head hurts from trying to find the right round brilliant

[catalog]

Hi everyone. I could use your expertise in purchasing an engagement ring. I was browsing around on JA and playing with the HCA tool. I found PS and just found out about WF, ASET and AGS. Now I feel lost. I am located in Los Angeles by the way.

What I'm looking for:

• Total budget including setting: 3k-5k
• 0.8-1.0
  
• K (not sure about this though)
  
• SI1 or higher
• Tiffany setting
• white gold? platinum?

This was the best thing I found on JA.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...excellent-cut-sku-3883251?a_aid=55f8cd4e21a11

Can you tell me why I should or should not buy this diamond? What should I be looking for in my search? Any examples would really be appreciated.

Thanks a ton!

 

[TreeScientist]

The one you selected has Very Good polish and symmetry. It would not be the best performer in terms of light performance. Most people on this site would recommend a diamond with excellent in all categories (cut, polish, and symmetry).

Check out this one. It has a clear crystal on the table but would still be eye clean. Fits your budget and search criteria:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3593064

 

[Snowdrop13]

I don’t think I would go as low as a K for an e-ring unless you know the recipient is ok with a bit of tint, is this for you?

Here are a couple of I coloured stones,

This one has med blue fluo but has a nice small table, good numbers and is from Canada, James Allen is having a sale so you’d save a bit on the setting

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3593064

If you want a superideal cut, this is in budget,

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3947684.htm

 

[jadesilver]

You’re in LA! Concierge Diamonds is also in LA and here’s a review written by another PSer: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-journey-with-pictures.223981/ His prices are similar to James Allen pricing and his settings (all custom settings and he can make a Tiffany setting) are also on par with JA prices. I’d visit his office (he has natural light) and look at some of the diamonds he has in person if I were you, could be an option. And if you’re on Reddit, he has a ton of reviews on Reddit/on the Internet in general. He also has a 100% diamond trade-in guarantee (if you want to upgrade your diamond in future) which I thought was pretty valuable.

I think you should talk with your fiancée and take her to see some Ks in person. If she is happy with Ks and the way they face up white, you could get an even bigger stone for the same amount of money. Maybe show her some SI2s as well to see if she finds them eye clean - Concierge Diamonds showed me an SI2 that was eye clean and I do own an SI2 that, to me and my husband even after a lot of squinting under super bright LED light, is surprisingly eye clean. So seeing an SI2 in person, if it’s eye clean to you and your fiancée, could save you money.

WF would be another choice where you can’t go wrong, but personally if I had a very specific budget and had to pick between a smaller, outstandingly sparkly super ideal cut stone, vs. a visibly larger, decently sparkly ideal cut stone, I’d go for the second. That’s why I gave up my super ideal cut for an ideal cut and I am happy with the sparkliness.

Everyone is different though, some women might prefer a smaller stone. I do think most people notice size first though.

 

[catalog]

Thanks a lot for the quick replies.

This helps a lot. I think she would prefer a larger, decently sparkly ideal cut stone.

I think I will look into I instead of K, .90 instead of .80 and ideal instead of super ideal.

Do you recommend any tiffany settings?

I might check out the guy in LA tomorrow. Thanks for the recommendation.