what matters the most in a diamond

[curiousthinker]

I am very new to the inside world of diamonds, before I began hanging around here and reading post all I knew was *wow, how can a get a husband...I mean a diamond like that*. Now I am getting engaged *I am so excited , I am so in love with this man

* and the only problem left is the diamond. I have been reading around and since I am still new I thought why not get some advice as to what matters the most when choosing a diamond and which of these diamonds would be the best choice ???? One day I will be smart like you guys

Round G VS2 1.36ct

Round G VVS2 1.21ct

Round F VS2 1.21ct

Round E VS1 1.17ct

the size is not a huge factor, mostly the quality.

 

[honey22]

Welcome and congrats on your engagement!!

What matters most in a diamond? Cut Is King. A well cut diamond will out-sparkle and out-shine a poorly cut stone anyday. For example, a well cut G can look far better than a poorly cut D.

Of the ones you listed, we can''t make a determination which is the better choice (although we would usually say bigger!! lol)

Firstly, you need to look at who is certifying the stone - look for AGS Ideals or GIA excellents.

If looking for a RB stone, look at the specs - ie table size, total depth, crown and pavillion angles. You can use these numbers to run through the HCA, which is a tool that will weed-out poorly performing stones.

To start with, do you have specs or links for the stones you mentioned?

If you like, you can always post what you are looking for in terms of cut, size etc, and a ballpark budget, and we can show you some killer stones to give you something to compare to.

Good luck with this exciting purchase! And around here, handshots are mandatory!!

 

[Lorelei]

Welcome!

I think you will find that most around here will tell you CUT is what matters most in a diamond. The way a diamond is cut and crafted is most important for a diamond's beauty, so it is that which needs to be given attention, in selecting a diamond with good proportions which will sparkle and return the most light to the viewer/ wearer's eye. Regarding cut there is not enough info from the stones you posted to tell which is best cut.

As to colour and clarity, some value D and IF/ VVS for purity reasons, which is fine, but colour and clarity alone won't give you a lovely diamond if it isn't well cut. Many here choose a lower eyeclean diamond of SI clarity and maybe G to J colour and they still have incredibly white and clean diamonds if the cut is good.

So it is a case of what you value more with colour and clarity which is a personal choice, but make sure the diamond you choose is well cut to get a beautiful stone, then any colour and clarity grade ( mostly) will look superb.

Read the advanced tutorial above and work through it, then you will have an excellent working knowledge which will help you choose a diamond.

http://diamonds.pricescope.com/

 

[honey22]

Assuming you are looking for a RB, I did a quick search and found this gorgeous stone. It''s an ACA, which is one of the best cut stones you will find. You can certainly drop down in clarity to save money, but it''s close to one of the examples you had listed, so I thought I would show you this link, so you can see what a really well cut stone will cost from an online vendor and compare to the ones you are looking at.

Hope this helps!

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-636614.htm

 

[curiousthinker]

HERE ARE THE DETAILS

Shape A Cut Above H&A A Cut Above H&A A Cut Above H&A
Carat 1.003 1.021 1.05
Color F D G
Clarity VS2 VS2 VVS2
Measure. 6.46-6.48X3.93 6.47-6.48X3.95 6.51-6.53X4.01
Table % 56.8 57.3 56.3
Depth % 60.7 61.1 61.5
Polish Ideal Ideal Ideal
Symmetry Ideal Ideal Ideal
Girdle Thin to Medium Thin to Medium Thin to Medium
Culet Pointed Pointed Pointed
Fluorescence Negligible Negligible Negligible

 

[curiousthinker]

HERE ARE THE DETAILS

Shape A Cut Above H&A A Cut Above H&A A Cut Above H&A
Carat 1.003 1.021 1.05
Color F D G
Clarity VS2 VS2 VVS2
Measure. 6.46-6.48X3.93 6.47-6.48X3.95 6.51-6.53X4.01
Table % 56.8 57.3 56.3
Depth % 60.7 61.1 61.5
Polish Ideal Ideal Ideal
Symmetry Ideal Ideal Ideal
Girdle Thin to Medium Thin to Medium Thin to Medium
Culet Pointed Pointed Pointed
Fluorescence Negligible Negligible Negligible
“Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.”

