Worth the upgrade?

[ohhello7]

Hey guys!

I"m looking to change the center stone and keep my current halo white gold setting. The current GIA certified center stone is as follows:

GIA Report number 7291488887
1.08 carat
G color
SI2
triple excellent
57% table
6.1% depth
34.5/41.0

I"m looking to improve color/clarity and a smidge more spread for this stone I found with the BN upgrade program:

GIA Report number 6411893950
1.16 carat
F color
VS1
triple excellent
55% table
61.3 depth
34.5/40.6

I'd love some input before I place the order for this exchange! Thanks all!

 

[Wink]

There are many questions here that you will need a competent bench person to determine for you. We cannot know if your prongs were slightly widened to fit your 1.08 ct. or slightly narrowed with a mounting originally meant to fit a 1.25 ct. If the prongs were slightly widened already, widening more may prove to be problematic.
Or not, depending on how much wider the new diamond is.

Of course, we do not have this critical information available to us as you do not provide it, yet.

Also, and this you will have to answer for yourself, can your eyes actually detect the difference in diameter? Can they detect the difference between the F and G color? Can you see the inclusions in the SI2?

So many unanswered questions.

 

[ohhello7]

There are many questions here that you will need a competent bench person to determine for you. We cannot know if your prongs were slightly widened to fit your 1.08 ct. or slightly narrowed with a mounting originally meant to fit a 1.25 ct. If the prongs were slightly widened already, widening more may prove to be problematic.
Or not, depending on how much wider the new diamond is.

Of course, we do not have this critical information available to us as you do not provide it, yet.

Also, and this you will have to answer for yourself, can your eyes actually detect the difference in diameter? Can they detect the difference between the F and G color? Can you see the inclusions in the SI2?

So many unanswered questions.

HI Wink, Thanks for your reply. I never had a 1.25 in the setting?

 

[MissGotRocks]

There are many questions here that you will need a competent bench person to determine for you. We cannot know if your prongs were slightly widened to fit your 1.08 ct. or slightly narrowed with a mounting originally meant to fit a 1.25 ct. If the prongs were slightly widened already, widening more may prove to be problematic.
Or not, depending on how much wider the new diamond is.

Of course, we do not have this critical information available to us as you do not provide it, yet.

Also, and this you will have to answer for yourself, can your eyes actually detect the difference in diameter? Can they detect the difference between the F and G color? Can you see the inclusions in the SI2?

So many unanswered questions.

@Wink, I have often heard that the face up color difference between an F and a G is negligible. Would you agree with this?

 

[Jax172]

I've owned both a well graded and well cut F and G. Face up I doubt you would see a difference to make this worth doing from a color stand point. Are your inclusions in your current stone visible to make the clarity jump worth it? Is the diamond a better cut? If no to both those questions than this doesn't seem to be worth it except if it will make you feel better from a mental standpoint. Otherwise I doubt anyone will notice the change.

 

[Kaycee2018]

In this particular scenario, it would not be worth it to me unless the current SI2 stone has visible inclusions and/or the angles of the diamond don‘t work together resulting in subpar performance. The difference between an F and a G is negligible, especially at this size, and trying to fit a different stone into an existing halo setting can be problematic. Even if the new stone fits in the existing setting, I don’t think it would feel like much of an upgrade. For the cost of upgrading (which I believe with BN is double the cost of the original diamond), I would go as large as possible in a G VS2 with good angles/HCA and ideally advanced images to support the cut quality and put it in a solitaire or have another halo setting made. Then put a colored stone in the existing setting. Good luck with your decision!

 

[elizat]

I would not do this, even if the performance changed. It's such an incremental size that nobody but you will know it's different. I wouldn't find it a good use of money to do such a small upgrade of .08 cttw. If you were going to 1.5 or above, I would likely have a different answer.

