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Elongated Oval Natural Diamond Help

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rod21n

Rough_Rock
Joined
Dec 29, 2024
Messages
5
Hello - I have been lurking and trying to learn. I am hoping to find an oval diamond to match my future fiancé's preferences. She is in the industry so I have gathered a lot of intel, but it is still going to be a surprise proposal so I am navigating the decision myself. Having said that, I started with the local jeweler route because it seemed the safer, smarter route. But I have been struggling finding diamonds that match in important criteria (particularly proportions - depth, girdle, table.) So I started browsing online. I am curious if anyone can provide an initial view on any of these diamonds? Looking for any opinions on whether these are quality diamonds (recognizing limitations of specs and an online video)

Target attributes: 1.5-2ct, F+, VS1+, EX Polish/Symmetry, None-Faint Fluorescence, 59-64% Depth, 54-62% Table, Thin-Thick Girdle, ratio 1.48-1.55, no-minimal bowtie

Unclear attributes: Not sure which facet setup (i.e. 4 or 6 or 8)

Budget: Ideally $20k or less, but flexible for perfect option

1.70 D-VVS1 $19.7k after discounts offered
https://www.rarecarat.com/diamond/1...re-carat-ideal-cut-oval-diamond?sid=141079521

1.71 D-VVS2 $18.3k
https://www.adiamor.com/Diamonds/1.71-ct-D-VVS2-Excellent-Cut-Oval-Diamond/D65175278?rfr=search

1.72 D-VVS1 $22.1k
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/23368194

1.70 E-VVS2 $15.4k
https://www.adiamor.com/Diamonds/1.70-ct-E-VVS2-Excellent-Cut-Oval-Diamond/D65236739?rfr=search

1.71 D-VVS2 $17.9k
https://www.rarecarat.com/diamond/1...71ct D VVS2 Rare Carat Ideal Cut Oval Diamond

1.70 F-VVS2 --> this one my local jeweler has shown me but is quoting ~$17.9k ($2.5k higher than I see it listed on B2C Jewels right now)
https://www.ritani.com/products/1-7...VM4lmLUj5FgISC3p0jm5hkA9r5Wi7Ak_9sKZmmRP5zV7J

Apologies if this is not the right way to request help. Happy to clarify / edit as needed. Also welcome any thoughts on these online dealers and credibility.

Thanks so much!
 
Last edited:
rod21n said:
Hello - I have been lurking and trying to learn. I am hoping to find an oval diamond to match my future fiancé's preferences. She is in the industry so I have gathered a lot of intel, but it is still going to be a surprise proposal so I am navigating the decision myself. Having said that, I started with the local jeweler route because it seemed the safer, smarter route. But I have been struggling finding diamonds that match in important criteria (particularly proportions - depth, girdle, table.) So I started browsing online. I am curious if anyone can provide an initial view on any of these diamonds?

Target attributes: 1.5-2ct, F+, VS1+, EX Polish/Symmetry, None-Faint Fluorescence, 59-64% Depth, 54-62% Table, Thin-Thick Girdle, ratio 1.48-1.55, no-minimal bowtie

Unclear attributes: Not sure which facet setup (i.e. 4 or 6 or 8)

Budget: Ideally $20k or less, but flexible for perfect option

1.70 D-VVS1 $19.7k after discounts offered
https://www.rarecarat.com/diamond/1...re-carat-ideal-cut-oval-diamond?sid=141079521

1.71 D-VVS2 $18.3k
https://www.adiamor.com/Diamonds/1.71-ct-D-VVS2-Excellent-Cut-Oval-Diamond/D65175278?rfr=search

1.72 D-VVS1 $22.1k
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/23368194

1.70 E-VVS2 $15.4k
https://www.adiamor.com/Diamonds/1.70-ct-E-VVS2-Excellent-Cut-Oval-Diamond/D65236739?rfr=search

1.71 D-VVS2 $17.9k
https://www.rarecarat.com/diamond/1...71ct D VVS2 Rare Carat Ideal Cut Oval Diamond

1.70 F-VVS2 --> this one my local jeweler has shown me but is quoting ~$17.9k ($2.5k higher than I see it listed on B2C Jewels right now)
https://www.ritani.com/products/1-7...VM4lmLUj5FgISC3p0jm5hkA9r5Wi7Ak_9sKZmmRP5zV7J

Apologies if this is not the right way to request help. Happy to clarify / edit as needed. Also welcome any thoughts on these online dealers and credibility.

Thanks so much!
Click to expand...

Are you asking for an opinion of these diamonds?
 
Hi! Yes I am. Sorry!
 
Ovals are hard to shop for online so don't go at it alone. You could consider Distinctive Gem, Diamonds by Lauren, Victor Canera, and other excellent jewelers who can get ASET images and help you find a diamond with their expert eyes. You're also limiting yourself too much with those parameters, ovals cannot be purchased by the numbers and you could go down to VS2 clarity and probably G color. How are you planning to set this diamond? That could impact who we suggest that you consider reaching out to. How much in the industry is your recipient? Has she told you anything besides oval?
 
Thank you both.

Makes sense about limiting based off specs. I don't trust my eye so I have been using them as a crutch to be honest.

For a setting, she wants a yellow gold solitaire (platinum prongs). She is a size 4 which is why I feel closer to 2 or above may be too big so I've been focusing on quality stones in the 1.7ct range.

She works in the Diamond District in NYC doing social media for one of the jewelers so she is filming and looking at diamonds daily. She mostly commented on it being an elongated oval and minimal bowtie. other than that she mentioned G and up and VS1 and up but she wasn't being fussy. She hasn't mentioned the more detailed things like proportions, etc.

Thanks again. Running about but will come back if I missed any of your follow ups.
 
