Diamond expert needed for engagement ring!

[ndirish19]

Hello everyone, I am brand new here and in desperate need of the community's help. I am about to begin shopping for a diamond for an engagement ring and I'm just beginning my diamond education. I am hoping that someone(s) can give me the specs that I should be looking for given the type of ring that she wants. So here goes nothing...

What I need:
Princess Shape
2-2.25 carats
Going in a Platinum, Pave, Cathedral setting
I care about cut as I want that fire and sparkle
Her sister has a 3.5 carat ring and while she doesn't want something that big, I'd like something that doesn't have "hidden weight" and looks large from above (I understand this is called "table")
Price in the $13-$16k range

If anyone could give me an idea of what I should be looking for online I would be very appreciative. Thank you in advance!!!

 

[ndirish19]

I would also appreciate if anyone could tell me what to avoid in a diamond that size. I'm mostly looking for something to be eye clean. Thanks again!

 

[E B]

Specs, in terms of color and clarity, are going to be subjective, but an excellent or ideal cut (in a white diamond) is what you want to strive for always.

Some info you might find helpful:

https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/princess-cut-diamond
https://www.pricescope.com/journal/ags_new_cutgrading_princesses_first_experience (Relating to the diamond I'll post below.)

Doing a PS search, there aren't a ton of princess cuts in your desired size range, but this one looks promising. It's in the BN inventory (generally virtual selections, as far as I know) so it may be able to be brought in and examined by a PS vendor:

http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-search?track=btn#diamonds_pid=LD01160154 (It is not a 'very good cut' as BN labels it, but an AGS Ideal.)

 

[ndirish19]

Thanks E B. Should I care more about the AGS report than anything else with a Princess cut?

 

[stone-cold11]

Unless the diamond comes with other pics such as ASET, safest route is to choose only stones with graded for performance by AGS as this is the onl lab that do so for princess cut.

 

[tyty333]

Table is the flat part of the top of the stone. Usually you want a table that is smaller than the depth. James Allen has some in your
size but the ones that I like are a litte above your price range. I'll give you links for some in your price range and the ones above.
They are GIA and not AGS though. It you have to request an ASET image to check on light return if interested. I did not check any
numbers on them. I just did an initial evaluation of the stones by looks.


http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1244803.asp this one in budget and looks nice.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Good-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1245318.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1243814.asp

Edit - a gog stone...above budget
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9120/

 

[ndirish19]

Thanks, guys. So is it safe to assume the diamonds that have been sent to AGS are the diamonds that are expected to be the best in this cut? In other words, are GIA Princess cuts sent to GIA instead of AGS because they are thought to not grade as well with them? This info has been very appreciated and thanks again for the links!