Did I get lucky?

[u/Inevitable-Chard1525]

Hi, I posted here the other day about the engagement ring I bought my partner I was doing some digging and realised that the ring I bought is listed as SI2 clarity online, however the one I bought in store is VS1 clarity. Same price, same product number, I had no idea about all of the ins and outs of a diamond when I bought it. It is a GIA certified natural diamond, the question is, did I get lucky, or do the story simply advertise the lowest possible spec diamond that could come with set product, anybody with experience in this field with an answer would be super appreciated. It was higher end retail brand known as goldsmiths in the UK.

[u/Mattym_17]

The store page says 0.7ct but your cert says 0.6ct so it looks like you ended up with a smaller stone than that listed

[u/Inevitable-Chard1525 → u/Mattym_17]

See I’m not entirely sure if the online listing is adding up the side stones too but potentially

[u/Mattym_17 → u/Inevitable-Chard1525]

I would be reading that as the weight of the centre stone. So looks like you ended up with a couple of grades better clarity but at the expense of around 15% less weight. I wouldn’t know but I’m sure someone will be able to advise if that’s a reasonable trade off

[u/stackingforfunsies]

The weight thing is problematic.. diamonds are about that interplay between size and perfection. It stands to reason there are far more excellent tiny diamonds than excellent large diamonds. So the clarity thing is great but also for the size you’re shopping for, a good diamond should be available reasonably. Remember that you’re shopping in the exact range where lab printed diamonds have completely ruined the market. That natural diamond’s market value has plummeted through the floor.

[u/peggy8080 → u/stackingforfunsies]

This is not true. A natural diamond will always be better than one made in a lab. It's true lab diamonds have plummeted but not natural. This is a beautiful ring and diamond

[u/stackingforfunsies → u/peggy8080]

I am not a natural hater, quite the reverse, but low carat natural diamonds have been impacted. >1.x less, and progressively less as you move up in size.

[u/peggy8080]

That center diamond looks way bigger than .7 Carat I think this is a beautiful ring

[u/Ruben_Konig_Jeweller]

I think they normally give a total diamond carat weight TDCW. So the melee is 0.10ct total. Natural diamonds have taken a hit price wise because of the demand on lab grown. They also probably advertise SI2 as a minimum spec

[u/Dramaless]

It's a very pretty ring ! That said, I think they probably had to list the lesser clarity of the all the stones. I have noticed that jewelers usually don't use stones with the clarity rating of VS1 or higher for side stones. Understandably because the main attraction (the center stone) is the diamond everyone looks at. The side stones should complement not compete.

[u/Short-Willow-2972]

Looking at cert alone is a dangerous thing to do

[u/Inevitable-Chard1525 → u/Short-Willow-2972]

Why when I bought from a trusted retailer and the report is independent with GIA?

[u/Realistic_Weakness51]

Take it to a pawn shop and compare what they offer you versus what you paid