Can't decide what to do. Finding a stone 12,000

[Goffee]

Having a heck of a time racking my mind on what to get, as I know there will be no upgrading in the future. I'm trying to keep my budget around 15-17k all in, looking to get a custom halo made, so to be in the range the stone needs to be around 12,000.

I'm actually holding onto a stone right now. An EGL 1.7 RB "H VS2", which is really a J and is most likely a vs2/SI1,but is completely eye clean at any distance.
Table 55%
Depth 62.2%
Crown 16%
Pavillion 43%
HCA score 1.8
I compared it to another stone that had excellent results on Light/Fire/Scintillation and they appeared the same.

Will definitely need to get it appraised if I decide to keep. It seems like it's a good performer, though I haven't seen a super ideal to really compare. Its priced around ~9600. I've requested to see some additional EGL stones in the 1.5-1.6 F/G's range, which are really GIA H/I's that are about $100-$1000 more.
To me, the price seems very good if it's considered a good performer. Does anyone know anywhere in Toronto that carries exceptional stones to compare?

I think my main issue is how a Round Brilliant J will appear in a halo and I NEED to know what an excellent/super ideal looks like in comparison to determine if it's worth the upgrade or not, which is quite significant... If there is a huge difference I'm thinking maybe of just spending around 15K on the stone and getting a simple pave solitaire.

A stone I am also considering is this Expert Selection stone from Whiteflash, which is within my range of 12k. (The closest ACA is 15k). I wanted to know what are people's opinion on this stone. It appears to have some light leakage from the table, due to the higher crown angle, which is also the reason why it's not ACA. I hear that ES perform quite well themselves.
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2673407.htm

I'm also open to other suggestions on stones.

Signed,

Confused.

 

[Gypsy]

Take your stone to your local Hearts on Fire dealer. They will let you compare it and try to talk you into one of their stones (let them try, you'll learn a lot). Make an appointment first so they have the time to spend with you. Make sure you spend a lot of time looking at the stones in 'regular' light (not just under the jewelers lights). Take yours and a H&A to the windows or outside (my jewelers let me take it outside if I leave my own plus my purse... no big) and rub your fingers (oily fingers) over the table of both and see how they perform under normal decisions (kinda dirty and outside of those lights). That will help you.

There will be a difference with the halo, and you can minimize it by getting lower color melee and it's not a bad thing if done right away.

There will be others with good advice on your other issues along shortly.

Question is.... if you know it's a J SI-- why not get a GIA J SI or AGS J SI with ideal light performance instead?

 

[Gypsy]

Some options in addition to the ES you have listed: http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-104047809020 Not 12 but lovely and a great size. And a real J SI. http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=BLAGS-104052029011

What type of halo do you want?

 

[Laila619]

Take your stone to your local Hearts on Fire dealer. They will let you compare it and try to talk you into one of their stones (let them try, you'll learn a lot). Make an appointment first so they have the time to spend with you. Make sure you spend a lot of time looking at the stones in 'regular' light (not just under the jewelers lights). Take yours and a H&A to the windows or outside (my jewelers let me take it outside if I leave my own plus my purse... no big) and rub your fingers (oily fingers) over the table of both and see how they perform under normal decisions (kinda dirty and outside of those lights). That will help you.

There will be a difference with the halo, and you can minimize it by getting lower color melee and it's not a bad thing if done right away.

There will be others with good advice on your other issues along shortly.

Question is.... if you know it's a J SI-- why not get a GIA J SI or AGS J SI with ideal light performance instead?

Probably because the EGL will still be cheaper!

If it passes muster with the appraisal and you're happy with it, I'd get the EGL.

 

[Goffee]

There will be a difference with the halo, and you can minimize it by getting lower color melee and it's not a bad thing if done right away.

There will be others with good advice on your other issues along shortly.

Question is.... if you know it's a J SI-- why not get a GIA J SI or AGS J SI with ideal light performance instead?

Thanks for the quick reply. That's the thing I'm not sure how this stone stacks up against one with ideal light performance and whether or not it's worth the price. There's about a 35-50% difference in the price, I think I need to make a trip to that hearts on fire dealer as I'd have no idea of where to find a local store that carries ideal light performance stones.


This is the halo
http://www.victorcanera.com/jewelry/the-emilya-halo-solitaire-1.html

 

[Gypsy]

There will be a difference with the halo, and you can minimize it by getting lower color melee and it's not a bad thing if done right away.

There will be others with good advice on your other issues along shortly.

Question is.... if you know it's a J SI-- why not get a GIA J SI or AGS J SI with ideal light performance instead?

Thanks for the quick reply. That's the thing I'm not sure how this stone stacks up against one with ideal light performance and whether or not it's worth the price. There's about a 35-50% difference in the price, I think I need to make a trip to that hearts on fire dealer as I'd have no idea of where to find a local store that carries ideal light performance stones.


This is the halo
http://www.victorcanera.com/jewelry/the-emilya-halo-solitaire-1.html

Go to the hearts on fire dealer. They are usually good at educating you and patient with stone comparisons. At least in my experience. Don't forgot to make the stones grubby.