Diamond Selection

[3cd4her]

I''ve been educating myself on round diamonds for the past several weeks now, have talked to a number of people, and seen a good amount in my price range for what I''m looking for to narrow my search however it still needs to become narrower. I have a max budget of $20k with ring included priced about $2k. 2ct and up (preferably above the 2ct. range) with an ideal cut hca 0-2 are my main criteria. This leaves me anywhere from SI2 to VS2 and J to H. From what I have seen I think I am ruling out SI2(very very subjective) clarity and J color.

Dilemma #1 is to make my cut off at SI2 or SI1. I saw several SI1s that I would accept and others I wouldn''t, but at the same time a lot of people state it''s possible to get a decent looking SI2. I''m not sure if it''s worth still thinking about an SI2 and cluttering up my search and selection process.

Dilemma #2 is color. Though I''ve seen a very nice J I think it is just a little too much color for me, and for the most part an I looks very nice unless compared directly to a higher color. However, I did see one I that was an Ideal cut with medium blue florescence that seemed to have a yellowish hue to it that I couldn''t get over and made me second guess an I color. Of course I liked the H color the best, but that was in direct comparison with the I.

Should I think about SI2 clarity and do I want to sacrifice size and hopefully find an H color? Also if anyone has any suggestions on keeping my price under $18k(or $17k or $16k) at the 2-2.25ct level please help! Size wise even if it''s 2ct weight I just want something that looks like a good 2ct and preferably more.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/20/2009 8:46:21 AM
Author:3cd4her
I've been educating myself on round diamonds for the past several weeks now, have talked to a number of people, and seen a good amount in my price range for what I'm looking for to narrow my search however it still needs to become narrower. I have a max budget of $20k with ring included priced about $2k. 2ct and up (preferably above the 2ct. range) with an ideal cut hca 0-2 are my main criteria. This leaves me anywhere from SI2 to VS2 and J to H. From what I have seen I think I am ruling out SI2(very very subjective) clarity and J color.

Dilemma #1 is to make my cut off at SI2 or SI1. I saw several SI1s that I would accept and others I wouldn't, but at the same time a lot of people state it's possible to get a decent looking SI2. I'm not sure if it's worth still thinking about an SI2 and cluttering up my search and selection process.

Dilemma #2 is color. Though I've seen a very nice J I think it is just a little too much color for me, and for the most part an I looks very nice unless compared directly to a higher color. However, I did see one I that was an Ideal cut with medium blue florescence that seemed to have a yellowish hue to it that I couldn't get over and made me second guess an I color. Of course I liked the H color the best, but that was in direct comparison with the I.

Should I think about SI2 clarity and do I want to sacrifice size and hopefully find an H color? Also if anyone has any suggestions on keeping my price under $18k(or $17k or $16k) at the 2-2.25ct level please help! Size wise even if it's 2ct weight I just want something that looks like a good 2ct and preferably more.

Are you open to buying online, or would you rather buy in person from a store? I would definitely keep an open mind on SI2 if you can find one which is eyeclean to your standards, G or H colour might be a good choice for you too as you have compared in person to see which colour grades look best to you.

Here is one you might consider, check it is eyeclean to your standards.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1180876.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

 

[3cd4her]

I was planning on buying online from the what I have found so far. Though I may make a trip through the diamond district as I found a few exchange vendors with some good deals right now, but this requires a lot more work and less piece of mind. I would be happy with an H or G, but for the most part an I is acceptable and from my research more within in my budget.

 

[3cd4her]

I think I'm set on clarity and probably won't go below an SI1. Any input on choosing between an H and I?

 

[mryan]

is 2cts your compromise? speaking experience my gf loved the look of 2cts and was willing to go to an H. after much reading on the board i prefered a better color & clarity over size. (my budget was 15k for stone/setting). After much looking around and talking about it we settled at 1.5 the min ct and get a great cut G color vs1 from GOG. i think someone on here has a sig and it says, finding a mind clean diamond is harder then eye clean and i tell ya that is the truth maybe its worth checkign out 1.5-1.9ct ranges and bumping up the quality?

 

[3cd4her]

I won''t go below 2ct. My problem is that I have seen a lot of I color stones that looked just fine to me, but there was one that persuaded me to be careful with them.

From what I''ve seen from the PS search it looks like for upwards of $18k I only have slightly more options above 2.15ct in an I color than H with SI1 clarity. I guess it''s just finding the right diamond in that color and clarity I can accept. I guess I''ll just make my decision over the next few days and then have one of the vendors work with me.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/20/2009 7:38:45 PM
Author: 3cd4her
I won''t go below 2ct. My problem is that I have seen a lot of I color stones that looked just fine to me, but there was one that persuaded me to be careful with them.

From what I''ve seen from the PS search it looks like for upwards of $18k I only have slightly more options above 2.15ct in an I color than H with SI1 clarity. I guess it''s just finding the right diamond in that color and clarity I can accept. I guess I''ll just make my decision over the next few days and then have one of the vendors work with me.

That sounds like a plan.

 

[3cd4her]

Ahhhh! So as I understood a perfect cut will make a lower grade color look like a higher grade color. Now I am confused since I thought an I color would be acceptable to me, but after having seen one very well cut diamond and having seen a yellowish hue. Could it have been the medium blue florescence it had or does it just depend on the diamond?

 

[JulieN]

If you have seen several I color stones and just one was unacceptable, then you're generally ok with I. It could have been the environment, lighting, the cut, dirty, misgraded, or something.

 

[3cd4her]

So where would one most likely see color in the stone? It will just have an overall "warmer" color, correct? Most of the I color I''ve seen have been in store lighting with a few under a grading lamp(and the paper trick) and I was okay with all except the one(under bright lighting). Even a J color was decent, but just a little much. Tiffany sells I color and I''ve seen a few, but since they are apparently picky about what the sell is their I color perhaps an H or G somewhere else?

An I color was acceptable to her, but only after having seen them under store lighting and from research done here.