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Upgrade to a smaller ACA stone?

M

Mamajemmy

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Feb 6, 2020
Messages
411
Hi All. Several months ago I upgraded from a 1.8 H si2 GIA excellent cut to a 2.38 I si1 expert selection from Whiteflash. The upgrade was due to a damaged stone— so it wasn’t necessarily something that was planned.

The size is great but I’m just not in love with it. I’m in a strong “like” with it but there’s a quiet voice in the background saying— I don’t know if this is the one.

In some lights it looks incredible. In some lights it looks fine and in some it doesn’t look all that great. Is that some of you feel? Do you love your stone all of the time? I see the tint more than I’d thought I would. I honestly don’t know if I’m just having unrealistic expectations. I don’t remember feeling this way with my 1.8– even though the cut was not super ideal— but also, after having it for 11+ years, I wasn’t examining it as much as I’m examining this new one.

I’ve reached out to my most amazing WF rep and shared my concerns and she suggested a new stone that might be a good fit. It’s a 2.1 H si1 ACA and is right around the same cost. I don’t know if the color bump or move to ACA over ES would make a difference. The angles and such are also a little different. Obviously, the size difference would be felt, but I’d make the move if it would make me love my stone personality 90% if the time.

I would love to get some more eyes on both selections to see if there’s opinions or something I should be thinking about to help with this decisions. It’s had to decide without seeing a new stone in person. Thanks!

Current Stone:

Diamond | 2.386 ct I SI1 Expert Selection Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4193184

This fabulous 2.386 carat Round Ideal cut diamond has a clarity grade of SI1 and color grade of I.It is an excellent choice for engagement rings. | 4193184
www.whiteflash.com

Possible upgrade:

Diamond | 2.105 ct H SI1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4305838

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 2.105 carat H color SI1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4305838
www.whiteflash.com
 
Oh and I should also add that my setting is the WF knife edge six prong yellow gold with white prongs. I love it!
 
Since you know what your eyes like, I think that you should ask WF to send the stone to you for you to view side by side with your current stone, in your home lighting set up, since that's going to be where you spend a good amount of time with your stone.
 
I would think the move to ACA and color bump will have you in love again. I had a 41 pavillion, very close to your 40.9 and had the same experience of loving it in some lighting and being disappointed in others. Good luck with your decision!
 
mwilliamanderson said:
I would think the move to ACA and color bump will have you in love again. I had a 41 pavillion, very close to your 40.9 and had the same experience of loving it in some lighting and being disappointed in others. Good luck with your decision!
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That’s so interesting. What did it look like to you in the lightings you’re didn’t love and did you ever figure out what about the Pavillion angles caused that look?
 
One important information missing here is the proportions of the previous diamond.
 
Mamajemmy said:
That’s so interesting. What did it look like to you in the lightings you’re didn’t love and did you ever figure out what about the Pavillion angles caused that look?
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In lower level lighting the center could look darker than the crown perimeter. Mine had a 35 degree crown so I’m not sure it was the pavillion alone but I always wished I had gone with a 40.7 or 40.8 PA.
 
I think you were used to a GIA H and went to an AGS I color. So I think it is color most of all. My diamond is I color and I'd definitely prefer G or H over I color. However, I color was the highest color in the type stone and size range I wanted for years. So I had to settle on the color.

I do think if you have a way to put the new stone on a credit card temporarily so you can order the new stone to look at next to your current one, you can then see if you notice the color difference and whether you'd be happy with the smaller size. I think it will be hard to decide without seeing them together. I do like what I see regarding the H stone.
 
flyingpig said:
One important information missing here is the proportions of the previous diamond.
Click to expand...

Do you mean the 2.38 or the old 1.8? Good question about the 1.8. I can’t find the GIA cert. probably in safety deposit box.
 
diamondseeker2006 said:
I think you were used to a GIA H and went to an AGS I color. So I think it is color most of all. My diamond is I color and I'd definitely prefer G or H over I color. However, I color was the highest color in the type stone and size range I wanted for years. So I had to settle on the color.

I do think if you have a way to put the new stone on a credit card temporarily so you can order the new stone to look at next to your current one, you can then see if you notice the color difference and whether you'd be happy with the smaller size. I think it will be hard to decide without seeing them together. I do like what I see regarding the H stone.
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Yes— perhaps that is it! I also had an appraiser tell me it looked like a high H to her— so that’s what I’ve been looking at for 11 years.

I’m sure we could put a new stone on a credit card if that’s something that WF allows for a preview.
 
Angles for the 1.8 so we can get an idea what it looked like.
 
tyty333 said:
Angles for the 1.8 so we can get an idea what it looked like.
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I’ll see if I can find my old GIA number to look it up. Also, I asked WF for a picture of it next to an I
 
Here are the photos WF just sent.
006A96AA-6700-48AF-8619-555A6C0F421A.jpegE49E6242-1986-40DA-A767-FE9A07C87B83.jpeg
 
I can fairly easily see the color difference in both sets of pictures. Sometimes I can not when the color grades are just one off from each other.
 
