Upgrade from a Round to a Cushion?

[DiamondsNPearls]

Hi everyone so instead of lurking the board, I am wondering how soon it is expected for upgrading.

I may have an opportunity to *possibly* get a new center stone, I am desiring a brighter color which is something I've always wanted. I have a J round brilliant now, & I like how the H looks & I could see the difference with the white color versus a more antique white (like my J) . Is there much of a difference? My J is 1.02ct with flouro.

I am thinking I'd want an H color, but possibly a smaller stone, if I were to get a 1ct H Si2, it would be around $4000 & I have no idea whether it would be a good idea to get a smaller stone for more sparkle & more *white*. I don't want larger than a 1ct. I'm also interested in a cushion cut (I have a cushion halo) 1.00ct which is $2000 cheaper.

It sounds like you have 2 concerns. Your first concern has to do with timing. You are obviously not 100 percent satisfied with your ring because you are contemplating an upgrade in terms of the quality of the stone. You mention you want to improve color and want it to sparkle more. You also mention that you don't want to upset your fiance and frankly, this comment is what makes me wonder if just changing your stone is going to be enough. You might spend all that money and then have another issue. You need to be honest with your fiance so that you can get the overall ring that you really want.

I'm not 100% w the color. I did have some issues with the ring, but I am overcoming them. It sparkles when it's clean, but I'd like it to face up a little whiter. That's all, I'm Colombian, so I am not too worried about GIA/AGS etc. etc. I think it is more of an American thing? Because over there, if you have a diamond, that already says a lot. But I just want the whiter for myself & my fiance is aware of it, he jokes that if I keep asking for rings, I will look like Mike Tyson (my fiance is Colombian as well jajaja)

Anyways, that's it. We are honest w/ each other & he is aware of my ring mania/fixation. What can I say? Its the finest piece of jewelery I own.

 

[arkieb1]

So I guess a RB would be out of the question

No, you can also look for an RB. You have an RB now. I asked you to look for a cushion because that's what you said you wanted.

Only if the cushion had the same fluoro that my RB has now, love that flouro!

I wonder if I'd be able to trade in my RB for an EGL H? since that is what it is certified in?

Please don't buy an EGL diamond, EGL International in particular is usually 3 to 4 grades incorrect compared to GIA in colour and it can be up to 5 or 6 grades wrong in colour and around 2 to 3 in clarity (it can be more), EGL USA is usually one to two out in colour and around one to two in clarity. If you buy an EGL diamond you will likely throw more money down the drain and potentially end up with something worth even less because they will sell you something with a SI clarity that is really an I1 to I3 clarity.

A whiter round or a whiter square shaped cushion is going to fit. A GIA eyeclean SI2 that has a H or better colour is probably going to do the trick for you.

But in Latin America, you will usually find EGL Intl. What about EGL USA? Is that a little better? I looked up a GIA Si2 H 1ct & it is $3,940 on BlueNile...I know most people will be anti-EGL but I just want a whiter diamond, that's all.

So if that is the case you buy a GIA graded I or a J SI2 and why would I suggest you do that? BECAUSE it will be the same price as the EGL International stone that you are fooling yourself you are getting a bargain for that is misgraded a G SI which if we are comparing apples to apples is really a K or an L in colour and a I1 in clarity.

The reason your current diamond bugs you if it is an EGL stone is it probably isn't a J it is really a N or an O or something in which case you could by a GIA graded J and be happy with that.

 

[DiamondsNPearls]

So I guess a RB would be out of the question

No, you can also look for an RB. You have an RB now. I asked you to look for a cushion because that's what you said you wanted.

Only if the cushion had the same fluoro that my RB has now, love that flouro!

I wonder if I'd be able to trade in my RB for an EGL H? since that is what it is certified in?

Please don't buy an EGL diamond, EGL International in particular is usually 3 to 4 grades incorrect compared to GIA in colour and it can be up to 5 or 6 grades wrong in colour and around 2 to 3 in clarity (it can be more), EGL USA is usually one to two out in colour and around one to two in clarity. If you buy an EGL diamond you will likely throw more money down the drain and potentially end up with something worth even less because they will sell you something with a SI clarity that is really an I1 to I3 clarity.

A whiter round or a whiter square shaped cushion is going to fit. A GIA eyeclean SI2 that has a H or better colour is probably going to do the trick for you.

But in Latin America, you will usually find EGL Intl. What about EGL USA? Is that a little better? I looked up a GIA Si2 H 1ct & it is $3,940 on BlueNile...I know most people will be anti-EGL but I just want a whiter diamond, that's all.

So if that is the case you buy a GIA graded I or a J SI2 and why would I suggest you do that? BECAUSE it will be the same price as the EGL International stone that you are fooling yourself you are getting a bargain for that is misgraded a G SI which if we are comparing apples to apples is really a K or an L in colour and a I1 in clarity.

The reason your current diamond bugs you if it is an EGL stone is it probably isn't a J it is really a N or an O or something in which case you could by a GIA graded J and be happy with that.

