First time buyer...

[kur1j]

Hello,

I am going to be purchasing a diamond ring/stone for my girlfriend of 2 years soon and would like some information.

Just to get it out of the way, diamonds are not my thing. I don't know much more past the 4C's, but have been researching online and on reddit. I took my g/f to a local (not kay/jared) jeweler and she found several bands that she liked between 1000 and 2200 dollars. I am planning on getting the ring from them and the center stone from online since it can be so much cheaper (im going to see if they will match but I'm doubting they will come close).

First off, I know jamesallen, lumera, brilliantearth, and bluenile are fairly large online retailers that are reasonably trustworthy. Are there any others? Are the ones listed here (e.g. solomon brothers) reputable? I looked online and they got good reviews.

I would love to get my g/f a 2ct, FL, D but I'm not made of money so I'm trying to get the best for my money. For example, I picked the carat size of my search simply knowing that a 1.0 has a huge price premium but the size difference (unless next to each other) between a .85 and a 1.0 is about .3mm which is pretty indiscernible unless you are comparing it directly to each other. Another thing I was told was to make sure and get an Idealscope of the diamond as even if the diamonds are the exact same GIA rating they can look significantly better/worse.

Currently looking at, would like to stay in the 2500-3500 range for the center diamond with the following 4Cs. Am I being unreasonable? Can I sacrifice on the Clarity or Color to H to get closer to .9 or be bad idea?

Carat: .8 - .9,
Cut: Ideal+
Color: G,H
Clarity: VS2, SI1
GIA: Prefer Dossier report due to laser inscription but minimum GIA cert (it is what I can reasonably compare)

Any suggestions for a complete novice?

 

[msop04]

Would your gf like an old cut stone? This one is very white and in budget at $3350
http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/loose-diamonds/86ct-transitional-cut-diamond-gia-g-si1#.VyisEP7mrIU

This ring has a lot of presence and is UNDER budget at $2695! I know the center diamond is smaller than what you listed, but the halo will more than make up for it if it's the look she's going for... just a thought.
http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/signed-pieces/rings-bands/1-09ctw-round-brilliant-cut-diamond-3-stone-ring-by-ritani#.Vyitc_7mrIU

Does your gf definitely want a round, or would she be open to a different shape? The reason I ask is because some shapes face up larger than rounds for their weight. Also, what type of setting does she want?

I will keep looking...

 

[msop04]

An old cut cushion that is in budget and larger than the rounds at 6.2 x 6.4 mm...
http://www.loveaffairdiamonds.com/1-00ct-old-european-cut-diamond-ags-k-si2/

 

[msop04]

Rounds:

$3390 (my favorite)
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.90-carat-j-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1070053

$3485
http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-8132001-0.85-carat-Round-diamond-H-color-VS1-Clarity.aspx?sku=8132001&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com

$3494
http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-8038442-0.85-carat-Round-diamond-H-color-VS2-Clarity.aspx?sku=8038442&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com

$3030
https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/R90-5KJFVG

$3390
https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/R87-KAWSYH

 

[kur1j]

Awesome! Thank you for the input.

To answer some of your questions. Round is really all we have discussed and what she seems to prefer. She does not want a top facing halo. The setting below is similar to what she is really wanting without the diamonds on the band http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/18k-white-gold-petite-pave-crown-diamond-engagement-ring-item-53159.. We went to a local jewlery store to have them CAD up a design and they said it would be closer to 1k dollars, which means I'll be able to spare a little more for the center stone. Since I am going to be getting white gold I was really wanting to stay in the G or H range of color (the only time I wish for a color blind g/f .

So based on that I probably can push budget to 3000-4k.

