FIRST DIAMOND, LOOKING FOR FEEDBACK

[qerat88]

I'm planning on getting engaged and scared of choosing diamond. I've been trying to do my due diligence with researching everything. I think I'm finally ready to pull the trigger.

Budget is around 11k
Cut is most important
planning on 18k yellow gold comfort fit setting
Would like the diamond to be at least 2 carat (ideally closer to 2.5)

I'm looking for feedback and suggestions for the following diamond:

How concerned should I be about the twinning wisps?
Is the L color going to be too yellow, as others state online, will it be less noticeable on yellow gold setting?
Any suggestions on comparable diamonds at this price point?
Any other thoughts about the diamond itself?

https://www.jamesallen.com/engageme...mfort-fit-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-1484

Thank you in advance for your thoughts/suggestions!

2.51 CARAT L-SI1 EXCELLENT CUT ROUND DIAMOND

 

[Alybetter]

I love warmer diamonds in the J-P range. Plus, the savings is awesome. Congrats on your upcoming proposal.
How does your intended feel about warmer stones?
I just bought, (should arrive any day), an M color RB from JA, and had it temporarily set in white gold. I like the warm look better, but I've read that yellow gold may make the stone appear whiter, as would medium blue fluorescence.


Your link goes to the setting, not the stone, so maybe post another link to the diamond itself?

 

[qerat88]

Thanks for the feedback. We talked about the 4Cs and decided that the slightly off color stone was worth it compared to the other characteristics.

Sorry about sending the wrong link. This should work:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...l-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2477478

 

[absolutme77]

The diamond scores a 5.3 on the HCA. You want it to score under a 2 so that it can be a contender with great fire and brilliance. I would pass on this diamond.

 

[AprilBaby]

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.92-carat-k-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-2003470

This one looks nice!

 

[absolutme77]

If you still want to be over 2cts, this one is nice and scored a 1.1 on the HCA and it's a VS1 so it will be eye clean.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...l-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2407351

 

[absolutme77]

Also, this one. It is what is known as a 60/60 so it will have great spread and look larger than its weight. It also scores well on the HCA at 1.7 and has faint fluorescence. I'm not as good with interpreting inclusions so if you like this one, you will have to ask about them.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...l-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2417413

 

[qerat88]

Thanks so much for your thoughts and recommendations. It's awesome that there is a community like this to help out confused people like me.

 

[qerat88]

Of the diamonds suggested above, how do I choose which one to get? When I spoke to the diamond expert on James Allen he said the 1.92 carat True Hearts diamond was his favorite, but I'd like to know what you all think.

 

[kenny]

I love warmer diamonds in the J-P range. Plus, the savings is awesome.

Just a tiny bone to pick here.

There is no 'savings' by going to diamonds with more body color.
Every diamond from D to Z is just priced at what the market will bear.
In this sense, diamonds of all color grades are an equal 'value', and no color grade offers more savings than another color.

Some shoppers feel a diamond with less color is worth the higher cost, and others think a diamond with more color is worth the larger size they get.
Others honestly prefer diamonds with a warmer look ... lucky them.
Buyers just vary.

Color/clarity preferences must be distributed in a bell curve that, I suspect, peaks around G/H VS2/SI1.
But having preferences similar to those of a majority is not superior to preferring a D IF or a Z I2.

All buyers, (from the buyer of the small D IF small diamond to the Z I2 honker of the same price) get the exact same 'value' and savings.
We all get what we pay for.
... and of course, no combination of the 4Cs is better or worse than any other.
If buyers have made informed decisions on their color/clarity/size comfort zone each gets exactly what is right for him/her.

 

[Alybetter]

I love warmer diamonds in the J-P range. Plus, the savings is awesome.

Just a tiny bone to pick here.

There is no 'savings' by going to diamonds with more body color.
Every diamond from D to Z is just priced at what the market will bear.
In this sense, diamonds of all color grades are an equal 'value', and no color grade offers more savings than another color.

Some shoppers feel a diamond with less color is worth the higher cost, and others think a diamond with more color is worth the larger size they get.
Others honestly prefer diamonds with a warmer look ... lucky them.
Buyers just vary.

Color/clarity preferences must be distributed in a bell curve that, I suspect, peaks around G/H VS2/SI1.
But having preferences similar to those of a majority is not superior to preferring a D IF or a Z I2.

