Assistance with picking a JamesAllen loose diamond

[balasuk]

I am trying to pick between diamonds on JamesAllen. My constraints are:
Budget: $5000
Color: G - I
Clarity: VS1 - SI1
Cut: GIA X,X,X

I have narrowed down my choices to these 4.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.96-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1782731 : 61.1% depth, 56% table, 34° crown angle, 40.6° pavilion angle, HCA 0.6
I love this but it has a distinct inclusion right on the middle of the top.

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.95-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1526357 : 59.7% depth, 59% table, 32° crown angle, 40.8° pavilion angle, HCA 1.3

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.96-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1783037 : 62.1% depth, 56% table, 34.5° crown angle, 40.8° pavilion angle, HCA 1.3

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.96-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1639466 : 60.5% depth, 59% table, 34.5° crown angle, 40.6° pavilion angle, HCA 1.1

Which would you recommend I go with? I am hesitant about buying diamonds with a table greater than 57.5% based on what I have read. That also seems to be cut off for ideal cut diamonds according to AGS.

Thanks for your help.

 

[tyty333]

I am trying to pick between diamonds on JamesAllen. My constraints are:
Budget: $5000
Color: G - I
Clarity: VS1 - SI1
Cut: GIA X,X,X

I have narrowed down my choices to these 4.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.96-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1782731 : 61.1% depth, 56% table, 34° crown angle, 40.6° pavilion angle, HCA 0.6
I love this but it has a distinct inclusion right on the middle of the top.
Not eye-clean enough for me

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.95-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1526357 : 59.7% depth, 59% table, 32° crown angle, 40.8° pavilion angle, HCA 1.3
Dont particularly like the angles but personal preference so could work for you

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.96-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1783037 : 62.1% depth, 56% table, 34.5° crown angle, 40.8° pavilion angle, HCA 1.3
Not eye-clean enough for me

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.96-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1639466 : 60.5% depth, 59% table, 34.5° crown angle, 40.6° pavilion angle, HCA 1.1
This is the one I would be most interested in. Did you request and idealscope?

Which would you recommend I go with? I am hesitant about buying diamonds with a table greater than 57.5% based on what I have read. That also seems to be cut off for ideal cut diamonds according to AGS.

Thanks for your help.

 

[ac117]

The .95 I VS2 also seems to have a brown tint to it, which would also eliminate it for me (on top of the fact that I don't prefer the angles/the crown angle is very low).

ETA: Of these stones, my choice would also be the 4th if the images looked good.

Have you tried contacting IDJ? They do really well finding gorgeous stones on a budget! They also provide imaging. Call and speak to Yekutiel and he'll take care of you!

 

[balasuk]

Thank you tyty333 .
In general is it OK to buy diamonds with a table greater than 57.5%.
No, I did not request an idealscope. I did not know I could do that. Unfortunately, the sku 1639466 is showing not available, so it is probably already sold.

 

[balasuk]

Thank you ac117.
I have not contacted IDJ. I am mostly only looking at James Allen because they have actual high resolution images.
Do you have any thoughts on table % cutoffs for round diamonds?

 

[balasuk]

Forgot to mention, only looking for round diamonds between .95 and 1.00 carats

 

[ac117]

IDJ could search inventory and provide you with images of what you're looking for! If you don't me asking, what's the reason for staying particularly between .95-1.0?

People here generally recommend staying within the following parameters with a GIA excellent cut stone:

table: 54-58
depth: 60-62.3
crown angle: 34-35.0 (up to 35.5 crown angle can sometimes work with a 40.6 pav angle)
pavilion angle: 40.6-40.9 (sometimes 41.0 if the crown angle is close to 34)

That said, you could potentially ask JA about these two stones:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.00-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1796424
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.97-carat-g-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1805641

 

[balasuk]

Thank you ac117. The carat size constraint is just based on cost considerations. I want something decent in size but I would rather pay for cut and color.

 

[ac117]

Thank you ac117. The carat size constraint is just based on cost considerations. I want something decent in size but I would rather pay for cut and color.

If this is your reason, then I would go for the best possible cut and sacrifice a tiny bit on the carat weight:

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3586209.htm

ETA: I looked at other super ideal vendors but they currently have stones <.90 in your budget.

 

[flyingpig]

Forgot to mention, only looking for round diamonds between .95 and 1.00 carats

While I understand your strategy, finding a well-priced 0.90c+ I~G is already challenging. I am afraid focusing only on 0.95~1.00c really limits your search results.
If there were any, it would have been snatched by others in no time. Your search results proves this; none is thrilling.

I rather save time and money, go with 0.9c I~G SI1~VS1 at 3.5~4.5k USD
or
spend a bit more and get 1.0c I SI1/VS2 at 5.0k USD
or
if you really know how to examine a diamond, drop the clarity to SI2, and get 1.0c I~G under 5k

Of course, if you find 0.95c I at 4.5k, you celebrate. But I am not too optimistic.

 

[tracylt]

OP, I'm not expert but I just wanted to share with you that I have 2 loose diamonds which are both SI2 and completely eye-clean. My vision is spectacular btw, and I inspected them carefully.

I didn't buy them from James Allen but from B2C and Solomon Brothers. They both have excellent return policy, although B2C offer slightly better shipping and return policies, so I knew I could return if they're not eye clean. Too bad they are, so I "have to" keep both. Lol. They are both excellent/ideal cut so they sparkle like there's no tomorrow! One is GIA XXX and scores 1.5 HCA, the other is ASG000 (I didn't check its HCA score because I heard ASG0 trumps HCA). Anyway, just saying if there's a chance you can get a SI2 eye clean diamond, you can go up on size and/or cut. Just a thought. Good luck!

 

[balasuk]

Thank you everybody.

Ac117,
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.00-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1796424 has a strong FLUORESCENCE. Is it still worth considering?

 

[tyty333]

Thank you everybody.

Ac117,
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.00-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1796424 has a strong FLUORESCENCE. Is it still worth considering?

Call JA and put it on hold. Ask them if there is any negative impact due to the fluorescence. Ask for an idealscope if possible
(has to be in NY area for them to be able to provide). Stones get picked off/stolen so put it on hold!

 

[balasuk]

I have been told that fluorescence has no negative impact. I will get the idealscope image tomorrow. Will share it when I get it.

 

[ac117]

I have been told that fluorescence has no negative impact. I will get the idealscope image tomorrow. Will share it when I get it.

That's awesome! Like tyty said, as long as there are no transparency issues, fluorescence is not a bad thing!

 

[balasuk]

Here is the idealscope. Is it good?

 

[ac117]

It's solid! Looks to be a small amount of leakage but probably nothing that you will be able to notice in real life. I think it's a great choice at the 1ct mark at that price and without sacrificing quality!

 

[Sagefemme]

Put it on hold! Right now says (on JA website) that it's available.

 

[balasuk]

Thank you ac117 , Sagefemme. Isn't there more pink and white in the center than one should expect on a brilliant cut?