HELP DECIDING BETWEEN TWO SIMILAR DIAMONDS

This post is taken from our Q&A section on diamond guide that is meant to give advice to people about diamonds and diamond buying.

If you have a question you’d like answered about diamonds or buying a particular loose diamond, don’t hesitate to ask here: Diamond Guide Q&A :)

I’ll do everything I can to advise you and point you in the right direction.

If it will help you, it will help others as well.

Enjoy!

Question:

I am torn between two similar quality diamonds. Both are .90 carat and are colorless. Prices are very similar as well.

I am looking for the diamond that will perform the best.

Which will be the better diamond to buy?

E color, SI1 clarity, Hearts & Arrow cut ($5,320) or

F color, VS1 clarity, Hearts & Arrow cut ($8,820)

I’ve learned a lot from your site and would really appreciate your advice.

Thanks, Aaron

Answer:

Hi Aaron.

I would go with the E color, SI1 clarity, Hearts & Arrow cut ($5,320).

It has a better color, but the clarity difference between these two side by side clarities is not something that you’ll likely notice when viewing, unless you view it under a 10x microscope or jeweler’s loupe.

Save the huge difference in money… Put the SI1 clarity, E color (like these similar diamonds here) into a nice mounting (like a pave mounting or a halo mounting) and you’ll be very happy with it. :)

-Richard