I agree. This isn’t my exact I but is almost the same size and my I isn’t a high I or anything so this is probably pretty accurate.
 
I can’t see the color difference, only the size. I can see the inclusion in the smaller but not the larger. The larger is more appealing to me. But I’m not you.
 
AprilBaby said:
I can’t see the color difference, only the size. I can see the inclusion in the smaller but not the larger. The larger is more appealing to me. But I’m not you.
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It’s so funny how our eyes can see things so differently. The color is so obvious to me— and I can’t see inclusions at all— but I also couldn’t see them in my si2. The size is obvious and seems sizable. I guess I just don’t want size to be the main thing I love about my stone. I always felt my 1.8 was big— but maybe after having this 2.38, a 2.1 would feel small to my eyes.
 
I could notice the colour and I am not at all colour sensitive. Maybe because the images are quite blown up. If it was life size, I don't think I could tell the difference.
 
Mamajemmy said:
It’s so funny how our eyes can see things so differently. The color is so obvious to me— and I can’t see inclusions at all— but I also couldn’t see them in my si2. The size is obvious and seems sizable. I guess I just don’t want size to be the main thing I love about my stone. I always felt my 1.8 was big— but maybe after having this 2.38, a 2.1 would feel small to my eyes.
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I think I am similar to you - color is very noticeable, but inclusions not so much. I think you should get a 2 carat CZ ring (Amazon has them) and wear it for a bit to see how you feel about a smaller size.
 
I can see the color difference but, unfortunately, the size as well. How do you feel about the smaller SI1? Is it eye-clean? We do not want you to get a higher color only to stare at the inclusions. Another option: would you be willing to wait and save up until you can buy an H color (or at least a high I color) in the size you have now?
 
daisygrl said:
I can see the color difference but, unfortunately, the size as well. How do you feel about the smaller SI1? Is it eye-clean? We do not want you to get a higher color only to stare at the inclusions. Another option: would you be willing to wait and save up until you can buy an H color (or at least a high I color) in the size you have now?
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They say it’s eye clean and they seem to be pickier that I am with that! I guess that’s why I like SI1. I don’t like to pay for what I can’t see. I wish I couldn’t see the color!

I could do that— or move to this new one and upgrade to a larger one down the road if wanted. There seem to be a few I’s in almost this same size but very few H’s in 2.1-2.3 range. Had this stone been available when I was first needing to replace my old stone, I might have gotten it instead.
 
Mamajemmy said:
They say it’s eye clean and they seem to be pickier that I am with that! I guess that’s why I like SI1. I don’t like to pay for what I can’t see. I wish I couldn’t see the color!

I could do that— or move to this new one and upgrade to a larger one down the road if wanted. There seem to be a few I’s in almost this same size but very few H’s in 2.1-2.3 range. Had this stone been available when I was first needing to replace my old stone, I might have gotten it instead.
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Then there is your answer. :appl:
 
You will notice the size difference but it won't affect you as much as the color difference. Whether you trade now or not, nothing has to be forever. If you are staying in the same price point, then you won't be outpricing yourself on an upgrade.

To be perfectly safe, going to a G would probably make you very happy but sometimes life and budgets don't all coincide. Neither do inventories!

And no, I don't think any diamond looks exactly like we want it to all the time. Bad lighting and paint and clothing colors do make a definite difference. If you know you love it in one place but not the other, it's the environment. I think the more color that is in a stone the worse it looks in bad color environments but no matter, it just can't be completely perfect all the time. It's facets work like a mirror!
 
You are so right about environment and lighting— but I’d say I really only love it outdoors and maybe one spot indoors. Maybe it’s my house? I’d be so curious to see how the H would perform. Maybe it would look exactly the same.

I might ask WF if I can buy the H and have it shipped out here to decide— that just seems like a lot of extra work for them. Has anyone done that before?
 
WF has a great reputation and has demonstrated strong customer service, so don't be concerned about creating 'extra work for them'.

As others have said, seeing the H along side your current stone, in your environment, is the best way for you to decide your preference.

I suggest contacting your WF rep and discussing this with them, and confirming what you will be charged (aside from the price of the H, of course) when you either return the H, or send the H and your current ring to them to set the H and credit you for the return of the current stone (assuming WF will be setting a new stone).
 
Color is very important to me, so I would go for the smaller one... it’s still over 2ct. But that’s me. I cannot stand the tint. Also, for the smaller stone, it has a 55 table which is what I prefer.
 
Mamajemmy said:
Maybe it’s my house?
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Did you live in the same house with your previous diamond? Halogen and LED spot lighting or floods are the best for diamonds. But I love my diamond even in a darkening room near a window as the sun is going down. I hope you change your stone so you can find bling satisfaction again!
 
We moved to a new house about a year and I probably never really examined my old ring as closely as this new one. There were times where it was dirty and I’d notice that— but that was about it.
 
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