Upgrade male earring stud, help

[125mph]

Hi,

I''m looking to upgrade my earring (single) that I got in college. Back then I didn''t know too much about diamonds and so I started research more for this upcoming buy.

Right now I''m wearing:
Size: .33carat
Clarity: VS2
Color: H
Total Depth: 63%
Table Width: 59%

Some diamonds I''m intereted in:

1.)
http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?__fun_frm=i&track=view_details_btn&elem=img&pid=LD01107379&filter_id=0
AGSL
Size: .58carat
Cut: Ideal
Claraity: SI1
Color: H
Total Depth: 61%
Table Width: 56%

2.)
http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?__fun_frm=i&track=view_details_btn&elem=img&pid=LD01152129&filter_id=0
AGSL
Size: .58carat
Cut: Ideal
Claraity: SI1
Color: H
Total Depth: 62.1%
Table Width: 56%

3.)
http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?__fun_frm=i&track=view_details_btn&elem=img&pid=LD01183648&filter_id=0
GIA
Size: .66carat
Cut: Ideal
Claraity: SI1
Color: H
Total Depth: 62.4%
Table Width: 57%

4.)
http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?__fun_frm=i&track=view_details_btn&elem=img&pid=LD01166263&filter_id=0
GIA
Size: .62carat
Cut: Ideal
Claraity: SI1
Color: H
Total Depth: 61.8%
Table Width: 56%

Which one is the best of the 4? Are they all basically the same?

 

[phoenixgirl]

I'd look at the cut quality (you can use the HCA after you zoom in the grading reports), the diameter of each stone, the inclusion plots and/or description, and any other dissimilar information (girdle, culet, symmetry, etc.).

OK, stone 1:
HCA 1.7 ex, ex, vg, vg
0.58 for $1330
5.38 x 5.42

stone 2:
HCA 1.8 ex, ex, vg, vg
0.58 for $1330
5.33 x 5.37

stone 3
HCA 2.0 ex, vg, vg, vg
0.66 for $1308
5.54 x 5.58
strong blue flourescence

stone 4:
HCA 1.8 ex, vg, vg, vg
0.62 for $1342
5.48 x 5.52
only stone with "very good" instead of ideal or excellent symmetry

Stone 3 could be a good value if the flourescence isn't bothersome. Stones 1 and 2 are virtually identical, but I'd go with 1 over 2 due to its larger diameter (I'm doubting that inclusion is visible from the top in a stone that size, but that's another consideration). Stone 4 is a good larger option if you want a bigger stone but are worried about stone 3's flourescence.

 

[125mph]

Thanks for the quick response!

So I am now using the HCA calculator... and found two diamond in comparable price. One is $180 more the other is in the same range.. How do these compare to the 4 above?

http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?__fun_frm=i&track=view_details_btn&elem=img&pid=LD01116973&filter_id=0
HCA 1.0 ex, ex, ex, vg
0.59 for $1378
5.38 x 5.41

http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?__fun_frm=i&track=view_details_btn&elem=img&pid=LD01175856&filter_id=0


HCA 1.2 ex, ex, ex, vg
0.60 for $1505
5.43 x 5.47

Color is I, not H like the others.. is that a big deal for an earring and a .60 size stone?

Also, is HCA important for earrings? Good thing I found this site or I woulda got some disproportionate .7 stone thinking I got a great deal lol.

 

[Fly Girl]

I purchased Blue Nile diamonds for earrings several months ago, and they are beautiful. I got 0.42 and 0.43 ct. J SI1s. I would not be concerned about going to an I color. I did go for the good HCA score of 2 or less, because that assures that you are more likely to get angles that work to give you the good sparkle in a variety of lighting situations.

One other thing that I picked up here on PS was I wanted to avoid SI stones where clouds were the grade making inclusion because that could cut down on the sparkle. My stones had a feather and a twinning wisp as the grade making inclusions, and both stones are eye-clean.