Why the Huge Price Difference?: WhiteFlash ACA Clarity VS2 vs. S1

[esqknight]

I''ve been looking at Whiteflash''s "A Cut Above" (ACA) line and was wondering about the enormous price difference between nearly identical stones with the only signficant difference being a clarity of SI1 instead of VS2.

Example:

PS Price: $7410, carat: 1.176, color: F, clarity: SI1, HCA: 1.2
http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/diamond_Details.aspx?itemcode=AGS-5580003

PS Price: $9072, carat: 1.174, color: F, clarity: VS2, HCA: 1.3
http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/diamond_Details.aspx?itemcode=AGS-5760203

Difference in cost: $1,662


Why the huge difference by moving down one clarity grade?

Is this large a difference particular to this vender and line or common across the board?


Later,
Eric

 

[Lord Summerisle]

The price stats on here say for a 1.0-1.49ct stone that would be graded by ACA as a 1A cut F VS2 would be 6760$/ct and for F SI 5286$/ct. so 6760x1.174=$7936.24 and 5286x1.176=$6216.34 = $1720 diff.

also remember the ACAs command the premium for being the H&A line.

 

[Paul-Antwerp]

The higher the colour, the bigger the price-gap between VS2 and SI1.

In our stones, you would see a similar gap, only because of the difference between VS2 and SI1.

Live long,

 

[Mara]

This is why I suggest SI's whenever possible, the price difference (not just related to WF...) is amazing. Even between SI1 and SI2 much of the time you see another large price difference.

I love well-graded SI1's and SI2's..they are such a great deal! I can see how people may see color differences, but I just got a GIA graded SI2 and finally after purchasing and perusing 5 diamonds over the last few years, now I actually found an inclusion. It was an exciting day.

Oh and I should also note that the inclusion was only visible to me after louping the stone...now I can sometimes find it with my naked eye jammed up against the stone, but NEVER in regular viewing.

 

[esqknight]

If this price difference is typical, how much more noticeable are the inclusions in a super-ideal cut SI1 and VS2?

I''m still pondering which of these clarities to go for.

Thanks for the feed back so far.

Eric

 

[Paul-Antwerp]

Date: 3/29/2005 1:55:41 PM
Author: esqknight
If this price difference is typical, how much more noticeable are the inclusions in a super-ideal cut SI1 and VS2?

I''m still pondering which of these clarities to go for.

Thanks for the feed back so far.

Eric

If you have a low VS2 next to a high SI1, nobody will see the difference.

A high VS2 however, next to a low SI1 is definitely a big gap.

Live long,

 

[Mara]

Each stone''s grading will be different, but if you can find an eye-clean SI1 then go for it..they are definitely out there. My previous stone from WF was an ES 1.29 H SI1 which looked so clean I never could find one inclusion in it. All the inclusions were white as well. Brian noted that he thought my SI1 was more like a VS2. So if you can find a stone similar to that...you save $$$ and still get that clear visual beauty.

Good luck!

 

[diamondsbylauren]

Expanding on what Paul had to say- based on the numbers from the Rap List
F/VS2 is about $1400 more than F/SI1- this justifies the asking price difference.

If we look ar the price difference between J/VS2, and J/SI1, the difference shrinks to only $200

Generally speaking SI1''s are eye clean- which does not help one who''s purchased an SI1 which does NOT fall into the average, eye clean SI1 category.

But the prices seem to be in line with the market.

 

[cflutist]

Paul, David, and other GGs:

In your examples above regarding "F" vs "J", why does color drive the prices more so than clarity especially since many here say they can't see the difference face up in an "F" versus "J" in a 1 ct or above stone?

When I was shopping for my 2ct oval, I was really looking for a F-SI1 (my sweetspot) but had to pay a premium for a 2.05 D-VS2 because thats all they had in the D - F range at the time. Luckily, when we shopped for my 3 ct pear, they had an F-SI1 which is why we bought it immediately even before websailor had the money saved up (I gave him an interest free loan ...

) Unlike RBs, there are not a whole lot of fancy shapes in given color/clarity combinations to choose from.

 

[aljdewey]

Date: 3/29/2005 1:55:41 PM
Author: esqknight
If this price difference is typical, how much more noticeable are the inclusions in a super-ideal cut SI1 and VS2?

I''m still pondering which of these clarities to go for.

Thanks for the feed back so far.

Eric

As David mentioned, most SI1 stones are eyeclean.

The jump from SI1 to VS2 doesn''t mean that the inclusions are more or less noticeable in one or the other. It has more to do with rarity.....VS2 stones are rarer than SI1 stones. VVS stones are rarer than VS stones, etc, etc.

The price jump reflects that VS stones aren''t as abundant as SI stones, so they are priced accordingly.