All buyers, (from the buyer of the small D IF small diamond to the Z I2 honker of the same price) get the exact same 'value' and savings.
We all get what we pay for.
... and of course, no combination of the 4Cs is better or worse than any other.
If buyers have made informed decisions on their color/clarity/size comfort zone each gets exactly what is right for him/her.

Well, I'm definitely no expert, just a consumer with a couple diamonds. Yet, in personal terms, I saved 5 thousand dollars by going with an M color versus a very, very similar H color. Both were triple X, both scored 2.2 -2.4 on HCA, (which is good enough for me), both were VS1 and they were 1.2(h) to 1.23(m) carat range. If the only thing I sacrificed is color, and spent half as less, for me that's a savings. I'm sure everyone's priorities are subjective, of course, but since the OP was clearly going lower color to maximize size, I think my comment was germane. I'm glad the market won't bear lower colored diamonds at colorless prices, it enabled me to get a lovely pendant stone in the size and clarity I wanted for under 5k, which is our personal cut off for luxury expenses.

 

[kenny]

I love warmer diamonds in the J-P range. Plus, the savings is awesome.

Just a tiny bone to pick here.

There is no 'savings' by going to diamonds with more body color.
Every diamond from D to Z is just priced at what the market will bear.
In this sense, diamonds of all color grades are an equal 'value', and no color grade offers more savings than another color.

Some shoppers feel a diamond with less color is worth the higher cost, and others think a diamond with more color is worth the larger size they get.
Others honestly prefer diamonds with a warmer look ... lucky them.
Buyers just vary.

Color/clarity preferences must be distributed in a bell curve that, I suspect, peaks around G/H VS2/SI1.
But having preferences similar to those of a majority is not superior to preferring a D IF or a Z I2.

All buyers, (from the buyer of the small D IF small diamond to the Z I2 honker of the same price) get the exact same 'value' and savings.
We all get what we pay for.
... and of course, no combination of the 4Cs is better or worse than any other.
If buyers have made informed decisions on their color/clarity/size comfort zone each gets exactly what is right for him/her.

... I saved 5 thousand dollars by going with an M color versus a very, very similar H color.

You didn't 'save' $5,000 by buying an M over a H.
You don't 'save' $5,000 buying a Honda Fit over a Honda Accord.
You don't 'save' $1,750,000 by buying a house in rural Alabama that is 'similar' to a house in Beverly Hills.

You save money when you buy the SAME thing for a lower price.
You didn't; you bought a different thing.
Buyers of H and of M diamonds both get exactly what they paid for.
Neither saves, neither overpays.

The difference in the products themselves is real, not subjective, though:
The M diamond may be just as sparkly.
The Fit drives you there too.
The house in Alabama may be just as nice.
... but other things about the products are different.
Those differences may not matter to you or me, but they do to many others (aka the market) and that's reflected in the price.

Implying they are the same is not kind to those who pay the money for an Accord, an H diamond, or BH homeowners.
It's telling them they got ripped off overpaying, or they are wrong to value what they value.
People just vary.

I must also mention the similar misuse of the term "value" so common on PS ... as in, "J colored diamonds are a much better value than DEFs".
Same poor reasoning.

 

[Tophat1]

One definition of savings:

The portion of disposable income not spent on consumption of consumer goods but accumulated or invested directly in capital equipment or in paying off a home mortgage, or indirectly through purchase of securities.


Using this logic, if one spends $13000 on a diamond with L color instead of $18000 on a diamond with H color, it's savings to them

 

[flyingpig]

You don't save money by buying a M color stone instead of a H color stone.
You don't save money when you buy the SAME thing for a lower price.

You spent money in both cases. You don't save a thing.

But, I also agree that you save money by a buying a M color stone.
I also agree that you save money when you the same thing for a lower price.

My point.. a word can have different meaning and used in different context.

 

[mrs-b]

This. This is a STUNNING diamond. Smaller table, better angles. 1.6 on the HCA but - more to the point - excellent in all the light return categories.

Beautiful balance and super clean - and with larger diamonds, that's worth the money. It's over your budget a little, tho you might be able to swing a 5% discount - but at over 2.5ct, I'd call it a great purchase.

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/2.56-carat-l-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1128873

And it's also 8.8mm.