ADVICE NEEDED - Round Brilliant for engagement ring

[tsx2010]

Hello Everyone,

I am looking for a Round Brilliant stone for an engagement ring and want to find the best for the money. I have been to a few jewelers, but I do not completely trust what they are telling me, so now I'm searching online at James Allen, since they are highly rated and seem to offer very good prices. However, I am not tied to James Allen if there is a retailer. There are just so many choices and I am not sure what to look for when reading the reports, except for the 4 C's. I would greatly appreciate it if someone could help me out.

Budget: $12,000
Carat: 1.20 - 1.30 (bigger if budget allows)
Cut: Ideal
Clarity: VS2 or better
Color: F or better
Symmetry: Excellent
Polish: Excellent

 

[slg47]

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-1040397620012

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-1040397620014

here are some options...

 

[stone-cold11]

These looks promising. Ask for an idealscope image and post it here if you are interested.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS2-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1321990.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1284408.asp

Just a suggestion.
Have you check out your color sensitivity with well cut stones that are reliably graded? You probably will not be able to tell the difference in color between F/G/H, especially once mounted, if the stones are not side by side. Many SI1 stones are eye-clean too. So you could drop these specs and with the same budget probably get a well cut 1.5c stone.

Eye-clean. https://www.pricescope.com/journal/what_eye_clean_diamond

For example. This look promising if eye-clean. Ask JA if the stone is eye-clean and get an idealscope image if interested.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1067904.asp

 

[tyty333]

Another option...
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2397479.htm

 

[tsx2010]

Does anyone know whether it is more important to have a GIA Excellent stone or hearts and arrows? I see a lot about hearts and arrows but does that mean they have more brilliance and fire than the GIA Excellent?

 

[slg47]

for rounds you want to look for a stone that has a good HCA score (under 2, and lower is not better, anything under 2 is fine) and then check to see if it has a good IS image. you can't go solely based on GIA EX because GIA EX allows for a wide range of angles which can give rise to very different appearances. picking a WF ACA/ES or a BGD Signature Stone takes the 'guesswork' out of it because you know it is a good performer. otherwise you will have to 'weed through' more. H&A is a measure of optical symmetry and not necessarily brilliance/fire but going with a branded H&A guarantees a 'good performer' -although this term is subjective.

GOG has some videos of rounds of various cut quality-those might be of interest to you!

 

[tsx2010]

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-1040397620012

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-1040397620014

here are some options...

Thanks for the suggestions! Which of these two would you say is the better diamond?

 

[tyty333]

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-1040397620012

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-1040397620014

here are some options...

Thanks for the suggestions! Which of these two would you say is the better diamond?

Call BGD and ask them to talk you through them. They can look at them side-by-side and give you their honest opinion.
I'm sure both stones are gorgeous.