Color I on the left and 0.8 Color F on the right


Thanks to anyone who helps make my lady in waiting very happy.

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imag0621.jpg

imag0618.jpg
 
For ME, I would choose the larger "I" colored stone. You said that to the naked eye, and in most everyday lighting situations you cannot tell them apart. Only with a camera, or in specific lighting, or when held side-by-side could you see the difference. Which... when it is on her hand... she won't be comparing it to anything else. It will be a beautiful stand-alone diamond!

However... If it is going to bother YOU, and it is going to look off-colored to YOUR eye, then you should buy the F. You need to go with your gut. Which one are you going to feel most peaceful about?? There is no wrong answer here. I wanted the biggest diamond I could get, and so I got a J. I love it!! But I also don't like "icy" white stones because they sometimes look more "fake" to me. But that is just me. Some people don't like ANY color at all. It is all personal preference!!

Good luck!!
 
There's still G and H between F and I... if you want a bigger stone but dislike the color of an I, why not try to find one of those?

With that said, while I normally prefer lower color diamonds, I think in your pictures the F looks slightly more sparkly. HOWEVER, which do you think your girlfriend would prefer? Does she have any inkling that you will be proposing and could you ask her, like, TOTALLY HYPOTHETICALLY of course if she'd prefer a smaller F diamond over a larger I diamond?

And what kind of setting are you planning on putting it in?
 
Thanks for the reply.

Unfortunately, I've been searching around my area and there aren't many Cushion Brilliant cuts out there that aren't modified. In all the places I've been, only one jeweler had something that was of quality for me. No one else has any stock of 0.8 to 1.0 carat Cushion Brilliants. I had one jeweler promise to pick some Cushion Brilliants for me to view later this week, but seeing their existing collection, I am hesitant of what they will allow to pass their inspection as "acceptable diamonds".

The jeweler I'm currently working with has some excellent diamonds and the largest collection of Cushion Brilliants I have seen. They even have a D color cushion at my ideal size of .91. Naturally though, the price is above my budget by about 2 to 3k.

They do have a 1 carat, H color, but the price point is ridiculously high compared to the 1.05, I color. When asked why the price for the H was what it was comparably, the jeweler said he wasn't sure, but he guessed one of the diamonds was purchased at another time for a lower or higher rate. The difference was significant enough (nearly 1k) that I couldn't bring myself to paying the high price for the H.

My girlfriend would like both, and that's the biggest problem. We are both extremely bad at making decisions which makes it difficult for me to pick which she might prefer. The main thing that is keeping me from picking the I color is simply that I don't want to undercut the quality and meaning of the diamond by not purchasing the best I can afford for her. The main thing that is keeping me from picking the F is simply that I'm worried it will be too small. Unfortunately, she's been waiting long enough, we're going on a big vacation soon, and she has been dropping hints like crazy. I wouldn't be surprised if even a mention of a ring from my mouth would give it away.

edit: To answer the question of setting, I'm likely going to propose with a solitaire and then go with her to the jeweler and get a setting that she would enjoy with a matching wedding set.
 
I would choose the larger I. However, you might considering checking with some of the online vendors who specialize in cushions to give you a few more options.
 
G-H is the perfect middle ground and takes you to the high end of near colorless. There are LOTS more cushions than these two. I don't mind some tint in antique style stones, but I can easily see the tint in that I color stone. Is it GIA graded? I don't have time right now to look, but Good Old Gold specializes in well cut stones and usually has some very well cut cushions.
 
No idea what your budget is, but would you consider an AVC? They are STUNNING!!! Check out GOG (goodoldgold.com), one of the very reputable and popular PS vendors, and see what they can find.

HEre are a few that may interest you...
.76 I VS1 AGS000 $3540 http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9344/
.73 F VS1 AGS000 $4760 http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9207/
.76 G IF AGS000 $5588 http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9345/

Just a range. You can do up or down in size and colour, but thought I'd show you some of the AVC's - new cushions cut in an antique style that have 'chunks' of fire rather than 'splinters' - if she likes that kind of thing. Here's one of their vimeo links on AVC's vs modern cushions - but it's a 4ct --- not quite what you're looking for!!


so, what IS your budget? We can help you find something....
 
From the photos alone, the F seems like the better performing diamond (and just a teeny bit smaller than the I), so that'd be my vote if you're going to go with one of these. But like others have said, finding a happy medium like a G or an H might be a good option too, if you're open to it.
 
mrssalvo said:
I would choose the larger I. However, you might considering checking with some of the online vendors who specialize in cushions to give you a few more options.
Click to expand...


I agree with checking with online vendors... There will be a lot more choices. I would look for something in the GH range to give you more size and less noticeable color.


To be honest... In the pictures I didn't notice a tremendous size difference... But in real life the difference may be more noticeable than a two dimensional picture. Based on pictures alone, I would go for the F because i am color sensitive and I couldn't tell a big size difference from the pictures. Also- if your fiancé picks a setting that is a halo or has side sizes the center stone if an I might be a more noticeable color difference...
 
If I had to choose only from those 2 diamonds, I would definitely go with the F colored stone. The size difference is less noticeable than the color difference in your photos.
 
The I looks tinted. I prefer white stones. They don't have to be icy white but I don't want any hint of yellow. When I started looking for a stone I initially wanted an E or F. The price of diamonds was on the rise and we quickly got priced out for the color and carat size I wanted. I dropped the color to a G. But G was the lowest I was willing to go. Some people are more color tolerant than others. An I color is near colorless and beautiful. However I would prefer G or H with a lower clarity (I'm positive there are eye clean SI1s ar this size) but if the F and I are my choices I prefer the F.
 
In general I'd say choose the I. However, in the case of your two stones, I'd choose the F. This is because (1) the F looks to my eye almost as large as the I, (2) the F appears brighter and more sparkly, and (3) the I appears to be visibly tinted in your pics. Typically an I will not show face-up color like that; is it a GIA- or AGS-graded I? Also, does the F have any fluorescence? I'm picking up a hint of blue in the photo, and that would be a huge selling point for me because I adore fluor!

(Side note: I wrote this reply while watching the Bourne Supremacy on my computer...nice screen name!)
 
I am no expert but, while doing research on cushion cuts the general recommendation was to stay H color and above as cushion cut diamonds have larger facets and color shows easier. HTH

Below is a cut/paste from another site:

Color: H Color or better. Cushion cuts are one of the worst shapes when it comes to retaining color (or one of the best, if you’re a manufacturer of fancy color diamonds). This is why you find that Cushions and Radiants are the two most common shapes in the fancy color diamond market. For this reason, I recommend my readers stick with H or better when buying a cushion cut, unless it will be set in yellow gold (in which case, you can go down to J or K)
 
Definitely the I!

My first engagement ring was an M, and I could never tell that it wasn't white. Now I can, but that's after several years of PS education.

And I have J studs that look fine too.

One carat has so much more presence!
 
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