If she's used to seeing rings for social media, she may want bigger than you think. Also keep in mind that carat weight and face-up size aren't always that correlated in ovals. Do you want to avoid working with her employer? Diamonds by Lauren and Distinctive Gem are in or near NYC. Diamonds by Lauren also makes nice settings. If you get a diamond from Distinctive Gem or from online, consider going to Steven Kirsch for the setting.
 
newtojewels said:
If she's used to seeing rings for social media, she may want bigger than you think. Also keep in mind that carat weight and face-up size aren't always that correlated in ovals. Do you want to avoid working with her employer? Diamonds by Lauren and Distinctive Gem are in or near NYC. Diamonds by Lauren also makes nice settings. If you get a diamond from Distinctive Gem or from online, consider going to Steven Kirsch for the setting.
Click to expand...

Morning, thank you again. Yes I believe she'd be happy up to 2ct. And yes I want to avoid working with her employer as 1) it is a surprise proposal and she sees all orders for her company (she does customer service, marketing, other things besides social) and 2) she has mentioned not liking their supplier (not sure if that means the cutter or something else.)

Thank you for the recommendations. I will reach out to those vendors to see what they suggest.
 
The Diamond District in NYC is ‘enter at your own risk’. You really have to know your stuff to buy from them - if you are looking for quality diamonds. Best to work with recommended vendors that sell quality merchandise.
 
@tyty333 is our resident oval expert, so the one they chose would be a great option if it's in budget. You could reach out to the NYC vendors (Diamonds by Lauren, Steven Kirsch, Distinctive Gem) to see if they can get it and ask them find a couple of other options for you to compare it to. While I'm sure Steven Kirsch can source diamonds, I know of him more more settings. Distinctive Gem is more known for diamonds and not for settings.

For a picky person who works in the industry, I really wouldn't go with a Blue Nile or other basic setting. She might like the idea of it being hand-forged, depending on what exactly you're planning to do for the setting. Here's a video showing what that means:

Something like this is simple but beautifully executed. Steven Kirsch could make this setting, he just doesn't have an example with an oval on his website. The band could easily be gold and the head/prongs platinum, so don't worry about that.

leonmege.com

r6219 - Leon Megé | The Art of Platinum®

Leon Megé hand-forged Princessa™ solitaire featuring a natural oval diamond in double prongs r6219
leonmege.com leonmege.com

1735656022995.png

Here's SK's version with pave: http://stevenkirsch.com/gallery/ring-simplicity-pave-solitaire-diamonds-platinum/

1735656086643.png

And with single prongs, though I vote that you do double prongs if you go this route: http://stevenkirsch.com/gallery/simplicity-ring/

1735656253322.png
 
newtojewels said:
@tyty333 is our resident oval expert, so the one they chose would be a great option if it's in budget. You could reach out to the NYC vendors (Diamonds by Lauren, Steven Kirsch, Distinctive Gem) to see if they can get it and ask them find a couple of other options for you to compare it to. While I'm sure Steven Kirsch can source diamonds, I know of him more more settings. Distinctive Gem is more known for diamonds and not for settings.

For a picky person who works in the industry, I really wouldn't go with a Blue Nile or other basic setting. She might like the idea of it being hand-forged, depending on what exactly you're planning to do for the setting. Here's a video showing what that means:

Something like this is simple but beautifully executed. Steven Kirsch could make this setting, he just doesn't have an example with an oval on his website. The band could easily be gold and the head/prongs platinum, so don't worry about that.

leonmege.com

r6219 - Leon Megé | The Art of Platinum®

Leon Megé hand-forged Princessa™ solitaire featuring a natural oval diamond in double prongs r6219
leonmege.com leonmege.com

1735656022995.png

Here's SK's version with pave: http://stevenkirsch.com/gallery/ring-simplicity-pave-solitaire-diamonds-platinum/

1735656086643.png

And with single prongs, though I vote that you do double prongs if you go this route: http://stevenkirsch.com/gallery/simplicity-ring/

1735656253322.png
Click to expand...

Wow, thank you so much for the detailed help. Those are beautiful settings and I have reached out to Steven Kirsch on this. I should have mentioned she is a size 4 and definitely looking for a simple, timeless solitaire type design for the ring.

If I ask them to acquire a diamond such as the one @tyty333 shared, they run the ASET on it and similar options? I've sent a note to each of the options you've outlined, but I am making sure I understand the best approach.

Thanks
 
rod21n said:
Wow, thank you so much for the detailed help. Those are beautiful settings and I have reached out to Steven Kirsch on this. I should have mentioned she is a size 4 and definitely looking for a simple, timeless solitaire type design for the ring.

If I ask them to acquire a diamond such as the one @tyty333 shared, they run the ASET on it and similar options? I've sent a note to each of the options you've outlined, but I am making sure I understand the best approach.

Thanks
Click to expand...

You're welcome!

An ASET is helpful but isn't always necessary. Distinctive Gem would definitely run imaging, Diamonds by Lauren probably can but is also known for having a good eye (also note that Diamonds by Lauren has access to excellent benches so can do a hand-forged setting like the Leon Mege/Steven Kirsch ones). I'm not sure if Steven Kirsch can get an ASET image or not, and again he's more known for his amazing settings than for his diamond selection. But any one of those vendors should be able to find you some nice diamonds to compare between. For me, DbL or Distinctive Gem or @tyty333 saying something is a great oval would be enough. I don't know about SK, hopefully someone here has worked with him to source a diamond and can weigh in. Other people may want the ASET imaging or to compare in person, we're all different.

Note that I have no personal experience with any of these vendors, this is from posts other members that I really trust have made talking about their experiences with them.
 
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