bigger or better?

[seraph313]

I may be venturing where angel fear to tread coming into this decidedly female forum, but I''m going to do it anyway!

I know the ''will you marry me'' will outshine any diamond, but what do you think, a higher quality diamond, or a bigger diamond. Personally I''d go for a little smaller that is simply better. Thoughts are most welcome.

 

[sistagrl2004]

As long as it''s eyeclean.. I say BIGGER!!!

 

[peonygirl]

I would say that there should a a balance btw size and quality. Get the biggest eyeclean, F-G, exceptionally-cut diamond you can! If you''re both less color-sensitive, you could probably go down to an I-J in color.

 

[jcrow]

i am new at all this, but i would say go for the best quality cut. then i''d personally go down in color and clarity to have a larger stone. but that''s just me. others would argue otherwise.

 

[Kim N]

I agree with jcrow and peonygirl. Definitely go for the best cut quality. There are good eye-clean SI1/SI2 available--you just have to ask the vendor. And SI1/2 are better value for your money than VS1/2 if they''re eye-clean. You won''t be able to tell the difference with the naked eye. As for color, I''m personally able to go down to H before I''m bothered by the warmth.

 

[Evie75]

VS1/2 D or E color.... Very good... No fluorescents.

 

[allycat0303]

I guess it depends on what you mean by better??

If between Cut and size= Cut 100%
Color and size= I''d go to an H, so size
Clarity and size= I would go down to an S1 (if I clean), so size.

I saw a woman with a really big 2.5 (maybe more) carat diamond that didn''t sparkle AT ALL and it was yellow from 2 feet away (and not pretty yellow canary colored either). I would take a little less size and more sparkle on that one. BUT if your girl likes big, you buy her big. It''s all about what is going to make her smile when she looks down at her hand.

 

[cutes814]

Cut ranks supreme over everything else.

For me, I would try to get the largest diamond for my buck. I would go as low as J color and SI2 clarity, but I warn you not all J''s or SI2''s are created equal. Make sure you are not bothered by the slight warmth of a J color stone. And search for an eye clean SI2.

It all depends on what your eyes are sensitive to. Some people can detect color and hate it while others are more open to it. Some have eagle vision (i.e. myself), and prefer something of higher clarity. Some people believe the color and clarity have a meaning. My friend''s mother won''t wear anything besides a D IF. I want to mention she is Japanese as well. Some believe the D IF helps in some sort of spiritual way.

For my own e-ring, I got a 1.64ct I VS1 stone. That allowed me to get a stone in the size range I wanted. I could''ve gone lower in the clarity department and gotten a larger stone, but I''m happy with the size I got. I think it''d be a perfect size to wear everyday.

Bigger is not always better for everyone. Your GF might want a certain size. I have friends that only wanted 1 carat. They didn''t want the stone to overpower their finger, or grab too much attention. Some places, 2 carats is the norm, while other places 0.5ct is the norm. Just get what you think she wants, and whatever you are comfortable with.

 

[MissAva]

Date: 11/9/2005 1:05:59 PM
Author:seraph313
I may be venturing where angel fear to tread coming into this decidedly female forum, but I''m going to do it anyway!

I know the ''will you marry me'' will outshine any diamond, but what do you think, a higher quality diamond, or a bigger diamond. Personally I''d go for a little smaller that is simply better. Thoughts are most welcome.

What is the diffrence you are speaking of? What is budget? What shape are you looking at? I think the response you got assumed round which is natural but they might change if you were going for a step cut.
I think we need to know more details.

 

[jcrow]

Date: 11/9/2005 3:13:23 PM
Author: Matatora

Date: 11/9/2005 1:05:59 PM

Author:seraph313

I may be venturing where angel fear to tread coming into this decidedly female forum, but I''m going to do it anyway!


I know the ''will you marry me'' will outshine any diamond, but what do you think, a higher quality diamond, or a bigger diamond. Personally I''d go for a little smaller that is simply better. Thoughts are most welcome.

What is the diffrence you are speaking of? What is budget? What shape are you looking at? I think the response you got assumed round which is natural but they might change if you were going for a step cut.

I think we need to know more details.

ohh! your so right Matatora! I completely assumed round. maybe cause that''s what i am getting?? oops!

 

[alyson423]

I''d have to agree w/ those posters who said that maybe there''s a ceiling on the size your GF would be comfortable with. I hadn''t a clue about carat sz relative to my own fingers until we went on a fact-finding visit to some brick-and-mortar stores. For me, 1 carat was beautiful, but 2 carats were scary... too much for me and my klutzy self. My now-husband ended up getting a 1.5 RB with tapered baguette sidestones... makes me go "Wow!" everytime I look at it, but isn''t tooooo big.

Take her shopping... I guarantee she''ll love it, and you''ll get important info specific to your needs.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 11/9/2005 1:05:59 PM
Author:seraph313
I may be venturing where angel fear to tread coming into this decidedly female forum, but I''m going to do it anyway!

