I've been shopping for an engagement ring and am considering the following two diamonds...

Ring 1

Shape: Princess cut
Size: 1.01 carat
Report: GIA
Color: E
Clarity: VVS2
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Good
Price: $7,000

Ring 2

Shape: Princess cut
Size: 1.00 carat
Report: GIA
Color: E
Clarity: VVS1
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Good
Price: $7,500

For those who are familiar with diamonds, which of the two would you go for? Assume that the $500 price difference is negligible. Of course some information like the table, proportions, girdle, etc., is missing, as is cut information that would be available in an AGS report. But I'd be interested in your opinions based on just the specs at hand.

For me the main tradeoff seems to be between Polish (better for Ring 1) and Clarity (better for Ring 2). Which one is more important?

Also, I've heard that princess cut, and fancy shapes in general, don't generally score as high in cut as round diamonds. Is that true?

Thanks for any input.

P.S.
Please be constructive. I don't personally care for jewelry and find it beyond obnoxious that diamonds cost as much as they do (I'd much prefer to blow the money on a pair of sport bikes), but since it's important to the girlfriend I'm willing to bite the bullet on this one.

 

I say go for it with the sport bikes, and get her a wicked ass decoder ring with a picture of your face in it.

On a more serious note, good job getting her a nice ring if that's what she wants. Hopefully somebody has more knowledge of diamonds than myself.

 

VVS1 and VVS2 are difficult to differentiate. Round has the most sparkle because of the number of facets that can be cut. The color is good. Both diamonds are good

Obviously vvs1 is more rare hence the higher price. Polish makes the diamond more sparklely.

Look at both under natural light and see if you can see the difference.

 

I would go with the first one for the price difference and the polish is better. Or just pocket 6 grand and get her a 10 carat Diamonique.

 

First question would be, are those stones certified and who did the cert. To really know if those stones are worth it. I would need to know more info. By just what you posted you can't really tell if those are good deals. Also if the measurements suck you end up with 1ct diamond that looks like a 0.75ct.

PS. I'm in the bay area too. PM me if you would like more help.

 

So why not go with say, a VVS2 in less than a carat in a traditional round cut. It will probably look better than either due to it's natural pop. The traditional cut far outshines the princess cut, I think. On either ring you are looking at, the inclusions (1 or 2) should be very very small.

 

I'd be inclined to agree myself, and it seems that most hardcore diamond lovers like the rounds better. But the gf specifically wants princess cut and given the price difference between the two I'm not about to argue.

 

Princess cut is the rage right now.

 

just get a fake $5.99 ring and use the rest on your car. j/k.



personally, i'd pick ring 1.

 

Current fashion trends are often a mistake when it comes to things like engagement rings. Classic styling is always most enduring.