What would you spend $16k on?

[Mara]

If you had $16000 to spend on a diamond, stone only...what would you buy? Sure...I know most of us don't start our searches with $16k in our pockets, but what if you did have that money and you HAD to buy a diamond with it. What would you get??






Which choice would hold the most appeal for you if you were to spend about $16,000 on a diamond?


All of the below stones have HCA scores ranging between 1.1-1.6TIC and are similar to what you would find online if you really were shopping (I surfed around to find most of these). Consider the following your ONLY CHOICES on which to spend that $16k.






This is somewhat along the lines of the whole debate on 'is smaller with better color/clarity better than larger with lower color/clarity'...we talk about it all the time, now we can see the results in %!




Enjoy...it's almost the weekend.

Notes:

I threw in E for those who really do not like the larger stones, and would not want a 1c stone, BUT they don't get to keep the extra money as a benefit--too tempting to answer that otherwise!! Also note that the SI1 stones are *eye-clean*.

 

[fire&ice]

I voted the 2.25 I/SI1. But, upon inspection may choose the H/VS2 stone. I'd probably have them both shipped. I would also consider a larger non-H&A stone w/ a very good make.

And, of course, the stone would have to have at least med bl. fluor.

Good choices, BTW.

Funny about the last one. Now if the poll involved expensive automobiles - the last one would definitely be ticked!

 

[fire&ice]

I have to see how this poll plays out. BUT, I am a little surprised by the results thus far. I thought I was more alone on the larger less fine stone.

 

[Mara]

I checked the 2.25 I SI1 stone because if it's eye clean, true H&A and it scores so well on the HCA--in person it should appear white, huge, eye-clean and really amazingly well cut! So best bang for the buck IMO if you like the larger stones.

 

[Hest88]

That was hard. I ended up with the 1.0, but I could have gone with the 1.6. Problem is, I don't think I'd be comfortable sporting a 1.6. If you had given me a choice of a 1.25 I would have rather chosen that instead.

 

[Mara]

Yes the 1.25 is kind of a hole I overlooked... ah well! /idealbb/images/smilies/5.gif

 

[Kay]

Based on the limited options, I chose the 1.6, but I would prefer a D-F, VVS1-VS2, 1.25-1.5, branded H&A. How about adding an option of a colorless stone with a clarity below IF and a size above 1 carat? Whiteflash has a 1.477 F VS2 ACA for $14,663.

 

[Mara]

No I wouldn't do anything that was so close to the existing 1.60c...but the 1.25c hole was overlooked. Unfortunately once a poll starts, you can't edit the options..so we're stuck which is why I noted...those are your ONLY options.

 

[pyramid]

I voted for the 1.60c G VVS1 AGS 0 H&A Branded Round Diamond

 

[PoopEater]

The only thing I would EVER spend that kind of coin on is a house or a car. What a waste of money, IMO. Needless to say, I am the one who voted for F.

 

[Mara]

PE--I would so much rather put that money into a diamond than a CAR...which depreciates the minute you drive off the lot with it (unless maybe it's that stolen $750k Ferrari from Philly).




(Oh oh I'm in for it now!!)

Of course if I actually HAD $16k just laying around I would put it into our house fund...but this is just pure speculation of course!! For fun.

 

[Mexi]

I picked the 2.25ct. It is the largest one with a good color grade.

In real life, I wouldn't spend that much on a diamond either. I would spend it on something fun -like a boat, motorcycle, snowmobile, etc.

 

[Mara]

I'm actually really surprised no one is choosing the J stone...seems like I is the lowest that people are willing to go?

 

[PoopEater]

Yes Mara, but the difference is that most people NEED a car. It's very difficult to function without.

 

[Mikesgirl]

I'd go with the 1 carat because I think (not sure) it's more likely to hold it's value on resale, and if I'm spending this much on a stone, it BETTER hold it's value on resale. I also wouldn't be comfortable wearing a 1.6 carat stone, but could see going for a 1 or 1.25 G VS1 with an HCA of 1 or less and giving the rest to charity.

 

[trichrome]

I'll buy an old Cadillac (with lot of place in the back for 2 people) plus
at least 5000$ worth of Victoria's secret Lingerie.

Trichrome.

 

[Richard Sherwood]

My vote went for the 2.25 I/SI1.

 

[glitterata]

If the charity option hadn't been in there, I would probably have gone for the 1.98.

 

[NewYorker]

I'm pretty picky and wouldn't go below an H so I picked the G 1.6 - I would have picked the larger H if I knew it had med. flourescence, but you didn't state that.

