5 replies to this topic

[sparklehorse]

So we've narrowed it down to two stones.

My husband is leaning towards the first one, which is bigger and slightly more expensive. It is warm and sparkly, and at a first glance it looks the same quality next to the smaller one.

On our first visit, I didn't know anything about diamonds and I didn't see the inclusions on this bigger stone. On our second visit, after some research, I looked more carefully, and I could see a couple of large white inclusions to the sides (which cannot be covered by the setting), and a big one across the table too. They are visible by the naked eye, but only if I tilt the stone at a certain angle, because otherwise they are hidden by the shine

Honestly I wasn't set on a 3 carat, but once I've seen it on my hand, the size does look nice. On the other hand, I feel like we're sacraficing a lot for size already. The 2.25 is beautiful and eye clean.

I've been back to the store a couple of times and the staff is very helpful. They offered to send the EGL stone to GIA, etc. but pretty much told me what they think it'll come back at. Everyone says it's a personal decision. Well, I haven't been able to decide, and I'm too embarrassed to go there yet another time.

Please help!

EGL Israel - $18K
3.01 carat, round
G color (actual color I)
Very good cut (very good dimensions, slightly thick girdle)
SI2 (actual clarity I1)

GIA - $15K
2.25 carat, round
I color
Excellent cut
SI2

Any helpful info/comment is welcome. Thank you!

[HeartAndStone]

Hi sparklehorse...

Reading your post, I can almost feel the pressure on you dear.
So lets see..

Your hubby's choice is the 3 carat 'warm & sparkly' @18K, ayt?
Why 'warm' instead of instead of 'icy' is it yellowish?
And you're about to settle for the GIA-graded 15K which sounds more interesting to me.,'excellent cut'

IMO, take a deep breath, don't feel the pressure.
Money matters but it's a diamond~you should get what you want.
The good thing is if you stay focus you can get the best value out of your said budget.
Click 'Find online Jeweler' on the first page and compare prices.
If there's no time left, and you settled for $15K, I'm happy for you..
Don't forget to show the pic., alright.
'Till then!

Cheers!

[davidelevi]

Unfortunately there isn't much anyone can say - we haven't seen the diamonds, you have, and at the end of the day it IS a matter of personal preference. If it were me (or my wife, more likely), I can tell you which way I'd go: the smaller stone. Why?

1. It's eye clean. The other one is not, and however relatively unnoticeable it may be at first, it would become more noticeable in time, and it would be bothering me all the time!
2. The cut. Again, probably not noticeable at first, but I don't think there is any doubt that an EGL-Israel VG is not a tremendously well cut stone. A GIA Ex is definitely in the top 10%, and that one may be a truly excellent one (we have no way of knowing)
3. Despite what the dealer says, with the GIA stone I know what I'm getting; with the other one I would always have the nagging doubt.
4. Size. Where we live, a 1.00 ct is a fairly large stone. 2.00 is very large, and 3.00 verges on gaudy (particularly if it has visible colour and/or inclusions). This is purely a function of the culture and customs of where one lives, and of the habits of friends and acquaintances. There isn't anything intrinsically wrong with a 3.00 ct stone, but it would look out of place for us.

Having said all this - why did you come down with these two particular stones? Is this what the dealer had available, or did they call stones in for you?

[sparklehorse]

Thank you HeartAndStone and davidelevi! I need to decide by Monday... I think I'm leaning towards the 2.25...

The 3 carat is an H or I color - looks same or better than the 2.25. It's the clarity that bugs me... White nicks that can be seen at a certain angle (but not from above). If you are right, and they become more visible with wear, I think they will bother me over time. Under magnification it looks like the diamond has little cracks throughout.

My husband says he didn't see a difference b/n the two (other the size), and that is true at first sight. But dents over time will be annoying.

Thank you both again!! I'll post a picture once it's final.

[davidelevi]

Thanks for the update. Just to be 100% sure - when I say that things will become more noticeable over time, I don't mean that the inclusions will get worse. But once you know that "something" is there, you keep seeing it (and knowing where it is may actually help your eye/brain to notice it even in situations which at first were "clean")

[HeartAndStone]

sparklehorse, on Sunday, May 23 2010, 03:23 AM, said:

Thank you HeartAndStone and davidelevi! I need to decide by Monday... I think I'm leaning towards the 2.25..

Thank you both again!! I'll post a picture once it's final.

You are welcome!
The 2.25 carat diamond ring will surely dazzle you in any given day!
And don't look back, alright? I'm looking forward see your bling!
Cheers!