Diamond Selection Help Please and Thanks

[inpgh]

Hi All,
Like most other guys I have dragged my feet and now I need to make a move. I'm ready to pull the trigger, I just am looking for some feedback to make sure I'm not overspending or buying something regrettable. Total Budget is $15k. I need 2ct or more at least SI1 or better, I or better, Excellent cut or better.

I know there are certain diamonds when the experts look at them, tell you not to buy for one reason or another. I really don't want to buy a dud because I went online...

This is the diamond I've picked:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-7949186

These are the other options I found, do you see one of these as being far superior?

2.02 Carat round diamond

This 2.02 carat round diamond H color si1 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

2.02 Carat round diamond

This 2.02 carat round diamond I color vs1 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

2.01 Carat round diamond

This 2.01 carat round diamond I color vs1 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from IGI

www.jamesallen.com

This is the band chosen: https://www.jamesallen.com/engageme...ite-pave-engagement-ring-flush-fit-item-56270

Any help or tips on these specific diamonds or if there is something I am missing would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

 

[tyty333]

Every stone you picked is showing leakage. Give me/us a second to look for a decent stone.

Whats your top budget?

 

[inpgh]

Every stone you picked is showing leakage. Give me/us a second to look for a decent stone.

Whats your top budget?

Wow, thanks. I never would have known that. I would like to keep the diamond under $14,500. I would like to keep the clarity in the SI or above so you don't see the flaws etc. GF has her heart set on 2.0ct or more. Thanks so much for your help.

 

[tyty333]

Wow, thanks. I never would have known that. I would like to keep the diamond under $14,500. I would like to keep the clarity in the SI or above so you don't see the flaws etc. GF has her heart set on 2.0ct or more. Thanks so much for your help.

Unfortunately I'm not seeing anything that looks all that great in the I/SI range under $15k at JA.

How good is your GFs eye site?

2.01-Carat Round Cut Diamond | Blue Nile

www.bluenile.com

 

[inpgh]

Unfortunately I'm not seeing anything that looks all that great in the I/SI range under $15k at JA.

How good is your GFs eye site?

2.01-Carat Round Cut Diamond | Blue Nile

www.bluenile.com

She has 20/20 laser corrected vision, lol. Is this something that if I bump up the budget a little I will be able to get what I need? Do I need to ditch JA for bluenile or somewhere else? I really liked that JA is associated with Jared so she could take it to get resized locally etc for free. I don't think we should go a worse color than I. Any other suggestions?

 

[KLE]

I'll chime in. If you EVER think you will upgrade her stone, think long and hard about going with JA. I just cancelled an upgrade because I know I want to upgrade again in the future, and I can't spend 2x the amount again. While I found a diamond I really liked, I didn't want to take such a loss in the future. So I returned it and I'm trading in (my smaller diamond) elsewhere and taking a smaller hit now, rather than later.

Also I don't think resizing services are available at Jared. The do the polish, cleaning, prong tightening, etc. but it doesn't say sizing can be done there.

 

[KKJohnson]

If you are a little flexible on the budget then I would request the GIA report on this one so it can be ran through the HCA tool

2.00 Carat round diamond

This 2 carat round diamond I color vs1 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

I also like @tyty333 BN option

 

[inpgh]

If you are a little flexible on the budget then I would request the GIA report on this one so it can be ran through the HCA tool

2.00 Carat round diamond

This 2 carat round diamond I color vs1 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

I also like @tyty333 BN option

Thank you everyone for your help with this. I'd surely end up with a dud without you.

@KKJohnson this is the GIA report they send for 8336895 you linked above.

 

[KKJohnson]

Thank you everyone for your help with this. I'd surely end up with a dud without you.

@KKJohnson this is the GIA report they send for 8336895 you linked above.

It scored a 2.1 on the HCA tool, we typically recommend anything over a 2 is a discard but with this being what we call a 60/60 stone I think it still looks good

@tyty333 BN one scored a 1.2 meaning the stats work and it will be a good performer, have you looked at the settings from BN-you can get a very similar one as what you have picked. Also with BN being cheaper its just an overall better contender

 

[lovedogs]

You've gotten great advice above. I would definitely NOT go with any of the stones you originally listed. But others here are doing a nice job of steering you in the right direction.

