engagement ring advice

[newuser1982]

hi everyone! new poster here looking for some advice on center stone of engagement ring. i've looking around for a while and have narrowed it down to the following criteria: 1.5ct - 1.7ct (around or greater than 7.5mm), ideal cut with H&A, I color or better, SI1 clarity or better (but must be eye clean). My budget is $10k to $12.5k. Found the diamonds below. Which of these look the best to you guys? thanks in advance!!

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.68-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-631117

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3635959.htm?source=pricescope

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3667820.htm?source=pricescope

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3619320.htm?source=pricescope

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3686849.htm?source=pricescope

there are a couple of stones slightly above my budget that looks quite nice also. I am willing to sacrifice a bit on the setting if you guys think its substantially better than the ones above

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3496145.htm?source=pricescope

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3667407.htm?source=pricescope

 

[fair75]

I personally like options 4 and 5 considering your budget and the quality of the H&A cutting. Options 6 and 7 are basically the same as #4 and #5, except that they are more expensive like you said. I feel that unless you want a bigger diamond, going for #6 is not necessary. You really can't go wrong with either option 4 or 5 because they would look very similar in person.

 

[newuser1982]

thanks! and what is the practical difference between an eye clean SI1 and VS2? I would save about $1,000 by going with SI1 vs. VS2

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I personally just prefer VS2 because it is cleaner. It's more "mind clean" for me, higher quality. So I would choose between the I VS2 WF stones, and I would ask them which is the higher I color and choose that way. The 1.73 is $2k over your budget. What setting were you thinking about? Do you know exactly what she wants?

 

[newuser1982]

she has hinted that she wants a halo setting, but nothing in particular.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

So what is your total including setting?

This is a good setting, but you have to specify that you want the diamond set down as close to the halo as possible with no airline. Comes in a round or cushion shaped halo.

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/ritani-1rz1323-halo-diamond-engagement-ring-3880.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/ritani-french-set-cushion-halo-diamond-band-engagement-ring-3376.htm

 

[Gypsy]

What type of halo setting does she want?

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/gunievere-pave-diamond-engagement-ring-2099.htm This is my favorite halo with a pave shank at WF.

And these are my favorite without a pave shank:
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/selene-solitaire-engagement-ring-1591.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/guinevere-solitaire-engagement-ring-180.htm

But honestly for a halo you are best of getting a custom handforged setting. But that will run you 5k about.