Some advice needed for an engagement ring

[SimonSays1]

Hello,
First off, Id like to say how impressed I am of this forum. Everyone here is very helpful.
So I have begun the search to find a diamond. After doing some research on this website and looking through some online retailers such as JamesAllen, BlueNile, and Enchanted Diamonds, I have become more in favor with Enchanted Diamonds. A plus for me if I use this site, is I live in NYC and I can visit the actual store by appointment. Also, they seem to have a good refund policy.

I have a budget of around 14k. I know my girlfriend would like a round cut diamond on a classic setting.

Please advise me on the retailer Enchanted Diamonds. And give me any input on the attached diamond I have attached.

https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/search?metal=14K-White-Gold#diamond=R131-481369047

 

[scarsmum]

I have found ED to be good. I think Joshua is honest and knowledgeable. I did find that he dropped the ball a couple of times when I was looking to make a large purchase but the in-person experience should help there.

 

[WillyDiamond]

If you are interested in visiting with a PS vendor in NYC you might want to get in touch with Chris at Brilliantly Engaged. ID Jewelry also in Diamond District and GOG on LI

EDIT: OP I ran your stone through the HCA, this a a tool on the PS forum. It is not a selection tool but rather used for rejection. If the score is over 2.0, generally you should pass, your stone was 2.6.

You can do much better. If you post more details what you want, the experts (not me) on this forum will suggest some stones and settings from a PS vendor.

Good luck.

 

[rockysalamander]

Not loving that ASET image, nor the angles of that stone.

Have you (or as important she) seen GIA rated diamonds? You have color and clarity very high. Is she color sensitive? Most can't see any color in an G or H. I is when some begin to see tint. On clarity, provided it is eye-clean, does the rating matter to you?

If you can drop your color and clarity, you will be able to find a much bigger stone, if that is a goal.

You want your ASET to be more like this one https://enchanteddiamonds.com/v/258Z764Z4 (this may or may not be eyeclean). My browser has issues with BE's website, so it is tedious for me to use. I'll post a few from other vendors that show you some range with variation in specs with a drop in clarity and color.

#2) https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...h-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3038871 {good number, good IS, chubby arrows, confirm that is eyeclean with JA gemologist not SA)
#3) https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-h-color-si1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-3584454 {good number, good IS, chubby arrows, confirm that is eyeclean with JA gemologist not SA)https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-h-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-3257559 {good IS, good contrast. VS2.}

 

[bmfang]

Not liking the ASET on that stone. Very white circle surrounding the center under the table. Indicates leakage to my eyes. You would normally expect to see contrast (blue) on the arrow shafts, not white (leakage).

 

[SimonSays1]

Wow, thank you all so far. It seems like I need to go back to the drawing board.
Gonna check out the HCA tool. seems like it can really save me.

 

[rockysalamander]

If you give us some thoughts on the color and clarity questions I raised above, we can also look more for you.

 

[SimonSays1]

Rockysalamander- you are truly a hero on this forum!
My GF has a very keen eye and I would bet if there was any eye visible flaws she would certainly notice.
With that said, I do not think ratings make too much of a difference to me as long as they are not noticeable flaws to the naked eye. So based on your comments, I think G/H color will be fine and eye clean seems to be a must. Also, yes, GIA certified is what I am looking for. I noticed JA seems to have alot of ASG certified diamonds....

After looking at the ones you have suggested from JamesAllen, can you clarify what chubby arrows relates to on the stone? And what is a JA gemologist not SA? A james allen gemologist vs SA?

 

[Tophat1]

I am a woman with a keen eye and I have a 1.84 I color VS2 stone. I can't see any inclusions with my naked eye at any distance. I can only see slight tint when I tilt the stone against a white background in natural light.

VS1 is a very safe bet and many VS2s are as well but you do need to look at the stone to ensure it is absolutely eye clean.

For color, I was willing to take a I color but if you have any reservations, G or H should be fine.

 

[rockysalamander]

Rockysalamander- you are truly a hero on this forum!
My GF has a very keen eye and I would bet if there was any eye visible flaws she would certainly notice.
With that said, I do not think ratings make too much of a difference to me as long as they are not noticeable flaws to the naked eye. So based on your comments, I think G/H color will be fine and eye clean seems to be a must. Also, yes, GIA certified is what I am looking for. I noticed JA seems to have alot of ASG certified diamonds....

After looking at the ones you have suggested from JamesAllen, can you clarify what chubby arrows relates to on the stone? And what is a JA gemologist not SA? A james allen gemologist vs SA?

Awww...its a great forum of people passionate about diamonds. I'm honored to be a useful member.

Great input. AGS is very reputable and considered stricter on cut, while GIA is also very reputable and more strict on color. So, many of us prefer AGS since we are really all about cut and performance.

• Chubby arrows=The arrows in a diamond provide visual contrast. That contrast is good in that it helps the diamond look better. This arrows are skinny (just posting for example, the diamond is NOT recommended). https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...e-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3275189
  
• JA SA (sales associate) = the person whom you interact with on the phone/email etc. They are the customer service folks and are quite nice at JA.
  
• JA Gemologist = Is a trained and professional gemologist. You want this pro to look at the diamond for specific visual checks. There are some things that need trained eyeballs to see.

If you don't work with the metric system a lot, go find a piece of paper and cut out a circle that is just over 1/3" (~7 mm). That is the size of the diamond you posted. So, keep that in mind as you look at these...they are much smaller in reality than on the screen blown up to 20".

Here are a few to consider.
#2) https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...h-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3038871 {good number, good IS, chubby arrows, confirm that is eyeclean with JA gemologist not SA; still like this. 7.50 mm) --I'm pretty certain the inclusion you can see from the side will be obstructed by a prong being placed between the arrows.
#5) https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-g-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-3276298 {chubby arrows, inclusion are clustered at about 5'oclock and would be very hard to see for most, like the angles and AGS0. 7.32 mm}
#6) https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-h-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-3257559 {good IS, good contrast. VS2. I'd like to see if we can find less pavilion angle variation under the table -- see that stairstep pattern of alternating bright and not facets? That is the cutter varying the pavilion angles more than is my ideal; 7.37 mm}
#7) https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-g-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-3276298 {not the biggest of this bunch, but I really like this. Bright and lively. 7.32 mm}
# https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...at-h-color-vvs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-3696082 {lovely bright crisp facets. I wonder if the 6'oclock lowers will be very off the average or it is a photo effect - if real, won't IS well. 7.08 mm} @Karl_K @flyingpig ??
#9) https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3565128.htm {that inclusion on the table is near impossible to see and this is a huge 7.60 mm!; super ideal and big. WinWin!}
#10) https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3903343.htm {If the inclusion on #9 worries you, this is a beautiful and very clean option. You can request that the WF gemologist review both this and #9 to advise you about the inclusion. 7.30 mm}
#11) https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD9536 {really pretty and great aset. Also super-ideal, 7.33 mm)

To me, #9 is the hands-down winner. I would put that on hold asap. From JA, I really like 2, 5, 7, and 8 (pending an opinion on the lowers). If you want to pursue the JA ones, you can put them on hold and request an Idealscope image (IS).

Great description of cut performance in lay-man's terms from @Todd Gray https://www.pricescope.com/communit...-si1-with-twinning-wisps.235550/#post-4248083

Longer thread on super-ideals. https://www.pricescope.com/communit...actually-better-than-vs2.232674/#post-4203120