$20,000 Budget for a diamond....Need advice!

[JTOUPS1214]

I'm trying to get a little advice on the perfect diamond for my budget. I can spend $20K on the stone.

Only thing I know for certain, is that I want a "triple EX" stone, and it must be round.
Can you suggest color, carat, and clarity??

Sure, I'd like a decent sized stone, but most importantly I want it look amazing and really sparkle (And know the cut & HCA rating is important for that!)

Thanks for all your help!

 

[Dancing Fire]

a well cut G SI1 GIA/AGS stone...

 

[JTOUPS1214]

a well cut G SI1 GIA/AGS stone...

How hard will it be to determine any inclusions in a SI1? Is there much difference from VS2?

 

[Dancing Fire]

a well cut G SI1 GIA/AGS stone...

How hard will it be to determine any inclusions in a SI1? Is there much difference from VS2?

most VS2 will be eye clean. a G-H VS2 sounds good to me.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I would also choose G-H VS2 with that budget.

Some excellent options with top cut quality and trade-in policies:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9029/

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2661545.htm

 

[JTOUPS1214]

Thank you guys!
I like the look of that whiteflash stone. Plus it has 1.4 HCA rating!

That's sort of the specs I have been looking at.
Approx 1.75ct.
VS2/VS1
H/G
Triple Ex
Seems like I was on the right track. I just need to put all of that together, find a nice HCA rating...and around that 20K budget!

My biggest dilemma has been, if I find a diamond has the excellent cut I'm looking for, should I do VS1-H or VS2-G???? I've seen both options.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Thank you guys!
I like the look of that whiteflash stone. Plus it has 1.4 HCA rating!

That's sort of the specs I have been looking at.
Approx 1.75ct.
VS2/VS1
H/G
Triple Ex
Seems like I was on the right track. I just need to put all of that together, find a nice HCA rating...and around that 20K budget!

My biggest dilemma has been, if I find a diamond has the excellent cut I'm looking for, should I do VS1-H or VS2-G???? I've seen both options.

i'll do a G VS2,but keep in mind that some high H will look G color.

 

[JTOUPS1214]

For example, these are two stone's I've been eyeing up.
One is a VS2-G & one a VS1-H
Both have HCA of 1.6........how should I determine which to pick??? (see attachments)

 

[JulieN]

Generally, between a G VS2 and an H VS1, it is advised to look at the G VS2 first.

 

[JTOUPS1214]

Generally, between a G VS2 and an H VS1, it is advised to look at the G VS2 first.

From looking at the cert for the G-stone, Do you think any of the inclusions would be visible to the naked eye???

 

[diamondseeker2006]

But with either of those, you need to request idealscope images and especially ASET images if you can get them, because they are not necessarily as well cut as the ones I posted. But they are a little larger, so definitely worth pursuing.

You can never tell about eyeclean from the report. That has to be done with...the eyes!

 

[JTOUPS1214]

But with either of those, you need to request idealscope images and especially ASET images if you can get them, because they are not necessarily as well cut as the ones I posted. But they are a little larger, so definitely worth pursuing.

You can never tell about eyeclean from the report. That has to be done with...the eyes!

Will Whiteflash provide the idealscope and ASET images upon my request?

Also, as for as the cut goes, is it safe to say they are excellent cuts because of the 1.6HCA score on both?

 

[slg47]

But with either of those, you need to request idealscope images and especially ASET images if you can get them, because they are not necessarily as well cut as the ones I posted. But they are a little larger, so definitely worth pursuing.

You can never tell about eyeclean from the report. That has to be done with...the eyes!

Will Whiteflash provide the idealscope and ASET images upon my request?

Also, as for as the cut goes, is it safe to say they are excellent cuts because of the 1.6HCA score on both?

is this one in their virtual selection? if so they can bring it in for evaluation but if you decide not to keep it you may be out shipping charges. ask them about their policies and also if this diamond would be eligible for any upgrade policies if that is important to you.