Last year I went to Colombia & our same jeweler (where we got our bands too) showed us an H I3 diamond, it was super white & I couldn't see the "cloudiness" that well, but it was a 1.12ct. I am pretty sure his diamonds were EGL Intl. I respect what you're saying, but


I honestly wonder what my jeweler would charge me if I wanted to exchange my J (EGL Intl.) for an H (EGL Intl.) the same exact diamond, just H color?

Would it be super expensive?

 

[arkieb1]

So I guess a RB would be out of the question

No, you can also look for an RB. You have an RB now. I asked you to look for a cushion because that's what you said you wanted.

Only if the cushion had the same fluoro that my RB has now, love that flouro!

I wonder if I'd be able to trade in my RB for an EGL H? since that is what it is certified in?

Please don't buy an EGL diamond, EGL International in particular is usually 3 to 4 grades incorrect compared to GIA in colour and it can be up to 5 or 6 grades wrong in colour and around 2 to 3 in clarity (it can be more), EGL USA is usually one to two out in colour and around one to two in clarity. If you buy an EGL diamond you will likely throw more money down the drain and potentially end up with something worth even less because they will sell you something with a SI clarity that is really an I1 to I3 clarity.

A whiter round or a whiter square shaped cushion is going to fit. A GIA eyeclean SI2 that has a H or better colour is probably going to do the trick for you.

But in Latin America, you will usually find EGL Intl. What about EGL USA? Is that a little better? I looked up a GIA Si2 H 1ct & it is $3,940 on BlueNile...I know most people will be anti-EGL but I just want a whiter diamond, that's all.

So if that is the case you buy a GIA graded I or a J SI2 and why would I suggest you do that? BECAUSE it will be the same price as the EGL International stone that you are fooling yourself you are getting a bargain for that is misgraded a G SI which if we are comparing apples to apples is really a K or an L in colour and a I1 in clarity.

The reason your current diamond bugs you if it is an EGL stone is it probably isn't a J it is really a N or an O or something in which case you could by a GIA graded J and be happy with that.

Last year I went to Colombia & our same jeweler (where we got our bands too) showed us an H I3 diamond, it was super white & I couldn't see the "cloudiness" that well, but it was a 1.12ct. I am pretty sure his diamonds were EGL Intl. I respect what you're saying, but


I honestly wonder what my jeweler would charge me if I wanted to exchange my J (EGL Intl.) for an H (EGL Intl.) the same exact diamond, just H color?

Would it be super expensive?

Why don't you just contact them and ask. I think honestly you are swapping the equivalent of a GIA N/O stone which is probably quite tinted for a GIA K/L which is also tinted. Obviously you aren't that colour sensitive.

The main point of why you buy a GIA graded diamond is you know exactly what you are getting when you buy an EGL graded one you don't know what you are getting so YES you get ripped off. Will they rip you off again YES they probably will.

Like I said above you would be better off buying a GIA certified J or K and knowing what you have than an EGL International H and ending up with anything, and I will make a bet with you that your EGL SI2 is really a GIA I1 or I2 so if you are completely happy with a diamond full of inclusions (which by the way makes it sparkle less) that is totally up to you.

 

[DiamondsNPearls]

So I guess a RB would be out of the question

No, you can also look for an RB. You have an RB now. I asked you to look for a cushion because that's what you said you wanted.

Only if the cushion had the same fluoro that my RB has now, love that flouro!

I wonder if I'd be able to trade in my RB for an EGL H? since that is what it is certified in?

Please don't buy an EGL diamond, EGL International in particular is usually 3 to 4 grades incorrect compared to GIA in colour and it can be up to 5 or 6 grades wrong in colour and around 2 to 3 in clarity (it can be more), EGL USA is usually one to two out in colour and around one to two in clarity. If you buy an EGL diamond you will likely throw more money down the drain and potentially end up with something worth even less because they will sell you something with a SI clarity that is really an I1 to I3 clarity.

A whiter round or a whiter square shaped cushion is going to fit. A GIA eyeclean SI2 that has a H or better colour is probably going to do the trick for you.

But in Latin America, you will usually find EGL Intl. What about EGL USA? Is that a little better? I looked up a GIA Si2 H 1ct & it is $3,940 on BlueNile...I know most people will be anti-EGL but I just want a whiter diamond, that's all.

So if that is the case you buy a GIA graded I or a J SI2 and why would I suggest you do that? BECAUSE it will be the same price as the EGL International stone that you are fooling yourself you are getting a bargain for that is misgraded a G SI which if we are comparing apples to apples is really a K or an L in colour and a I1 in clarity.

The reason your current diamond bugs you if it is an EGL stone is it probably isn't a J it is really a N or an O or something in which case you could by a GIA graded J and be happy with that.

Last year I went to Colombia & our same jeweler (where we got our bands too) showed us an H I3 diamond, it was super white & I couldn't see the "cloudiness" that well, but it was a 1.12ct. I am pretty sure his diamonds were EGL Intl. I respect what you're saying, but


I honestly wonder what my jeweler would charge me if I wanted to exchange my J (EGL Intl.) for an H (EGL Intl.) the same exact diamond, just H color?