 

[ohhello7]

I've owned both a well graded and well cut F and G. Face up I doubt you would see a difference to make this worth doing from a color stand point. Are your inclusions in your current stone visible to make the clarity jump worth it? Is the diamond a better cut? If no to both those questions than this doesn't seem to be worth it except if it will make you feel better from a mental standpoint. Otherwise I doubt anyone will notice the change.

THank you Jax172. The current stone is a bit hazy/cloudy. Probably only noticable to me. I think the cut is as good if you see the specs I listed. Yes, it's a mental thing. I sacrificed on clarity when I bought the original stone.

 

[ohhello7]

In this particular scenario, it would not be worth it to me unless the current SI2 stone has visible inclusions and/or the angles of the diamond don‘t work together resulting in subpar performance. The difference between an F and a G is negligible, especially at this size, and trying to fit a different stone into an existing halo setting can be problematic. Even if the new stone fits in the existing setting, I don’t think it would feel like much of an upgrade. For the cost of upgrading (which I believe with BN is double the cost of the original diamond), I would go as large as possible in a G VS2 with good angles/HCA and ideally advanced images to support the cut quality and put it in a solitaire or have another halo setting made. Then put a colored stone in the existing setting. Good luck with your decision!

Great idea! Thank you!

 

[ohhello7]

I would not do this, even if the performance changed. It's such an incremental size that nobody but you will know it's different. I wouldn't find it a good use of money to do such a small upgrade of .08 cttw. If you were going to 1.5 or above, I would likely have a different answer.

Thank you!

 

[kenny]

Yes, a diamond with 61.3% depth is MUCH better-cut than one with 6.1% depth.



Sorry, but it was just sitting there.

 

[ohhello7]

Yes, a diamond with 61.3% depth is MUCH better-cut than one with 6.1% depth.



Sorry, but it was just sitting there.

Ok, I guess those of us that are here to learn aren't welcome. Wow.

 

[kenny]

Ok, I guess those of us that are here to learn aren't welcome. Wow.

Just a friendly ribbing.
You are welcome here.

 

[Jax172]

THank you Jax172. The current stone is a bit hazy/cloudy. Probably only noticable to me. I think the cut is as good if you see the specs I listed. Yes, it's a mental thing. I sacrificed on clarity when I bought the original stone.

Personally I would upgrade to a larger stone. I have a 1.34 G and it’s super white so I personally love G stones as it’s just outside the colorless range and still super colorless but a savings compared to the DEF range. Upgrade a bit in clarity and get a bigger size. Put it in a simple setting for now and halo it later. You can always pop a moissanite or colored stone in your current setting.

 

[ohhello7]

Just a friendly ribbing.
You are welcome here.

I was upgrading for clarity and color but in getting some feedback from others I guess it doesn't make much sense until I can go bigger.

 

[ohhello7]

Personally I would upgrade to a larger stone. I have a 1.34 G and it’s super white so I personally love G stones as it’s just outside the colorless range and still super colorless but a savings compared to the DEF range. Upgrade a bit in clarity and get a bigger size. Put it in a simple setting for now and halo it later. You can always pop a moissanite or colored stone in your current setting.

I'm getting some good ideas here. Thank you! It's all becoming clearer to me now.

 

[Wink]

HI Wink, Thanks for your reply. I never had a 1.25 in the setting?

My question was what size was the original setting. Most one carat heads can comfortably hold a .90 up to a 1.10 carat diamond. When you get into the 1.15 ct range you are probably better to get a head for a 1.25 ct and pinch the prongs in. My bench friends tell me it is easier to pinch than to expand, and it is more secure too.

I see you have been getting some good ideas, plus a Laughing Out Loud introduction to our resident tail twister, Kenny. I am glad to see he quickly let you know you ARE welcome here.

You have given a good answer on the clarity issue, and on the mind clean issue. You are not completely happy with your current diamond, even if no one else will notice.

There are only a few people with the visual acuity to discern between a well cut F and a well cut G from the top. One of our regulars here, @RunningwithScissors is an artist with incredible color vision. It is unlikely she would ever be happy with a G, so this is definitely a question that you will need to answer for yourself.