I think G/VS2 is a safe bet and should be totally eye-clean. I would also pick G VS2 over H VS1 (in fact I had both of those options for my ering!)

 

[JTOUPS1214]

But with either of those, you need to request idealscope images and especially ASET images if you can get them, because they are not necessarily as well cut as the ones I posted. But they are a little larger, so definitely worth pursuing.

You can never tell about eyeclean from the report. That has to be done with...the eyes!

Will Whiteflash provide the idealscope and ASET images upon my request?

Also, as for as the cut goes, is it safe to say they are excellent cuts because of the 1.6HCA score on both?

is this one in their virtual selection? if so they can bring it in for evaluation but if you decide not to keep it you may be out shipping charges. ask them about their policies and also if this diamond would be eligible for any upgrade policies if that is important to you.

I think G/VS2 is a safe bet and should be totally eye-clean. I would also pick G VS2 over H VS1 (in fact I had both of those options for my ering!)

Thanks for the info! And yes it's a virtual selection.
That's was my major concern, if the VS2 would be eye clean. If so, I agree the G-VS2 would be a better choice over the H-VS1 stone.
In the meantime, I'll try to get idealscope images.

Thanks!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I feel very confident that the G is a nice stone. I am switching to a G VS1 that has close to the same measurements and mine turned out fine. As long as the idealscope looks okay, you should be fine!

 

[JTOUPS1214]

I feel very confident that the G is a nice stone. I am switching to a G VS1 that has close to the same measurements and mine turned out fine. As long as the idealscope looks okay, you should be fine!

If the G and the H stone are both excellent cut, but the HCA is better on the H, will it look whiter?

 

[slg47]

I feel very confident that the G is a nice stone. I am switching to a G VS1 that has close to the same measurements and mine turned out fine. As long as the idealscope looks okay, you should be fine!

If the G and the H stone are both excellent cut, but the HCA is better on the H, will it look whiter?

no. cut can influence perception of color, but remember that the HCA is just a weeding tool that uses only 4 numbers to tell you about a diamond's performance.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I feel very confident that the G is a nice stone. I am switching to a G VS1 that has close to the same measurements and mine turned out fine. As long as the idealscope looks okay, you should be fine!

If the G and the H stone are both excellent cut, but the HCA is better on the H, will it look whiter?

Are you speaking hypothetically? Because you said above that they had the same HCA score. HCA scores under 2.0 are good...a lower score is not better than a higher score if below 2. Most excellent cut stones will fall between .8 and 2.0. It can be difficult to tell G from H color many times especially if the stone is a high H. But H is still H and has nothing to do with the HCA score or cut, as slg said.

 

[JTOUPS1214]

If I'm concerned about the "shine" & "sparkle" of the diamond, keeping the HCA under 2.0 is a must, right? I'm more concerned about the quality, even if I have to downgrade the size a bit.

I'm still learning all this diamond knowledge, so I'm lucky to have this site, along with you great users!
So thank you!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I would stick with GIA Excellent cut (preferably with HCA at 2 or less) or AGS Ideal cut. A well cut stone is going to be the key to having a beautiful stone.

 

[JTOUPS1214]

I would stick with GIA Excellent cut (preferably with HCA at 2 or less) or AGS Ideal cut. A well cut stone is going to be the key to having a beautiful stone.

Maybe you can explain this....

When I refine my search for my diamond specs....then select Triple Ex (cut, polish, symmetry), I get quite a few stones. But even though I search for triple Ex in GIA, then I run the HCA, I still get some scores or 4 & 5. Why is that? You would think if it was excellent cut, it would be closer to the 2.0.

 

[slg47]

I would stick with GIA Excellent cut (preferably with HCA at 2 or less) or AGS Ideal cut. A well cut stone is going to be the key to having a beautiful stone.

Maybe you can explain this....

When I refine my search for my diamond specs....then select Triple Ex (cut, polish, symmetry), I get quite a few stones. But even though I search for triple Ex in GIA, then I run the HCA, I still get some scores or 4 & 5. Why is that? You would think if it was excellent cut, it would be closer to the 2.0.

