3 carat oval - cut & price questions

Mechealle · Sep 2, 2020

Starting the initial process of finding an engagement ring (for myself with my boyfriend of course).

IDEAL RING
• shape: oval
• weight: 3 carats
• cut: the best
• color: colorless
• LTW ratio: 1.35-1.45 roughly
• clarity: SI1 or SI2 (eye clean)
(Have my eye on the Ring Concierge Whisper Thin style however just initiated an inquiry to see what we are looking at in terms of their pricing.)

QUESTIONS
1. Cut: With an oval, how many options for cut are there.... brilliant, excellent, very good? Or is it all dependent on the vendor? The cut may be the most important in terms of priority for us so want to be sure of all my options. Obviously nothing with bow tie but I feel like I’ve seen “very good” oval cuts on Blue Nile’s website and can see a bowtie in just the 360 video. Confirming that a the bow tie effect has everything to do with the cut, correct?

2. Clarity: I want absolutely no inclusions to the naked eye so SI1 would be ideal however not sure if my price range would allow for such. Eye clean is important.

3. Florescence: How much this really matter? Is it a crucial deciding factor in choosing a stone?

4. Budget: $30k for the stone, is that realistic? Also hoping to avoid tax via Oregon state.

Really appreciate in advance everyone’s answer/insight/advice!

maryjane04 · Sep 2, 2020

I don't know much about ovals but I know that Diamonds by Lauren are really good at picking stuff.

Maybe others could chime in on this one:

http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/jewelry/326ct-i-si2-oval-diamond-r8162

"Plus, the way this stone is cut, you get a 3.26ct that looks more like 4ct."

Snowdrop13 · Sep 2, 2020

You could take a look at the Elyque ovals, which are ideal cuts. They don’t have anything exactly fitting your requirements on the website but I guess you could ask?

Distinctive Gem | The Synergy of Science & Beauty

Known for our August Vintage cut, DG is a family owned & operated online diamond business built on customer service. While we accommodate almost all jewelry requests and custom work, we specialize in ideal cut vintage and modern diamonds that are comprised of the highest optical performance you...

www.distinctivegem.com

tyty333 · Sep 2, 2020

See comments in bold below

Mechealle said:
Starting the initial process of finding an engagement ring (for myself with my boyfriend of course).

IDEAL RING
• shape: oval
• weight: 3 carats
• cut: the best
• color: colorless
• LTW ratio: 1.35-1.45 roughly
• clarity: SI1 or SI2 (eye clean)
(Have my eye on the Ring Concierge Whisper Thin style however just initiated an inquiry to see what we are looking at in terms of their pricing.)

QUESTIONS
1. Cut: With an oval, how many options for cut are there.... brilliant, excellent, very good? Or is it all dependent on the vendor? The cut may be the most important in terms of priority for us so want to be sure of all my options. Obviously nothing with bow tie but I feel like I’ve seen “very good” oval cuts on Blue Nile’s website and can see a bowtie in just the 360 video. Confirming that a the bow tie effect has everything to do with the cut, correct?
4 main
6 main
8 main
8 main offset
10 main (Elyque branded stones)

You can find every type of faceting pattern with a bow-tie. You can not go with a vendor's definition of Good, Excellent, Ideal to predict
whether an oval will have a bow-tie or not.

I consider bow-ties to be mainly black and to stay black most of the time.

2. Clarity: I want absolutely no inclusions to the naked eye so SI1 would be ideal however not sure if my price range would allow for such. Eye clean is important.
OK...at such a large stone its probably going to be difficult to find an SI2 that is eye-clean.

3. Florescence: How much this really matter? Is it a crucial deciding factor in choosing a stone?
Just need to make sure with the vendor that the fluorescence does not have a negative impact on the stone. Usually only matters with
Strong or Very Strong.

4. Budget: $30k for the stone, is that realistic? Also hoping to avoid tax via Oregon state.
May be possible but probably going to be difficult.

I think you'll have better luck if you drop down into the G/H range.
This is a beautiful stone
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/3.01-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-sku-9308452 6 main

Another nice stone
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/3.01-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-sku-8611964 8 main offset

Really appreciate in advance everyone’s answer/insight/advice!