So, welcome to our playhouse. I suggest you take some time to make your decision, and also visit some good local jewelers if you are blessed with one or more in your area. Only when you see diamonds side by side can you truly decide just how expert your vision is and what YOUR eyes like. Oh, please be aware, what you perceive today is going to be incredibly different than what your eyes will perceive in one year, two years or more years, as your visual palate is going to improve over time.

Enjoy your journey.

 

[ohhello7]

My question was what size was the original setting. Most one carat heads can comfortably hold a .90 up to a 1.10 carat diamond. When you get into the 1.15 ct range you are probably better to get a head for a 1.25 ct and pinch the prongs in. My bench friends tell me it is easier to pinch than to expand, and it is more secure too.

I see you have been getting some good ideas, plus a Laughing Out Loud introduction to our resident tail twister, Kenny. I am glad to see he quickly let you know you ARE welcome here.

You have given a good answer on the clarity issue, and on the mind clean issue. You are not completely happy with your current diamond, even if no one else will notice.

There are only a few people with the visual acuity to discern between a well cut F and a well cut G from the top. One of our regulars here, @RunningwithScissors is an artist with incredible color vision. It is unlikely she would ever be happy with a G, so this is definitely a question that you will need to answer for yourself.

So, welcome to our playhouse. I suggest you take some time to make your decision, and also visit some good local jewelers if you are blessed with one or more in your area. Only when you see diamonds side by side can you truly decide just how expert your vision is and what YOUR eyes like. Oh, please be aware, what you perceive today is going to be incredibly different than what your eyes will perceive in one year, two years or more years, as your visual palate is going to improve over time.

Enjoy your journey.

Such good information, thank you Wink! And thank you, I look forward to learning, taking my time and getting to know all of here before I make any big money decisions!

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

Such good information, thank you Wink! And thank you, I look forward to learning, taking my time and getting to know all of here before I make any big money decisions!

Enjoy the journey! Now that you’ve found us, no telling what bling you’ll discover you need!

 

[RunningwithScissors]

Also remember that each color grade is a range. I find that there are highs and lows in each color grade, especially once you get outside of colorless (others on here have found that to be true too -- not just me with weirdo eyes LOL!) So comparing two diamonds which are graded one color stair-step apart can get tricky when you try to answer the question of "will I see the color difference?" because the two diamonds you are comparing may be closer together, or farther apart, than a difference of one color grade may imply. (For example if your diamond is a low H, and the G is a high G, then the difference will be greater than if your diamond is a high H and the G is a low G -- make sense?)

And of course, based on your own color sensitivity, you may or may not see any difference in the color even between several color grades.

 

[RunningwithScissors]

Are you sure that BN will let you upgrade for the diamond you selected? I thought their policy is you have to spend 2x the amount of the original diamond?

If you are planning to spend 2x the amount of the original diamond, will the upgrade be worth it to you? Will you be getting 2x the pleasure from this new diamond? Everyone is different, but for me, I would do what the others have suggested and wait until I can bump it up more in cut/color or go larger. But if the current one bugs you, then do it, because peace of mind is worth 2x more!

 

[LLJsmom]

Are you sure that BN will let you upgrade for the diamond you selected? I thought their policy is you have to spend 2x the amount of the original diamond?

If you are planning to spend 2x the amount of the original diamond, will the upgrade be worth it to you? Will you be getting 2x the pleasure from this new diamond? Everyone is different, but for me, I would do what the others have suggested and wait until I can bump it up more in cut/color or go larger. But if the current one bugs you, then do it, because peace of mind is worth 2x more!

This is my biggest question. I thought BN required 2x spend. I would pay double for that difference. But I totally get wanting to get rid of a cloudy diamond, so I take it back. I’m pretty mental so maybe I would pay double to get higher clarity and color and a more sparkly stone, which is the most difficult requirement to meet. If you are happy with the size then if I found the right stone I might do it.
But me personally I would go bigger if I am spending 2x.