Upgrading EC but can't decide which one.

[chrono]

I've been wanting to upgrade my EC for a while and thought perhaps it is about time. I like my stones very clean and icy white, hence the EFG colour and VS1/2 clarity. I'm not ready to request IS and ASET yet but I can sort of tell which ones are promising by the pictures. The following 5 are contenders which I need to narrow down to 2 or 3 before contacting the vendor for IS and ASET pictures. Pricing is all over the place and I cannot seem to get the picture any larger.

Which would you choose and why?

 

[chrono]

Last but not least.

 

[04diamond<3]

Yay for upgrading!!!! I definitely love the cuts on the first too, but considering the first one is an f, I'd go for that one. But I'm also always thinking go bigger...so maybe the last one? So excited for you Chrono!!

 

[two_little_birds]

I don't know much about EC's but my favorites from the ones you posted are #1 and #5.

 

[Karl_K]

number one looks like it might have p3 issues.

number 3 is the first I would get more info on.
number 5 is the second.

 

[chrono]

number one looks like it might have p3 issues.

number 3 is the first I would get more info on.
number 5 is the second.

Karl,
For the purpose of education, can you please explain why? I hope I'm not putting you in a difficult spot (breaking PS trade rules) by "forcing" you to comment on a vendor's stones.

 

[Alexiszoe]

Visually I like 1 and 5, probably because of the L:W ratio. Personally my sweet spot color wise is a G (weird I know) so I would pick 5

 

[chrono]

For those who are curious, the ratios are as follows:
1:1.3
1:1.29
1:1.4
1:1.3
1:1.4

They are all very close although some have steeper shoulders than others.

 

[gregchang35]

number one looks like it might have p3 issues.

number 3 is the first I would get more info on.
number 5 is the second.

Karl,
For the purpose of education, can you please explain why? I hope I'm not putting you in a difficult spot (breaking PS trade rules) by "forcing" you to comment on a vendor's stones.

This is what i found and learned when i was looking for my asscher... woo hoo on the upgrade! number 3 and 5 for me.
https://www.pricescope.com/journal/performance-and-p3-facets-discussion-about-step-cut-diamonds

 

[davi_el_mejor]

3 and 5

They appear to have fewer obstruction issues. They'll be bright for sure!

 

[chrono]

Any issues with this one?

 

[Laila619]

I'm no expert on step cuts, but I too like 3 and 5.

 

[packrat]

I like 3 the best. It reminds me of an EC that someone here has that I can't remember who it is, but how it's set reminds me of lace and I just looove it.

 

[Karl_K]

Any issues with this one?

Has potential, looks like a largish table?

 

[Karl_K]

number one looks like it might have p3 issues.

number 3 is the first I would get more info on.
number 5 is the second.

Karl,
For the purpose of education, can you please explain why? I hope I'm not putting you in a difficult spot (breaking PS trade rules) by "forcing" you to comment on a vendor's stones.

For you I will risk getting my hand slapped.
You have helped a ton of people and deserve the best help PS has to offer. And I have no business relationship with JA.
overall looks is why I picked them based on seeing the lighting setup compared to ASET images posted in the past combined with peoples experience who bought them.

 

[marcy]

I like 3 and 5 because I can see all the step cuts. How they look in real life? I can't say. How fun to be upgrading your EC!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I can't be of much help other than to say I LOVE emerald cuts and I would always defer to Karl on step cuts!!! Good luck!!!

 

[chrono]

Karl,
Thanks for sticking your neck out for me. I read your P3 tutorial but before reaching the end, I think my eyes glossed over.

Depth: 64.5%
Table: 64.0%
Polish: Good
Symmetry: Good
Girdle: Ex Thin to Sl thick (not crazy about this part)
Fluorescence: MB (love this part)
Ratio: 1.32

The table isn't overly large.

 

[chrono]

Silly me finally figured out how to get a larger copy of the ECs. Just noticed the GIA cert says it is a G VVS2. A bit of an overkill on the clarity but beggars can't be choosers.

Depth: 66.5%
Table: 59.0%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Very Good
Girdle: Sl Thick to Thick
Fluorescence: Faint
Ratio: 1.41

 

[chrono]

Depth: 66.0%
Table: 61.0%
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Girdle: medium to Sl thick
Fluorescence: Medium blue
Ratio: 1.39

This one seems to hit all my sweet spots - small table, not too deep, not too thick or thin girdle, MB fluoro and a pleasant ratio. Icy colour and not too overkill on clarity.

 

[bgray]

i like #3

 

[Karl_K]

Depth: 66.0%
Table: 61.0%
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Girdle: medium to Sl thick
Fluorescence: Medium blue
Ratio: 1.39

This one seems to hit all my sweet spots - small table, not too deep, not too thick or thin girdle, MB fluoro and a pleasant ratio. Icy colour and not too overkill on clarity.

