HELP Deciding between these two (or offer suggestions!)

[markg84]

Hi everyone! First off I want to thank everyone for their help and advice so far. I'm coming down to the wire and these are my two favorites. My price limit was supposed to be around $15,000 for the diamond. I'm wanting to propose to my woman sooner rather than later so any help is great.

I would also love advice on whether it's better to purchase via wire or via credit card (Amex).

1. http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.60-carat-I-color-VS1-clarity-Excellent-cut-sku-87352
1.6 I VS1 Excellent Cut; $14,280

HCA: LR=Ex, Fire=Ex, Scint=Ex, Spread=VG; Total=1.3

Pros: Super clean looking diamond; IS is available and (to my untrained eye) seems to look okay, I've attached it.
Cons: Not terribly much, but it's smaller and color isn't as good as my other option

2. http://www.b2cjewels.com//dd-3435859-1.68-carat-Round-diamond-H-color-VS2-clarity.aspx
1.68 H VS2 Excellent Cut; $15,140

HCA: LR=Ex, Fire=Ex, Scint=Ex, Spread=VG; Total = 1.6

Pros: Color! Size! and it seems like most inclusions are not visible to the naked eye
Cons: Lots of inclusions (that to me arent visible?) and no idealscope from this dealer despite me nagging at them. They did send me an image of the diamond though.

Please help and give reasoning for why I should pick one over the other. I'm planning on doing a relatively simple band that looks like this PS user's: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/id-jewelry-sleek-micro-pave-1-28-rb-hand-shots.185759/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/id-jewelry-sleek-micro-pave-1-28-rb-hand-shots.185759/[/URL]

If anyone has a better recommendation for a similar/better diamond in my price range ($15000), that would be welcome as well!!

Thanks!

Many thanks!

Note: the Idealscope is of #1, and the photo is of #2

 

[markg84]

Also does anyone have strong opinions regarding jamesallen vs b2c?

 

[Gypsy]

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.60-carat-g-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-78632 I like this one.

Your best value is at G SI1. And JA has a really nice setting selection now.

 

[markg84]

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.60-carat-g-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-78632 I like this one.

Your best value is at G SI1. And JA has a really nice setting selection now.

Man those inclusions seem incredibly obvious even on the picture though

 

[04diamond<3]

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.60-carat-g-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-78632 I like this one.

Your best value is at G SI1. And JA has a really nice setting selection now.

Man those inclusions seem incredibly obvious even on the picture though

The inclusions look fine, but I'd be more concerned with the 3.7 HCA score on this stone...I like your first option better and the idealscope looks great.

 

[SMC]

If you could get JA to check to see if this is eye clean, this one is cheaper. And it's an F. It's 1.7 on the HCA but it is one of the 60/60 diamonds which I think means it will give off more white light (vs rainbow flashes). I can totally understand if you're not comfortable going with a SI2 though.

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.70-carat-f-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-184726

 

[markg84]

^ This is another one that seems to have very many occlusions that are visible, at least from the image they posted. That sort of thing tends to scare me way!

 

[markg84]

I like your first option better and the idealscope looks great.

Thanks for the input! I seem to be leaning in that direction as well. I'm really bummed that B2C does not have an Idealscope for me to look at, but I suppose in some circles the image may be enough..

 

[SMC]

^ This is another one that seems to have very many occlusions that are visible, at least from the image they posted. That sort of thing tends to scare me way!

Yeah, I understand. But the real diamond is much smaller so the inclusions aren't going to be as apparent (if they are visible). JA does check to see if it's eye clean or not though.

But - like I said, it could be a mind thing for you. Lots of people aren't comfortable dropping below a VS2 and that's completely ok!