Biggest, Best, RB diamond under $1600. Help Please!

[cbr]

Hey PS,

I started a thread earlier looking for a diamond and got some great help. However, I realized I wanted to get a bigger diamond. Since then I have sold some old textbooks and stuff I had lying around and have some extra cash.

I want a RB cut diamond. Preferably above .65 carats so I''m willing to sacrifice in other areas. Any color through J, any clarity as long as the diamond doesn''t look hideous, minimum of I1. I would like an excellent or Very good cut diamond. $1600 for the stone!

Basically, I have a wide range of options, I just want something that looks nice and is big.

Any help would be appreciated. I found a few stones I''ll post up later tonight.

Thanks!

 

[D&T]

Here's a great looking one:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/6198/

and another

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5122/

 

[jet2ks]

If size is your main concern, how about this?

.79 I-I1 Have the gemologist at JA make sure the feather isn''t a durability issue and is eye-clean or close to it.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-I1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1230575.asp

 

[kenny]

A little over budget but

0.811 ct, K, SI1
AGS 0 Cut
HCA 1.5

Whiteflash Expert Selection.
$1782 with pricescope discount.

http://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/Round-Ideal-Cut-cut-diamond-2097582.htm

 

[cbr]

Thanks for the suggestions so far. How about these two? They are on hold right now since I asked for the Idealscope images.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-I1-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1243883.asp

Cut GIA Very Good
Crown 35 Pavillion 40.6
Polish is only good, is that a concern?

Idealscope is attached.

 

[cbr]

Or this one? Seems like the biggest I''ll be able to get and should look nice!

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-I1-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1229165.asp

 

[kenny]

Do you really want an I1?
If so fine, but this stone has a large feather at the girdle.
Feather is a nice word for a crack.
I'd be concerned that some day it may chip there.

Also the crown and pavilion angles are not available.
Do you have them?
They are useful for determining cut quality.

 

[cbr]

Hi Kenny,

If you are talking about the first diamond, I included the crown and pavilion angles in the original post. It gives a very favorable HCA score, and the IS image doesn''t look awful, from what I can tell at least.

I wasn''t aware that a feather was a crack. I wouldn''t want the diamond to break but is that really common?

As far as I1 clarity. I wouldn''t get an I1 with huge black inclusions or inclusions that obstruct the beauty of the diamond. However I have seen a few I1 that look very beautiful, and wouldn''t count them out. They seem to offer a great value. I''m not concerned with what the certification says, as long as the diamond looks beautiful.

 

[kenny]

Opps, my bad.
I didn't notice you posted two stones. Sorry.

If you do decide on an I1 stone with a feather at the girdle I'd have an appraiser check it out for mechanical integrity, though we hear here that is a stone is ever going to fail it would have done so during the stress of cutting.

But, still if it were my money I'd look for a stone with other inclusions that are less of a mechanical stability concern.

Oh, and a D I1 is a wild combo.
You are paying a lot for that D color and that one also has an even more noticeable feather at the girdle.
(I'd go up in clarity and down in color since you are considering a J you must not be too color sensitive.)
I just looked at the pic with their virtual loupe and that one has a very prominant feather that starts and ends at the girdle.

I'd pass on that one.
Who knows, it may be fine and last forever; it all depends on YOUR comfort level.

 

[Lorelei]

Both look good, concerning the feather ask for the gemologist at JA Julianna to inspect the stone for you, she will be able to tell you if the feather is a potential durability issue or not.

 

[stone-cold11]

Ditto Lorelei.

 

[cbr]

Thanks for looking for the IdealScope images, glad to hear they are good. I emailed JA and asked to have Juliana inspect the stones like was stated. I am leaning away from the D, I1 diamond. However, I still like the J. It has a very nice spread. What would be a reasonable price for this diamond?

I am now a little concerned about I1 and their durability. I assummed that the GIA wouldn''t grade a diamond if it would easily break. Do I1 diamonds with feathers often break?

Thanks for the previous Diamond suggestions, but I think I am going to order from James Allen. Does anyone have any suggestions for any other JA stones that I should consider? Cant wait to finally buy a diamond!

Thanks

 

[CharmyPoo]

I found this diamond within your budget. It is a virtual stone and you should be able to find it on various sites. I don''t have any images or asets but the numbers look decent. Faint floursence could be a benefit too.

Carat weight: 0.75
Color: J
Clarity: SI1
Depth %: 60.9%
Table %: 57%
Crown Angle: 34.5
Pavilion Angle: 40.8
Symmetry: Excellent
Polish: Excellent
Girdle: Thin to slightly thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: Faint
Measurements: 5.90 x 5.83 x 3.57 mm
GIA: 6107588017
HCA: 1.3

 

[cbr]

Thanks for the recommendations and advice everyone. I had Julianna at JA look at the J-I1 stone

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-I1-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1229165.asp

She said the feather(s) aren't a durability concern and will be able to be almost completely concealed by the prong.

I am pretty sure I am going to purchase this stone. I think it should look very nice. Can you pricescope experts take one last look and let me know if there is anything really bad about this diamond, other than the clarity, that should prevent me from buying it? It only scores a 1.8 on the HCA, but according to y'all the Ideal-scope image is good. Any last minute advice would eb appreciated.

I just want to make sure I am getting a sparkly, shiny, beautiful diamond!

Thanks!