Engagement Ring Questions

[Alessandro]

Finally found the girl to buy a ring for however the amount of information out there is just staggering since it has a fair dose of myth and straight up wrong stuff in it as well.

I do not have a big budget at the moment for a great ring however i can easily do 12k.

I want at least a 1.1ct (pref 1.2) with no fluorescence and 3X.

However I do have a few questions on inclusions and color if any of the experts here or just enthusiasts lend me their wisdom it would be greatly appreciated.

Please keep in mind I will do an online shop either blue nile for the sheer volume of stuff they have or james allen since they do have some pictures on there.

I was wondering about the difference between F and G for example. I wont go down to H but was wondering if G is a good alternative to F or if i want colorless should i just fork over the cash for it?

For the inclusions. i have read somewhere in rare cases VS1-VS2 might not be eye clean. Is this true? I was thinking about buying VS1 and looking through the GIA/AGSL reports to see where the inclusions are and avoids ones which are in the table but now having read that information i was wondering if i should just go with vvs2 and up since i am doing the online thing which is kinda risky anyway.

Any and all help will be appreciated! thanks in advance

 

[RockyRacoon]

You have a great budget here.

You are probably fine dropping to G color, but you should see some stones in person to be sure.

I picked out some stones at about $10k, which would leave you $2k for a very nice setting.

All of these stones are eye-clean (verified) with a top-notch cut:

1.2ct, G, VS1
http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/1-20ct-g-vs1-premium-round-ideal-cut-diamond.html

1.3ct, G, VS2
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3150826.htm

1.233ct, G, SI1
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3260745.htm


If you decide you must have F color, here is a good option:
1.211ct, F, SI1
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.211-f-si1-round-diamond-ags-104074500006

 

[Alessandro]

Thank you very much! I will carefully check those out. Following diamond was one i was looking at.
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD04277088
So those SI1s are eye clean?

I already have the setting i just need the stone for 12-13k max

Again thanks for all the help

 

[RockyRacoon]

Thank you very much! I will carefully check those out. Following diamond was one i was looking at.
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD04277088
So those SI1s are eye clean?

I already have the setting i just need the stone for 12-13k max

Again thanks for all the help

I can't say anything about the BN stone, as they do not provide enough information to determine light performance (the most important aspect of the diamond). Unless there is some cultural significance to you, the clarity is a bit of overkill, and would divert dollars that could be directed to characteristics that you can actually see.

The options I posted above are verified eye-clean. The only one you would have to check on is the Brian Gavin option, but based on the report/video, I don't think there will be an issue. The other thing is that someone else's standards of 'eye-clean' may not be the same as yours, so be sure to ask the vendor for details based on your definition.

Just noticed that you mentioned $13k as the max for just the stone. Here are two additional options:
1.272ct, G, VS2
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3253506.htm

1.331ct, G, VS1 - if you want a higher clarity stone, opt for this one.
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3114544.htm

Best of luck!

 

[Alessandro]

At first i was thinking about getting a VS2 diamond but after reading stuff like it might not be eye clean after all i got a bit scared.

what you said about clarity is very interesting cause i presumed amongst the 4 cs carat was on a different level and the other 3 c were basically of the same importance. thats why i was ok with sites like BN since i can check where the impurities were in a diamond from the GIA report and make up my mind accordingly. i got a bit of more studying to do i guess but i might just buy one of your suggestions and get it over with

 

[RockyRacoon]

At first i was thinking about getting a VS2 diamond but after reading stuff like it might not be eye clean after all i got a bit scared.

what you said about clarity is very interesting cause i presumed amongst the 4 cs carat was on a different level and the other 3 c were basically of the same importance. thats why i was ok with sites like BN since i can check where the impurities were in a diamond from the GIA report and make up my mind accordingly. i got a bit of more studying to do i guess but i might just buy one of your suggestions and get it over with

It's worthwhile to learn more about stones, and diamonds are a pretty interesting subject, so definitely keep digging!

Any of the stones I have suggested come from well-vetted vendors that folks here have been purchasing from for years. You can rest assured that any of those vendors will treat you right and get you a quality product. I specifically chose stones with top-notch performance and solid specs. One major benefit of working with one of these vendors is that the stones are in-house and can be examined by an expert, to let you know how the clarity impacts the stone (if it does, at all), so you can feel comfortable dropping to a lower clarity.

For many of us, clarity is only important up to the point of being 'eye clean' (not being able to see imperfections without magnification). An eye-clean SI1 looks the same as a IF or VVS1 stone, to the naked eye. Why pay for things you can't see? Well, some Asian cultures put an emphasis on 'purity' of the stone, so high clarity is important. If the recipient is not from one of those cultures, there's no reason to put extra $$$ there, when it could go elsewhere.

Most will encourage you to purchase a VS2 or SI1 stone, as these are often eye-clean, but without the high-clarity premium. VS1 is fine, as well, if the stone meets your other requirements, and there isn't a huge premium. Paying for IF, VVS1, or VVS2 clarity would only be worth it in the specific situations I mentioned above.

Hope that proves helpful!

 

[Alessandro]

i think the problem for me was for example those two that you linked at the end. I am very tempted to buy the 13k one cause it both looks good and on its ags report you only see 2 inclusions both pretty minor and at the bottom. On the other hand if you check the AGS report of the VS2 one, it looks riddled with inclusions. I can never understand how that can be eye clean but i guess it just is...

 

[Alessandro]

oh and yes you have been extremely helpful thank you very much!

 

[RockyRacoon]

i think the problem for me was for example those two that you linked at the end. I am very tempted to buy the 13k one cause it both looks good and on its ags report you only see 2 inclusions both pretty minor and at the bottom. On the other hand if you check the AGS report of the VS2 one, it looks riddled with inclusions. I can never understand how that can be eye clean but i guess it just is...

Don't use the clarity plot to measure the importance / magnitude of the inclusions.

This is merely meant to be an identifier, so that the stone can be differentiated, and a guide for someone who might examine the stone. Sort of like a roadmap to navigating your individual diamond.

A clearer plot is sometimes something to be more worried about, as it would mean the minimal inclusions were more major in significance.

If a plot looks 'busy' it can often be the case that the inclusions, though more numerous, may have less impact on the stone's appearance.

I would actually call Whiteflash and ask them to compare the stones side-by-side. They will be able to give you in-person analysis, for which there is no valid substitute.

 

[Alessandro]

That is exactly the reason why i struggle with stuff like this. I am an engineer/economist i only see numbers and figures if those numbers and figures are subjective then i dont understand what is going on!

thanks again

 

[RockyRacoon]

That is exactly the reason why i struggle with stuff like this. I am an engineer/economist i only see numbers and figures if those numbers and figures are subjective then i dont understand what is going on!

thanks again

I also come from an economics background, so I can relate!

That's why GOG, Whiteflash, HPD, BGD, etc. are vendors I recommend. They have experts in-house that can give you the pros/cons of any stone they have, framing it in an understandable way.

Numbers are a good starting point, but you really need more info (pictures, light performance data, personal inspection) to make an informed decision.

Well-cut diamonds are part art / part science, so it's helpful to have assistance when navigating the confusing waters, especially when you're just getting into it!