Diamond on a budget

[Potsu]

Hey guys,

extremely new to the diamond but trying to pick something really nice for my partners engagement ring (*Gulp*). I'm pretty much set on this setting from JA http://www.jamesallen.com/?gclid=CJGa5YCyurYCFSlKpgodOnYAQQ#!/engagement-rings/three-stone/18k-white-gold-three-stone-pear-shaped-blue-sapphire-engagement-ring-item-1643

but am really struggling to find a good diamond to pair with it. I really like the look of round diamonds with this ring so am looking at those and trying to keep the whole thing under a $2500 budget. From what I've seen around the traps is that you guys might be able to help with some suggestions? Really appreciate any advice.

Also any gotchas through shopping from JA? (im in Aus)

Cheers.

 

[JulieN]

I like this one if it is eye-clean, it fits your budget http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.61-carat-j-color-si2-clarity-sku-207238

Good symmetry needs to be checked on this
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.60-carat-j-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-184164

http://www.jamesallen.com/?gclid=CJGa5YCyurYCFSlKpgodOnYAQQ#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.59-carat-j-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-32532

James Allen will give you 3 Ideal Scope pictures.

 

[Dandi]

Hi Potsu, and welcome! I just wanted to let you know that a friend of mine purchased his wife's engagement ring from JA (we are also in Aus) and they had a wonderful buying experience, no qualms about buying from them again!

 

[Potsu]

Thanks for the help guys.

Regarding checking the symmetry - asking for an idealscope is the best way to go? and for reviewing the diamonds for eye cleanliness, do I just have to go via the pics or can I place my trust in JA to do this?

 

[SMC]

Thanks for the help guys.

Regarding checking the symmetry - asking for an idealscope is the best way to go? and for reviewing the diamonds for eye cleanliness, do I just have to go via the pics or can I place my trust in JA to do this?

Idealscope will help you assess light performance, which is the most important in determining the sparkle factor of a diamond. The JA gemologist will objectively tell you whether or not the stone is eye clean or not to their specifications: http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/education/diamonds/diamond-clarity/eye-clean/

After you get the Idealscopes, post the images on PS to have the experts weigh in. JA will also rank them for you.

From my experience, they are very honest with assessing if a stone is eye clean or not. They have flat out told me that a stone I picked was not eye clean. Sometimes they'll say something like "most people will find it eye clean" or "only those with a keen eye will be able to detect the inclusions" - then it's up to you if you want to take that risk (I didn't).

 

[Potsu]

ah now I'm confused I had 3 diamonds selected (including a couple selected from here) and hit up JA about getting some idealscopes for them.

They basically said I was wasting my idealscopes (you only get to do it once for 3 diamonds) as none of them would pass the HCA tool test on this site and therefore be shutdown by the experts on this forum. So I told them I would keep looking.

Had no idea about the tool until last night, but from what I can tell you put in the details of the diamond and it spits out a verdict if the diamond is ok or not. tried to do this with a couple of the diamonds I selected but cant find angle details on the crown and pavillion (it just lists a "-" for most of the diamonds I looked at)

 

[SMC]

ah now I'm confused I had 3 diamonds selected (including a couple selected from here) and hit up JA about getting some idealscopes for them.

They basically said I was wasting my idealscopes (you only get to do it once for 3 diamonds) as none of them would pass the HCA tool test on this site and therefore be shutdown by the experts on this forum. So I told them I would keep looking.

Had no idea about the tool until last night, but from what I can tell you put in the details of the diamond and it spits out a verdict if the diamond is ok or not. tried to do this with a couple of the diamonds I selected but cant find angle details on the crown and pavillion (it just lists a "-" for most of the diamonds I looked at)

You have to view the GIA certificate and get the angles from there.

 

[Potsu]

thanks sortmon. Regarding the GIA cert I get most of the data ok, except the depth - is the depth of this diamond 61.8? http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.61-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-205589

and also because it scores under 2 would that be an good candidate to ask for an idealscope?

 

[SMC]

thanks sortmon. Regarding the GIA cert I get most of the data ok, except the depth - is the depth of this diamond 61.8? http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.61-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-205589

and also because it scores under 2 would that be an good candidate to ask for an idealscope?

Yes, you can get all the info from the GIA certificate (and yes, the depth is 61.8 ). This is what I took from the GIA cert:


Yes, if it scores under 2.0 and if you think that it looks ok in the video (no glaring inclusions), then I think that it would be a good candidate for an Idealscope. I am not positive this diamond will be eye clean (though it's not very big so it could be).

These are some guidelines that I use which I took from this article here (http://niceice.com/brian-gavin-select-vs-signature-diamonds/). I think that these guidelines are considered overly strict by many people here on PS so you don't need to follow them to a tee. Please don't stress if your diamond has a crown angle of 35 degrees and a depth of 62.1%. You just have to be close to this (and have the diamond score under 2.0 on the HCA):

Total depth between 59 – 61.8% and maybe up to 62%
Table diameter between 53 – 58%
Crown angle between 34.0 – 35.0 degrees and I truly prefer 34.3 – 34.9 degrees
Pavilion angle between 40.5 – 41.0 degrees and I truly prefer 40.6 – 40.9 degrees

 

[JulieN]

I see two of the three I picked are still available. I assure you they past the HCA test, and the IS images should be very good.

If you have questions on whether or not you should consider a round for an Ideal Scope, you can post the links here.

 

[Potsu]

Hi Guys,

Finally got back the idealscopes from JA, and would really appreciate your feedback:







(they are in the order the gemologist has discussed them)

and the gemologist past on this message:

I am happy to tell you that the gemologist found the 0.60 carat-J-VS1 (diamond 184164) to have the best performance of the three. It also has a good amount of fire and sparkle that is very well balanced throughout the diamond. Even though it is a "J" in color, it does face up a nice white color. The 0.59 carat-J-VS1 (diamond 32532) also has very good light performance, fire and sparkle that is very well balanced throughout the stone. It does have a very slight warmth face up. The 0.61 carat-J-SI2 (diamond 20723 has very good light performance, fire and sparkle, however, the inclusions in the diamond are reflecting at certain angles. With the inclusions reflecting through the diamond, it will not face up eye clean, but it does face up a white color.