0.5ct natural diamond or 1.75 lab grown

[Septemberwedding]

Hi guys,

If you had the choice, would you trade in a 0.5ct solitaire natural round for a 1.75 ct lab grown round? The 0.5ct does not have great specs and is from a mall jewellery chain. Uncertificated but I would say clarity is pretty bad i1 (colour probably I or J) although ideal cut. The lab grown is si1 eye clean, and colour h, ideal cut.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Kaycee2018]

I would not go with the natural diamond that hasn't been graded by GIA. But these two stones aren’t your only options. If you post your budget, the folks here can help you find other option.

 

[tyty333]

I would NOT do the .5 from a maul store.

If anything I would do a smaller (than the 1.75) lab diamond.

Like @Kaycee2018 said, these are not your only options. Let us know your budget and you'll get suggestions.

Is this stone for you or for your significant other?

 

[DejaWiz]

Depends on what you're after: if you want the allure and mystique of hundreds of millions of years old, then EGD.
If you want a diamond that's one heck of a jump in size for the money, then LGD.
...cut quality and transparency, aside.

 

[Lisag103]

Hi guys,

If you had the choice, would you trade in a 0.5ct solitaire natural round for a 1.75 ct lab grown round? The 0.5ct does not have great specs and is from a mall jewellery chain. Uncertificated but I would say clarity is pretty bad i1 (colour probably I or J) although ideal cut. The lab grown is si1 eye clean, and colour h, ideal cut.

What are your thoughts?

I would 100% chose a 1.75 lab over a .5 natural. It is a very personal decision though.

Do you already own the .5 and it’s an upgrade (appears this way from your post) if not then I echo what the other posters have said in that you can probably get a better price/quality/size natural diamond online if that is the path you chose to go!

 

[dk168]

It depends on one's perception of earth-mined vs. LGD IMHO.

Although I do not mind LGD, so far, my LGD purchases are for earrings in various designs only.

I was not planning to get another diamond, however, I wanted an OEC and decided to get one which is 0.86ct with an EGL certificate from Ivy and Rose, as I don't want a precision cut stone and prefer the wonky look with big facets.

Personally, I would not want to get another diamond that could trump my 1.19ct E VS1 EC, whether in earth-mined or LGD, as the EC has huge sentimental value.

I also do not wish to get a stone as a ring so big that would cause peeps to think it is not a real earth-mined stone due to being beyond my means, if you know what I mean.

My next diamond purchase would be a heart cut stone, earth-mined, under 1ct to add to my right hand ring collection (currently 3), and it is likely to come from Blue Nile in UK.

Personal opinions and all that.

DK

 

[Septemberwedding]

Thanks guys. I already have the natural it was bought many years ago when going to the mall jewellers was normal for an engagement ring and many people didn’t know any better. The LGD is more hypothetical as I can play around with different specs. Mainly it’s the size and fact that it’s a LGD that I wanted some opinions on.

 

[lovedogs]

People's feelings about LGDs are extremely personal and vary. I have zero issue with them and love them for what they are, but not everyone feels that way. However, I would 100% NOT buy anything from a mall jeweler that is poorly cut--it will only be disappointing in the end and you will end up overpaying.

I also agree with previous posters that these aren't your only 2 options. You can buy any size LGD you want (within budget) and find an extremely ideal cut stone with exactly the specs you want.

You can also buy a smaller natural grown diamond with ideal specs from somewhere with a good upgrade policy for when you are ready to go bigger.

 

[Septemberwedding]

People's feelings about LGDs are extremely personal and vary. I have zero issue with them and love them for what they are, but not everyone feels that way. However, I would 100% NOT buy anything from a mall jeweler that is poorly cut--it will only be disappointing in the end and you will end up overpaying.

I also agree with previous posters that these aren't your only 2 options. You can buy any size LGD you want (within budget) and find an extremely ideal cut stone with exactly the specs you want.