Mechealle · Sep 3, 2020

tyty333 said:
See comments in bold below

THANK YOU, THANK YOU beyond helpful as all of this is so foreign to me!!

Mechealle · Sep 3, 2020

Snowdrop13 said:
You could take a look at the Elyque ovals, which are ideal cuts. They don’t have anything exactly fitting your requirements on the website but I guess you could ask?

Distinctive Gem | The Synergy of Science & Beauty

Known for our August Vintage cut, DG is a family owned & operated online diamond business built on customer service. While we accommodate almost all jewelry requests and custom work, we specialize in ideal cut vintage and modern diamonds that are comprised of the highest optical performance you...

www.distinctivegem.com

Thank you so so much!!!

AllAboardTheBlingTrain · Sep 3, 2020

maryjane04 said:
I don't know much about ovals but I know that Diamonds by Lauren are really good at picking stuff.

Maybe others could chime in on this one:

http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/jewelry/326ct-i-si2-oval-diamond-r8162

"Plus, the way this stone is cut, you get a 3.26ct that looks more like 4ct."

At least in the pictures posted, I can’t see much of a bow tie - maybe you can contact DBL for a video, OP? I think videos are more illuminating than pictures for fancies. The added spread would make me very eager if it actually is well cut and sparkly!

maryjane04 · Sep 3, 2020

AllAboardTheBlingTrain said:
At least in the pictures posted, I can’t see much of a bow tie - maybe you can contact DBL for a video, OP? I think videos are more illuminating than pictures for fancies. The added spread would make me very eager if it actually is well cut and sparkly!

I'd agree to ask for videos too. These photos are magnified so if you shrink them down to life size the inclusions are definitely not visible. For everything that the OP asked, this is the best value. Ticks the size, color, clarity, l:w ratio and most importantly the budget

DBL can also make a hand forged whisper thin style band as well.

Cristallo · Sep 3, 2020

Mechealle said:
Starting the initial process of finding an engagement ring (for myself with my boyfriend of course).

Really appreciate in advance everyone’s answer/insight/advice!

I would text/ call Jonathan at Distinctive gem. He helped me find a beautiful 3 carat pear shaped diamond thru his free concierge service.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-pearlicious-3-01-f-vs1-ring.246034/

I'm currently also looking for a 3-4 carat oval and I used his concierge service. He can bring in diamonds and make videos for you with aset images etc.

Mechealle · Sep 13, 2020

UPDATE! Stuck between the two following stones. Both brilliant oval cut however SO stuck on deciding.

Option 1
- carat: 2.51
- color: D color
- cut: excellent
- clarity: S12 (eye clean, even under the loop it looks SO good, the jeweler said this is a scenario where they were screwed in the GIA grading process as it should have gotten a better grade in clarity)
- L/W ratio: 1.52 (a little slimmer than I'd like, especially when compared next to a thicker/more "football" like Oval but I think it'll be okay and I heard once it's set it won't look as thin?)
- price: $25,400

Option 2
- carat: 3.03
- cut: excellent
- color: I (as in Indigo)
- clarity: S12 (eye clean, under the loop you definitely see the inclusions... crazy compared to think that Option 1 and this stone are both SI2's bc Option 1 looked so clean in the loop per I mentioned above)
- L/W ratio: perfect for my liking
- polish: excellent
- florescent: none
- price: $26,430

Ideally, I would like a 3 carat however not if I feel I am compromising on multiple fronts. I am scared the I COLOR is too yellow but is this just because I am comparing it next to a D (the jeweler said it's unfair to compare really anything next to a D)? Also, in order to be in our budget ($30k for the stone) I feel like we have to be in the SI2 range (which is fine) but after comparing Option 1's clarity, and it being super clean even in the loop then looking at Option 2 in the loop and clearly seeing the inclusion I feel like I am now compromising on the clarity in addition to the color. or should I just stop thinking that way bc we are talking about stuff under magnification that no one will see?

I understand this ultimately is my decision and it really comes down to if I want the bigger stone and taking a hit on the color OR go with the smaller one with the best color and even a "cleaner" SI2. Again, we are still below our budget but read that if I remain in the 3-carat range and go up in color we are going to go up thousands of more $ and at that point, I don't think it is worth it.

Based on this info would I be a fool to take Option 2? Like is Option 1 a MUCH better deal?