Would it be super expensive?

Why don't you just contact them and ask. I think honestly you are swapping the equivalent of a GIA N/O stone which is probably quite tinted for a GIA K/L which is also tinted. Obviously you aren't that colour sensitive.

The main point of why you buy a GIA graded diamond is you know exactly what you are getting when you buy an EGL graded one you don't know what you are getting so YES you get ripped off. Will they rip you off again YES they probably will.

Like I said above you would be better off buying a GIA certified J or K and knowing what you have than an EGL International H and ending up with anything, and I will make a bet with you that your EGL SI2 is really a GIA I1 or I2 so if you are completely happy with a diamond full of inclusions (which by the way makes it sparkle less) that is totally up to you.

Maybe not, if I don't get a 1ct, it would be a smaller GIA stone bc that's all I could afford right now.

 

[Venti25]

No you would get the GIA equivalent (maybe j/k) of whatever that EGL "h" is but actually know what you're getting? Also remember you are limited by the dimensions of your current mount, so you can't just "go smaller" or "larger".

 

[DiamondsNPearls]

No you would get the GIA equivalent (maybe j/k) of whatever that EGL "h" is but actually know what you're getting? Also remember you are limited by the dimensions of your current mount, so you can't just "go smaller" or "larger".

OK, point taken. I didn't realize there was so much EGL dislike. I didn't realize it is such a big deal, but then again I am on a diamond website, jajaja.

 

[SMC]

What's your budget for the stone?

 

[Rhea]

No you would get the GIA equivalent (maybe j/k) of whatever that EGL "h" is but actually know what you're getting? Also remember you are limited by the dimensions of your current mount, so you can't just "go smaller" or "larger".

OK, point taken. I didn't realize there was so much EGL dislike. I didn't realize it is such a big deal, but then again I am on a diamond website, jajaja.

I think you're missing the point. It's not whether the people on this forum like or dislike EGL, it's that YOU can see colour in your diamond and that bothers you. EGL international is known to be looser on colour than some other labs. To avoid you the cost of making a switch and still not being happy with the colour the good people of this forum are recommending that you go with a known quantity, GIA. What happens if you switch it out to an EGL "H" and still see colour? Are you going to have the money, time and patience to switch it again to a higher colour? If you're going to change it, do it right the first time.

 

[Acinom]

Please don't get me wrong...
Are you sure you are willing to use your current setting? You had so many doubts about (the height of the diamond in) your setting and recently you were looking for an antique setting?
I just want you to be happy with the total look.

 

[pyramid]

No you would get the GIA equivalent (maybe j/k) of whatever that EGL "h" is but actually know what you're getting? Also remember you are limited by the dimensions of your current mount, so you can't just "go smaller" or "larger".

OK, point taken. I didn't realize there was so much EGL dislike. I didn't realize it is such a big deal, but then again I am on a diamond website, jajaja.

I don't see it as dislike, I see it more that an EGL H color diamond is the same color as a GIA L. Okay if you like the look of
a GIA L.

If I didn't like my EGL H and bought a GIA H though I would notice that it is a far whiter stone and looks more like an EGL E.
It would also cost a lot more than an EGL H or a GIA L though.

If you don't want to buy GIA then get the same look as a GIA H by buying an EGL E. An EGL H is a far lower color than a GIA H, so
therefore it will have more yellow or brown or grey body color. That is okay if it is what you want your diamond to look like.



I read that there is nothing against anyone setting up their new business and saying they are a jeweller, whereas in other
careers you can't do that. You can also set up a diamond grading system, you could have your diamonds set so that an
M color is the same as an EGL H or you could start at the end of the alphabet and have Z as colorless and move backwards.
GIA is seen as the standard but there is nothing to stop you calling your grade whatever you want and it is just up to you
to market it and sell it to people. So I don't dislike EGL just want to know where they are on the GIA grading scale as that is
what it is also; what GIA decided to call their diamonds.

 

[DiamondsNPearls]

Well, the jeweler said upgrade is about $1900 in Bogota for an H compared to $4000-4500 for a "legitimate certified" what I see on this website, so I am happy about that.

All I want is a whiter diamond. To be honest, I don't see much yellow in my J, it sparkles very well, has flouro, & most people see it as a white diamond. I just want a whiter diamond for me, it is a want & not a need. & I'm clearly not a certificate kind of girl or else I'd be saving every penny for a GIA.

We'll see what happens. Maybe in a few months I can get my ring upgraded I'm excited, be happy for me because after this, I don't plan on messing with my ring at all & when I go abroad, I plan on using just the wedding band.

 

[SMC]

Do you have the option of upgrading from your EGL J to an excellent cut GIA or ideal cut AGS J? That would be a better bet, especially if you ever want to upgrade again.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Between this thread and your others, it appears you have long decided to take the "certified" /"grade" out of the equation and therefore those comparisons are not relevant.

Please, buy, or upgrade, or trade in, or bargain for, the "whiter" stone/smaller/ given your personal preference. IRL. What YOU want is what YOU want and that is all that really matters.

cheers--Sharon