 

[Lorelei]

WOW!!! All ACA's then you know they have the top cut and light performance possible, so in that case, pick the one with the colour, clarity or size you prefer!

I would choose the F VS2 personally but it depends on what you value most, you can't go wrong!

 

[Ellen]

Date: 3/23/2008 6:42:38 AM
Author: Lorelei
WOW!!! All ACA's then you know they have the top cut and light performance possible, so in that case, pick the one with the colour, clarity or size you prefer!

I would choose the F VS2 personally but it depends on what you value most, you can't go wrong!

Ditto. out of these.

But you might consider these also. If eyeclean, they would also be gorgeous. Lower color and clarity doesn't mean lower quality.

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-636612.htm#

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-608074.htm#

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-608073.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/Round-Ideal-Cut-cut-diamond-737791.htm#

http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/2688/

http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/4206/

http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/4002/


Lots to choose from!

 

[WinkHPD]

speaking strictly to the Title:


CUT!

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 3/23/2008 6:42:38 AM
Author: Lorelei
WOW!!! All ACA''s then you know they have the top cut and light performance possible, so in that case, pick the one with the colour, clarity or size you prefer!

I would choose the F VS2 personally but it depends on what you value most, you can''t go wrong!

Careful there, I cringe when I see brandism.
Yes an ACA is usually an excellent stone but there was one mislabeled the other day that was less than excellent. Rare yes but it happens and has happened with other vendors also.
Making blanket statements is dangerous.
Saying a specific stone ACA or otherwise is excellent is kewl however.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 3/23/2008 10:20:34 AM
Author: strmrdr

Date: 3/23/2008 6:42:38 AM
Author: Lorelei
WOW!!! All ACA's then you know they have the top cut and light performance possible, so in that case, pick the one with the colour, clarity or size you prefer!

I would choose the F VS2 personally but it depends on what you value most, you can't go wrong!

Careful there, I cringe when I see brandism.
Yes an ACA is usually an excellent stone but there was one mislabeled the other day that was less than excellent. Rare yes but it happens and has happened with other vendors also.
Making blanket statements is dangerous.
Saying a specific stone ACA or otherwise is excellent is kewl however.

I hope that isn't the case, I do try to avoid making blanket statements very carefully usually, and I don't think I have posted or said anything in the above post that many of us haven't at times. I meant that the diamonds above with the posted proportions looked great and were ACA'S. But anyway, I think many of us here tend to think that ACA's are among the best for cut and performance, after all they are selected and given the ACA title by experts. Also going by the numbers and proportions given, one can see that these ACA's are superbly cut diamonds and should be a safe choice. If this is the case that an ACA was less than excellent, is that just your opinion Storm? What was wrong with it? Can you elaborate please? I am not trying to be difficult, but after all we know this brand are selected with great care by experts, and I would like to know what was wrong with the diamond in question, in your opinion?

 

[marcy]

To answer your first question - Cut is King.

If I were to pick between the 3 you listed, I would go with the F VS2.

As some have indicated you can find the same quality diamond not branded as ACA and it will probably be cheaper and not necessarily better or worse than the ACA.

Have fun shopping.

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 3/23/2008 10:28:49 AM
Author: Lorelei

I hope that isn''t the case, I do try to avoid making blanket statements very carefully usually, and I don''t think I have posted or said anything in the above post that many of us haven''t at times. I meant that the diamonds above with the posted proportions looked great and were ACA''S. But anyway, I think many of us here tend to think that ACA''s are among the best for cut and performance, after all they are selected and given the ACA title by experts. Also going by the numbers and proportions given, one can see that these ACA''s are superbly cut diamonds and should be a safe choice. If this is the case that an ACA was less than excellent, is that just your opinion Storm? I am not trying to be difficult, but after all we know this brand are selected with great care by experts and personally the ones I have seen have all been superbly cut diamonds. In my consumer opinion, I have not seen a bad ACA ever in all the time I have been here.

It was quickly pulled from the ACA category and reevaluated and hasn''t reappeared as an ACA.
Everyone who looked at the info in the thread agreed it was off compared too the ACA standard.
I''m not trying too pick on WF as it has happened with other vendors and if I happen to catch it before it hits the board it will and has been handled in private.

