sjz
Brilliant_Rock
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2005
- Messages
- 1,173
SI diamonds
- Thread starter sjz
- Start date
- Status
mrssalvo
Super_Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2005
- Messages
- 19,132
sjz
Brilliant_Rock
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2005
- Messages
- 1,173
belle
Super_Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2004
- Messages
- 10,285
sjz
Brilliant_Rock
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2005
- Messages
- 1,173
Ok, let me first say that a few weeks ago I SWORE that I would never consider anything lower than a VS clarity stone. I thought I was willing to sacrifice both color and size to keep an eye clean stone. I had the .53 carat stone for a while from WF, and I loved the stone, but wasn't crazy about the size. I had been used to a 3/4 carat stone on my finger for the last ten years, and even though there didn't seem like there should be that much difference, there really was. I found myself going back and wearing my old diamond with the 3/4 carat stone more often than the .53, even though the .53 was a H&A and much more sparkly. So, I decided to start looking at an upgrade. I looked for a few weeks, and saw a few stones that I was interested in, mostly in the .8 to .9 range (I figured I might as well go even higher than .75 while I was at it, and the ones slightly less than 1 carat were significantly cheaper). Every time I found a stone that looked good, it was gone by the time I contacted Bob and WF! One even got away while we were emailing back and forth about it.
Finally, Bob made a suggestion. It was a .74 Cut Above H&A. It was in my pre-set price limit, too. It was even a better color grade than I was looking at (an H as opposed to the I's and J's I was looking at). The only catch...it was an SI2. I was very dubious, but I looked at it anyway. There were only a couple of inclusions on the plot, but knowing that it was an SI2, I figured they were probably either dark or big. One is even on the table. I asked Bob how "bad" the inclusions were. He said that the main one on the table was a dark one and visible, but it didn't "jump out". He thought, even after owning a VS2 eye clean stone, I'd be happy with it. I was still kind of nervous. So I talked it over with my hubby. He told me to go ahead and get it. Even if I wasn't 100% happy with it, if I could live with it for a year or so, he had been planning to get me a 1.5 carat diamond next summer for our 15th anniversary. So if I could live with an SI stone as a "stepping stone" for a year or so, I would have something to replace it soon enough. So I decided to go for it.
Yesterday I picked up the ring. I did what many of you have suggested. I tried to see the inclusion first with my unaided eye. Guess what? Even though I knew from looking at the plot approximately where it was, I couldn't find it! I had to loupe it. With the loupe, I found it really easily. Its a black dot right at the base of one of the arrows. And now that I know where it is...I can see it with my unaided eye. BUT...I have to have the stone less than 6 inches from my eyeball, and tilt it just the right way and be in very bright light such as direct sunlight or a bright halogen light or something to even see it! AWESOME! The ring sparkles so much, and the arrows pop out in practically every type of lighting condition that I've used (and I've pretty much tried everything...lol). I have to say, either my eyesight ain't what it used to be, or I got a very nice SI2 diamond!
The other thing I've finally realized...nobody is going to be looking at my diamond from a distance of 6 inches or less other than myself. Arm's length distance or greater is what anyone else is going to view my diamond from. And there is absolutely NO WAY that anyone else is ever going to see that little black dot. I got this diamond for much less money than I would have paid for a VS stone, plus I was able to get a H&A in a couple of higher grades of color for my money. I am no longer a clarity snob! As a matter of fact, I will probably consider an SI stone for my anniversary upgrade now...I might even be able to go a little bigger than 1.5 carats that way...
.
My last observation is that cut certainly does make quite a difference. I was comparing the size of this .74 carat diamond to my friends 1 carat diamond. Mine pretty much looked the same size as hers! Her's is cut a little deep, and my ideal cut stone looked bigger for the comparative carat weight than hers (does that make sense?) Anyway...this experience just reinforces to me that cut should be the top priority when choosing your diamond. I'm now even more convinced than ever that an ideal cut stone will more than make up for a lower color or clarity grade.
