Help with Paraiba marquise stone for ring

[rockyrookie]

Hi everyone, this is my first post after lurking for ages and first I just want to thank everyone on this forum for a wonderful learning journey about coloured gems!!

I have been on the lookout for a 1+ carat paraiba marquise stone for a ring and there are currently two stones available that I’m considering, and I would really appreciate some advice on which is better or if I should wait more.

The first is 1.87 carat and beautifully lustrous in the videos, but has a slight window and dark sections in some videos. It’s also more green than what I had in mind. Was wondering if that dark section is considered a bow tie? It doesn’t appear in all the videos though.



The second stone is 1.1 carat and more the paraiba neon blue that I was looking for, but has a large window. The price is half that of the 1.87 carat stone though - so I was wondering if it would still be a good buy despite the window? Would I be able to minimize the window with the right setting?




This is the ring design I’m inspired by:



Would be grateful for any advice and thoughts on the two stones. Thank you!!

 

[Ionysis]

I’d say the first stone is of greatly superior quality, not just in size but cut and my personal preference is the greener colour. I wouldn’t buy the second stone, only speaking for myself, because the stone lacks brilliance.

I have personally purchased a very shallow cut Paraiba with a window and managed to set it so it doesn’t show. But the colour and brilliance made up for the window and it was an absolute bargain price.

Are both Brazilian and do they both come with appropriate certification?

 

[rockyrookie]

I’d say the first stone is of greatly superior quality, not just in size but cut and my personal preference is the greener colour. I wouldn’t buy the second stone, only speaking for myself, because the stone lacks brilliance.

I have personally purchased a very shallow cut Paraiba with a window and managed to set it so it doesn’t show. But the colour and brilliance made up for the window and it was an absolute bargain price.

Are both Brazilian and do they both come with appropriate certification?

Thanks so much!! That’s really helpful advice. They are both Brazilian but without certification I think, unless I request for it. Is there a certain price point above which I should be requesting for certification?

I’ve attached an additional, slightly more flattering photo of the second stone. The earlier photos were clearest photos of the window so just attaching one more in case I didn’t do the gem justice. Does it look better here or still not enough brilliance?

Thank you!

 

[voce]

I think I could live with the window of the first one but not the window of the second one. But if the first one is not your preferred color, I think you should keep searching...or waiting for more paraiba production, assuming mines are closed due to COVID-19.

 

[GliderPoss]

Hmmm neither float my boat but probably first is better colour... Definitely get certification before paying!

 

[rockyrookie]

Thanks so much for all your replies! Just to close the loop, I have thought hard about it and decided to pass on these two stones and keep searching for a stone in the colour I prefer.