upgrade or reset, which would you do with a limited budget?

[butterfly 17]

Hey guys, well, it''s that time again when I have to decide what I want.

If you had a limited budget to spend, would you upgrade your diamond (I have a 2 carat) or would you just reset your diamond.

I originally planned to just reset my diamond for my anniversary, but the ring I liked turned out to be $4k in platinum and $2800 in 18K. white gold.

So, I started to look into just upgrading my diamond. I currently have a 2.03 ACA G VS1. I always thought it was just right, not too small, but not big either. I really wanted to upgrade to a 2.5 as I always felt that this size was the best for me, not too big for my lifestyle, but bigger than my 2 carat.
I started looking and found a few that were in that range, but sold out rather fast or were no longer available.

Now, I have found two that I like. A 3.03 J SI1 and a 2.73 H SI2. I was told that the 2.7 is a prettier stone than the 3 carat, and also is eyeclean, esp. compared to the 3 carat.

To upgrade to this diamond would cost me even less than the new setting I want to get. I would have it reset into a plain tiffany setting for now which would be relatively cheap.

So, if given the choice between an upgrade or reset, which would you do?

Thanks.

 

[ImpatientOne]

I''d go for a bigger diamond!!!

 

[coatimundi_org]

Date: 4/3/2008 7:04:51 PM
Author: ImpatientOne
I'd go for a bigger diamond!!!

Ditto!

You can always change the setting later.

 

[DiamanteBlu]

I agree. Go bigger.

 

[lovewhitediamonds]

U-P-G-R-A-D-E

 

[Heidi137]

I would definitely reset because I wouldn''t want to go bigger (especially in a RB) and I prefer higher color and clarity.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 4/3/2008 7:23:12 PM
Author: Heidi137
I would definitely reset because I wouldn't want to go bigger (especially in a RB) and I prefer higher color and clarity.

Ditto! I'd faaaaaaar rather have the 2 ct. G VS1 ACA!!! I wouldn't upgrade unless I could stay at least G-H VS2 and ACA. (And of course, I wouldn't upgrade at all, because I think 2 carats is ideal!)

And isn't your diamond in that beautiful Ritani setting??? Just send me the whole ring...I think it is perfect for ME!!!

 

[butterfly 17]

Ha, ha, heidi and diamondseeker, the voice of reasons, in my unreasonable wheels turning world.

That''s just it, I never felt that the 2 carat was big, not small, but not big. I don''t know why. And I kept resetting it in the hope of trying to make it appear bigger.

I had the Vatche Royal Crown, then I had a custom Leon Mege (very similar to yours diamondseeker), and now finally the Ritani and it still looks okay, but not big. ( i know, I am a mess).

In my ideal world, I would love a 2.75 G VS1 ACA, but it would cost me something like $60K, so no, it''s just not doable. There is currently a 3 carat H VS1 ACA that is $70K.

Again, not doable.

But, I do thank you guys for trying to help me come to my senses.

and being honest!

 

[iheartscience]

I''d go for the bigger diamond for sure, as long as it is well cut!

 

[Kaleigh]

UPGRADE!!!

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Reset your stone. I like the qualities of the stone you already possess!! But I am biased, b/c if my vendor would take my ring, I would trade it in for a 2ish D IF. OK I said it.

cheers--Sharon

 

[butterfly 17]

ha, ha, I see more upgraders than not.

Yes, it would be an ideal cut, gia cert. ex, ex, ex, cut, polish, symmetry diamond with a H&A pattern but obviously not supe duper louper (gotta love that Ellen term ) H&A, but acceptable enough for me.

Canuk-gal, D IF, I want that too.

 

[lyra]

I''ve read some of your other threads about this topic. I personally am a clarity freak. I have a K stone, so colour is not an issue for me, but it is VS1. My original diamond is .26ct and VVS1, talk about total overkill. I can''t see myself ever going for an SI2. Maybe, *maybe* a qualified SI1, but I don''t know. Inclusions just bug me more than anything else. You have a gorgeous stone. At the very least, I would take my time and find the perfect upgrade. Definitely don''t rush into it. It sounds more and more like clarity is very important to you. You can''t go down in every area necessarily, just to get size. I mean, you could, but in the long run, how happy would you be?

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Bigger diamond. Sounds like you will not be happy until you get the size you want.