You can also buy a smaller natural grown diamond with ideal specs from somewhere with a good upgrade policy for when you are ready to go bigger.

Please read my update above. I have had the 1/2ct for many years.

 

[AprilBaby]

100% the bigger lab

 

[Rfisher]

Trading in a stone you already own- to a third party vendor kinda also depends on if you are really getting any trade in value or the numbers are padded for the purchase price of the new one.

Thanks guys. I already have the natural it was bought many years ago when going to the mall jewellers was normal for an engagement ring and many people didn’t know any better. The LGD is more hypothetical as I can play around with different specs. Mainly it’s the size and fact that it’s a LGD that I wanted some opinions on.

 

[MamaBear]

I wouldn’t. I doubt you’ll get much $ toward that .50ct. How about you keep it AND get the lab diamond?? Is it really helping the purchase amount enough to part with it? (I’m sentimental about my original e-ring stone)

 

[lovedogs]

Sorry, didn't realize you had the .5 already. I doubt you'll get much $ as a trade in, so it's almost not worth it to do IMHO. I would just get the bigger stone

 

[emmy12]

If you want to go up in size from the 0.5ct without breaking the bank to do it and feel ok about LGD then there are lots of good options and lots of experts in that forum can help you pick a great one!

I agree that you probably won't get much for the 0.5ct on trade-in value so would keep it or set it as something else for sentimental reasons.

 

[foxinsox]

Hi guys,

If you had the choice, would you trade in a 0.5ct solitaire natural round for a 1.75 ct lab grown round? The 0.5ct does not have great specs and is from a mall jewellery chain. Uncertificated but I would say clarity is pretty bad i1 (colour probably I or J) although ideal cut. The lab grown is si1 eye clean, and colour h, ideal cut.

What are your thoughts?

I’m reading this as you already have the natural stone? In which case, if you don’t love it and you want the size increase, yes trade for the lab grown.

 

[MissGotRocks]

I think the title of the thread is what threw some folks off as it sounded like you were trying to decide between one or the other. Should be cleared up now!
I am personally not a LGD fan but I can certainly understand the price point that makes them very desirable for some. I too wonder how much they will give you toward the trade to the 1.75. If it is not much, I would keep it.

 

[Niel]

What do these two cost? Why are these the only options

 

[RMOO]

Am I reading this correctly, that it would be an even trade? By whose definition is the LGD ideal?

 

[FL_runner]

I would keep your original ring and save up for a bigger, well cut LGD or a cool vintage stone/ring. My original ring is a small, vintage ring and I’m sure I wouldn’t get much $$$ for it, so I kept it.

 

[Jax172]

I have both mined and lab grown and honestly you cannot tell the difference. Since the smaller mined diamond is of lower quality anyways there isn't much value to holding onto it because it's natural and thus has more inherent potential value long term. I would much prefer to wear a high quality lab grown diamond that is beautiful than a small poor quality mined diamond.

 

[Septemberwedding]

Hi everyone,

Just to clarify, the sale of the 0.5 diamond would be done privately and for the amount of money that I can sell it for + the extra I can afford to add, I just put an example LGD down that I spotted at Ritani. These are all hypotheticals. I was just wondering about others opinions and just gave an example stone. I like the size of 1.75 on my finger that’s why I put down this weight. I am emotionally attached to my 0.5ct as it’s very sentimental. So I just wondered if others would let it go and get a lab grown instead as I cannot afford natural nor can I afford to not sell something before getting another diamond. I’m very much a minimalist also. Thanks for all your answers! Something to think about.

 

[dk168]

IMHO, if the 0.5ct earth-mined diamond is sentimental to you, then hold on to it, save up for re-setting it in a more blingy setting.

That's what I would do. Otherwise, you will regret selling it.

Personal opinion and all that.

