1 reply to this topic

[chemclerk]

Hi all,
Like most I have been going round and round the engagement ring carousel and thought I was on the verge of making a choice but am now hesitant and am looking for some other professional opinions.

Here is the background....I am looking for a stone around 1.25 carats in the $6K-7K range. My search has led me primarily towards I colored SI1 and SI2 stones. With advice from another gemologist we identified three potential contenders (links below):

[url]http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1346369.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357[/url]
[url]http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1182113.asp[/url]
[url]http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1235887.asp[/url]

I asked James Allen to have their gemologists evaluate the 3 stones and make a recommendation. Today I received the results of their diamond review and suprisingly the SI2 (cheapest) stone was "cleaner to the eye" and had more sparkle and the best light performance of the group. I was also told "It is possible to see the reflection of the feather within this diamond but this inclusion is partially prongable."

OK, this is all well and good but I then starting second guessing everything as the stone has multiple feathers and I began to over think and over research things. So, if anyone is willing to take a quick look and give me their unbiased opinion it would be appreciated. Should I consider stretching my budget and going down slightly in size too? Thank in advance.

[davidelevi]

The problem is that to answer your questions in a sensible way we'd need to see the stones... which JA has done and told you about. Yes, if one looks at the numbers, the slight difference in pavillion angles points at the SI2 being brighter, but the number on the report is not all (and it has considerable limitations, it being the average of 8 angles).

The multiple feathers are not an issue, unless they are dark and contrasting. They don't seem to be in the photo, but perhaps asking JA for more (and better focused) photos or even a comparison video may help. On the other hand, assuming you cannot make a trip to NYC to see the stones in a real life comparison, ordering one and checking it out with your chosen expert is not going to be a time consuming or expensive exercise; you have 30 days for returning it, and USPS insured postage is pretty cheap.

As to whether you should stretch your budget and/or go down in size, only you can answer. You are rightly focusing on getting a very well cut stone, and that should be your first priority. Low clarity does not bother me, as long as it's eye-clean. Others, including regulars on this forum, would probably tell you to go for a VS2. Certainly, most people would have some difficulty telling the difference between a 1.0x and a 1.2x without having both right next to each other, and the 20% you save there can be put towards upping clarity considerably. Worth it? Not to me, but YMMV