Expert opinions needed! Should I buy this diamond?

[DiamondLover]

All you professionals,

I love my engagement ring, but am considering trading up to this stone.

As I am an amateur, I would love to hear your opinions on whether this 2.85 F SI1 has "good" inclusions or whether the flaws would affect the brilliancy of the stone. Can you tell me where the inclusions are from the plot, and whether they impact the visual performance to a significant extent? The vendor (I''m sure you pros can guess who) has reassured me that the stone is eye-clean.

FYI, what I''m giving up is a 1.85 F VVS2 that I do love. Since my arrival in NY, my diamond has shrunk, and I yearn for a bigger rock! But I still want to make sure that this stone would not fracture, and that this would still be a pretty ring because I''m moving from a VVS2 to an SI1.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!!

 

[DiamondLover]

Gosh, no help so far! Any opinions would be greatly appreciated!

Specifically, are the black specks I see in the photo due to the inclusions in the SI1 grading, or are they perhaps natural in any photograph?

I've been told that the inclusions are fine white featherings along the edge, and fine black inclusions under the table. Are these considered "good" or "bad" inclusions for an SI1?

THANK YOU!!

 

[NY SPARKLE]

I have a friend whose wife has black inclusions in her ring. They are not big, but I noticed them. I have purchased a VS1 diamond and the reason being is that it would drive me nuts to look at my soon to be fiancee's hand and see black spots instead of a beautiful ring. Can you see this stone in person? You should especially coming from an eyeclean stone. I remember someone on this board saying that the larger the stone, the more noticable the inclusions.

 

[Richard Sherwood]

The black specs you're seeing in the photo are contrasting reflection patterns.

The black crystal inclusions shown on the plotting diagram may or may not be eye visible. The only way you're going to know for sure is to visually inspect the stone. On plotting diagrams, everything is two dimensional, while in real life those inclusions could be way down in the stone and not eye visible. Or, they could be close to the surface of the table and eye visible.

I doubt that though, with an HRD cert. HRD is a good lab, that grades conservatively. My gut instinct is that the stone is probably eye clean.

If you make the final purchase contingent upon the stone appraising out to your satisfaction with an independent appraiser, you can't lose.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

But the proportions are shocking - I can see leakage all around the inside of the table in the photo

 

[DiamondLover]

when you talk about leakage, are you referring to the black sections around the middle of the stone? thanks so much!!

 

[Giangi]

The cut is not the best, but I'm pretty sure that HRD did a good job when they graded this diamond. As Rich pointed out, they're very conservative. Also, they usually are stricter than GIA on D-E-F colors...

 

[DiamondLover]

thanks for your help again, giangi!

what do you think i'm "losing" on this particular stone (by not having the "best" cut?) from what i can tell, this stone has a shallower crown and deeper pavillion than ideal. do i lose fire, scintillation, brilliancy?

fyi, to the best of my abilities, i calculated the numbers for my existing stone and the prospective one. could you gurus tell me if the new one would perform the same, worse, or better than my current diamond?

current prospective
depth 62.5 61
table 60 60
crown 15 13
crown angle 36.9 33
pavillion 44 44.5
pav angle 41.4 41.7
girdle 3.5 3.5

diam 7.82 9.22
depth 4.89 5.57
color f f
clarity vvs2 si1
size 1.85 ct 2.85

i would love it if anyone can enlighten me as to whether this new one would shine as much or more than my current one!

THANK YOU!!

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Put the numbers into the Cut Adviser - 3rd link from the top left on this page.
That will give you my opinion on any diamond