Help to choose tiffany round brilliant engagement ring!

[sslfn]

My bf and I have been looking for THE ring from Tiffany. I know there are couple threads going on now with their choices. Here are mine, and I cannot decide which one is the best bang for our bucks. What would you choose if you were me?

1) 2.18 carat D SI1 ex/very good/ex. This is the most expensive one. It's absolutely beautiful, white and sparkly. The inclusion very hard to see with the loope, but can be seen under microscope b/w the 9 to 12 o'clock top portion of the stone.

2) 2.10 carat G VS2 ex/ex/ex. This is about 1k less. Haven't see this one in person. Would you pick color vs clarity?

3) 2.03 carat G SI1 ex/ex/ex. It's 13k less than the first one. I can tell definitely the color difference, espeically from the side of the stone. From the
front is harder because it's so sparkly!

I know there is big gap b/w the first two and the 3rd one. The 3rd one is our original budget. We can afford all these rings, but I am guilty to spend so much! None of my friends spend that much on the ring, and I also want to set aside more cash. My bf said we should buy whatever makes me happy. He is such great guy, love him!

But what would you pick?

 

[acrowcounted]

I would definitely go with the G VS2. Its the perfect compromise. I'm actually surprised to see all of these threads with Tiffany rings in SI. They used to be strictly VS2 or higher. Knowing that the inclusion was there would drive me crazy, even if I couldn't really see it with my eyes, I would probably spend most of my day staring at it trying to convince myself that I couldn't see it. (But perhaps I'm a tad crazy. ) If you're already spending this much money on the ring, and can afford the higher priced items and you love them more, you should just get it. I cheaped out a little bit on my first upgrade and regretted it until I re-upped. Get your hearts content the first time around and you'll love it forever! =) Good luck deciding!!

 

[sslfn]

Thank you so much for your input acrowcounted! I absoutely love your 3.43 ct e-ring. That is really to die for!

The problem with G is that I can tell the color difference from D with my untrained eyes, but I absoutely cannot see the inclusion at all. The SA at Tiffany said because they have such high standard, these SI rings would be probally graded VS2 somehwere else. I don't know how ture that it is. She said SI rings are such good value and they sell very fast. I guess I need to see the G VS2 in person to decide.

 

[acrowcounted]

I can see the difference in the colors with my bare eyes as well...when they are side by side in bright light viewing from the side...In real life conditions all stones in these colors will look very white. They'll also all look like they have a yellow tint depending on the lighting, or if your room decor/clothing is very yellow/gold. I went from an H to an E to my current G. From day to day, they all look the same to me, even though next to each other, I would be able to put them in color order. Anyway, thats just my opinion. Yours is welcome to be different and if you feel that you care about color more than the clarity dip, then by all means, go with it! I'm sure they're both beautiful stones and you need to get something that is going to give you "mental peace" so that you don't waste any time second guessing while you should be enjoying your beautiful ring.

 

[scarlet555]

I would choose #2 as well.

 

[ame]

I need more information but just preliminarily, #2. I want angles, etc.

 

[ame]

Thank you so much for your input acrowcounted! I absoutely love your 3.43 ct e-ring. That is really to die for!

The problem with G is that I can tell the color difference from D with my untrained eyes, but I absoutely cannot see the inclusion at all. The SA at Tiffany said because they have such high standard, these SI rings would be probally graded VS2 somehwere else. I don't know how ture that it is. She said SI rings are such good value and they sell very fast. I guess I need to see the G VS2 in person to decide.

I'd call BULL because they grade their own stones (that dont come with a GIA report) and can call them whatever they want. That was a line of salespitch crap.

Also--I ruled out #1 bec it's not triple ex, AND it costs more.

 

[acrowcounted]

Also, the choices you've listed are somewhat extremes...Have they tried a search for a ~2.1 ct E/F VS2? That would probably be around the price of your 1 & 2 choices and would be a decent compromise. And Ame is right, Ex/ex/ex is very important. I just personally have such a mental block about anything lower than VS, but again, that might just be me.

 

[Greentea]

#2

 

[ame]

Also, the choices you've listed are somewhat extremes...Have they tried a search for a ~2.1 ct E/F VS2? That would probably be around the price of your 1 & 2 choices and would be a decent compromise. And Ame is right, Ex/ex/ex is very important. I just personally have such a mental block about anything lower than VS, but again, that might just be me.

If you can get the info on these stones--angles,etc.--please do, we'll help you confirm. But just stabbing at this, the 2nd is ideal.

 

[misssoph]

I would buy the g si if it were eye clean, I mean $13000 is a lot to pay for something you can't see with your own eyes! I would wear it around for a few days and if I did decide I could see the inclusion then change it for the vs2.

