Visual Difference between 1 ct and 1.2 ct Round Diamond

[Shannon72781]

Hi All,

My SO and and I are looking at diamonds (though won''t be purchasing for at least another 6 months) and I was wondering about the actual visual difference between a 1 ct and ~1.2 ct diamond. Our budget is $6000 for the diamond and the setting will be a 3/4 eternity setting (probably from SP) in yellow gold with platinum head.

Four our $6000 diamond budget, it looks like I can get an I VS2/SI1 1.2 ct. or G/H VS2 1 ct. I would really love the bigger carat weight, but I don''t know if it will be THAT noticeable. For reference my ring size is 3.5. Regarding cut, I would like my SO to purchase either an ACA or Expert Selection from WF. I figure you can''t go wrong

.

Maybe I need to look at diamonds of these ranges in actual B&M stores, as ours has been limited to mall jewelrs (just for looking!). I live close to NYC, so we may plan a trip to look there this fall, but I really have my heart set on WF diamonds.

What would you do?

Thanks!
Shannon

 

[Lorelei]

Welcome to PS.

To ascertain size differences, you need to compare diameter measurements as well as carat weight, here is a chart to help you.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/mm-to-carat-stone-conversion-chart.17578/

You can see that a 1 ct should measure about 6.5 mm, 1.20 around 7mm. This might be a noticeable difference for you. I would definitely want to stick to WF and see if an ES diamond comes along which fits the bill, to me the size difference would be worth it. With lesser cut diamonds, you can find that some might face up small for their weight if cut too deep, thick girdle etc, but this is the other side of the coin - no such worries with the WF rocks! I SI to go larger would be my pick too. I would try to check out well cut diamonds which are similarly graded ( GIA/ AGS) to see the sizes for yourself, also the colour grades, but any diamond from WF you can feel confident it's a winner!

 

[Shannon72781]

I know 1/2 mm seems like such a small difference, but it really is noticeable, huh? My other concern is that the diamonds from the eternity band are F-G in color, will that make an I color diamond look yellow or dingy?

 

[Lorelei]

Apparently half a mm is noticeable in many opinions, I think if you could see for yourself that might help.

I wouldn''t worry too much about the I colour with your band, I don''t think you will see a difference.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Only you can decide your color tolerance. I did not want to go lower than H and would prefer F-G. Others here love their J''s. So you really need to see some diamonds in natural lighting because it is impossible to tell about color inside the jewelry store.
I think there is a visual difference in a 1.0 and 1.2, but you have such tiny fingers that I think both would look great!

 

[Ellen]

Without sacrificing cut, get the biggest stone you can, they shrink after awhile.

And I agree, find out what your own color tolerance is.

 

[Shannon72781]

Thanks All. As of right now, my priorities stand as Cut, then Carat, then Color and finally Clarity (as long as it''s eyeclean!)
Once my SO and I are able to look at loose diamonds, I think I will have more of an idea. I did once go to Ben Bridge in the mall and view their loose stones, and the I the SA showed me looked plenty white to me! I was more concerned how it would look next to the F-G diamonds in the eternity band.

However, I have heard many people''s testimonies that their I/J and even K stones face up nice and white if they are ideal cut. I plan on getting as ideal as I can get with either an ACA or ES, so I''m really hopeful it shouldn''t be a problem.

Thanks again!

 

[rainydaze]

it''s funny you should ask this question, i was just helping my mom upgrade her diamond and she was deciding between a RB 1.01ct. and 1.22ct. they were from a local jeweler, and had GIA certs but the cuts hadn''t been graded. so keep that in mind, i know someone said with ideal/excellent cuts from WF you won''t run into some appearing smaller because they are cut too deep. anyway, in our experience, there was a big difference between the two and my mom just couldn''t decide. then we looked at another 1.03ct and with this one the size difference between it and the 1.22 was negligible! i think it was 6.58mm vs. the 1.01 which was 6.31mm. and the 1.22 we looked at was, i think, 6.98mm.

needless to say, she went with the 1.03 that looked almost the same size as the 1.22, and saved herself approx. 2200. oh, and the 1.03 she went with did have a GIA cut grade of very good.

that was just our experience and i would definately stand behind everyone''s recommendation to go try some on in stores, and pay attention to the mm spread (right term?) since in stores that can vary widely. personally i would purchase online if i could, and my mom is just old-school where it was worth the extra effort and a little more $ (though not too much) to deal with someone face to face.

best of luck!