I know the ''will you marry me'' will outshine any diamond, but what do you think, a higher quality diamond, or a bigger diamond. Personally I''d go for a little smaller that is simply better. Thoughts are most welcome.

of course.size means nothing, if it doesn''t sparkle.

 

[AlyceC]

Definitely bigger as long as the cut is good and the inclusions aren''t visible to the naked eye (and by that I mean after looking at the inclusion plot and two inches from the eye). I wasted money in the past on an F VVS2 in the past, and from more recent purchases I learned that a G is okay with me. I''m even trying to look lower in color. I''m just concerned about the color being visible from the sides.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I rather have size than a smaller, close to perfect diamond. I have a 1.72 VS1 I emerald cut. Like mata mentioned I would not go under VS2 in a step cut no matter what the size. I like eye clean stones and inclusions are much easier to see. Cut is obviously the most important and l/w very important in fancies. I do not like longer, thinner ECs so that would factor into my decision. People also say color is more noticable in fancies but I think my EC is extremely white with only slight hints of color depending on light and angles. IMHO people notice cut (for the sparkle factor) and size over color and clarity.

 

[Caribou]

I think I''d rather have an in between. I''d like a 1 - 1.5 carat diamond and if getting that would mean getting an okay color than that would be fine with me.

 

[ellewoods]

I''m going to take the easy way out here, but its what I really think -- I definitely would want a balance of quality and size, and I''m willing to go down in color and clarity to get a bigger size. That being said, I definitely want a great cut no matter the other specs.

I''ve learned that I am happy going down to a SI1 cut, if it means I can get stone that is around 2 carats. I still want a G or better color though, because as much as I thought that my eyes couldn''t tell the difference, I tried on a beautifully cut 1.93 radiant that was a VS1 clarity and a H color. I definitely could see a yellowish tint on the stone when compared with a D colored stone, and I could still recognize it even when you took the other stone away. So as much as I thought I''d be happy with an H or an I color, I would rather go down in size a little to have a G or better color. But in terms of clarity, there was no way I could tell the difference between SI1, VS2, VS1 and higher etc. So I would rather have size than pay for better clarity that I can''t see with my naked eye -- I mean I''m never going to be looking at my ring under a microscope, although I know some ladies might.

 

[squeaksluv]

It really is personal preference.

A co-worker of mine has a huge rock, about 4.3 carats where the color is noticeably yellow (maybe L or M)and has some pretty large inclusions. But she thinks it''s beautiful and that''s all that matters as it''s her rock. She loves it ring even though she knows the clairty and color are not the best. For her the size mattered more than anything else so that''s what she got.

On the other side, a good friend of mine wanted the best color and clarity so her diamond is smaller at around .53 carats but perfectly flawless and ''D'' in color. She wanted the ''best of the best'' is how she put it and didn''t care that that might mean a smaller diamond.

Personally I''d want something in the VS1, VS2, or SI1, SI2 category. I also prefer warmer diamonds like the I-J range although I wouldn''t turn away a G or H either!

 

[larussel03]

I personally would prefer smaller (as long as it''s at least almost a carat, that''s my only size restriction) with better color and clarity. And of course cut, but after cut my list of preferences are color then clarity then size. A smaller stone that is nice and white and sparkly is more appealing to me than a larger one that has visible yellow to it.

 

[butterfly 17]

Date: 11/9/2005 3:13:23 PM
Author: Matatora

Date: 11/9/2005 1:05:59 PM
Author:seraph313
I may be venturing where angel fear to tread coming into this decidedly female forum, but I''m going to do it anyway!

I know the ''will you marry me'' will outshine any diamond, but what do you think, a higher quality diamond, or a bigger diamond. Personally I''d go for a little smaller that is simply better. Thoughts are most welcome.

What is the diffrence you are speaking of? What is budget? What shape are you looking at? I think the response you got assumed round which is natural but they might change if you were going for a step cut.
I think we need to know more details.

Yes, I haVe to agree with this.

We need to know the shape, budget, size and parameter differences you are talking about.

Are you trying to decide between a .50 D IF and a 1.0 H SI1( Just picking random numbers based on assumptions)? Is your budget $3000 or $30,000?

What do you mean by higher quality? Not everyone thinks DEF or IF/VVS is higher quality, more rare yes, but not necessarily higher quality. Or do you still consider GHIJ VS1/VS2/SI1 higher quality as well?

Aslo, what do you consider big? .75 is pretty big for most people, 1.0 carat is huge as well, especially for a first engagement ring. I have a .75 carat OMC and I always thought that was pretty big.

You need to post specifics so we can help you, unless this is a poll type question and you just want to know what women want in general.
In that case, I want something fairly large(>1.25), ideal cut, not necessarily H&A''s, H and above and VS2 and above.

I''ll take two of these please!!!