Help me pick a Tiffany diamond!

[acrowcounted]

Okay so I have a question for Ame...

The gorgeous 2.0 I saw the other day that was the most expensive at $59 scores SO much better (I think!) than my current diamond - I mean how much better do you think it will perform?

My current ring's stats are on page one of this thread (screen shot of the cert) and scored 3.9 VG...

The 2.0 scored a 1.3 "excellent" across the board.

Is this something worth really ponying up for? Or am I getting too obsessed now?!
Thanks!

Here are the stats on the 2.0
Precision/symmetry/polish all excellent
VS1
G colour
total depth 61.8%
table size 57%
crown height 15.6%
crown angle 35.0 %
star length 50%
pavilion dept 43.1%
pavilion angle 40.7
lower half percentage 80
girdle medium
cutlet none

I mean, is that a huge difference? Worth paying much more for?

Not to split hairs but...I just put the numbers in and got three Excellents and a Very Good (for Spread)...still can't get much better than that but I do think its almost mathematically impossible to get all four as Excellent (I've been trying to tweak it to see what it would take and can't get there...)

 

[lanasyogamama]

Great advice Ame. If you had a 2.10 VS2 that was $4K cheaper than a 2.0 VS1, and the 2.10 was all "very goods" and the 2.0 was "excellents", which would you choose?

I think at this point it depends how much $4K is to YOU. Is DH trying to keep costs down, or is he totally supportive of whatever you want?

Very fun!

 

[surfergirljen]

Not to split hairs but...I just put the numbers in and got three Excellents and a Very Good (for Spread)...still can't get much better than that but I do think its almost mathematically impossible to get all four as Excellent (I've been trying to tweak it to see what it would take and can't get there...)

Oops you're right! ex/ex/ex/vg/ and ex overall. Was late at night when I was inputting those stats and typing that post! Still pretty ex though!

 

[surfergirljen]

I know you are asking Ame, but for me it would be my eyes making the decision, not what's on paper - which looks better to you?

Oh no I'm asking everyone! Sorry - I just know Ame knows a lot about what those numbers actually mean!

As far as seeing them in person, definitely will be the deciding factor. I'm having 4-5 brought in and will look at them all inside and in the sun, then go home and think about that with the numbers/prices and make a decision!

$4K isn't a lot in the BIG scheme... it's a lot though b/c when I started this process I was thinking more like $45, not $59.

 

[acrowcounted]

Oh no I'm asking everyone! Sorry - I just know Ame knows a lot about what those numbers actually mean!

As far as seeing them in person, definitely will be the deciding factor. I'm having 4-5 brought in and will look at them all inside and in the sun, then go home and think about that with the numbers/prices and make a decision!

$4K isn't a lot in the BIG scheme... it's a lot though b/c when I started this process I was thinking more like $45, not $59.

My first time around I was thinking 50 and ended up at 78.5. It's dangerous. My recommendation to anyone thinking of upgrading is to figure out the absolute highest amount they want to spend, multiply it by 1.2 and then draw the line and don't go a penny higher. What got me the first time was I wanted as big as possible and was imaging around 2.25cts for under 50k. I quickly learned that the 3ct (more than I was hoping for at the time) was around 100 so I ruled it out and went back to the idea of 2.25ct. Well that led to a 2.30ct which led to a 2.30ct better color which led to a 2.44ct E color for 78.5. If I had just started with a firm upper budget of 78.5 I probably would have left with a ~2.8 G/H for that same price. But since I didn't start there, I never looked at the inventory in that price range and so I always wondered what my money really could have bought me and ended up going back for the second upgrade. (unfortunately I didn't learn the price lesson the second time around either but I know my specs are my dream and I wouldn't want to spend a penny more so this time I don't question my choice at all.)

 

[ame]

Great advice Ame. If you had a 2.10 VS2 that was $4K cheaper than a 2.0 VS1, and the 2.10 was all "very goods" and the 2.0 was "excellents", which would you choose?

I know you are asking Ame, but for me it would be my eyes making the decision, not what's on paper - which looks better to you?

This. Pick what your eyes go to most. I would have to see it to make a choice. Pick with your eyes, note the paperwork.

 

[surfergirljen]

Okay! thanks! Cannot wait for them to come in!!!

 

[**Ann**]

Hi surfergirljen! I know this is off topic but could you give me your advice on the Tiffany pear yellow diamond pendant and if you still love it and find it as wearable as much as when you first got it? It's a big decision for me and I would love your opinion and input!

 

[surfergirljen]

Ann - PM'd you but yes, definitely an "every day" necklace because of the more casual DBTY setting... that's part of what attracted me to it. I'm a mom and don't go out that often dressed to the nines so I don't have a lot of use for going-out-only pieces ... this is definitely more casual than the soleste necklace for example. (although I think you could safely wear a smaller version of that every day if you wanted to as well depending on your style!) I have diamond tennis bracelets that are pretty simple and yet too "fancy" for everyday for me... but this is definitely wearable all the time!


As for the diamond e-ring debate! I think I've decided I want something in the TIC range. Beyond that I won't worry too much so if another ring other than the 2.0 fits that that is over 2 carats I'll be happy! I don't have the stats on the 2.10 yet - asked my SA today and I think I'm driving her bonkers! haha... I know too much now!

... haha...

This is going to sound like Ame now but I think it bugs me a bit that my 1.5 "triple excellent" ring from Tiffany's only rates VG/G/G/VG for 3.9 and "very good - buy if the price is right." As we all know the price is never "right" (ie: bargain) at Tiffany's! I don't mind paying more for a rare stone with a wicked score for fire/light return etc... but I don't know - now I want to know exactly what "ex/ex/ex" means! Luckily there is a scientific way to figure it out so thanks everyone who introduced me to this calculator!