 

[butterfly 17]

Thanks Lyra. Sometimes I just feel like I need to get over myself sometimes. My original was a 1.51 F VVS2 ACA with F VVS1 ACA sidestones. I am like you were I don''t care so much for color as I do for clarity. I don''t know why it bugs me.

As you can see, I am a clarity nut as well, why I don''t know. They say you can''t see clarity like you can see color, but honestly, I would rather have higher clarity.

My only other thing is that I don''t want a stone that will cost me over $30k. I just can''t wear it. I don''t know why. If it was given to me as a gift, fine, but for me to spend that kind of money, I just can''t. I would never ever wear it. I don''t know why, but I have a limit as to how much I would be comfortable wearing on my hand and I just don''t think anything over that would be comfortable for me. I feel it''s just unnessary considering my lifestyle and what I do, to have a more expensive ring.

Whiteflash does have a K VS1 ES that is 2.43 carats right now. I can''t even trade for that because I paid more for my diamond 5 years ago. Gotta love the VS1 clarity though.

But, anyway, bigger diamond or reset diamond? Which one?

 

[Dee*Jay]

Bigger diamond now, then reset that one later!

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 4/3/2008 9:53:00 PM
Author: Dee*Jay
Bigger diamond now, then reset that one later!

ditto

what setting are you wanting?

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 4/3/2008 10:01:16 PM
Author: mrssalvo

Date: 4/3/2008 9:53:00 PM
Author: Dee*Jay
Bigger diamond now, then reset that one later!

ditto

what setting are you wanting?

Thritto.

 

[hairgirl95]

I am jumping the upgrade bandwagon too!!!

I am a bling upgrade corrupter! My motto is when in doubt, go bigger!!!

 

[Diamond*Dana]

I would do the bigger diamond now and then have the new stone reset down the road.

 

[sera]

I could say that I would reset... but you have already done that... more than once... to "make it appear bigger." Well, that didn''t work because it''s still not big enough for you, so I say go for the upgrade and don''t try yet another reset to make it look bigger. Like was mentioned, you could always reset later on. It just seems if you want bigger, trying to compensate isn''t going to work- just go bigger.

 

[simplysplendid]

Upgrade then reset.

Rationale: You can upgrade now and reset later with the new stone. But you can''t reset now and upgrade later into the new setting. Make sense?

 

[violet3]

Is there any way we could see what setting you were considering? I know the reset would be a tiffany solitaire...

I''m sort of torn between the upgrade and the reset - but maybe that would influence me one way or the other!

 

[violet3]

sorry! I mean the UPGRADE would be a solitaire, not the reset - ooops.

 

[allycat0303]

I can't believe a PS 'er is asking this question,

especially since it is not the original stone (therefore no sentimental value) upgrade. The 2.73 H without a doubt.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Your ritani is so pretty that I''d go for a bigger diamond and put another stone into your current setting. Sorry to be a bummer here, but I wouldn''t chose either of the stones you posted.

A J stone is quite a bit lower than an G and it may show too much color and I''m a clarity freak and wouldn''t feel comfortable with an SI2. I''d keep hunting a bit to find a better balance between color/clarity.

 

[butterfly 17]

Date: 4/4/2008 4:50:04 PM
Author: MC
Your ritani is so pretty that I''d go for a bigger diamond and put another stone into your current setting. Sorry to be a bummer here, but I wouldn''t chose either of the stones you posted.

A J stone is quite a bit lower than an G and it may show too much color and I''m a clarity freak and wouldn''t feel comfortable with an SI2. I''d keep hunting a bit to find a better balance between color/clarity.

Yeah, you are a bummer.

I can''t find anything better out there that met my other qualifications. H, SI1 clarity in the 2.5 range showing a H&A pattern with all EX''s and within the HCA <2 range.

BTW, a diamond popped out of my setting today.... Maybe it''s trying to tell me something?

 

[butterfly 17]

Here is the missing diamond!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I think yours is the first time someone posted about losing a stone in a ritani before. That sucks!!! Maybe it is a sign. I would still upgrade the diamond but for the sake of argument....what setting were you lusting after?

 

[Lynn B]

HahahaHA! You''re asking ME? Everyone here knows I am sick, sick, sick!!!

Upgrade, babeeeeeee, UPGRADE! That''s a NO-BRAINER for me. Assuming excellent CUT (of course!) GET AS BIG AS THE BUDGET ALLOWS! Oh yeeeeeeeeeeeah!!!!