Help choosing diamond

[webskare]

Hi all,

These forums have been really, really helpful! I am going to be proposing soon, and I want to get the PERFECT ring for my girlfriend.

She has her heart set on a particular platinum setting that she saw on Blue Nile, so I figured I would create a ring from there. My budget is about $7500, and the setting is $1100, so I think I can afford around 1.5 cts. I thought this diamond looked good, it scored excellently on the HCA: http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-search?filter_id=0&track=head#diamonds_pid=LD01376014

What do you think? Would the J color go OK with platinum? How can I make sure the diamond doesn''t have any noticeable inclusions (it''s SI2)? She won''t be staring at it with a loupe, it just needs to look fabulously beautiful on her finger!

Thanks for your help,
Scott

 

[webskare]

Any tips at all would be helpful...I need to buy something this week for my proposal plan during a very special vacation!

 

[stone-cold11]

SI range eye-cleanliness is iffy, some can be some are not.

Numbers look promising.

 

[stone-cold11]

Something like this would be safer.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1284405.asp

 

[webskare]

Thanks for your reply!

Unfortunately, I think I am locked into Blue Nile as she has her heart set on this particular setting: http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-engagement-ring-platinum_9917. She has very thin fingers and does not want something that looks too thick. Is there any way easy and quick way to get this setting and a diamond from somewhere else?

If I move up to a VS2 diamond, this one looks like a great candidate (HCA 0.6): http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-search?filter_id=0&track=head#diamonds_pid=LD01617001, and is within budget with Blue Nile''s 10% off coupon code.

Thanks,
Scott

 

[stone-cold11]

This setting looks the same as the BN.

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/Platinum-Common-Prong-Ring.html

That BN stone is not good for a ring stone, too shallow in the pavilion angle, will probably look dark to the wearer.

 

[Dreamer_D]

James Allen has the same setting: http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/Common-Prong-Engagement-Ring.html
So dos Whiteflash: http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/styles/diamond-settings/-petite-open-cathedral--engagement-ring_1211.htm

I would suggest buying from one of those vendors because they have their diamonds in house and you can easily check the eye cleanliness of the diamond and can verify the cut performance with an idealscope.

 

[webskare]

Wow, I''d been to both James Allen and Whiteflash, but I never saw those settings for some reason. Great find, guys! I''ll compare between the three sites now and see where I can get the best diamond for my money.

 

[webskare]

Stone-cold,

I am really thinking about the diamond you linked: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1284405.asp. It seems perfect in almost every factor I am looking for. But the image shows a large "spot" (crystal?) in the center, and it's very noticable. How close do you think you'd have to be to notice it? I'd hate for my GF to find it and then that's all she sees for the rest of her life...

 

[stone-cold11]

Ask JA if the stone is eye-clean, no way to tell from the loupe image or the inclusion plot.

Also ask for an idealscope image if you are interested in it.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 2/17/2010 9:10:08 AM
Author: webskare
Stone-cold,

I am really thinking about the diamond you linked: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1284405.asp. It seems perfect in almost every factor I am looking for. But the image shows a large 'spot' (crystal?) in the center, and it's very noticable. How close do you think you'd have to be to notice it? I'd hate for my GF to find it and then that's all she sees for the rest of her life...

The ONLY way to know is to ask one of James Allen's staff to look at it for you then see for yourself, VS2 should be eyeclean but there are exceptions, discuss the stone with them to see if the inclusion is visible.

 

[soocool]

I bought my 1.51 J round brilliant and setting from James Allen. I worked with Darin. They are great! If you purchase make sure you mention the Pricescope Price and you''ll save bucks on the diamond.

 

[webskare]

Finally got the IdealScope back from JA (attached). To me it looks like perfect arrows, but I''d love some feedback. Is it a good buy?

 

[stone-cold11]

Yap, IS looks good.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 2/24/2010 6:06:36 PM
Author: webskare
Finally got the IdealScope back from JA (attached). To me it looks like perfect arrows, but I''d love some feedback. Is it a good buy?

Very nice image!

 

[yssie]

Very nice IS

 

[webskare]

I just bought the ring! I''m really excited to see what it looks like now.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1284405.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/Platinum-Common-Prong-Ring.html

Thanks for all your help everyone! Wish me luck!

 

[Lorelei]

Best of luck!!

 

[stone-cold11]

Good luck.