Clarity grading is aN artificial construct, does it really matter what you can see with 10 times magnification. Even a diamond graded internally flawless with 10 times magnification is likely to have inclusions visible at 20 times as diamonds are a natural product.

If I were planning to pay more then I would go for a d or e color or a bigger diamond as I CAN see the difference in size and color. Of course cut is the priority as the optics of the diamond determine it's brightness/light reflection.

 

[scarlet555]

On TPF, a lot of ladies can tell D E F G H I apart! We have diamond vision, I for one am super picky! I don't think I care for a D or E diamond per say if I can get a bigger and sparklier diamond for the same price with F or G.

 

[sslfn]

Hi ladies, thank you all so much for your inputs! I don't have the detail specs for #2, but here are #1 and #3:

1) 2.18 D SI1 Fluorescence none; ex/very good/ex; total dept percentage 62.1%, table size percentage 57%; crown height percentage 15.5%; crow angle 35.4; star length percentage 55%; pavilion dept percentage 43.1%; pavilion angle 40.8; lower half length percentage 80%; girdel thickeness medium to slightly thick; girdel finish: faceted; culet none

3) 2.03 G SI1 Fluorescence none; ex/ex/ex; total dept percentage 62.5%, table size percentage 56%; crown height percentage 15.9%; crow angle 35.3; star length percentage 50%; pavilion dept percentage 43.3%; pavilion angle 41; lower half length percentage 80%; girdel thickeness medium to slightly thick; girdel finish: bruted; culet none

Acutally #3 the girdel finish bothers me a little bit, I'd prefer faceted finish. Would this matter in terms of value?

I think ~2.1 ct E/F VS2 is a great idea. Will check tomorrow if they are in the same range. Thanks acrowcounted!

 

[ame]

On TPF, a lot of ladies can tell D E F G H I apart! We have diamond vision, I for one am super picky! I don't think I care for a D or E diamond per say if I can get a bigger and sparklier diamond for the same price with F or G.

I can tell, I just don't care, because unless theyll be side by side (in which case stay within a grade of each other) no one is going to sit there and stare at it from the side all day, and it's set face up.

Hi ladies, thank you all so much for your inputs! I don't have the detail specs for #2, but here are #1 and #3:

1) 2.18 D SI1 Fluorescence none; ex/very good/ex; total dept percentage 62.1%, table size percentage 57%; crown height percentage 15.5%; crow angle 35.4; star length percentage 55%; pavilion dept percentage 43.1%; pavilion angle 40.8; lower half length percentage 80%; girdel thickeness medium to slightly thick; girdel finish: faceted; culet none

3) 2.03 G SI1 Fluorescence none; ex/ex/ex; total dept percentage 62.5%, table size percentage 56%; crown height percentage 15.9%; crow angle 35.3; star length percentage 50%; pavilion dept percentage 43.3%; pavilion angle 41; lower half length percentage 80%; girdel thickeness medium to slightly thick; girdel finish: bruted; culet none

Acutally #3 the girdel finish bothers me a little bit, I'd prefer faceted finish. Would this matter in terms of value?

I think ~2.1 ct E/F VS2 is a great idea. Will check tomorrow if they are in the same range. Thanks acrowcounted!

I would pass on both of these unless to your eyes they speak to you. I think it's a common misconception that Tiffany sells the best there is, they don't. They just take what they like and mark it up and market it as such.

#1 gets an HCA of 2.5 (using angles, not percentages)


Holloway Cut Adviser
Selected: 62.1% depth, 57% table, 35.4° crown angle, 40.8° pavilion angle

Factor Grade
Light Return Very Good
Fire Very Good
Scintillation Very Good
Spread
or diameter for weight Very Good
Total Visual Performance 2.5 - Very Good - Worth buying if the price is right



#3 gets an HCA of 3.3--DEFINITE pass.

Holloway Cut Adviser
Selected: 62.5% depth, 56% table, 35.3° crown angle, 41° pavilion angle
The result is for a symmetrical diamond with a medium girdle and very good polish

Factor Grade
Light Return Very Good
Fire Very Good
Scintillation Good
Spread
or diameter for weight Very Good
Total Visual Performance 3.3 - Very Good - Worth buying if the price is right

 

[sslfn]

^Thank you so much ame! I got the pecs for #2. Sorry the SA made a mistake on ex/ex/ex

2) 2.10 G VS2 Fluorescence none; ex/very good/ex; total dept percentage 62.2%, table size percentage 55%; crown height percentage 16%; crow angle 35.3; star length percentage 50%; pavilion dept percentage 42.9%; pavilion angle 40.7; lower half length percentage 80%; girdel thickeness medium to slightly thick; girdel finish: faceted; culet none