 

[flyingpig]

It scored a 2.1 on the HCA tool, we typically recommend anything over a 2 is a discard but with this being what we call a 60/60 stone I think it still looks good

@tyty333 BN one scored a 1.2 meaning the stats work and it will be a good performer, have you looked at the settings from BN-you can get a very similar one as what you have picked. Also with BN being cheaper its just an overall better contender

Ignore the 2.1 HCA score. This stone is good. Should not have severe leakage. Ask for the IS image. I also like the BN stone @tyty333 found.

You are some good options here.

 

[tyty333]

See if you can get an aset or idealscope image on the JA stone. (sometimes they can get them...sometimes not)

Talk to BlueNile about how eye clean the one is that I linked.

I hate to tell anyone who is spending $15k+ on an engagement ring that their budget is a little tight for their specs.
($15k is a nice budget IMO)

Just seems like there is not much available in the 2 carat range right now. I even went up in $ and didnt find much.

Whiteflash has this stone. Its an Expert Selection. 1.9 carat. WF has a very nice trade up policy if she ever wants to
go up in color (or size).

Diamond | 1.90 ct I VS2 Premium Select Round Cut Loose Diamond GIA Certified | 4190593

This fabulous 1.90 carat Round Excellent cut diamond has a clarity grade of VS2 and color grade of I.It is an excellent choice for diamond engagement rings or other fine diamond jewelry. | 4190593

www.whiteflash.com

Edit...I see @flyingpig commented while I was in the middle of my post.

 

[inpgh]

Thank you everyone so much for your help with these. I have asked for IS image on the JA 8336895 listed above. I feel like you all have saved me from buying some crap very expensive diamonds and I am truely grateful for that. I will pop back in when I have more information, thank you again so much!

 

[inpgh]

Here is the IS image for the 8336895 listed above. I don't know how to read these, so any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

 

[tyty333]

The IS image is good (as in passes).

 

[flyingpig]

As expected, there is no leakage. Nice one

 

[ringo865]

Very nice. Put it on hold if you’re seriously considering it.

 

[inpgh]

Well guys, I didn't put that diamond on hold fast enough and it's gone :O

I spent more time trying to understand light scope and how to read the diamonds before posting these. I think I used the HCA tool correctly, but I could be wrong. Can you take a look at these two and see what you think? Thank you in advance.

Diamond 1:

2.00 Carat round diamond

This 2 carat round diamond I color vs1 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

HCA: 1.3




Diamond 2:

2.01 Carat round diamond

This 2.01 carat round diamond I color si1 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

HCA: .9

 

[tyty333]

Both the idealscopes look fine. I prefer the first stone. Not sure whats going on with the second stone at 12:00 and 1:00 with the end of the
arrows. Hopefully someone can tell us whether it is a photo setup issue or a diamond issue.

Have you put these stones on hold?

 

[inpgh]

Thanks, I did put them on hold. I also asked for Idealscope images on 3 others that seemed to look okay. I will post if they seem to be worth looking at.

 

[inpgh]

Alright guys i'm back. My head is starting to spin from all these diamonds. 8357958 listed above is still in the running. I found this other one. I am not sure because it is IGI?

Here are the two again with idealscopes and cert:

Please let me know what you think.


8357958 is $15,470. https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-8357958




8079687 is $14120
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...-color-vvs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-8079687

 

[EAB]

As someone who is trying to learn, could it be explained how you determine leakage from the diamonds listed in the original post? Is it something you can see from the pictures?
I am trying to understand how the diamonds first listed were immediately rejected by the experts here

 

[flyingpig]

As someone who is trying to learn, could it be explained how you determine leakage from the diamonds listed in the original post? Is it something you can see from the pictures?
I am trying to understand how the diamonds first listed were immediately rejected by the experts here

Some of us can spot leakage. And tyty333 is very good at it, among the best, if not the best. The very first stone is the worst leakage.
Also, based on the appearance, they all have overly steep pavilion angles. It is just automatic rejection for many of us.

