Advice on upgrading my Engagement Ring

[Bri 333]

DH has offered to upgrade the center stone on my engagement ring. Wanted to get everyone's opinions on what I should get. I know I love the Marquise Brillant cut (that's what I currently have.) My current stone is a F/SI2. What color and clarity should I ask the jeweler to look for? Our anniversary is in October, so we have time to find a good stone.

We plan on going from 1.35 carats to 1.85 carats (or around 2.0.) I have the 2 wedding band set with channeled diamonds. Those are 1.50 carats total combined. Not changing anything on the wedding bands, just the engagement ring. Let me know what you guys think I should get. Thanks

 

[AntiqueShopper]

It depends on your budget, but I would go for D-G in color (bigger stones are harder to find better colors) and an VS2 or higher in clarity.

 

[Swanky]

are you getting a larger marquise?
My favorite specs are around g/h/i color and VS2/Si1 clarity.

 

[NY Village Girl]

Congrats on the soon to be upgrade. I would say go with an excellent cut, G-H in color and VS1-VS2 in clarity (no need to go higher than that in clarity).

 

[daluu]

"g" or "h" in color and vs2. sounds like a great upgrade in size.

 

[ame]

Best possible cut, and then G/H VS2.

 

[Kitsunegrl]

^agree with best possible cut, especially with marquis shape! Would love to see pics when you get your new stone.

 

[Bri 333]

Yes, it'll be a half carat larger or thereabouts (if they can find one.) It'll be around 1.85 ish.

are you getting a larger marquise?
My favorite specs are around g/h/i color and VS2/Si1 clarity.

 

[Bri 333]

What is an excellant cut? Is that a cut that is considered excellent regardless of the stones shape?

Congrats on the soon to be upgrade. I would say go with an excellent cut, G-H in color and VS1-VS2 in clarity (no need to go higher than that in clarity).

 

[Bri 333]

Ya, it'll be nice. They one I have now is nice too, just a bit small. I think I just like bigger now

"g" or "h" in color and vs2. sounds like a great upgrade in size.

 

[Bri 333]

How does the cut affect the marquise shape? The one I have now says marquise brillant cut. Is that the best possible cut?

^agree with best possible cut, especially with marquis shape! Would love to see pics when you get your new stone.

 

[ame]

Fancies are harder to judge "cut" quality compared to a round or a princess. You will have to do some side-by-side comparisons to find what makes your eyes light up, and as long as an appraiser agrees, that's all that matters.

 

[NY Village Girl]

I think a lot of people confuse diamond shape with cut since we describe the shape of a diamond by calling it a certain type of cut, etc. So, Marquise round brilliant cut refers to the diamond shape, whereas each diamond also has a cut rating, ie. excellent, very good, good, fair, or poorly cut. It's probably the most important spec in a lot of ways, but, oddly, seems to be the forgotten spec.

So, tell your jeweler that you want a marquise with an excellent rated cut (if that's what you want). Hope this helps.

 

[NY Village Girl]

^^just realized the post above was my 100th post! woohoo!!!

 

[Gimmethebag]

An excellent Marquise cut will prevent the terrible "bow-tie" effect. You want to make sure all of the facets are symetrical so light does not leak out of the sides or bottom but rather reflects towards the top. If light leaks out, the stone will have darker patches in the stone, some of which may look like a shadowy bowtie. HTH!