~0.9ct Emerald Cut from JA – EC experts needed!

[Fidlefadle]

Hi PriceScope, been a lurker here for a while and it is finally time to make the plunge!

I have a fairly firm budget of $5000 all in for the ring as a whole. Minus 13% tax to Ontario and the $900 setting, I’m left with $3525 for the stone. I don’t mind going slightly over budget, so I will say my absolute max is $3800 for the stone.

My girlfriend has been fairly involved in the process - she wants an emerald cut diamond and has chosen this setting from JA: http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/engage...ut-pave-set-diamond-engagement-ring-item-2018

So far, I have been looking at the following criteria for EC diamonds based on the chart here https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/emerald-cut-diamond (I’m fully aware you can’t use just the numbers as a basis for selection, but they help to narrow down some of the choices quickly):

• Colour: H or better
• Clarity: VS2 or better (eye-clean)
• Carat: 0.8-0.9. The bigger the better but I don’t think I can expect more than 0.9ct with my budget.
• Table: 59-68%
• Depth: 60-65%

So far, I have come up with the following options from JA:
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/emerald-cut/0.90-carat-e-color-vs2-clarity-sku-211911
-> Slightly over budget but looking like the best contender to my uneducated eyes

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/emerald-cut/0.82-carat-d-color-vvs1-clarity-sku-211910
-> Within budget, nicer colour/clarity than #1, smaller, but looks “dark” head on?

I will request ASET images of course once I have found some good contenders

Thank you for your help! PS has been such a valuable resource for me during this process!

 

[04diamond<3]

I would suggest this. I know you said H, but this stone faces up pretty white and has little color from the sides...I like the pattern on this better and for the $, it's a great size! No harm in putting it on hold and requesting an aset image (and JA offers PS members a discount so this should put you within budget):

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/emerald-cut/1.08-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-sku-178113

 

[chrono]

I like the first E VS2 stone. I think it has promise. Less so on the D VVS1 EC.

04Diamond,
I am colour sensitive so I can see the tint of the I even when face up. I would also want to make sure the SI1 stone is eye clean because I am more eagle eyed than most people. A 70% depth means it will face up smaller but at least it has a high crown to make up for it somewhat.

 

[stargurl78]

I know nothing about emerald cut stones but I like the first one, the E VS2, just based on the image on the JA site.