Hopefully I will get some pictures today, and will get them posted soon. Bob, if you are reading this....THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP!
!
Finally, Bob made a suggestion. It was a .74 Cut Above H&A. It was in my pre-set price limit, too. It was even a better color grade than I was looking at (an H as opposed to the I's and J's I was looking at). The only catch...it was an SI2. I was very dubious, but I looked at it anyway. There were only a couple of inclusions on the plot, but knowing that it was an SI2, I figured they were probably either dark or big. One is even on the table. I asked Bob how "bad" the inclusions were. He said that the main one on the table was a dark one and visible, but it didn't "jump out". He thought, even after owning a VS2 eye clean stone, I'd be happy with it. I was still kind of nervous. So I talked it over with my hubby. He told me to go ahead and get it. Even if I wasn't 100% happy with it, if I could live with it for a year or so, he had been planning to get me a 1.5 carat diamond next summer for our 15th anniversary. So if I could live with an SI stone as a "stepping stone" for a year or so, I would have something to replace it soon enough. So I decided to go for it.
Yesterday I picked up the ring. I did what many of you have suggested. I tried to see the inclusion first with my unaided eye. Guess what? Even though I knew from looking at the plot approximately where it was, I couldn't find it! I had to loupe it. With the loupe, I found it really easily. Its a black dot right at the base of one of the arrows. And now that I know where it is...I can see it with my unaided eye. BUT...I have to have the stone less than 6 inches from my eyeball, and tilt it just the right way and be in very bright light such as direct sunlight or a bright halogen light or something to even see it! AWESOME! The ring sparkles so much, and the arrows pop out in practically every type of lighting condition that I've used (and I've pretty much tried everything...lol). I have to say, either my eyesight ain't what it used to be, or I got a very nice SI2 diamond!
The other thing I've finally realized...nobody is going to be looking at my diamond from a distance of 6 inches or less other than myself. Arm's length distance or greater is what anyone else is going to view my diamond from. And there is absolutely NO WAY that anyone else is ever going to see that little black dot. I got this diamond for much less money than I would have paid for a VS stone, plus I was able to get a H&A in a couple of higher grades of color for my money. I am no longer a clarity snob! As a matter of fact, I will probably consider an SI stone for my anniversary upgrade now...I might even be able to go a little bigger than 1.5 carats that way...
My last observation is that cut certainly does make quite a difference. I was comparing the size of this .74 carat diamond to my friends 1 carat diamond. Mine pretty much looked the same size as hers! Her's is cut a little deep, and my ideal cut stone looked bigger for the comparative carat weight than hers (does that make sense?) Anyway...this experience just reinforces to me that cut should be the top priority when choosing your diamond. I'm now even more convinced than ever that an ideal cut stone will more than make up for a lower color or clarity grade.
Hopefully I will get some pictures today, and will get them posted soon. Bob, if you are reading this....THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP!
belle
Super_Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2004
- Messages
- 10,285
sjz
Brilliant_Rock
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2005
- Messages
- 1,173
I reckon I can''t be rude and turn down 1.5 carat diamond, especially if it''s an anniversary gift can I?Date: 5/18/2005 11:27:45 AM
Author: belle
that''s awesome sjz! glad you found a bigger diamond that you love! .......sooo will you still be getting the upgrade next summer?
can''t wait to see the pics!!
sjz
Brilliant_Rock
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2005
- Messages
- 1,173
Kaleigh
Super_Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2004
- Messages
- 29,571
belle
Super_Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2004
- Messages
- 10,285
why, of course not!!Date: 5/18/2005 11:30:39 AM
Author: sjz
I reckon I can''t be rude and turn down 1.5 carat diamond, especially if it''s an anniversary gift can I?Date: 5/18/2005 11:27:45 AM
Author: belle
that''s awesome sjz! glad you found a bigger diamond that you love! .......sooo will you still be getting the upgrade next summer?
can''t wait to see the pics!!
- Status
300x240.png)