Which Stone is better for this Noob?

[BlindEyes]

I’m coming out of lurkdom to ask your for your thoughts on which is the better stone for a bezel set pendant- I’ve read all the posts about how lower crown angles*may* be a better choice for a pendant and I’ve learned allot from all the great knowledge available here- but now I’m asking for your help on the specifics:

Both stones are within $200 of each other, so price is not a consideration.
Both are 100% eye clean, but stone #1’s inclusions are to the extreme edge while #2’s are in the middle of the table.

Both have GIA (US) Certs

Stone 1
Round Brilliant
Carat Weight 1.23
Cut Ideal
Color H
Clarity SI1
Depth % 60.3
Table % 58
Crown Angle 34
Pavilion Angle 40.8
Symmetry Ex.
Polish Ex.
Girdle: Thin-Med.
Flour: Faint
Culet None
Dia. 6.93 x 6.96 x 4.19 mm
HCA Score: 1.1 (ex/ex/ex/ex)

Stone 2
Round Brilliant
Carat Weight 1.35
Cut Ideal
Color I
Clarity SI1
Depth % 59.7
Table % 60.0
Crown Angle 34
Pavilion Angle 41
Symmetry VG
Polish VG.
Girdle: Thin-Med.
Flour: None
Culet None
Dia. 7.15 x 7.22 x 4.29 mm
HCA Score: 2.0 (ex/vg/vg/ex)

Will the better HCA score and symmetry/polish be worth it for a pendant, or should I go with the higher Carat weight, greater diameter (by .22 mm) and better spread of the second stone? Of course, I'd go for the bigger stone if you all think it will look nearly the same

Thanks for all your help!

 

[Cleo]

Welcome to PS!

Personally I''d be inclined to go for the first diamond.

It''s slightly lower carat weight, but I think you would hardly notice the difference in diameter, especially in a pendant. It''s only 0.22mm... tiny difference.

It''s a higher colour (if you like higher colour!) and it also has a smaller table. The 60% table of the other diamond is pretty big.

Overall, I would say the first diamond is the better choice.. IMHO of course.

Please post pics when it''s done though!

x x x

 

[Splinter]

Date: 4/17/2008 2:51:18 PM
Author: Cleo

Overall, I would say the first diamond is the better choice.. IMHO of course.

I agree. You won''t notice such a small size difference. The proportions seem better to me on the first stone. Second one seems a bit shallow?

One thing that confuses me is you say the stones are GIA graded? Yet you list them as Ideal cut? This is an AGS grading stat (AGS 0 = Ideal), not GIA. GIA rate Excellent as their top cut?

 

[Ellen]

I agree in going with the first one.

 

[BlindEyes]

Date: 4/17/2008 3:12:48 PM
Author: Splinter

I agree. You won''t notice such a small size difference. The proportions seem better to me on the first stone. Second one seems a bit shallow?

One thing that confuses me is you say the stones are GIA graded? Yet you list them as Ideal cut? This is an AGS grading stat (AGS 0 = Ideal), not GIA. GIA rate Excellent as their top cut?

Apologies- the "ideal" came from the website, not the cert- the cert on both puts the cut at "Excellent."

 

[BlindEyes]

Thank you all so much for your input. As the consensus seems to be jettison the extra diameter, which is basically not enough to make a difference, in favor of the better cut, I have run my search again to favor the lower carat weight and better HCA numbers, with lower color as I really don’t feel the difference between H and I will matter for a pendant. So I’ve removed stone #2 and added two more contestants- does anyone see any issues with any of these two new stones that make any of them the better choice, or is it all which one winks at me at this point?

Stone 1 (as above)
Round Brilliant
Carat Weight 1.23
Cut Ideal
Color H
Clarity SI1
Depth % 60.3
Table % 58
Crown Angle 34
Pavilion Angle 40.8
Symmetry Ex.
Polish Ex.
Girdle: Thin-Med.
Flour: Faint
Culet None
Dia. 6.93 x 6.96 x 4.19 mm
HCA Score: 1.1 (ex/ex/ex/ex)

Stone 3 (new)
Round Brilliant
Carat Weight 1.29
Cut Ex.
Color I
Clarity SI1
Depth % 61.4
Table % 56
Crown Angle 34.5
Pavilion Angle 40.8
Symmetry Ex.
Polish Ex.
Girdle: Med.
Flour: None
Culet None
Dia. 6.99 x 7.04 x 4.31 mm
HCA Score: 1.2 (ex/ex/ex/vg)


Stone 4
Round Brilliant
Carat Weight 1.28
Cut Ex.
Color I
Clarity SI1
Depth % 61.7
Table % 56
Crown Angle 34.5
Pavilion Angle 40.8
Symmetry Ex.
Polish Ex.
Girdle: Med.
Flour: Faint
Culet VS
Dia. 6.95 x 6.98 x 4.30 mm
HCA Score: 1.3 (ex/ex/ex/vg)
#4 is a Blue Nile stone (I know, I know, but it will be independently appraised and will go back if there is any issue with their report of "100% eye clean") which has a GCAL report:
http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?pid=LD01050498&keyword_search_value=ld01050498#grading_report

What say you experts?

Thanks a bunch!

 

[Cleo]

You don''t fancy buying both of the last two stones and making them into some incredible earrings then? They match beautifully!

I like the small tables on the new ones you posted... are they still all about the same price?

x x x

 

[BlindEyes]

Date: 4/17/2008 4:16:24 PM
Author: Cleo
You don''t fancy buying both of the last two stones and making them into some incredible earrings then? They match beautifully!

I like the small tables on the new ones you posted... are they still all about the same price?

x x x

Funny you should mention that! I was originally nugging DH for a pair of studs to replace my .8 ctw''s (I''m happy with the weight, but the CUTs are horrible- poor dear didn''t know any better then). Anyway, the set I was eyeing came in a bit over budget, and that''s when I started looking at pendants, which I have always had my eye on getting, but never got around to. Prices are:

Stone 1: 6727
Stone 3: 6043
Stone 4: 6486

Do the prices change your thinking?

 

[dmus]

#4 BN is a GIA cert so I don''t know what you mean.

They are all so close I beliebve you are beginning to split hairs. Without idealscopes or ASETS it''s a crap shoot. They are all nice. The comments about smaller tables are true but those are also deeper. #1 is a higher color H versus the others being I. I like #1 but wonder about the crown angle 34.

Bottom line is I think you need more info including crown %. I suspect you can''t go wrong with any of these.

 

[BlindEyes]

Date: 4/17/2008 4:46:59 PM
Author: dmus
#4 BN is a GIA cert so I don't know what you mean.

They are all so close I beliebve you are beginning to split hairs. Without idealscopes or ASETS it's a crap shoot. They are all nice. The comments about smaller tables are true but those are also deeper. #1 is a higher color H versus the others being I. I like #1 but wonder about the crown angle 34.

Bottom line is I think you need more info including crown %. I suspect you can't go wrong with any of these.

Sorry if I'm confusing anyone- I'm just so new at this and dont want to make a mistake! I just meant that in addition to the GIA cert, the BN stone also has a GCAL with some more info on it, if that would help anyone.

The crown angle of 34 nonetheless comes up on HCA as 1.1, and I know some here say that lower crown angles are just fine for pendants (and may be preferable for some)- so what is it about the 34 crown angle that I should watch out for?

Is the crown % the 15.4% number on the GCAL cert for Stone #4?

 

[BlindEyes]

So am I reading the GCAL right? is 15.4% the crown and is that something to worry about?