 

[caratgirl]

Okay, it was a hard sell, but the size of the 1.98 won over the the G color 1.60! I had a hard time with the H, but it would probably look okay.

 

[valeria101]

My choice is out of range: A 4ct + M color emerald cut (no brand)...

 

[crowmama]

I guess I'm the odd girl out.

Anyone here ever done pysanki? That Eastern European egg painting? All those beautiful geometric patterns, facets, colors.... and not one of them perfect, but ALL are beautiful! So are my "garbage" diamonds (my SI-2, S color .67 round, my .93 grade 2B engagement pear...) -- none perfect, all beautiful.

I just couldn't see myself spending $16K on anything except a house (I even think cars are too expensive at that price!). And I've been hungry & homeless at a point in my life, so the charity option is for me the best gem.

 

[fire&ice]

----------------
On 9/26/2003 7:45:41 PM Mara wrote:


I'm actually really surprised no one is choosing the J stone...seems like I is the lowest that people are willing to go?
----------------

I would consider the J *if* I saw it in person.

 

[fire&ice]

----------------
On 9/26/2003 8:18:33 PM PoopEater wrote:

Yes Mara, but the difference is that most people NEED a car. It's very difficult to function without.----------------

But, I don't need to spend an extra 16k over my 20K for a safe reliable Ford Taurus wagon.

So, instead of spending 36k on automobile, I could spend 20k on the car & 16k on a diamond.

Also, everything is relative to one's place/age in life. I could never imagine spending 16k on a diamond when I was in my 20's. Things change. And one can still have money left over for favorite charities.

 

[fire&ice]

----------------
On 9/26/2003 8:29:49 PM Mikesgirl wrote:

I'd go with the 1 carat because I think (not sure) it's more likely to hold it's value on resale, and if I'm spending this much on a stone, it BETTER hold it's value on resale. .----------------

Actually, this is not true. There are more buyers for the g/h Vs2/si larger stones then for the higher quality smaller stones. The poll indicates this & we are diamond snots.

 

[AGBF]

I *think* I just voted? Can we view the results while the poll is in progress?

(Edited to add: Never mind. The results now *do* show on my screen!)

Also: I'm with Kay. I would like the D color but didn't need the IF clarity. Why don't you offer the consumer more choice in diamonds? How can you make a living selling only these stones? Maybe you should find another line of work .

 

[Mara]

Too many choices make for an ineffective poll because then the results would be TOO split. My feel is that the offerings appeal to those across the board....size, color, clarity...those interested in charity.

The D IF is really more for the purist....H VS is for those who want the *best* balance of carat, color, clarity (H will still be very white when well cut), the I SI is for the person who wants more size and is willing to go lower on clarity and color to get that visibly larger stone...J SI is for the one who wants the biggest stone possible without real yellow. The G VVS was a real random throw-in--had to find something around $16k.

I missed the 1.25 range but you can just imagine.




Interesting is that this poll's results actually match up similarly with my other poll on 'perfect size for an engagement ring'. We seem to have the most takers between the 1-2c range--more around 1.5c (in this case 1.60c) or similar and a willilngness to compromise on color/clarity depending on your limits.




PS I would make a horrible diamond peddler, because I would only want to sell the best cut stones possible and as a result, I would be easily outsold by the maul jeweler up the street with their $1999 special--go bankrupt and lose everything. Easier to be a buyer.

 

[valeria101]

----------------
On 9/27/2003 6:54:06 AM crowmama wrote:

I guess I'm the odd girl out.

Anyone here ever done pysanki? That Eastern European egg painting? ----------------

Sure! I am Romanian, so I have and will again (next Easter!). I love your comparson and I could not agree more! I would neither have those eggs painted by a precise machine, not the diamonds cut by one...

 

[detta]

I love these polls! I particularly like to see the men's comments vs. the women's!. How about a poll on shape preferences? Of course I know that round would win, but where do the others fit in?
P.S. I voted for the 2.25, I am not a big girl, but God blessed me with some rather short, stubby fingers. And, well, the ring is about the only attractive thing about my hands!

 

[ringbling17]

HI Mara,
I really like these polls!!!
I had to go with the 1.6 G VVS1, for some reason, I am more of a "clarity snob", than a "color snob".
HOw about a poll on color versus clarity?
But if I really had 16K to spend, I would probably get a nice diamond bracelet and a pair of diamond studs (not bigger than 1 ctw. for the earrings).
Or, I would trade in my diamond and get a 3 carat one.
The possiblities are endless..........