Diamond advise

[hhn4334]

Looking into getting a ring for the ol lady and need some help with diamond specs. Budget is ~4K

Having a hard time on picking out a diamond

My debate is if a J color would get me by or should I try and find a I/H. Hoping as long as the triple EX is there, the sparkle and brilliance would overshadow the color on a white gold setting.

Thoughts?

its a toss up now. what do yall think? my gut tells me to go with the J, but a part of me wants a whiter color.

• H SI2

https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD08922463

• J VS2 with med fluorescent, hoping the flourescent will make it appear a few shades whiter

https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD09509686

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

I think it is probably a great idea to have the lady in your life give her opinions on the options you are considering. Color is very subjective and we have forum members who adore higher colors and lower colors.

 

[hhn4334]

she's a bit of a diamond noob and pretty much prefers an eye clean diamond that sparkles lol

 

[rockysalamander]

Looking into getting a ring for the ol lady and need some help with diamond specs. Budget is ~4K

Having a hard time on picking out a diamond

My debate is if a J color would get me by or should I try and find a I/H. Hoping as long as the triple EX is there, the sparkle and brilliance would overshadow the color on a white gold setting.

Thoughts?

its a toss up now. what do yall think? my gut tells me to go with the J, but a part of me wants a whiter color.

• H SI2

https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD08922463

• J VS2 with med fluorescent, hoping the flourescent will make it appear a few shades whiter

https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD09509686

While you debate color, as that won't change, I have to say that both of these diamonds are too deep and you are giving up spread and fire.Let us provide some other options. Are you open to other vendors?

 

[hhn4334]

Pretty open to vendors as long as they are reputable. Mainly looked at JA and BN but liked BN selection better

 

[rockysalamander]

I promise we won't recommend any disreputable vendors.

With J diamond, fluorescence is a good thing. In the presence of UV light, the flour is activated and lifts the color of the stone. You want to have the vendor gemologist check to be sure it is not making the stone milky (rare and usually only with very strong), but worth checking. When comparing color of the diamond on your screen, don't worry too much about difference within a grade or vendor. They are light somewhat inconsistently. If you look at the background grey, it can give your eyes some calibration. For SI stones, confirm eyeclean. Some of these are close to $4500, so I could show you a range of balancing color and clarity.

Have a look and put on hold any of the JA or BN stones you like. They contact the online chat person and request an Idealscope (JA) and ASET or Idealscope (Bn).

From JA, you can request up to 3 idealscopes per email. You want to make that request as that will tell you about performance.

1.04 J SI1 strong flour - https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...j-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3268439 {6.60 mm, the inclusions at 1 and 10'oclock should be fully cover by a prong, so this gives a lot of size}

1.01 I SI1 faint flour - https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3430178 (6.43 mm, this ticks a lot of boxes, need to confirm eye-clean and that the clouds are not making the stone hazy; this has a fait brown undertone and I personally prefer over yellow). **

0.99 J VS2 strong flour - https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...j-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3533426 (nice small table, 6.41 mm)

0.95 J VS1 medium flour - https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...j-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3423399 (6.33 mm; feather that will need to be examined by JA Gemologist to be sure it is not too close to the girdle)

From BN
1.06 J SI1 medium flour - https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD09101823 {6.57 mm, I would ask for the image on this one, but I think it will have leakage. But, it is the largest, by far, so worth pursuing)

0.94 H SI1 no flour - https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD09462055 {chubby arrows which I like as they make the diamond contrast more -which is visually a nice thing}

Super-ideal Diamond - No further images needed. Tend to make detection of color harder due to cut, but you trade down in size to get these in budget

0.907 J VS2 - https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3607524.htm {6.19 mm}

0.901 I SI1 - https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3895781.htm {6.16 mm}

 

[hhn4334]

I probably should have said my all in budget was ~4K including the setting

I am okay with something smaller in size (.9) as the 1ct jumps up in price by quite a bit.

Those WF diamonds are beautiful!

 

[rockysalamander]

My bad...I should have asked. Let's set aside $500 for a setting, but I'm hoping we can get the petite flower as it is very pretty and with 6-prongs and a detailed basket will make the J's color less visible and its just a $100 more.

https://www.jamesallen.com/engageme...d-15mm-comfort-fit-engagement-ring-item-22606
https://www.jamesallen.com/engageme...e-flower-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-50125

Whiteflash - The premium select is a diamond that did not quite make the cut to become an ACA, but you get a bit of size.
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3855515.htm, 0.84 H VS2, 5.99 mm, premium select
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3876792.htm, 0.813 H SI1, 5.96 mm, ACA

JA Options: need to request and IS from JA
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3510318, 6.25 mm (feather needs to be examined, no flour)
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...j-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3413451, 6.21 mm, medium flour
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...j-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3285724, 6.19

Out of the box option. Gorgeous setting by trusted vendor with a lovely pear with spread that is really nice. If you girl likes pink diamonds...this is a great option and I'd snap it up. Just purchase through LoupeTroop with Paypay. You would have to be 110% positive as it is not returnable.
https://loupetroop.com/listings/rings-natural-diamond-center/pink-pear-halo

Same instructions as above. Put JA on hold (all three if you like them) and ask for IS. No additional images needed from WF. I did not find anything at BN that I liked.

 

[Katie Homuth]

Looking into getting a ring for the ol lady and need some help with diamond specs. Budget is ~4K

Having a hard time on picking out a diamond

My debate is if a J color would get me by or should I try and find a I/H. Hoping as long as the triple EX is there, the sparkle and brilliance would overshadow the color on a white gold setting.

Thoughts?

its a toss up now. what do yall think? my gut tells me to go with the J, but a part of me wants a whiter color.

• H SI2

https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD08922463

• J VS2 with med fluorescent, hoping the flourescent will make it appear a few shades whiter

https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD09509686

When searching for diamonds, no matter the color, clarity or size, CUT is your most important factor. Personally, I see color over clarity and therefore place color next in line. When you find a diamond with correct proportions and angles, all working together correctly, the light return and brilliance should make the diamond appear whiter than a poorly cut diamond of the same grade. I would open up your search to about .80-.99ct, H-J and VS1-SI1. The setting part will be easy, it's finding the perfect stone! Also, you may consider a setting which tapers in towards the diamond. This will place the focus on the diamond and can make it appear slightly larger!! A .90ct will look like a 1.0ct! Happy hunting!