Engagement Diamond shopping

[joshzele]

Guys,

Frequent reader, rare poster. I''ve been looking on PS for about 5 months now, trying to learn all I can. Now that I''m actively searching for a diamond, I''m finding it difficult to pull the trigger because I want the BEST diamond for my money and I keep feeling like if I choose one, another will pop up that''s just that much better. (Can you imagine how wonderful my fiancee has to be for me to commit to her?

)

So far, I''ve really searched only on WF because I like to see the Ideal Scope pics, which I can understand easily. Bottom line, I''m looking for a round ideal, .9 - 1.1 in size, somewhere between 4-6K.

The three that have caught my eye so far are:

http://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/Round-Ideal-Cut-cut-diamond-1732650.htm#

http://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/Round-Ideal-Cut-cut-diamond-2107690.htm#

https://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/Round-Ideal-Cut-cut-diamond-1335347.htm

But, I keep trying to find everything that''s perfect and obviously, for my price that''s not going to happen.

Any suggestions would be helpful, I just want to pick out the best I can and I guess I realize my limitations and always prefer a second opinion from the experts.

Thanks!!!!!

 

[stermag]

It''s curious to me that your first two pics are VVS and IF respectively, while the third is an SI1. Quite a jump there.

I think most people here will tell you that going above a VS2, or maybe VS1, in clarity is overkill. You are paying a significant premium for something you will likely never appreciate with the naked eye.

Personally, I think that a VS2 or SI1 clarity is nice middle ground. I would even consider some SI2 diamonds in the size you''re looking in. Why not drop the clarity and go up in color? There''s certainly nothing wrong with an ideal cut I stone, but at least color is something you are more likely to discern with your eye.

 

[firebirdgold]

I''ll be the dissenting voice as usual.

I''d vote for #2. It scores well on the HCA, although I''d prefer it to be a little higher on the graph. #1 scored about the same on HCA but the photo of #2 appeals to me more. Besides, I kinda like the bragging rights of an IF. Although #2 is pretty close in clarity, it looks like it might have actually been IF and been chipped since that''s the only thing listed on the cert.

I also really like the photo of #3 and it scores better than the other two, but it''s inclusions would rule it out for me. As far as I can tell from cert''s plot, it has mainly feathers some of which look like they are near the girdle. I''m a bit of a clutz, so I''d just always worry that I''d do something particularly idiotic and break the diamond. (They are breakable and chipable, hardness relates to scratching and only another diamond can scratch a diamond. But they aren''t the toughest stone and they can have cleavage planes). Personally I can also spot feathers better than I can some other inclusions.

Essentially, I''d call up WF and ask them to pull both stones and look at them together. Get their expert opinions on which one is prettier, since you can''t always tell from a static photo.

Now as for clarity and color... When giving my opinion, I pretend that this could be my engagement diamond, so it''s a very personal opinion. I happen to like a slightly warmer stone as well. Also many people have said that their ideal I colored stones face up very white. I also happen to like high clarity in diamonds. Mind clean as opposed to eye clean. Besides, when I had an antique diamond ring, I really did have people grab my hand and inspect it with a loupe. (don''t ask)

. That said, I would have still gone for the I SI 1 carat, if it weren''t for those feathers. I like the numbers, photo, IdealScope, and the price. I would have used the price difference in the setting, and put it in either the tiffany bead set, or the channel set x-prong. If one is going to have inclusions I prefer clouds off to the side and clear/white crystals.
You know, you might want to call up WF and get their opinion on those feathers. Looking at the enlarged pic, I see a lot of clouds, so maybe I mistook some of the longer red marks on the cert diagram for feathers when they really are clouds. If they are clouds I''d consider reversing my opinon, partly because you could afford a fancier setting.

Good luck!

 

[XChick03]

My pick is for #3. It''s cheaper, larger and I love the IS. Plus, I have an I/SI1 and I think its a great combination. As long its an eyeclean SI1, I''d definitely go with that one. And personally, I love the look of I colored stones, most of them have a pretty silver undertone that''s just gorgeous in the sunlight.

 

[firebirdgold]

I really should only post after I''ve had coffee in the morning!

Ok, let''s try it again.
Call or email whiteflash and ask about the 1 carat SI diamond. If the inclusions are mainly clouds rather than feathers, I say go for it! It''s a beautiful diamond.