Help choosing diamond

[cambit]

narrowed my selection down to 3 stones:

stone 1 - has a reference diagram like an infested 1 month old bacteria culture. but couple thousand cheaper
stone 2 - same clarity as stone 1, but prettier diagram
stone 3 - same price as two, but lower color grade.

thanks for taking a time to critique these. i'm a first time purchaser and this website has provided a wealth of knowledge.

 

[Mrs.W 514]

Well not really knowing what matters to your gf most in terms of the 4 C's I would call blue nile and see if these three diamonds are eye clean. Personally I am fine with a scary GIA diagram as long as I can't see the inclusions with my naked eye, I don't really have the mind clean issue. I also don't mind lower colored stones so I would sacrifice a color grade or two for a little more diamond, my favorite color is actually M! If its eye clean I would go with the 1.55 ct stone because it is a great cut and much less than the other two stones, you can spend the extra money on a stunning setting You aren't really going to notice a size difference but you will notice the quality and workmanship or great pave vs ok pave.
Happy Searching

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I really hate to sound like I am anti-BN, but I am anti- any site that does not at least provide photos of the stone and preferably idealscope images. You need to see magnified images because sometimes just the photo will make you rule out a stone if it has a black inclusion right in the center of the stone, for example. You just cannot tell from a grading report. A VS1 stone will always be safe, but SI stones have to be carefully evaluated. I always recommend Good Old Gold, WhiteFlash, and Brian Gavin because they have the most information, and James Allen next after those.

 

[cambit]

thanks, I will check out those other sites you mentioned.

 

[alicegingle]

i like second one.