Desperate guy needs help — 1.0+ RB $5-6k budget

[scherzo]

Hello,

Not sure if it's even feasible at this point, but desperately seeking a nice 1.0+ RB stone in time for a Christmas/New Year's proposal. I'd really appreciate some help in getting the most for my fairly limited budget.


Budget: $5-6k, staying in the lower portion of that range would be a bonus

Stone: 1.0+ carat round, ideal/excellent cut — HCA < 2.0, SI2 or better — eye clean, color 'I' or better, bigger is always a bonus


I yield to your collective knowledge, PS'ers! Think you could help a guy out?

 

[Canadianbrah]

Good luck, I'm in the same situation!

 

[scherzo]

Good luck, I'm in the same situation!

Thanks! Nice to hear I'm not the only one feeling the crunch

 

[bigdiamondtinygal]

Hi there and congrats on your upcoming proposal! Are you set on only modern round brilliant cuts or are you open to antique rounds like an OEC? Old cuts won't have the HCA score or the ideal cut rating but there are many beautiful old european cut stones out there that are beautiful in their own right.

 

[Gypsy]

We can do that. Your budget works for what you want (if budget is just for stone).

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1542434.asp PUT THESE ON HOLD IMMEDIATELY of you like them. Lurkers steal good finds. CHECK if eyeclean.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1543167.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1534421.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1522648.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1540008.asp

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Okay, your best bet to stay in budget and get this in time is to go through James Allen and choose one of their settings:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1543167.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1542434.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1522648.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1541854.asp

I will remind you guys that there are a LOT of lurkers here and you may want to reserve a couple you are interested in and ask if they are eyeclean and then request idealscope images. There is a wire discount and a Pricescope discount.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Haha! Great minds.....

 

[scherzo]

Hi there and congrats on your upcoming proposal! Are you set on only modern round brilliant cuts or are you open to antique rounds like an OEC? Old cuts won't have the HCA score or the ideal cut rating but there are many beautiful old european cut stones out there that are beautiful in their own right.

Thanks! Unfortunately, I just don't have any familiarity with some of the more esoteric cuts, and don't think I'd be able to identify a "good" one vs. something that's just mediocre; with round brilliants, there seem to be more universal metrics that help to weed out any poor performers (HCA etc.). My main goal is really to maximize light performance, not sure how OEC's stack up in this department. Also, I've already picked out a halo setting that can accommodate a round stone, so not sure if an OEC would work for this application?

 

[Gypsy]

Haha! Great minds.....

 

[bigdiamondtinygal]

You are correct that it is easier to use the specs to calculate the performance and cut of a modern round stone than it is to do that with an old cut stone. Good old gold has some august vinatge OECs that are specifically cut to maximize performance and light return but for those you pay a pretty hefty premium so they may not be budget friendly for the size and specs you're looking for.

Not to worry as Diamond Seeker and Gypsy have given some great suggestions of stones above - if you like any of them hold them asap or some lurkers may snap them up!

 

[fanofhardrock]

We can do that. Your budget works for what you want (if budget is just for stone).

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1542434.asp PUT THESE ON HOLD IMMEDIATELY of you like them. Lurkers steal good finds. CHECK if eyeclean.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1543167.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1534421.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1522648.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1540008.asp

+1 love the SI1s especially the top one. Listen to Gypsy - she will steer you right.

 

[scherzo]

Thanks for the suggestions DiamondSeeker and Gypsy! Wow, lots of overlap, that's impressive. Any personal favorites out those listed? Should I be concerned if a stone is within the 2-3 HCA range (rather than < 2.0)?

 

[JulieN]

2-3 is ok.

 

[Gypsy]

Since JA provides idealscope images 2-3 is okay. They have a higher chance of not performing as well as the under 2's do. But if they perform they are as good as the under 2's.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Thanks for the suggestions DiamondSeeker and Gypsy! Wow, lots of overlap, that's impressive. Any personal favorites out those listed? Should I be concerned if a stone is within the 2-3 HCA range (rather than < 2.0)?

My personal favorite that we both listed (and it is on hold so I hope it is YOU!):

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1543167.asp

 

[scherzo]

Alright, I went ahead and put the following on hold:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1542434.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1543167.asp

I'm also looking at http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1353902.asp but question whether it's actually eyeclean. The CSR gave me this link: http://www.jamesallen.com/DiamPics/TV0035pic.jpg, and said that most customers would consider this eyeclean; tough to tell, the image contrast looks wonky. The AGS 0 rating and slightly larger size is attractive, but not sure...

Thoughts?

 

[scherzo]

My personal favorite that we both listed (and it is on hold so I hope it is YOU!):

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1543167.asp

Yes, it was me! Thanks again for your input.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

You're very welcome! I am not in love with the center inclusion in the 1.08, personally. And, in my experience personally and observing here, GIA can be a little stricter with color, so I would personally choose the GIA I color stones over the AGS, assuming they are eyeclean and have good idealscope images.

 

[Gypsy]

DS took the words right out of my mouth.