MemberBees, I just saw a post and wanted to poll all of you and see what is more important to you. Each to their own of course, but I don’t agree with people who compromise quality for carat size. Would you prefer a diamond full of imperfections that is big, or one that is close to perfect and looks amazing, but just a tad smaller?
Due to the nature of this question, I think it should be limited to diamonds.
MemberWe went with a smaller (.5) diamond with amazing specs. Wouldnt have it any other way.
MemberBetter quality. Though I have 5.5 fingers anything bigger than a 1.75 would look weird on me.
MemberIt really annoys me when I see ladies compromising quality so much, not just a little, for a bigger diamond. What’s the point if you’ll be too embarrassed to show people because of all the flaws?
MemberWe went with quality. I only wanted a diamond and would never compromise quality for something bigger in size but not in quality.
MemberI prefer smaller high quality stones, but it doesn’t bother me if someone else has different priorities.
Member@Baybeejulia: I don’t think it’s as simple as either size or “quality.” I actually really don’t like phrasing this question as size vs “quality” because (1) carat size is a quality of any diamond that exists and (2) people’s priorities really vary (and rightly so). It’s all a matter of prioritizing the qualities of the diamond that are important to the person rather than saying someone prioritizes size or “quality.”
Generally, as long as the diamond is of an acceptable quality for me in terms of the other 3C’s, I’d increase size before upping any of the other 3C’s further. Next, I’d increase another quality, and so on. I’m sure I could come up with an equation for my personal taste of how I prioritize the 4C’s, but that’d just be way too time consuming.
Another example of how it’s not either or: I’m not so concerned with color as other people are, because I like warmer colored stones. Therefore, choosing a warmer colored diamond would NOT make a diamond I choose be of lower quality for my taste. Colorlessness is just not something I place such a high value on, I’d definitely place carat size above that.
MemberI’m not sure clarity is the be all end all when it comes to overall quality. There’s so much more to a diamond to make it high quality, carat size being one.
MemberThere’s a happy medium. I wouldn’t want a 0.3 carat D IF diamond, the same as I wouldn’t want a 1.5 carat O I3. There are plenty of beautiful diamonds that aren’t D color or IF clarity — the key is figuring out what’s important to you and maximizing that. For example, color wasn’t as important to me, so we went down in color and up in carat size. It worked for us.
MemberAlmost everyone who has researched diamonds has a “sweet spot” where they prefer things. Some people genuinely like a warmer stone, so “sacrificing” colour isn’t a sacrifice for them at all. Likewise, some people need the peace of mind of having a VS or VVS stone whereas others find that certain SI stones don’t present any issues for them. So the question is really more in finding what you are sensitive to. Very few people have the means to purchase a stone of much size that is graded D IF, so we make concessions in some areas. A stone’s setting can also make a huge difference.
MemberDefinitely quality first!
But if I had to choose either a D/IF/Excellent/.5ct or a F/VVS2/Very Good/1ct, I’d go with the second stone!
Member@MissMarple: +1
“quality” is subjective anyway. As miss marble said, just because someone likes a warmer color does not make her stone less quality. And some ladies want a few inclusions so that if their ring is sent somewhere, they can tell if its the same one when they get it back (like a birthmark).
Member@MissMarple: sorry, I should have specified I’m referring to clarity, not the other c’s. But of course, each person is entitled to their wishes and have different priorities, I agree.
MemberMy most valued quality is cut – I wouldn’t want to sacrifice cut for anything and want the best possible cut for my diamond. However, I would sacrifice the other C’s in a balance, including carat size. I wanted something between .5-1 carat and I want something in the upper end of near colorless or colorless, but I can’t really tell the difference between a D and an F/G/H so I probably wouldn’t prioritize having a higher color diamond over a bigger one. As for clarity, I want something that is eye clean but beyond that I’m not hugely picky. I don’t intend for my diamond to be an investment or even necessarily an heirloom piece. I want something that I enjoy and since I’ll never look at it microscopically, some quality points are lost on me. Kind of like buying a car: when my dealer asks me what extras I want, I tell him I’d love heated leather seats and a big sunroof, but they’re not worth paying for to me. Neither is perfect clarity or a D diamond.
Member@Baybeejulia: I think this is a pretty good read regarding clarity of diamonds: http://www.delivermediamonds.com/diamond-clarity/
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