Diamonds - Value of Clarity

[I-Hate-Hulse]

I've been reading the great discussion we had a year ago on diamonds in this thread:

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthr...hlight=diamond

Here's the dilemna I face - should I get a diamond larger by 0.25 carats but drop down from VS2 to SI1? Assume that all other factors are the same, ring size is 6. I've read up on Blue Nile so I know the technical details, but I'd be interested to hear what guys here decided on in this classic tug of war.

Girls - want a diamond more sparkly or just plain bigger?

[The_Dude]

I just bought my fiancee her diamond ring. I let her pick it out. She wouldn't trust me to get one she liked. We got it wholesale in Vancouver. The guy was recommended and custom makes it. Does a great job and I got a good deal (although it put a huge dent in the wallet).

I don't think it will make a huge difference.

[Phaneuf3]

with the naked eye you're not gonna see much (if any) of a difference between VS2 and SI1. If you do, it's likely just in your head. the cut is going to make a bigger difference for the sparkliness, methinks.

depending on how big you're looking at to start with, 0.25 carats can make a big difference (i.e. 0.5 vs 0.25) but as you get to the larger that extra 0.25 becomes much less noticeable (i.e. 1.75 vs 2).

if it was me, i'd go with the larger stone.

[wpgflamesfan]

I'd go for the bigger one. Most people wouldn't see the difference in quality but you can be sure they can see the difference in size.

[CaptainCrunch]

Diamonds - because she'd better.

[sclitheroe]

As a previous poster said, it depends on the relative sizes we are talking about, if going up one size is like a third bigger, I'd go bigger....but....

Clarity = quality, and there is no two ways about that. On an emotional level, even, a more perfect gemstone, given what it's for, makes the VS diamond more special in my opinion. Look at it this way, with better clarity, you are buying the "best" stone you can, not just the biggest you can afford.

[Ice]

I actually convinced my fiance to return my first engagement ring and got a smaller, but better quality stone replacement instead. Its D color and while smaller, it shines so much brighter than the bigger stone did I don't regret the decision at all. I prefer quality over size. The stone is just beautiful.

[Cube Inmate]

Quality > size for the most part, unless (as someone else said) you're looking at a large fractional difference as in 0.5 carat vs. 0.25 carat. Look at the relative difference in diameter (assuming round cut) to compare the visual impact as well. You'll see that going from 1 c to 0.75 c gives a relatively small difference in diameter.

Besides...when a woman sees that you compromised quality for size, she probably won't be all that happy unless she has friends who are competitive about diamond size.

[Phaneuf3]

Originally Posted by Cube Inmate

Besides...when a woman sees that you compromised quality for size, she probably won't be all that happy unless she has friends who are competitive about diamond size.

and there's the thing - everything else being equal, you won't be able to see the difference between VS2 and SI1 unless you know a decent amount and have some experience in diamond grading and have some magnification..... unless she insists on seeing the diamond grading report.

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Diamonds - because she'd better.

Diamonds - because she pretty much as to.

[arsenal]

I would go for quality over size. If the clarity is better, and less cloudy, and the cut is good, it will shine and sparkle a lot more than a larger diamond with less clarity.

When I was shopping.. I went for a little smaller diamond, but it had more clarity. It sparkled much more than the larger diamond, and I thought it looked much nicer.

And woman love things that sparkle.

[jamesteterenko]

If you have a chance, look at the two diamonds side-by-side, then buy the one you think looks better (i.e. sparkles more).

I can't remember where I heard that advice. But really, that makes so much sense to me.

[AaronSJ]

From my recent diamond-buying experiences (proposed last September, getting married a week from today!), I would suggest that despite what others have said above, I notice a difference between VS2 and SI1. There's definitely more sparkle in a VS2 diamond, and the added clarity actually makes carat size look larger. I ended up going with a VVS2, as the wife-to-be had a strong preference for quality over quantity. We looked at several diamonds side-by-side and we both really noticed the difference between grades... obviously, there's a significant difference between a VVS-grade and a SI-grade diamond, but I think most people would notice the difference between VS2 and SI1.

Are you comfortable asking her opinion on quality vs. size, or is this a total surprise? The majority of women that I've spoken with about this actually prefer QUALITY, which was kind of a shock.... I've only met one person who told me that she wanted the biggest diamond possible, regardless of quality.

P.S. I bought from Blue Nile and would highly recommend them.

[Frequitude]

Try buying a diamond for a geologist...

[Eric Vail]

Of the stores I searched, I liked Charm the best. That's where I bought my diamond for my wife. I know she would not have liked it near as much if she was choosing it. She loved the surprise and the fact that it was what I chose for her.

To answer your question, I think I would choose the quality diamond over the big one.

[stang]

I bought my wife a ring online from a place where my boss had bought his wife some nice earrings.

I paid 1800 and its beautiful. We took it into a place in town here to get it checked out and the specs were the same as what they said it was and they told me if they were selling it it would have a 5000 price tag.

http://kingofjewelry.net/

[SeeGeeWhy]

If you're going on a site like BlueNile, you can see the gem's reports.

Try to find one that is a larger SI1, but with the inclusions towards the edge. That way, the jeweler can put the claw of the ring over top of the inclusion and no one will ever see it. Its a good trick to get a nicer diamond for cheaper. Just make sure the parts you'll actually see are inclusion free.

Some gems have inclusions, feathers, cracks, etc right in the middle and they look like crap... don't fall for those.

[urban1]

Its great to see all the time and money put into buying engagement rings. First, consider how many engagements are called off before the wedding. Then consider that 50% of marriages end in divorce.

This post is tongue in cheek but you cant argue the following fact:

Whether its a VS2 or SI1 the odds are better than 1 in 2 that it will end up in a pawn shop and you or the ex will get 10 or 20 cents on the dollar of your original purchase price.

[stang]

^^^ bitterly divorced?

[The_Dude]

Some of you are lucky. I got mine for $9235 wholesale without gst Cash LOL. Never picked it up or got it appraised yet.