Size difference between 1.26 ct rd vs 1.52 ct rd

[sl517]

Hello all

I am facing a dilemma here. So after a month of research regarding the 4 C's, I've narrowed down to the following criteria. At a minimum they must be an Ideal cut, SI1 clairty (eye clean of course) and G colored. Having said that I am down to the last C which would be carat. I am presented with 2 diamonds. 1.26 ct G SI1 H&A and a 1.52 ct G SI1 H&A. Both looked great on pictures but the price difference is about $4k. My gf have hinted to me in the past that she would like an 1.5 ct diamond but I do not know if the size difference will be noticeable if not compared side by side. I am planning to set it in a tacori 2620 so I'm hoping the halo will enhance the 1.26 ct rd so it'll look bigger. Any thoughts? Her ring size is 4.5 if that makes a difference. I have no problem giving her what she wants but a 4k difference for 1/4 ct increase seems a bit much. Any feedback will be appreciated.

 

[antelope1]

I think there's a big size difference. 1.25ct is like 7mm in diameter, whereas 1.5ct is closer to 8mm. That's a big difference in size. I think the eye can pick up 0.5mm differences unaided, so you're going to get 2x that, so it will look a LOT bigger.

On the price difference, I think it seems about right. I did this search for you, and the 1.5cts are about $11k, and the 1.25cts are about $6-7k. Remember, crossing 1.5ct is a price cliff on the Rap sheet (wholesale price per carat), so you're not just paying more for the extra carats, but you're paying more per carat for the extra 0.25 carats. I had to select AGS0 rather than H&A because there were no H&A 1.5ct in the original search...but this should give you an idea.

I'd get the 1.5ct for her, if that's what she wants and you can afford it.

Now, does she want a halo? Because if she does not, you could save there...

 

[luckygirl333]

When she hinted at 1.5 carats was she looking at halos? Or was that before she started looking at halos?

For ME I find the following:

A 1.5 round with a halo feels too big.
A 1.5 round without a halo is the SMALLEST un-haloed RB I would want.
8mm -9mm makes me happy with a square, could go a little bigger or smaller.
I like the Tiffany legacy (bezel halo around a square center) with about a 1.5 center, but not much bigger or smaller.
I would need an emerald cut to be about 3.5 before I would be happy with it!

SO...for ME I would prefer the 1.26, even if money were not a factor.

But if she really has her heart set on a 1.5, SHE might be disappointed with a 1.26...

 

[slg47]

yeah, does she specifically want a halo? that is a beautiful but pricey setting.

what about trying to find a diamond just under the 1.5 carat mark, like a 1.4x carat diamond? this may not work if she really wants the 1.5 carat. alternatively you could go down to H color and probably save a lot that way?

 

[Siamese Kitty]

1.5ct = ~7.4mm

 

[KittyGolightly]

I have a ring size of about 4.25, and a 1.5 ct round looks significantly bigger than a 1.25.

 

[Stephan]

I think there's a big size difference. 1.25ct is like 7mm in diameter, whereas 1.5ct is closer to 8mm.

If 1.25ct is 7mm, an identical cut 1.5ct would be 7.44mm, not 8mm...
But the size difference is noticeable.

 

[sl517]

Thank you everyone for your insightful opinions. As far as the setting goes, she would tear off magazine pages of the tacori advertisements and put them on her wall but I've also heard her say she likes a classic solitaire as well. I would prefer to get her the tacori since it is more unique and I do like how the halo enhances the stone.

 

[murs3]

I was on the same boat. Ended getting a 1.36 roughly 7.20mm, 1.5 is about 7.[*]5mm well cut.
I also went with the tacori with a halo, makes a big difference. A bigger stone may kinda hide the halo depending on the setting.