Would you buy this I1 diamond?

[james88]

This diamond is the size, color and cut that I want. And the price is great. I can definitely see the inclusions in the magnified image online, but do you think these will be visible at arms length? My girlfriend's no master with a loupe either.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-I1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1443986.asp

 

[TristanC]

I would not buy it personally. Regardless of my budget. I would rather have a small stone without specks and visible inclusions that look really bad to my eye. The fact that it is substantial in size, would make the inclusions more, not less, visible.

but that's me. so...

 

[miaolinwei]

That's a pretty huge feather at the top portion of the diamond, I wouldn't get it.

 

[winternight]

I would not buy it personally. Regardless of my budget. I would rather have a small stone without specks and visible inclusions that look really bad to my eye. The fact that it is substantial in size, would make the inclusions more, not less, visible.

but that's me. so...

Yes I agree. And most of the women I know really really look closely at their ering not in
a critical way but because they're excited.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Definitely not. I wouldn't even consider I1 for an engagement ring and a good SI2 is hard to find. You even have to be sure that SI1's are eyeclean.

 

[Frenchcut]

I wouldn't get an I1 diamond for an ering that your girlfriend will spend a lot of time looking at! Stick to an SI1-SI2 diamond and make sure that it's eyeclean...also, if your girlfriend happens to be shortsighted she may be very good at noticing small details in her diamond even without loupe.

 

[partgypsy]

I agree. There is no more closely examined piece of jewelry than the engagement ring. In addition to the feather at top there are dark specks at 1-2 and 7 oclock in the table area. Those are noticeable.

 

[partgypsy]

This diamond is the size, color and cut that I want. And the price is great. I can definitely see the inclusions in the magnified image online, but do you think these will be visible at arms length? My girlfriend's no master with a loupe either.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-I1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1443986.asp

Are you going to tell your girlfriend she can't examine her ring closer than arms length?

 

[dcurtsinger]

Dont know how you feel about EGL USA but I have had luck with them and here is one in the same price range with VS2 clarity

http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-2388101-1.29-carat-Cushion-diamond-H-color-VS2-clarity.aspx

 

[Diamond*Dana]

Not for an engagement ring I wouldn't. I might consider one for a pendant or earrings, but I would have to see the stone in person first.

 

[Rhea]

Not surprisingly, when I received an engagement ring I became a master with a loupe. And looked at the stone from every angle. I have a very mixed relationship with my engagement ring, partly because of the eye clean issue. I like my ring for the symbolism, not for the beauty of the stone. If I'm honest, I spent a long time not liking it at all, to the determent of the relationship. DH is a non-upgrader and I think it hurt his feeling that I didn't cherish the pebble that he gave me.

Please get something that your girlfriend will enjoy, if that's an I1 so be it. But for that level of inclusion I would think it best to get her opinion. She'll not only look at it on her own finger, but all her relations and friends will likely spend some amount of time with it less than 4 inches from their faces as well.

You may be surprised at how interested she gets in stones after she has her own on her finger and has more disposal income in the future. It really can tarnish what you think about something, no matter when you find out or notice.

 

[dreamer_dachsie]

Clarity aside, I am not a fan of the looks of the cut on that cushion either,.

 

[MissStepcut]

I totally disagree that I1s are off-limits for e-rings. There are MANY nice ones out there. I wouldn't buy that one, though.

 

[Black Jade]

Don't buy an I1 online.
Two of my diamonds are I1. One is in a pendant so you can't see it. the other is in a ring, but the grade making inclusion is a feather that hides in the faceting and you truly can only see it once you know its there and LOOK for it. and the stone is a gorgeous lively stone. But you can't tell this when you are buying something online so I think you should avoid I1 in online buying, especially for an engagement ring--and be very careful with SI2's (and nowadays even some SI1's) to have a reputable vendor telling you they are 'eyeclean'

 

[Amys Bling]

Not surprisingly, when I received an engagement ring I became a master with a loupe. And looked at the stone from every angle. I have a very mixed relationship with my engagement ring, partly because of the eye clean issue. I like my ring for the symbolism, not for the beauty of the stone. If I'm honest, I spent a long time not liking it at all, to the determent of the relationship. DH is a non-upgrader and I think it hurt his feeling that I didn't cherish the pebble that he gave me.

Please get something that your girlfriend will enjoy, if that's an I1 so be it. But for that level of inclusion I would think it best to get her opinion. She'll not only look at it on her own finger, but all her relations and friends will likely spend some amount of time with it less than 4 inches from their faces as well.

You may be surprised at how interested she gets in stones after she has her own on her finger and has more disposal income in the future. It really can tarnish what you think about something, no matter when you find out or notice.

you said it better than I could have! I agrtee with every word of this post. She will stare at it closely days on end when she gets it. The last thing you want is for her to see the inclusions and then obsess over them and let it taint her opinion of the ring.

 

[Amys Bling]

smaller, but better cut and clarity. IMHO

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond....=5000&resultsColumns=268435471&singleResult=1

 

[Amys Bling]

alittle more money- but a nice cushion from the pics

http://rockdiamond.com/index.php/je...-brilliant-cut-jvs1-gia-beautiful-stone-r4323

maybe if you post your bottom line in terms of budget we can guide you to a better option?