And yes... in the end I'll pick with my eyes/heart... but good to know what you're paying for! For example now that I know what a high performer that 2.0 actually is and how well cut it is, it makes sense to me that it's proportionately more expensive. I guess we'll see!!

 

[surfergirljen]

ps interesting... one of the rings from Tiffany's that was rated "ex/vg/ex" by Tiffany's rated much higher (within the TIL range at 1.9) than my triple ex 1.5!

Verrrrrrrry interesting... the more you know...

 

[ame]

Well who assigned the vg/ex ratings? Tiffany or Gia or what?

 

[surfergirljen]

Well who assigned the vg/ex ratings? Tiffany or Gia or what?

Yeah... exactly! As far as I can tell/know from my research, Tiffany diamonds are all diamonds that have been previously graded by GIA or one of the major diamond certification labs (this was explained to me on my last visit!).

Apparently they do keep (in NY) the GIA or IGA (I think it's IG something?) certificate on file for 1+ carat diamonds if you would like to have it pulled. Which is why ultimately I have no problem trusting that their 4 c's are accurate.

What I'm confused about and interested in now are the smaller details - the real nitty gritty. For example, how Tiffany's "presence" grading of polish/symmetry/precision of cut affects the HCA score, if at all. Because based on the 5 diamonds I've put through the HCA, triple ex from Tiffany's does not NECESSARILY = best performance. (If my 1.5 is triple x and scores 3.9, and the 2.21 is "ex/vg/ex" and scores 1.9 it obviously doesn't mean quite as much as I thought as that diamond SEEMS to be the better cut/angled one for performance?)

Either way I'm locked into Tiffany's now and am still totally happy with that! But it's really good to have an independent calculator to plug their stats into and get a non-Tiffany's grading as they don't SEEM to be totally consistent? Maybe i'm reading the triple x thing wrong though...

 

[krisalyn]

but I do think its almost mathematically impossible to get all four as Excellent (I've been trying to tweak it to see what it would take and can't get there...)

It is possible. My 2ct scores ex for all 4 categories; HCA score of 0.7

Triple Ex's for cut/symmetry/polish
59.3% depth,
58% table,
32.5° crown angle,
41° pavilion angle
girdle medium
cutlet none

Jen, you are right. Not all triple Ex's diamonds are in the TIC range, and not all TIC range diamonds are triple Ex's. If you want to research more on this, do check out bluenile's diamonds. Their signature ideal (also known as Hearts and Arrows) diamonds are all in the TIC range. Its also fun to look at the CGAL report to see the light returns of each diamond...and the hearts and arrows.

I have read somewhere that all diamonds in the TIC range are considered Hearts and Arrows Diamonds.

 

[ame]

Yeah... exactly! As far as I can tell/know from my research, Tiffany diamonds are all diamonds that have been previously graded by GIA or one of the major diamond certification labs (this was explained to me on my last visit!).

Apparently they do keep (in NY) the GIA or IGA (I think it's IG something?) certificate on file for 1+ carat diamonds if you would like to have it pulled. Which is why ultimately I have no problem trusting that their 4 c's are accurate.

What I'm confused about and interested in now are the smaller details - the real nitty gritty. For example, how Tiffany's "presence" grading of polish/symmetry/precision of cut affects the HCA score, if at all. Because based on the 5 diamonds I've put through the HCA, triple ex from Tiffany's does not NECESSARILY = best performance. (If my 1.5 is triple x and scores 3.9, and the 2.21 is "ex/vg/ex" and scores 1.9 it obviously doesn't mean quite as much as I thought as that diamond SEEMS to be the better cut/angled one for performance?)

Either way I'm locked into Tiffany's now and am still totally happy with that! But it's really good to have an independent calculator to plug their stats into and get a non-Tiffany's grading as they don't SEEM to be totally consistent? Maybe i'm reading the triple x thing wrong though...

I think their grading is very inconsistent. Personally, and you all know this about me, if it's a Tiffany grading report and not a GIA/AGS/EGLUSA report, I immediately discount it's accuracy. Having your own grading is too biased, and for me, allows you to make up whatever you want it to be whether it's accurate or not.

I grade cut quality for myself by angles and percents. Those three labs will offer that information up. Tiffany's doesn't always offer that information, nor do they always record it on a cert for you. The HCA might factor in when trying to weed out stones within those angles and perfects. But if the GIA or AGS or EGLUSA didn't say it's got excellent symmetry, etc., or provide any sort of baseline report that proves they've seen it, I don't buy it, because Tiffany's can call it whatever they want, just like any jeweler. They are a retailer, NOT a reputable lab.

I would truly hope they don't use IGI. If so, that makes them nothing more than a ridiculously overpriced zales chain store.

 

[Sprinkles&Bling]

I think their grading is very inconsistent. Personally, and you all know this about me, if it's a Tiffany grading report and not a GIA/AGS/EGLUSA report, I immediately discount it's accuracy. Having your own grading is too biased, and for me, allows you to make up whatever you want it to be whether it's accurate or not.

I grade cut quality for myself by angles and percents. Those three labs will offer that information up. Tiffany's doesn't always offer that information, nor do they always record it on a cert for you. The HCA might factor in when trying to weed out stones within those angles and perfects. But if the GIA or AGS or EGLUSA didn't say it's got excellent symmetry, etc., or provide any sort of baseline report that proves they've seen it, I don't buy it, because Tiffany's can call it whatever they want, just like any jeweler. They are a retailer, NOT a reputable lab.

I would truly hope they don't use IGI. If so, that makes them nothing more than a ridiculously overpriced zales chain store.

My SA pulled the GIA report for us on a soleste we are looking at so I highly doubt they use something other. It is GIA not IGI.