Decision Time - Help Needed/Appreciated

[IceandFire]

Hello everyone,

Like many people here on the forum - it's come to that time for me where I am finalizing my stone/setting choice for a very special someone. I also want to say, I know it's my first post but I have been doing far too much lurking and this site/forum has been so very educative and useful in this task. So thanks for everything so far, and thanks in advance for any additional help you can give below.
Based on plenty of personal research on this site, in person, upgrade policy, available settings etc. I have decided to purchase a ring from Whiteflash in the Selene Solitaire setting (http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/selene-solitaire-engagement-ring-1591.htm).
Looking through the options on the website, with some assistance from the HCA calculator but also just general criteria, I have narrowed down to these five options which I feel are within my current means. I was wondering in your opinion if there as any preference to be had within all of the options when considering the cuts and value. Just too many options!

1 – 0.834 F VS2
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2805431.htm
2 – 0.837 G VS2
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2792454.htm
3 – 0.828 H VS1
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2763634.htm
4 – 0.807 H VS1
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2813974.htm
5 – 0.817 H VS2
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2813903.htm

1-3 are “Expert Selection” while 4-5 are “A Cut Above.” From looking at the IdealScope/ASET images I can see that the 4-5 seem to have the best performance (in particular #4). Of course I am interested in hearing from some with more experience/insight.

How large of a difference will this make in person/practically? I certainly am emphasizing diamond quality here, but to a certain degree I would like a larger stone, especially in context of the chosen setting. For example - how noticeable would differences be between 2/4?

Thanks again for the help!

 

[JulieN]

Not a fan of the ES H VS1; the ACA H VS2 is the same price.

Either the F or the ACAs for me.

The only other larger stone I see is a .9 J. Between what you have selected, in a halo, an size difference is negligible.

 

[IceandFire]

Thanks for the reply,

I see what you mean regarding the ES H VS1. I was a bit leery of that one based on the ASET/relative price. Is there any particular reason you lean to the #1 (the F) over #2 (G)?

You also mentioned a thought I had which I forgot to bring up earlier, being that in context of the Halo setting size differences will be even less apparent. Does this then mean that "quality" is much more pronounced as well? Or does everything end up being similar?

 

[Christina...]

The ACA H VS1 is my favorite.

edit: you asked about size difference, the visual difference between 2 and 4 will be less than a sheet of copy paper around the diameter of the stone.

 

[JulieN]

The F leaks less than the G. You can see in the "Diamond Image" the G under the table has more brown/gray colors than the F.

The H VS1 has no white under the table in the IS picture, the F and H VS2 have very small amounts. They are all pretty similar, doubt you'd notice any difference between the cut... or even the color once it is set and on the finger. I think these are the three you should discuss with Whiteflash about the finer differences, if any, that exist between them. I personally would pick whichever one is the brightest in diffuse sunlight.

 

[IceandFire]

Thanks for the replies guys - I will definitely take that input into consideration when I talk to Whiteflash