thinking of upgrading

[rmoreno]

My gf accidentally bented her ring. I am sending it back to Whiteflash (great company) for them to fix it. I was looking at the Expert Selection diamonds they have. The one I bought is this one

http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/diamond_details.aspx?idno=677990

but, I am thinking of maybe getting something bigger for almost the same price. So I was looking at this one as an alternative

http://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/Round-Ideal-Cut-cut-diamond-1180506.htm#

do you think the size difference is worth the drop in color for a ring of this size? Would I notice a huge difference in size or color?
It is set in the Le fine line setting in platinum size 3. Can you please give me as much imput as you can? I would really appreciate it. Thanks

 

[lostdog]

Another difference there is the cert. AGS tend to price higher. AGS is perceived as stricter than most labs for clarity and color, and they (currently, but not for long) certify more of parameters that affect cut than does GIA. It's not an AGS DQD, so it doesn't come right out and state the certified cut grade, but AGS stones price at a premium even to GIA and the cut study (link on the main PS page) shows a reason why.

The larger stone has some good things going for it, though the original has less variation among facets.

The Idealscope images are offering a few interesting clues, and for your own benefit run the HCA's. I would consider talking with WF and seeing what they say about the appearance of the stones. Difference in size should be obvious. Difference in color will be visible, but not everyone is sensitive enough to pick up on it. SI1 versus VS2 is more a matter of what's eye-clean. Cut, i.e. visual perfomance, is really the key. You seem to have a nice stone and if you were to end up trading it for a slightly larger but lower performer, it might not please you in the end, so ask WF to compare them.

 

[rmoreno]

The stone I bought is a 1.6 on the HCA, the stone I am thinking about getting is a 1.3 on the HCA. Also the stone I have should have been a VS2 according to Whiteflash.

 

[valeria101]

The change of size is slight, the color & clarity would most likely just look the same since these stones are not huge.

This is the first time I hear AGS grades color & clarity stricter - I kind of living with the idea that the premium for AGS cerst is wholy due to the extra cut grading, since GIA doesn''t do that at all.

But... who knows ?

 

[Patty]

I have never heard that AGS is stricter on its grading either.

I think you should consider the upgrade. The main thing that you will notice is the larger SIZE. I do not think that you should see much color in an ideal cut H.

 

[Mara]

Definitely go bigger IMO. esp for the same price. If nothing else, drop that clarity down to an SI1 or eye-clean SI2!

Val and Patty...others have noted that they felt that AGS grades one of the C''s stricter than GIA...I think it may have been color? I don''t recall. And also someone else noted that they felt GIA graded stricter than AGS on maybe clarity?

I can''t recall who noted this but I could have sworn it was an appraiser or two???

 

[valeria101]

Date: 3/7/2005 7:26:2 PM
Author: Mara

...others have noted that they felt that AGS grades one of the C's stricter than GIA...I think it may have been color? I don't recall. And also someone else noted that they felt GIA graded stricter than AGS on maybe clarity?

That's pretty much what the survey comparing labs published here found: EGL 'stricter' on clarity (and 'looser' on color) and AGS 'stricter' on color.

It is hard to say what is the strict statistical meaning of that.

The hands on experience of any professional would draw on a HUGE sample relative to the little PS study. That kind of backing up for the statement (="AGS stricter on color & clarity") I have not heard yet.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 3/7/2005 7:26

2 PM
Author: Mara
Definitely go bigger IMO. esp for the same price. If nothing else, drop that clarity down to an SI1 or eye-clean SI2!

Val and Patty...others have noted that they felt that AGS grades one of the C''s stricter than GIA...I think it may have been color? I don''t recall. And also someone else noted that they felt GIA graded stricter than AGS on maybe clarity?

I can''t recall who noted this but I could have sworn it was an appraiser or two???

i think it all comes down to which pair of eyes(the graders) was looking at the stone.

 

[lostdog]

Two things, I was just saying that AGS is "perceived" to be stricter. Also, that's in comparison to most labs, not specifically GIA. Looking at the grading study, there is a slight premium for AGS pricing over GIA. (more so if you look at WF's ES stock, but that's not necessarily apples to apples.)

http://grading.pricescope.com/color-clarity.aspx

This seems to stack up in the study with AGS being tighter than GIA on clarity and about equal on color. EGL is about the same as GIA on clarity and looser than GIA on color, if I am reading that right.

So if I used a weasel word like "percieved", it's in relation to both the study and to opinions that have been posted around here.

(I tend to believe it regarding clarity based on some EGL versus AGS SI1 comparisons that sure seemed a bit different to me, but you guys have probably looked at many more diamonds than I have.)

 

[rmoreno]

I decided to stay with the E colored diamond. I went to Zales to compare diamonds. I noticed an obvious difference in color between an F and an I. So I expect there to be a big difference to between an E and an H. Besides, my gf said she loves her diamond and that it is the most beautiful one she has ever seen. WhiteFlash is so great. Denise gave me more reasons for why to stay with the E too. WF is awsome. My gf wants the 7 A cut Above wedding band by Le. So WF will hear from us later on

Ruben

 

[baltneu]

Ruben
I am not sure what you looked at Zales. Many people on this site might argue that a very well cut "H" (H&A for example), might look better------sparkle, brilliance, etc, than a poorly cut "E". I think it is the consesus of this forum that of all the C''s, cut is the most important. Let me know if I am in error.