Please help me choose between these 2 diamonds

[gm88]

Hi all,

Please help me choose between these two diamonds, as I have them on hold for the next 24 hours but am quite unsure of which to pick:

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/Round-cut/1.11-carat-I-color-VS1-clarity-Excellent-cut-sku-185005

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/Round-cut/1.04-carat-I-color-VS2-clarity-Excellent-cut-sku-177232

185005 will be about 6400 after PS/wire discount, 177232 would be about $5400 after PS/wire discount - so $1,000 difference for .07 of a carat (and .01mm bigger L/W)...HCA for both is under 2, IdealScope images attached

This is also what JA has told me:
"To make sure you are properly informed to make the best decision, I arranged for your diamonds to be inspected by one of our graduate gemologists and they favored diamond 177232 (1.04crt I VS2) the most. It offers great fire, brilliance, and scintillation and performs the strongest of your options. As expected, it has an excellent cut, a true "I" color, and appears completely eye clean.

Diamond 185005 (1.11crt I VS1) also has great fire, brilliance, and scintillation and performs nearly as well as diamond 177232. It also has a true "I" color, and excellent cut, and appears eye clean. This diamond is beautiful and is your second best option."

I was so set on 185005 and found the 177232 as a last minute replacement for my third diamond for an idealscope, but now it might be looking like the better buy. For reference, I am planning to set it in a micropave setting similar to this:
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/rounded-pave-diamond-engagement-ring-563.htm

 

[JulieN]

Both great, comes down to personal preference.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I'd choose the 1.11 I VS1, personally! Don't like the low crown angle on the other and the VS1 is much cleaner looking. The idealscope looks more perfect on the VS1, too. It has great angles.

 

[gm88]

Hi diamondseeker2006, I'm no expert on IdealScopes but to my untrained eye it did look like the 1.11 looks less 'smudgy' - and of course the GIA report shows almost no blemishes or anything with the VS1, while the VS2 looks like it may have clouds or something, though if they're both eyeclean it's not a huge deal

The question is, whether 1K in extra $ is justified, given that I want a diamond that looks big and sparkles alot

 

[04diamond<3]

Hi diamondseeker2006, I'm no expert on IdealScopes but to my untrained eye it did look like the 1.11 looks less 'smudgy' - and of course the GIA report shows almost no blemishes or anything with the VS1, while the VS2 looks like it may have clouds or something, though if they're both eyeclean it's not a huge deal

The question is, whether 1K in extra $ is justified, given that I want a diamond that looks big and sparkles alot

This is really up to you. If you don't think you want to spend another $1,000 on the stone, then don't! There's hardly any difference in size.

 

[gm88]

Hi diamondseeker2006, I'm no expert on IdealScopes but to my untrained eye it did look like the 1.11 looks less 'smudgy' - and of course the GIA report shows almost no blemishes or anything with the VS1, while the VS2 looks like it may have clouds or something, though if they're both eyeclean it's not a huge deal

The question is, whether 1K in extra $ is justified, given that I want a diamond that looks big and sparkles alot

This is really up to you. If you don't think you want to spend another $1,000 on the stone, then don't! There's hardly any difference in size.

But is there a difference in their quality in regards to the IdealScope images, and therefore the sparkle/brilliance?

 

[bunnycat]

I'd choose the 1.11 I VS1, personally! Don't like the low crown angle on the other and the VS1 is much cleaner looking. The idealscope looks more perfect on the VS1, too. It has great angles.

I agree- I like the angles much better on it and the idealscope image better. Table at 56 wold have been my only other wish on it if wishes cold be had, but depth, crown and pavilion are all lovely! I understand JA gemologists tend to prefer stones that lean to white light return (often seen in shallower 60/60 type stones), so you might take that in to consideration in your choice.

 

[Christina...]

I'd choose the 1.11 I VS1, personally! Don't like the low crown angle on the other and the VS1 is much cleaner looking. The idealscope looks more perfect on the VS1, too. It has great angles.

I agree- I like the angles much better on it and the idealscope image better. Table at 56 wold have been my only other wish on it if wishes cold be had, but depth, crown and pavilion are all lovely! I understand JA gemologists tend to prefer stones that lean to white light return (often seen in shallower 60/60 type stones), so you might take that in to consideration in your choice.

I agree!