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$25k budget, help me choose

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lostintranslation

Rough_Rock
Joined
May 14, 2012
Messages
8
Hi all,

Looking to take the plunge and would appreciate some advice. I want to buy online as the local prices are excessive.

Looking for
1.8c +
and the whiter the better.

I've picked out these two so far:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-SI1-Very Good-Cut-Round-Diamond-1480551.asp
HCA 1.2
GIA cut: very good
SI 1

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1364257.asp
HCA 1.4
GIA cut: excellent
VS2

I am leaning towards the former but I am put off by the VG cut although it performs well with HCA. Secondly it looks eye clean but the other diamond despite being VS2 has inclusions in the middle of the table.

Any advice will be much appreciated!
 
GIA Excellent is a broad range and you just don't want to go to very good cut. That stone has a 40.4 pavilion angle and will probably have some leakage. In addition, I would only want excellent on symmetry on a round brilliant. So scratch the first one.

#2 may be okay but you will have to ask for an idealscope image. They will only allow you 3 maximum, so you need to carefully choose 3 stones. This one should be better than the first one, although I personally would reject it because of the black inclusion in the center (although it may be eyeclean) and it has very good for symmetry. I just think if I were spending $25k, I would want excellent for cut, polish, and symmetry or AGS Ideal cut.
 
Here's one in the pre-loved section for 18k (2.14 G)
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/forum/preloved-ps-jewels/gia-certif-excel-cut-rb-2-14-carat-diamond-for-sale-t175320.html']https://www.pricescope.com/forum/preloved-ps-jewels/gia-certif-excel-cut-rb-2-14-carat-diamond-for-sale-t175320.html[/URL]

i know from experience the seller is very firm on her price

here's the link to the original diamond in the original setting: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-leon-mege-set-er-and-wb.145046/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-leon-mege-set-er-and-wb.145046/[/URL]

and original thread on his diamond search:
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/opinions-on-this-diamond-please.140834/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/opinions-on-this-diamond-please.140834/[/URL]

I only know this much because I was at one point interested in this ring prior to purchasing ours and it was out of our price range. The seller was not negotiable out of her price

the video's on JBEG also help show the diamond well
 
Here is a great diamond, although it is slightly about your budget (I don't know how much wiggle room you have):
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/2.015-f-si2-round-diamond-ags-104051364009

You could call and ask the price of this one:
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9217/

Here is a vintage round:
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9159/

ERD also has many triple EX hearts and arrows that meet your criteria such as this one:
http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/2.00-carat-h-si1-hearts-and-arrows-round-cut-diamond-gid-62958.html

Are you set on a round diamond?
 
Wow, thanks for all the helpful replies. I'm working my way through all the suggestions. The more choice the better!

@ Mr Salvo, looking for 1.8c +

@DS2006 Thanks for your comments. I was only looking at GIA certs but I've done some reading on this site and will now expand my search to AGS ideal

@ Mico, thanks for the suggestion .It is a lovely stone and the photos and video are helpful for someone intent on buying online. However, I have my heart set on SI 1 or higher.

@ kristalulu : I've sent them an email about this one
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9217/
I presume I could use the setting to cover the peripheral inclusions?
 
Yes, the setting could most definitely hide the outside inclusions! I hope it falls within your budget :bigsmile:
 
lostintranslation|1337098612|3195678 said:
@ kristalulu : I've sent them an email about this one
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9217/
I presume I could use the setting to cover the peripheral inclusions?
Click to expand...

No need to email. You can see prices by clicking reserve. That diamond is $31k. You need to stay under 2 cts. if you want high color and SI1 or above in clarity.
 
your budget may not get you to 1.8 and I wouldn't sacrifice cut to get there, a poorly cut 1.8+ could end up having the spread of a well cut 1.5 so try not to get too hung up on the carat weight. If neither you or your gal have eagle eyes you might drop the clarity though...



That one you linked from GOG is beautiful, my guess it's it's going to be over your budget but if not, grab it!!

ETA: just saw DS post that it's 31K...gorgeous stone though :love:
 
That is a virtual stone...no pictures, no info on light performance. You might have to pay to have them ship it in to look at. I am not wild about feather inclusions, either. I would stick with in-stock stones vendors that give you all the information you need such as WhiteFlash, Good Old Gold, and Brian Gavin.
 
diamondseeker2006|1337172494|3196451 said:
That is a virtual stone...no pictures, no info on light performance. You might have to pay to have them ship it in to look at. I am not wild about feather inclusions, either. I would stick with in-stock stones vendors that give you all the information you need such as WhiteFlash, Good Old Gold, and Brian Gavin.
Click to expand...

yes, ditto to all of the above!
 
LIT

we just purchased our 2 ct (1.93 with an 8mm spread) from IDJ. The stones in our budget were H colored - but he he found us an amazing I that brought our total (setting: vatche u113, and diamond) to WELL under your budget. We worked through Yekutiel. He's right in the center of the NYC diamond district and had virtual stones on his counter in 5 minutes while we discussed them.

We tried pretty hard to do this ourselves through online searches, went through the boston diamond district and had the dreaded friend of family help us - but I will say I felt better when I finally called IDJ. He gave ASET, ideal scope, and H&A views of the diamonds, as well as magnified pics.

The one we ended up buying is 1.5 on the HCA and scored a 1A on the AGA.

I would give him a call with your specs and see what he can pull. He has a best price guarantee as well.
 
that looks like it might have a little fish eye - leakage around the center...
 
No, a stone with visible leakage can't make it into GOG's Superior line. I think it looks like a gorgeous stone, and just under 2 cts, is fabulous!
 
Here's the ASET
Is it a bit fishy??
Should i be worried that there is less light around the table?
aset__s.jpg
 
Shape: Round
Carat Weight: 1.90ct
Color: E
Clarity: SI1
GIA Cut Grade: Excellent
AGS Light Performance: Ideal
Optical Symmetry: Superior
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Lab Report: GIA
In House: Yes
Width: 7.97mm
Length: 7.94mm
Depth: 4.91mm
Table Percentage: 56.00%
Depth Percentage: 61.70%
Crown ∠: 34.60°
Pavilion ∠: 41.10°
 
diamondseeker2006|1337012740|3194895 said:
GIA Excellent is a broad range and you just don't want to go to very good cut. That stone has a 40.4 pavilion angle and will probably have some leakage. In addition, I would only want excellent on symmetry on a round brilliant. So scratch the first one.

#2 may be okay but you will have to ask for an idealscope image. They will only allow you 3 maximum, so you need to carefully choose 3 stones. This one should be better than the first one, although I personally would reject it because of the black inclusion in the center (although it may be eyeclean) and it has very good for symmetry. I just think if I were spending $25k, I would want excellent for cut, polish, and symmetry or AGS Ideal cut.
Click to expand...

Do you mind answering the question i posted about symmetry in my solasfera thread? You seem very knowledgeable and i would appreciate your advice.

As for this thread why not a 2 carat solasfera?
 
I'm not a fan of solasfera but that is for another thread.

Any opinions on the stone above before I pull the trigger?
 
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