 

[CharmyPoo]

If you are looking for a 8 main modern, here is another option. I suspect this one isn't eyeclean either (and its a J) but worth asking JA.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1447873.asp

 

[Gypsy]

The only I1 clarity diamonds I would consider for an engagement rings are Infinity cut and screened. Unfortunately Infinity doesn't cut cushions.

I much prefer the three suggestions directly above me to the stone you have picked, and not just because of the clarity. They are nicer in cut as well.

 

[Gypsy]

Not surprisingly, when I received an engagement ring I became a master with a loupe.

Please get something that your girlfriend will enjoy, if that's an I1 so be it. But for that level of inclusion I would think it best to get her opinion. She'll not only look at it on her own finger, but all her relations and friends will likely spend some amount of time with it less than 4 inches from their faces as well.

You may be surprised at how interested she gets in stones after she has her own on her finger and has more disposal income in the future. It really can tarnish what you think about something, no matter when you find out or notice.

This. I had never used a loupe before. I learned how to use one immediately after I got my ring too.

 

[pregcurious]

I would go for an eye-clean SI.

 

[jstarfireb]

Agreed, I would not consider an I1 for an engagement ring. It's too risky without knowing exactly what she wants. In general, most women would prefer no visible inclusions in an engagement ring stone.

 

[ariel144]

Hi,
This does not look like a chunky cushion cut which is the more appealing cut. Go to goodoldgold.com and take a look at his educational videos on cushion cuts. Also watch the ones on color, which are surprising. Cut beats color hands down and is the most important when purchasing a beautiful stone with lots of fire and sparkle.

I don't think that James Allen would have an I1 diamond that is not almost eye clean in house. But you will find a more beautiful cushion on goodoldgold or engagementringsdirect.com...check out their cushion cuts ...here is one below and you can watch it in the video. Both sites specialize in chunky cushion cut diamonds which are very beautiful.
http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/1.24-carat-i-vs2-a-cut-beyond-cushion-cut-diamond-gid-64104.html

Since she will be wearing this stone forever...you might want to spring for a better stone. Check these out:

http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/1.24-carat-i-vs2-a-cut-beyond-cushion-cut-diamond-gid-64104.html

http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/8993/

http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/8992/

Cushion cut brilliants are hard to find (most are modified cushion cuts) but please note the depth and small table on this GIA F SI2
http://buydiamonddirect.com/details/detailGIA.asp?ITEM=35345043
GIA: 1.37c F SI2 Cushion brilliant 6.94x6.48x4.09 D:63 T: 51 $6,244
It faces up like a 2 carat cushion and most likely is a chunky cushion cut with that small table.
You can have jonathan at good old gold order this stone in for you and you can view it on video and compare to his chunky cushions.

I purchased a 2.10 radiant cut diamond from Roni on buydiamonddirect.com ...he has the best prices on any diamond in the diamond search data bases, but finding a chunky cushion is like finding a needle in a hay stack.

Hope this helps,
Good luck.

 

[CharmyPoo]

This does not look like a chunky cushion cut which is the more appealing cut.

Very helpful posts but I will just say that chunky cushions aren't neccesarily the more appealing cut. It's just preference - a modern cushion can be more appealing to some.

 

[dreamer_dachsie]

This does not look like a chunky cushion cut which is the more appealing cut.

Very helpful posts but I will just say that chunky cushions aren't neccesarily the more appealing cut. It's just preference - a modern cushion can be more appealing to some.

Case and point, Charmy's Maytal ring with a modern cushion has been pinned like one billion times on pinterest

 

[marcy]

I wouldn't get it for an engagement ring.

 

[MissStepcut]

you said it better than I could have! I agrtee with every word of this post. She will stare at it closely days on end when she gets it. The last thing you want is for her to see the inclusions and then obsess over them and let it taint her opinion of the ring.

While I recognize that many PSers would have their opinion of a diamond "tainted" by an inclusion, I don't think most people feel this way. Among the women I know IRL, size comes before cut or inclusions and sometimes even shape. I don't think the PS ideal is in sync with the average American woman's ideal.

I personally would rather have a stone that's short of perfectly eye-clean but with significantly better finger coverage. OP has to figure out what his girl would rather have.

 

[Amys Bling]

you said it better than I could have! I agrtee with every word of this post. She will stare at it closely days on end when she gets it. The last thing you want is for her to see the inclusions and then obsess over them and let it taint her opinion of the ring.

While I recognize that many PSers would have their opinion of a diamond "tainted" by an inclusion, I don't think most people feel this way. Among the women I know IRL, size comes before cut or inclusions and sometimes even shape. I don't think the PS ideal is in sync with the average American woman's ideal.

I personally would rather have a stone that's short of perfectly eye-clean but with significantly better finger coverage. OP has to figure out what his girl would rather have.

yes, and I wouldn't buy an I1 as an engagement ring with visible inclusions unless he knew for a fact that she would prefver to have visible inclusions in order to get more in size.

 

[Tuckins1]

No, I would not. The inclusions just are too obvious to my naked eye...

 

[Ravinmad]

smaller, but better cut and clarity. IMHO

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond....=5000&resultsColumns=268435471&singleResult=1

second vote for this rock as a excellent choice for the engagement stone.