Post # 1

Member
358 posts
Helper bee
Hi Bees!
Last weekend my SO and I went out looking for more of a traditional style diamond engagement ring and we FINALLY were able to agree on 2 rings! Both are Tiffany round solitaires on platinum bands. One ring was 2.10 carat and the other was 2.50. The larger stone was actually a little cheaper than the smaller stone because the cut and clarity was not as good (the price difference was fairly nominal – around 1k).
So here is my dilemma – would you sacrifice the color and clarity of a diamond to have a larger stone? Or is it better to get a better stone even if it is smaller? I have to admit that the 2.50 definitely packs a better punch, however when the stones are next to one another you can definitely notice the quality difference.
Which would you choose?
Post # 4

Member
4710 posts
Honey bee
what are the specs of both?
Post # 5

Member
8031 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
I’d choose the smaller one. A better cut, sparklier, more clear diamond is much more beautiful than a duller larger one IMO. And realistically… 2.10 is plenty of diamond!
Post # 6

Member
594 posts
Busy bee
How different were the specs for the two diamonds. As long as there wasn’t a significant difference, go with the bigger one (if you want a bigger one, haha, some people don’t). However. If the smaller diamond is of much higher quality, it may actually be more impressive because the cleaner and closer the white a stone is, the bigger it would show. Is the bigger stone eye clean? It’s typically easier to tell the difference in quality when dealing with larger diamonds. Is it imporant to you that the diamond be colorless? I’d personally go for better quality, as I did with my diamond (keep in mind, mine is .5 ct, so pretty different). I love that the diamond is perfect, and it also looks bigger than it is sometimes!
Congrats on your future engagement!
Post # 7

Member
523 posts
Busy bee
@GG_Vega: It would depend on how much the stats change. For me, the only thing I wouldn’t sacrifice was cut. I actually have a lower clarity where you can see a crystal if you know where to look and squint real hard. However it is cut so well that no one else has ever been able to find what I am talking about. Regarding color-that also depends on your setting.
Without knowing the specs, Id say go for the larger ct as long as you don’t sacrifice cut and as long as the lower clarity doesn’t have clouds. Even one cloud and nooo
Post # 8

Member
3460 posts
Sugar bee
@GG_Vega: Honestly, I would have to see pictures. If the smaller one was truly that much better I would choose it, but if the larger one doesnt have any visible inclusions I’d probably choose that. What are the stats?
Post # 9

Member
2570 posts
Sugar bee
I would not sacrifice cut for carat weight. Clarity and color, on the other hand, I would have to compare the stones in person…
Post # 10

Member
2689 posts
Sugar bee
@GG_Vega: I would totally sacrifice size for cut/color/clarity. I did. I was going to do a 1.1 which was about the same price or a little less than the 0.8 but the 0.8 was better cut/color/clarity and was about the same size looking from the top of the diamond.
Post # 11

Member
4251 posts
Honey bee
In this care, probably, because 2,1ct is still a great size! Get a blingy band to go with it, and you are all set!
Post # 12

Member
358 posts
Helper bee
@GelaMac:
2.10 Carat
F Color
VVS1
2.50 Carat
H Color
VS1
You can see the different in clarity (and a little in color) when the rings are next to one another, but once you look at them on your own, they both look great.
Post # 14

Member
4251 posts
Honey bee
and are they both triple X?
Post # 15

Member
1722 posts
Bumble bee
Personally, I would do a smaller carat for the better quality.
Post # 16

Member
2901 posts
Sugar bee
- Wedding: January 2011 - Midland, TX
@GG_Vega: pisshh!! You won’t be able to tell the difference with those specs! Rock the 2.5!