Yes several others say the same thing on a daily basis and it makes me cringe no matter who the vendor/cutter is.
I think when recommending stones we need too do out due diligence and keep the vendors on their toes.
That is our job and responsibility too the community.
If a vendor ever thinks that storm is going too catch this and slam us against the wall if we do this and doesn''t do it then I am doing the right thing.
We the pro-sumers are the checks and balances of the PS ecosystem.
Yes you are in that category and people rely on your opinion.
With that comes responsibility.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 3/23/2008 11:00:10 AM
Author: strmrdr
I am doing the right thing.
We the pro-sumers are the checks and balances of the PS ecosystem.
Yes you are in that category and people rely on your opinion.
With that comes responsibility.

Wait a minute...I am very aware of my responsibilities as a prosumer, and I try very hard to strike a balance of suggesting the most suitable diamonds for the particular poster, even often encouraging them to pick a non superideal if that is what they want. I don't appreciate the insinuation Storm, that I am not posting responsible advice, or that I am biased towards any brand of diamond.

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 3/23/2008 11:09:01 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 3/23/2008 11:00:10 AM
Author: strmrdr
I am doing the right thing.
We the pro-sumers are the checks and balances of the PS ecosystem.
Yes you are in that category and people rely on your opinion.
With that comes responsibility.

Wait a minute...I am very aware of my responsibilities as a prosumer, and I try very hard to strike a balance of suggesting the most suitable diamonds for the particular poster, even often encouraging them to pick a non superideal if that is what they want. I don''t appreciate the insinuation Storm, that I am not posting responsible advice, or that I am biased towards any brand of diamond.

woo I wasn''t trying too insinuate anything, that did not come across very well and I apologize.
Just saying be a little careful with blanket recomendations period.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 3/23/2008 11:24:09 AM
Author: strmrdr

Date: 3/23/2008 11:09:01 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 3/23/2008 11:00:10 AM
Author: strmrdr
I am doing the right thing.
We the pro-sumers are the checks and balances of the PS ecosystem.
Yes you are in that category and people rely on your opinion.
With that comes responsibility.

Wait a minute...I am very aware of my responsibilities as a prosumer, and I try very hard to strike a balance of suggesting the most suitable diamonds for the particular poster, even often encouraging them to pick a non superideal if that is what they want. I don't appreciate the insinuation Storm, that I am not posting responsible advice, or that I am biased towards any brand of diamond.

woo I wasn't trying too insinuate anything, that did not come across very well and I apologize.
Just saying be a little careful with blanket recomendations period.

Thank you for the apology. I always try to make a point of avoiding absolutes and blanket recommendations. I hope we can now return to helping the original poster.

 

[lisa1.01fvs1]

Yes F/VS2 is a great combo - most bang for the buck!

Hand shots please, pretty please.

 

[Venice]

Lower color and clarity doesn''t mean lower quality.

Ellen, I am confused. If lower color and clarity doesn''t mean lower quality, what then do you call the difference between a VVS1 and a SI2? I think that you mean an ideal cut is the absolute top priority when purchasing a diamond (and you are right!), but in my mind, all of the "C''s" TOGETHER decide the value and quality of a diamond. Am I wrong?

 

[Ellen]

Date: 3/23/2008 8:26:13 PM
Author: Venice
Lower color and clarity doesn''t mean lower quality.

Ellen, I am confused. If lower color and clarity doesn''t mean lower quality, what then do you call the difference between a VVS1 and a SI2? I think that you mean an ideal cut is the absolute top priority when purchasing a diamond (and you are right!), but in my mind, all of the ''C''s'' TOGETHER decide the value and quality of a diamond. Am I wrong?

About $5800.00 on a 1.00 ct. G.

Sorry, I just couldn''t resist.

I equate quality with cut. Lower clarity and color, to me, are just that. It doesn''t change the beauty or performance of an excellent cut stone. Higher color and clarity are certainly more rare, but I don''t personally see it as so much of a quality aspect.


But I think this may be somewhat subjective also. My point was, you can have a J SI2 (totally eyeclean) Isee2 branded diamond, and it''s going to basically look and perform just like one of same cut at G, VVS1. (I realize color will be of some distinguishable difference, but I think you know what I mean)