These are the ones I found on my search.

http://www.jamesallen.com//loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.90-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1045349
HCA - 2.0
Looks decent for a larger diamond near my price range. Does have spots on the table and around the edges.

http://www.jamesallen.com//loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.81-carat-g-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1091585
HCA - 0.9
Looks the best out of the ones I found
Slightly smaller .81ct and is on the very upper end of what I can pay.

http://www.jamesallen.com//loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.82-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-623868
HCA - 1.6
Looks pretty good except one feathering spot on the table. I'm not sure how significant it would be in person (I doubt much but not sure).

http://www.jamesallen.com//loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.83-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1052105
HCA - 0.9
This diamond is slightly bigger than the other ~3700 ish diamonds I linked at .83ct and to me there are no spots or visible black spots on the diamond. There a few marks feathering marks but its even hard to pinpoint anything specifically. Not sure what the Idealscope looks like.

https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/Round/GIA-Certified-0-83-Carat-G-Color-VS2-Clarity-Diamond-5919MR
HCA - 1.3
This is probably is the best looking diamond I found.


Any other recommendations based off the new information?

 

[msop04]

Okay, so the only diamond that you MIGHT be able to tell is larger is the first JA stone (1)... All the other diamonds will look identical in size. All the stones you picked will be eye clean.

When comparing size, only the diameter matter, not carat weight.

Here they are for comparison.

 

[kur1j]

Okay, so the only diamond that you MIGHT be able to tell is larger is the first JA stone (1)... All the other diamonds will look identical in size. All the stones you picked will be eye clean.

When comparing size, only the diameter matter, not carat weight.

Here they are for comparison.

Thanks. So out of the 5 from above which 3 would you pick?

If you are not comparing side by side would it be obvious that it isn't a 1.0? Looking at the dimensions between those (being right at 6.0mm) and a 1.0 being about 6.4 we are talking .5mm at most. That to me is almost indiscernible on a ruler. I was able to look at a 1.01 and a .9 in person (I don't know the exact C's of each either) and to me side by side you could tell but you really had to study it. But not sure if you can start to tell between a .83 and a 1.0

 

[Gypsy]

Not enough information. We need the crown and pavilion angles, not just the table and depth measurements.

 

[kur1j]

Not enough information. We need the crown and pavilion angles, not just the table and depth measurements.

https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/Round/GIA-Certified-0-83-Carat-G-Color-VS2-Clarity-Diamond-5919MR

DEPTH: 61.1%
PAVILION DEPTH: 43.0%
TABLE: 57.0%
CROWN HEIGHT: 14.5%
CROWN ANGLE: 34.5°
PAVILION ANGLE: 40.8°

http://www.jamesallen.com//loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.90-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1045349
DEPTH %: 62.40
GIRDLE: Medium - Slightly Thick
TABLE %: 55.00
CULET: None
CERTIFICATE: GIA
CROWN ∠: 33.00
CROWN %: 14.50
PAVILION ∠: 41.20

http://www.jamesallen.com//loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.81-carat-g-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1091585
L/W RATIO: 1.01
DEPTH %: 61.40
GIRDLE: Medium - Slightly Thick
TABLE %: 57.00
CULET: None
CERTIFICATE: GIA
CROWN ∠: 35.00
CROWN %: 15.00
PAVILION ∠: 40.60

http://www.jamesallen.com//loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.82-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-623868
L/W RATIO: 1.01
DEPTH %: 61.70
GIRDLE: Medium - Slightly Thick
TABLE %: 57.00
CULET: None
CERTIFICATE: GIA
CROWN ∠: 35.00
CROWN %: 15.00
PAVILION ∠: 40.80

http://www.jamesallen.com//loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.83-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1052105
L/W RATIO: 1.01
DEPTH %: 62.10
GIRDLE: Medium - Slightly Thick
TABLE %: 56.00
CULET: None
CERTIFICATE: GIA
CROWN ∠: 35.00
CROWN %: 15.50
PAVILION ∠: 40.60

I'm personally leaning towards.
https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/Round/GIA-Certified-0-83-Carat-G-Color-VS2-Clarity-Diamond-5919MR or http://www.jamesallen.com//loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.83-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1052105

 

[Krod]

all of them run fine on the HCA, but I would ask to see an Idealscope/Aset image of the James Allen pieces before I were to decide. The 3rd James Allen seems to have extra facets from what i can tell. The 4th James allen looks nice symmetry wise, but is either out of focus or a poorly cut diamond.