GIA Ex and HCA use different criteria.

here is an article that shows differences within GIA Ex cut grade
https://www.pricescope.com/journal/laboratory_cut_grades_what_report_doesn%E2%80%99t_show

 

[JTOUPS1214]

Wow!
That article is really helpful, and things are making more sense now.

I do understand how to read the idealscope images but can you please tell me what I need to look for when looking at the ASET images? Am i looking for more red?

 

[JTOUPS1214]

Maybe you can explain this also....??

It seems like I'm finding some great stones, but either the table is big/small or the depth is large/shallow. With that being said, these stones are showing up with HCA readings under 2.0.

When I talk to the whiteflash people about these stones, they try to shy me away from them because of the table/depth.

Should I be concerned about this even though the HCA rating is excellent?

 

[slg47]

Maybe you can explain this also....??

It seems like I'm finding some great stones, but either the table is big/small or the depth is large/shallow. With that being said, these stones are showing up with HCA readings under 2.0.

When I talk to the whiteflash people about these stones, they try to shy me away from them because of the table/depth.

Should I be concerned about this even though the HCA rating is excellent?

I would start with GIA Ex and then narrow it down using the HCA.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Yes, you are looking for red with the ASET. GIA Excellent is a much broader category than AGS Ideal. The HCA just narrows down GIA Excellent to the best stones. I'd probably stick with tables of 56-58, personally. I prefer depth of 60-62.0.

 

[JTOUPS1214]

Yes, you are looking for red with the ASET. GIA Excellent is a much broader category than AGS Ideal. The HCA just narrows down GIA Excellent to the best stones. I'd probably stick with tables of 56-58, personally. I prefer depth of 60-62.0.

I did narrow it down to all of the GIA Ex stones. Some of those have more depth (some over 62) - But on some some of those deeper diamonds, they still have an HCA of under 2.0. Are those just as good??

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Once you start having depth greater than 62, you have to start looking at diameter to make sure that the face up diameter isn't being hurt by the extra weight in the depth. Who wants to pay for a 1.5 ct stone that faces up like a 1.35 or 1.4? You may as well pay for a less deep stone that is 1.4 and save big bucks! So in this example, I want a 1.5 to face up at 7.4mm (or maybe a tiny bit under if it is a great stone at a great price).

But if you have specific stones, you can list all the numbers and we can tell you if their diameters are too small.

 

[JTOUPS1214]

Once you start having depth greater than 62, you have to start looking at diameter to make sure that the face up diameter isn't being hurt by the extra weight in the depth. Who wants to pay for a 1.5 ct stone that faces up like a 1.35 or 1.4? You may as well pay for a less deep stone that is 1.4 and save big bucks! So in this example, I want a 1.5 to face up at 7.4mm (or maybe a tiny bit under if it is a great stone at a great price).

But if you have specific stones, you can list all the numbers and we can tell you if their diameters are too small.

These are the 3-stones in question. They are all right at the 62% mark.

1.70ct has a 1.3HCA (pdf document)
1.72ct. has a 1.3HCA (picture #1)
1.75ct. has a 1.6HCA (picture #2)

 

[slg47]

Once you start having depth greater than 62, you have to start looking at diameter to make sure that the face up diameter isn't being hurt by the extra weight in the depth. Who wants to pay for a 1.5 ct stone that faces up like a 1.35 or 1.4? You may as well pay for a less deep stone that is 1.4 and save big bucks! So in this example, I want a 1.5 to face up at 7.4mm (or maybe a tiny bit under if it is a great stone at a great price).

But if you have specific stones, you can list all the numbers and we can tell you if their diameters are too small.

These are the 3-stones in question. They are all right at the 62% mark.

1.70ct has a 1.3HCA (pdf document)
1.72ct. has a 1.3HCA (picture #1)
1.75ct. has a 1.6HCA (picture #2)

I can't see the images but I think any GIA Ex with HCA under 2 is worth calling in.