Size Vs Quality... How Do You Take Your Rocks?

[madamestuff]

I've been enjoying admiring the pictures of everyone's jewels here, but I've gotta admit, I'm a little surprised the average e-ring size seems to be 2ct+! I'm also interested in the prices some people have listed for such a stone, which seem to be pretty low.

It's got me thinking... how do you like your stones? The bigger the better, or are you more about quality than size?

 

[venusfly]

If you are fortunate, or, perhaps unfortunate enough to behold a truely white, crystal clear, brilliant and sparkly beauty of a diamond then it will spoil you for the average "diamond" in the average jewelry store display case. For me the choice between size quality is not even a choice because I'd chose quality over size any day of the week.

 

[IntlSet]

For me, there needs to be a balance. I don't expect to receive a flawless, ideally cut, perfectly colorless diamond engagement ring that's also a decent size. I'm willing to sacrafice a little quality for size.

Nobody is walking around with a loupe looking at my ring. And there have actually been market studies that take into account both the average observer and those who consider themselves "experts" -- virtually no difference between the eye of the casual "experts" and casual observer. I really don't think anybody is going to be MORE critical of my diamond than *I* myself will be.

 

[shoes319]

Same here - younger me wanted bigger and bigger and upgraded several times!! (mind you I have a dh with simple tastes lol!) -- the more "mature" me, along with dh, has changed into quality....but of course a part of me wants BOTH!!!

 

[sinniebunnie]

1ct G SI for me!

 

[barcreperie]

For me it's a balance between quality and quantity. I want a diamonds that's pleasing to my eye with lots of sparkle, but it doesn't have to be E color and flawless to be beautiful.

 

[pwecious_323]

it's hard to say bc i would love to have a huge rock but i cna't imagine getting a cloudy yellowish diamond as well. i think i'm in the middle for quality and carat weight.

my e-ring center stone is 1.1, E color, VVS1. I could have gotten a bigger size diamond, but my hubby likes the quality of this diamond

 

[BagLuver]

I choose (and chose) quality. My center stone is 1.2 ct, but it's top quality. DH chose it specifically, after looking at many, many loose diamonds. For the price of this, I could have gotten a much larger diamond, but I would rather have this one. People often think it is 2 cts. The better the quality of the cut and color, the larger the diamond tends to appear.

 

[Suzzeee]

Same here - DH and I were looking at 1.25 cts. excellent quality and a 2 cts. lesser quality and it was no contest - I got the higher quality (sorry can't remember what it is - maybe E or G?? and don't want to dig the paperwork out of the safe) and I love it - it's in a simple, modern bezel setting - I've had it for over 10 years and often get compliments. Sorry, can't take photo right now - I desperately need a mani!

 

[ricky11]

i would not want a huge cloudy rock or a tiny perfect one...it will be a balance.

 

[SuLi]

I wasn't involved with the purchase of my e-ring. My FI has told me that he saw stones in various sizes (between 1 and 2 carats) and in different quality (color, clarity-wise). He ultimately chose a 1.19 carat, D, VS1 stone because he thought that it was the best stone out of the bunch. I'm very happy with my sparkly, although I do have to admit, being on here and Pricescope, I do have a little bit of DSS (diamond shrinkage syndrome) .

 

[NoSnowHere]

A nice balance is nice to have, but when we first started out with our limited budget, I went with quality over size and never regretted it. I will upgrade in time and will insist on quality at that time.

 

[purse friendly]

I have about a .65 carat and we are thinking about upgrading. I really think going for a good clarity, decent color and cut is important over size.

 

[happysnoopy]

Quality is definitely more important, only the uneducated consumer will chose size over quality. Poor quality diamond is as good as a cubic zirconia.

 

[sratsey]

For me, I think that I wanted the size, but that didn't necessarily mean that I would be willing to COMPLETELY sacrifice on quality.
I knew there would be some aspects of my stone, that I was willing to go down on, like color for, example. I actually DON'T like the icy look of colorless stones, so I was more than happy to go down to a G or an H in color. My stone is an IF on the clarity meter, but that was just circumstance, because when one came in that was within our budget, just happened to be internally flawless. I absolutely would have gone down a notch or two on the clarity scale, because, as someone mentioned, it's not like people go around with a loupe.
Cut was the one thing I would NOT sacrifice. A well cut stone makes all the difference in the world.