I would see about getting someone to pull them and compare them in person and make a recommendation.
3 and 5 above, this one, and the one right about it would be a good start.
Ask for them to be compared and get an ASET on the top 2.

 

[Karl_K]

Silly me finally figured out how to get a larger copy of the ECs. Just noticed the GIA cert says it is a G VVS2. A bit of an overkill on the clarity but beggars can't be choosers.

Depth: 66.5%
Table: 59.0%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Very Good
Girdle: Sl Thick to Thick
Fluorescence: Faint
Ratio: 1.41

This one and the ones that look similar its going to depend on how the dark zones flash with slight movement.

 

[chrono]

I'll request info (recommendation, IS and ASET from JA today as soon as they are open). I opened up my options a little last night as spotted these. Again, I don't know if the SIs are clean but let's assume they are for now.

3 and 5 are still in. 6 will also be asked. Are the following worth asking about?

EC 7
Depth: 68.4% (Not crazy about the depth)
Table: 59.0%
P/S: VG / VG
Girdle: Tk to V.Tk (Not hot on this either)
Ratio: 1.43

EC 8
Depth: 68.6%
Table: 64.0%
P/S: VG / VG
Girdle: Thick
Ratio: 1.44

EC 9
Depth: 67.1%
Table: 65.0%
P/S: VG / VG
Girdle: Tk to V.Tk
Ratio: 1.33

 

[Karl_K]

I'll request info (recommendation, IS and ASET from JA today as soon as they are open). I opened up my options a little last night as spotted these. Again, I don't know if the SIs are clean but let's assume they are for now.

I think the ones recommended above are better cut.
Yes it is obstruction.

 

[chrono]

Karl,
I feel so terrible for bothering you so much but I'm still undecided about which 3 to call in. Your top choice of 3 and 5 are at the steeper end of my budget; for the huge price jump, the mm increase is incredibly miniscule. I went through a long list of options again, this time keeping my budget realistic (really don't want to go over a certain price point unless there is absolutely no performing EC).

I went through and eliminated the deep ones so it will not face up small, checked the girdle to nix the dangerously thin ones and removed the obviously bad ones and those without pictures. This still left me with far too many options. Last batch of ECs, I promise. This time, I went through the stones more closely, trying to understand the picture and taking price and stats into account. ECs are posted by price, from the lowest to the highest.

 

[chrono]

I am not crazy about the I colour but stats and price look very good. Low 60s for depth, reasonable sized table with no hidden weight at the girdle. Because of all these factors, it faces up bigger or the same as many ECs that are 0.2 carats larger while costing $2K to $3K less. I'm hoping the picture shows promise too.

EC 10, I VS1
Depth: 63.1%
Table: 64.0%
P/S: Ex / VG
Girdle: Medium to thick
Measurements: 7.07*5.03*3.17
Ratio: 1.41

 

[chrono]

I don't know if this one will be eye clean. It's not a good sign that I can see the white line crossing right in the middle but am hoping that it might be clean on account on the picture being greatly magnified. Priced really close to the one above with a big jump in colour (F) but dropped in clarity. Although the carat weight is a little bigger than EC 10, there is hidden weight in the girdle so it faces up a smidge smaller.

EC 11, F SI1
Depth: 62.7%
Table: 58.0%
P/S: Ex / VG
Girdle: Slightly thick to thick
Measurements: 6.83*5.04*3.16
Ratio: 1.36

 

[Karl_K]

I don't know if this one will be eye clean. It's not a good sign that I can see the white line crossing right in the middle but am hoping that it might be clean on account on the picture being greatly magnified. Priced really close to the one above with a big jump in colour (F) but dropped in clarity. Although the carat weight is a little bigger than EC 10, there is hidden weight in the girdle so it faces up a smidge smaller.

EC 11, F SI1
Depth: 62.7%
Table: 58.0%
P/S: Ex / VG
Girdle: Slightly thick to thick
Measurements: 6.83*5.04*3.16
Ratio: 1.36

Large feather under the table are often visible when slightly tilted in ECs even if they face up eyeclean so in other words impossible to tell from a photo.
Cut wise it shows potential so far.

 

[Karl_K]

I am not crazy about the I colour but stats and price look very good. Low 60s for depth, reasonable sized table with no hidden weight at the girdle. Because of all these factors, it faces up bigger or the same as many ECs that are 0.2 carats larger while costing $2K to $3K less. I'm hoping the picture shows promise too.

EC 10, I VS1
Depth: 63.1%
Table: 64.0%
P/S: Ex / VG
Girdle: Medium to thick
Measurements: 7.07*5.03*3.17
Ratio: 1.41

cant tell on the p3s from this pic but has potential need an ASET.
I hear you on price. Finding a well cut one at the right combo to be priced where you want it to be is a huge challenge when there are not a lot of well cut options.