 

[matt_k]

It scored a 2.1 on the HCA tool, we typically recommend anything over a 2 is a discard but with this being what we call a 60/60 stone I think it still looks good

@tyty333 BN one scored a 1.2 meaning the stats work and it will be a good performer, have you looked at the settings from BN-you can get a very similar one as what you have picked. Also with BN being cheaper its just an overall better contender

Yeah, that blue Nile stone looks like a great option, actually. The strong blue fluorescence helps bring the price down while still being just over 2 carats and an I color. And a 1.2 HCA is exactly what you want as a sign to vet the stone up close and personal. I know that sometimes you can even get them to do an ideal scope image for ya at blue Nile(especially if you have someone like Todd Gray going to bat for you ). But that diamond would be an excellent candidate to have shipped to your home... and then you can use an ideal scope and asset scope yourself to make sure the diamond does not have any issues in terms of light performance. if you are based in the US Gary Holloway has a partner who sells Gary's patented hand-held ideal Scopes and asset scopes--- his name is David Atlas(those scopes are quite affordable, and it makes sense to fully vet the diamonds if you're going to spend that much money).

 

[inpgh]

So I'm back again, I have taken a lot more time to learn and understand the diamonds and think I found what I wanted all along and now have three stones to choose between. Which would you choose based on the diamonds themselves and which would you choose on the vendor to work with.

The first is from James Allen: The price is $14,900 idealscope on-page, cert listed below.

1.79 Carat I-VVS2 True Hearts^TM Ideal Diamond

8180043 - This True Hearts^TM diamond, 1.79 Carat I Color VVS2 Clarity has ideal proportions and a diamond grading report from AGS

www.jamesallen.com

The second is from Whiteflash: Price is $14,924

Diamond | 1.800 ct I SI1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4206897

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 1.800 carat I color SI1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4206897

www.whiteflash.com

Certs and idealscopes listed on page

The last is from whiteflash: Price is $15,075

Diamond | 1.777 ct H SI1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4018635

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 1.777 carat H color SI1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4018635

www.whiteflash.com

Certs and idealscopes listed on page

Thanks for all of your help everyone!

 

[ringo865]

Whiteflash has a more flexible upgrade program. Pay $1 and your stone to upgrade. Their ACA stones are precision cut AGS 0 stones.

James Allen has a pay what you paid for the stone and your stone (double). Hard to do when you’re starting out near $15k (new stone must be more than $30k). Their true hearts are AGS 0. Not ALL AGS0 stones are necessarily “precision” cut but are still better than many GIA XXX.

 

[inpgh]

Whiteflash has a more flexible upgrade program. Pay $1 and your stone to upgrade. Their ACA stones are precision cut AGS 0 stones.

James Allen has a pay what you paid for the stone and your stone (double). Hard to do when you’re starting out near $15k (new stone must be more than $30k). Their true hearts are AGS 0. Not ALL AGS0 stones are necessarily “precision” cut but are still better than many GIA XXX.

Other than the HCA tool, is there a way to tell if the JA one is a precision cut?

@tyty333 What are your thoughts on these final two? Would you choose one over the other?

 

[lovedogs]

Other than the HCA tool, is there a way to tell if the JA one is a precision cut?

@tyty333 What are your thoughts on these final two? Would you choose one over the other?

The HCA score is just a rejection tool (not a decision tool). The numbers and AGS cert suggest its a very nice stone. Advanced images would be better and would make me (personally) feel more comfortable. For me, if choosing between JA and WF, WF wins hands down every time due to better customer service, better upgrade policies, and more advanced images. Plus, all of their stones are in house (at least the premium select, expert selection and ACA ones).

 

[inpgh]

The HCA score is just a rejection tool (not a decision tool). The numbers and AGS cert suggest its a very nice stone. Advanced images would be better and would make me (personally) feel more comfortable. For me, if choosing between JA and WF, WF wins hands down every time due to better customer service, better upgrade policies, and more advanced images. Plus, all of their stones are in house (at least the premium select, expert selection and ACA ones).

Thanks so much for your feedback. I just don't know enough about diamonds to know if there is something I may be missing with the JA stone that I should be looking elsewhere. Is there something that you are thinking specifically that I would notice or be able to see whenever the ring arrives? I'm sure it will be nice, and I am probably overthinking it. I just don't want to have missed something important or an issue that could have been avoided. Thanks again.

 

[lovedogs]

No, there's nothing wrong with the JA stone. Nothing at all. But if you can afford either one comfortably, WF will give you better service, likely a better setting, and you have the peace of mind with upgrades.