Engagement Ring Advice - 20-30k

[Fred455]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some recommendations on selecting a diamond for an engagement ring.

Looking for a round or princess cut. About 25-30k.

What is a good balance between cut, color, clarity and carat?
What are some of the good providers to look at?

Thanks in advance

 

[teobdl]

H VS2 with ideal proportions and near hearts and arrows optical symmetry (but not branded as such) is the best value.
Side by side, near warts and arrows is pretty indistinguishable from hearts and arrows and much less so apart.
H color is perceived as white by pretty much everyone. G color may be better if you're super sensitive about things.
There is no reason to go above VS2 as an eye clean one is indistinguishable from internally flawless by the eyes.

 

[ecf8503]

G-H color, maybe I, higher if you want, but G/H is safe (white). VS2 is a sweet spot for clarity - most are eye clean. That said, I have a number of eye clean SI1's and I think they are a great option. Try looking at videos from Good Old Gold on YouTube to get an idea of what shape you like, and go to their website and have a look around. There are a ton of shapes out there, different flavors of rounds, squares, there's even hearts and arrows squares! Trusted vendors include Good Old Gold, Whiteflash, Brian Gavin, James Allen, High Performance Diamonds... I'm sure I'm forgetting some, but these will give you a good place to start.

 

[RockyRacoon]

Unless you specifically know she likes princess cuts, stick with a round.

Sweet spot of G/H and VS2/SI1 is probably where you want to land, for a stone that appears colorless and eye-clean, when set.

Here are some good options, to get you started. All of these have top-notch cuts and come from well-vetted vendors:

2.5ct, H, SI1
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/12067/

2.37ct, I, SI2
http://www.highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=view-id-diamond-infinity-new&id=1208

2.272ct, H, VS2
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3164217.htm

2.146ct, H, SI1
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/2.146-h-si1-round-diamond-ags-104063703004

2.008ct, G, SI1
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3114549.htm

 

[two_little_birds]

Color tends to show up more in princesses, i.e. the corners. I wouldn't go for anything less than an "I".

Also, as princesses are considered a fancy cut, an ASET image is a must in order to determine how well the stone will perform (the more red you see, the better).

Whiteflash has beautiful stones:

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-3035388.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-2790072.htm

Good Old Gold is also a great vendor:
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/11868/
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/12092/

 

[Gypsy]

Unless you specifically know she likes princess cuts, stick with a round.

I'm not sure I agree with this.

OP, what does you lady like? What has she asked for? What has she said she likes.


I do agree with sticking with I or better. And honestly with princesses, if your budget can afford it (and yours can) I would stick to H or better.

 

[two_little_birds]

Here's one from JA - http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/2.03-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-sku-20954

 

[RockyRacoon]

Unless you specifically know she likes princess cuts, stick with a round.

I'm not sure I agree with this.

OP, what does you lady like? What has she asked for? What has she said she likes.

Hmmm... maybe you mis-read my comment here, since we're both saying the same thing?

My comment stands - if you don't know explicitly that she likes princess cuts, you'll be safer with a round!

 

[Gypsy]

I probably did misread.

OP it is MUCH BETTER to not buy ANY DIAMOND without knowing your lady's preferences. Let alone spending 20-30K on a diamond without knowing what she wants.

 

[RockyRacoon]

I probably did misread.

OP it is MUCH BETTER to not buy ANY DIAMOND without knowing your lady's preferences. Let alone spending 20-30K on a diamond without knowing what she wants.

Good point.

AGREED!

 

[Niel]

A large stone at a fair price from a fellow PSer
http://loupetroop.com/listings/rings-natural-diamond-center/3-dot-02-carat-round-brilliant-superbly-cut-and-spready