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SDSU_Alum

Rough_Rock
Joined
Aug 2, 2012
Messages
3
Hey all,

I'm shopping for an engagement ring and just when I thought I had it all figured out, a few post reads later and my priorities have shifted. A big thanks to everyone on the site for all of your knowledge, it has help tremendously. I figure I'll start with what I'm looking for:

Cut: Princess, Very Good+
Carat: 1.3-1.6
Color: I+
Clarity: SI2+
Budget: $6-8k

Been shopping around for the past month and now its just become a decision game of which C's to trade off. Here are some diamonds that I've narrowed down (in no particular order) so chime in with your likes/dislikes!

#1 - http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1511951.asp
Cost 7900
Carat 1.27
Cut Excellent
Color E
Clarity SI1

#2 - http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1510006.asp
Cost 7100
Carat 1.29
Cut Ideal
Color H
Clarity VS2

#3 - http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-own-diamond-ring?pt=findsimilar&builder=BYOR&forceStep=DIAMONDS_STEP#diamonds_forceStep=DIAMONDS_STEP|builder=BYOR|pid=LD02712184
Cost 6500
Carat 1.3
Cut Very Good
Color I
Clarity VVS2

#4 - http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-own-diamond-ring?pt=findsimilar&builder=BYOR&forceStep=DIAMONDS_STEP#diamonds_forceStep=DIAMONDS_STEP|builder=BYOR|pid=LD02622319
Cost 7700
Carat 1.37
Cut Very Good
Color E
Clarity SI2

#5 - http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Very-Good-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1507087.asp
Cost 8200
Carat 1.51
Cut Very Good
Color I
Clarity VS2

My preference is to go big with the 1.51 carat (#5) since it still has a great cut but also has the size. Thoughts?

Kevin
 
I don't know a lot about princess cuts, but I'll throw another option out there:

http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/9234/

Good Old Gold carries some amazing branded cuts -- you can check them all out on their "Diamond Search" page. The advantage of the branded cut is that you know what you're getting -- great light performance. I know this one is a J, so a little out of your color range. The page says "call for price," but if you click on the "reserve diamond" button, you can see how much it is listed for.

ETA: That EGL-graded stone is way cheaper for a reason. I would not buy an EGL-graded SI2 -- you're likely to end up with an I1 or I2. Also, that website doesn't have pictures of the stone or the grading report posted for that stone, so you have no idea what the inclusions are really like. People here will recommend only buying diamonds from vendors that can give you actual pictures of the stone before purchase.
 
Some more thoughts:

The 1.51 that you like from James Allen has a length to width ratio of 1.07, making it slightly rectangular. For square stones, you want between 1.00 and 1.05, I don't know if that would bother you or not. It also has a thick to very thick girdle, which may eat up some of the carat weight and make the stone appear smaller for its size.

With the Blue Nile stones, you can't see pictures which isn't recommended when buying a fancy cut like a princess. The 1.37 from Blue Nile has a very thin to slightly thick girdle. Because of chipping issues, very thin girdles aren't recommended on princess cuts, so this one would probably have to be examined to see how much of the girdle could be affected. The inclusion plot on that one is a little daunting, so you would want to make sure that this one is eyeclean (I don't think Blue Nile will do that for you).

I like the 1.29 from James Allen the best. It's graded as an AGS0 - ideal - will have very small inclusions, and has good color.
 
Definitely this 1.29 H VS from JA...that 62% table should make a beautiful princess cut. If you look at the cuts of the Solasfera's on good old gold you will see they all have the smaller tables in the high 50% range. So hard to find princess cuts like these. Get an ASET from JA on that 1.29...the faceting is nice too...looks like a "solasfera" faceting to me....so interesting and hard to find. i would put this stone on hold if you are ready to buy.


#2 - http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1510006.asp
Cost 7100
Carat 1.29
Cut Ideal
Color H
Clarity VS2

solasfera on GOG:
http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/9234/
 
Thank you both for the great comments! A lot of things I havent thought about so thank you for bringing those items to light!

Kevin
 
A princess diamond tends to show color and inclusions easier than a round diamond, particularly in the larger sizes. You may have to go up in clarity to find a eyeclean 1.50 princess. Eyeclean SI-2 diamonds are not easy to find for brillant rounds, even more of a challenge in a princess cut. Does your girl prefer any particular color range? Or is she OK with warmer tinted diamond colors? Hint here--Try to find out. Princess cuts have thin delicate corners,prone to chip off especially when being set. Plan on jewelry insurance forever. Look for diamonds that not thin or very thin at the girdle. Cut. Start at GIA excellent or even better AGS zero. Cut gives every diamond it sparkle, buy the best cut possible. Most people would prefer a smaller sparkly diamond over a larger dead looking diamond. A lot of princess cut diamonds are not very lively. I would look at online vendors who can show photos, Aset images, Sarin data which can make it easier to understand how much it will sparkle when you see it with your own two eyes. Try Whiteflash, Good Old Gold, Infinity. Any ideas of which settings your girl likes? The easiest path is buy your diamond and setting at the same time from the same vendor. Hope this helps and Happy Hunting!!! :)
 
bagelboy|1344241145|3246705 said:
A princess diamond tends to show color and inclusions easier than a round diamond, particularly in the larger sizes.
Click to expand...


I'm not sure I agree with this. They are really good at hiding inclusions actually. Color, I agree, especially in the corners, but inclusions not so much.
 
GIA doesn't offer a cut grade for princess cuts, so I would stick to AGS, it will make selection much easier unless you are buying a branded cut. I'd consider WF.
 
Of your options above, I'd go with #1. From GOG, I'd go with this:
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8908/

I have a princess 3 stone - .51E/1.06F/.52E - and I love princess diamonds, so I have a soft spot for them! I prefer the GOG above to your JA's. BUt thats just me.... ;))
 
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