DK

 

[MissGotRocks]

Hi everyone,

Just to clarify, the sale of the 0.5 diamond would be done privately and for the amount of money that I can sell it for + the extra I can afford to add, I just put an example LGD down that I spotted at Ritani. These are all hypotheticals. I was just wondering about others opinions and just gave an example stone. I like the size of 1.75 on my finger that’s why I put down this weight. I am emotionally attached to my 0.5ct as it’s very sentimental. So I just wondered if others would let it go and get a lab grown instead as I cannot afford natural nor can I afford to not sell something before getting another diamond. I’m very much a minimalist also. Thanks for all your answers! Something to think about.

If the .50 is very important to you, don't let it go. You will regret that forever. You can continue to save money to buy another diamond - natural or LGD - at some point in time. Not sure if anyone is offering trade ins or trade ups with the LGD but that would be a way to start smaller and work your way up to where you want to be. Going from .50 to 1.75 is quite a size jump so you could easily start at 1.00 and work up to your desired carat weight.

If you let go of the .50, you can never get it back no matter how much money you may have later in life.

 

[Septemberwedding]

If the .50 is very important to you, don't let it go. You will regret that forever. You can continue to save money to buy another diamond - natural or LGD - at some point in time. Not sure if anyone is offering trade ins or trade ups with the LGD but that would be a way to start smaller and work your way up to where you want to be. Going from .50 to 1.75 is quite a size jump so you could easily start at 1.00 and work up to your desired carat weight.

If you let go of the .50, you can never get it back no matter how much money you may have later in life.

Yes I agree with you there! Thanks for this.

 

[Septemberwedding]

IMHO, if the 0.5ct earth-mined diamond is sentimental to you, then hold on to it, save up for re-setting it in a more blingy setting.

That's what I would do. Otherwise, you will regret selling it.

Personal opinion and all that.

DK

Thank you. Yes I like the idea of resetting.

 

[jewels2]

Thanks guys. I already have the natural it was bought many years ago when going to the mall jewellers was normal for an engagement ring and many people didn’t know any better. The LGD is more hypothetical as I can play around with different specs. Mainly it’s the size and fact that it’s a LGD that I wanted some opinions on.

I would get the lab diamond I have white flash ACA studs and just bought a pair of labs from distinctive gems and you cannot tell them apart

 

[evergreen]

What about keeping your sentimental stone (reset into a necklace, where you won't be visibly reminded of inclusions, but still keeping it close to your heart?), and then look for a "deal" on Preloved for a lab stone? Ritani's LGD are quite inexpensive for what they are, but you could do even better with Preloved...

We spend so much time looking at our hands. If your current diamond isn't bringing you joy to look at, and you have a smaller budget if you do keep your original stone (... And I think you should, it sounds irreplaceable in your heart), I think Preloved lab diamonds are probably the biggest yield for your money! If you're patient you'll find one that works for you.

 

[AdaBeta27]

Now that cutters are creating lab diamonds with all of the precision and performance of ideal & super ideal mined diamonds, I don't see any reason to not buy a superbly cut lab diamond. The 0.5ct diamond could go into a pendant or another ring. My mother got a Columbian color lab emerald and had her original e-ring diamond mounted into an impressive pendant, along with the lab emerald. That diamond looks gorgeous there, and larger, and the pendant shows it off far better than either of settings it was in when it was a ring.

 

[Voldemort]

Hi guys,

If you had the choice, would you trade in a 0.5ct solitaire natural round for a 1.75 ct lab grown round? The 0.5ct does not have great specs and is from a mall jewellery chain. Uncertificated but I would say clarity is pretty bad i1 (colour probably I or J) although ideal cut. The lab grown is si1 eye clean, and colour h, ideal cut.

What are your thoughts?

I’m a fan of labs.. I’ve bought several and love how they look. For us, financially, my husband got the diamond I wanted for a great price (I’m working on a reset with David Klass).

 

[Voldemort]

*Also, I believe it’s personal preference having said that - my husband also didn’t have an extra 30k+ for a 2.75 F VS1 diamond sitting around... I can’t tell you how many people have complimented me on my rings (my eternity band are mined diamonds). It’s a little disco ball..