 

[kur1j]

all of them run fine on the HCA, but I would ask to see an Idealscope/Aset image of the James Allen pieces before I were to decide. The 3rd James Allen seems to have extra facets from what i can tell. The 4th James allen looks nice symmetry wise, but is either out of focus or a poorly cut diamond.

What does the extra facet mean? Is that a good or bad thing?

The 4th which is the highest on my list from JA does look to be out of focus to me as well.

I'll be looking a little more online to see if I can find anything else comparable, if I can't, I'll request the Idealscope images of the JA diamonds.

 

[Krod]

extra facets are not a good thing. That particular diamond is either that, or a misaligned facet. Meaning that when looking at the diamond from straight above, one of the facets doesnt face back at you the same as its partner facets.

 

[msop04]

all of them run fine on the HCA, but I would ask to see an Idealscope/Aset image of the James Allen pieces before I were to decide. The 3rd James Allen seems to have extra facets from what i can tell. The 4th James allen looks nice symmetry wise, but is either out of focus or a poorly cut diamond.

...I'd already run them through the HCA, so that's why only the screen shots. I agree that the 4th stone needs to be looked at more closely -- it could be out of focus, but you never know.

 

[msop04]

If you are not comparing side by side would it be obvious that it isn't a 1.0? Looking at the dimensions between those (being right at 6.0mm) and a 1.0 being about 6.4 we are talking .5mm at most. That to me is almost indiscernible on a ruler. I was able to look at a 1.01 and a .9 in person (I don't know the exact C's of each either) and to me side by side you could tell but you really had to study it. But not sure if you can start to tell between a .83 and a 1.0

I don't think you'd be able to tell the difference in those stones regarding size. But to clarify, 0.5 mm is A LOT when it comes to diamonds... especially in one of that size. I'll show you what I mean in a sec.

 

[msop04]

Left is 6.0 mm and right is 6.5 mm

17% difference.

 

[Gypsy]

Not enough information. We need the crown and pavilion angles, not just the table and depth measurements.

https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/Round/GIA-Certified-0-83-Carat-G-Color-VS2-Clarity-Diamond-5919MR
Beautiful in every way. BUY IT NOW.
DEPTH: 61.1%
PAVILION DEPTH: 43.0%
TABLE: 57.0%
CROWN HEIGHT: 14.5%
CROWN ANGLE: 34.5°
PAVILION ANGLE: 40.8°

http://www.jamesallen.com//loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.90-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1045349 No.
DEPTH %: 62.40
GIRDLE: Medium - Slightly Thick
TABLE %: 55.00
CULET: None
CERTIFICATE: GIA
CROWN ∠: 33.00
CROWN %: 14.50
PAVILION ∠: 41.20

http://www.jamesallen.com//loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.81-carat-g-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1091585
Nice, get an ASET or an Idealscope image
L/W RATIO: 1.01
DEPTH %: 61.40
GIRDLE: Medium - Slightly Thick
TABLE %: 57.00
CULET: None
CERTIFICATE: GIA
CROWN ∠: 35.00
CROWN %: 15.00
PAVILION ∠: 40.60

http://www.jamesallen.com//loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.82-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-623868
It's okay but I'd rather have the first one, or the other G.
L/W RATIO: 1.01
DEPTH %: 61.70
GIRDLE: Medium - Slightly Thick
TABLE %: 57.00
CULET: None
CERTIFICATE: GIA
CROWN ∠: 35.00
CROWN %: 15.00
PAVILION ∠: 40.80

http://www.jamesallen.com//loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.83-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1052105
Also nice, but I'd rather have one of the G's.
L/W RATIO: 1.01
DEPTH %: 62.10
GIRDLE: Medium - Slightly Thick
TABLE %: 56.00
CULET: None
CERTIFICATE: GIA
CROWN ∠: 35.00
CROWN %: 15.50
PAVILION ∠: 40.60

I'm personally leaning towards.
https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/Round/GIA-Certified-0-83-Carat-G-Color-VS2-Clarity-Diamond-5919MR or http://www.jamesallen.com//loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.83-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1052105