Help finding 4ct round with $35k budget

[diamondseeker2006]

I advise eliminating OECs. The primary reason is that she wants size. OECs usually face up smaller than Excellent cut round brilliants due to higher crowns and greater depth. Not to mention, OEC prices are high now. Stones below J will show a visible tint, as well. I think you are on the right track with I-J VS2-SI1 stones.

I have found a stone that is slightly outside the parameters I normally use, but the stone is huge and a decent excellent cut diamond, just not as perfect as a superideal cut. But since this is much closer to your pricepoint and better than most at that size and price, I'd recommend this stone for you.

4.02 carat (ct) GIA Round Loose Diamond J Color VS2 Clarity Excellent Cut

www.b2cjewels.com

Very similar stone just to show you the price variation and why the price above is good.

4.06 carat (ct) GIA Round Loose Diamond J Color VS2 Clarity Excellent Cut

www.b2cjewels.com

 

[Rocko78]

I agree with you diamondseeker after looking at more pix we are leaning more towards rbc now. Thanks for the 2 new options that you have linked

 

[Rocko78]

And I am now able to see what everyone has been trying to show me by the 2 stones you linked how very different the cuts make the diamond appear.
what is your opinion on the j vs2 in your first link vs the j vs1 with strong fluorescence ($30k)that was linked to previously. There is a $7k difference so I’m wondering if you think the stone with better cuts is worth the price.

 

[lovedogs]

And I am now able to see what everyone has been trying to show me by the 2 stones you linked how very different the cuts make the diamond appear.
what is your opinion on the j vs2 in your first link vs the j vs1 with strong fluorescence ($30k)that was linked to previously. There is a $7k difference so I’m wondering if you think the stone with better cuts is worth the price.

Can you link the two you are asking about? So many stones have been recommended at this point I want to make sure we are looking at the right thing.

 

[Rocko78]

4.01 carat (ct) GIA Round Loose Diamond J Color VS1 Clarity Excellent Cut

www.b2cjewels.com

4.02 carat (ct) GIA Round Loose Diamond J Color VS2 Clarity Excellent Cut

www.b2cjewels.com

 

[lovedogs]

4.01 carat (ct) GIA Round Loose Diamond J Color VS1 Clarity Excellent Cut

www.b2cjewels.com

4.02 carat (ct) GIA Round Loose Diamond J Color VS2 Clarity Excellent Cut

www.b2cjewels.com

I have read to avoid etch channels in SI1 stones and lower clarity, but it should be fine in a VS1 (hopefully someone can correct me if I'm wrong). I visually prefer the look of the 4.01.

 

[Rocko78]

I have read to avoid etch channels in SI1 stones and lower clarity, but it should be fine in a VS1 (hopefully someone can correct me if I'm wrong). I visually prefer the look of the 4.01.

Thank you! And I remember you mentioning the etch channels the first time u brought up this stone. I will look into that more

 

[lovedogs]

Thank you! And I remember you mentioning the etch channels the first time u brought up this stone. I will look into that more

Yeah, they are basically tiny little tunnels. There is some concern about durability in lower clarity grades, but VS1 should be safe.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I have read to avoid etch channels in SI1 stones and lower clarity, but it should be fine in a VS1 (hopefully someone can correct me if I'm wrong). I visually prefer the look of the 4.01.

I would think you are right about the clarity. I am okay with him buying that 4.01, but I personally prefer the cut of the 4.02 (second one) because of the 75 lower girdle facets. The video helps, too.

The only thing you need to be sure about with the 4.01 is whether she'd mind very strong blue fluorescence. I generally favor it, but most jewelers will consider it a negative (for no good reason). The main time she'd see it is when having her nails done and being under the UV light when drying her nails. It will light up like a bluish-purple bulb! There are people who will consider the stone inferior because of that. She needs to understand that part. I'd rather pay more and not have that issue if she would want to wear her rings when having her nails done. That may sound silly to some, but it's something to consider.

 

[lovedogs]

I would think you are right about the clarity. I am okay with him buying that 4.01, but I personally prefer the cut of the 4.02 (second one) because of the 75 lower girdle facets. The video helps, too.

The only thing you need to be sure about with the 4.01 is whether she'd mind very strong blue fluorescence. I generally favor it, but most jewelers will consider it a negative (for no good reason). The main time she'd see it is when having her nails done and being under the UV light when drying her nails. It will light up like a bluish-purple bulb! There are people who will consider the stone inferior because of that. She needs to understand that part. I'd rather pay more and not have that issue if she would want to wear her rings when having her nails done. That may sound silly to some, but it's something to consider.

Totally fair point! I think both are very good for the price.

 

[Rocko78]

Thank you so much guys! At least I have narrowed it down to 2

 

[yssie]

Pavilion-side etch channels are a no-go for me even in the VS clarity grades. If you are choosing a four or eight prong setting, you could either put the prongs on the bezels (which will cover the arrows but is more secure), or you could put the prongs over the UGF meets (which won’t cover the arrows, but because the UGF meet is a raised intersection, the stone may loosen over time and turn so the prongs rest on the lower, flat bezels). If you choose the latter the concentrations of etch channels will rest closer to the prong seats, but given the size of this stone and crown height it will not be possible to fully prong the etch channel areas. You could prong them with a six-prong setting.

Those channels are why that stone is listed for so much less than comparables, by the way.

 

[Rocko78]

The dealer called me back on this stone and strongly advised against this. I asked if it was because of the mentioned etch channels and he said he didn’t even look that far. The strong fluorescence was a bigger issue for him. So I found a few more to consider

 

[lovedogs]

The dealer called me back on this stone and strongly advised against this. I asked if it was because of the mentioned etch channels and he said he didn’t even look that far. The strong fluorescence was a bigger issue for him. So I found a few more to consider

Which dealer? B2C? Strong fluor is rarely an issue, but of course what @diamondseeker2006 pointed out is valid (that not everyone likes fluor). What about the other one (the VS2)?

 

[Rocko78]

Certificate

V360 Viewer

 

[Rocko78]

I called adiamor because they are local

 

[Rocko78]

http://diamanti.s3.amazonaws.com/certificates/6341880447.jpg

V360 Viewer

 

[Rocko78]

I didn’t see the vs2 on the adiamor sight so not sure if he would have been able to help. Also I dunno if there is another reason why he would have advised against it. Especially since he wasn’t considering etch channels. He recommended staying away from anything above medium fluorescence

 

[lovedogs]

I didn’t see the vs2 on the adiamor sight so not sure if he would have been able to help. Also I dunno if there is another reason why he would have advised against it. Especially since he wasn’t considering etch channels. He recommended staying away from anything above medium fluorescence

I think ruling out strong fluor is going to be tricky, especially given your other existing preferences that are already ruling out a lot of options. I would rule out the SI2, as I am concerned about the inclusions. Do you have real images of the 3.64 SI1?

 

[Rocko78]

I only have the 360 viewer on the 3.64. There are more images on the other diamond

 

[Rocko78]

I think I will try to see the strong fluorescence one anyway

 

[yssie]

Certificate

V360 Viewer

Grade-making crystal at 4 o'clock:

This crystal will sit atop the pavilion mains, which obstruct (go black) up close. Diamonds are graded face-up, so a black crystal would be black-on-black - inoffensive at close viewing distance. As soon as the stone is angled slightly, or viewing distance increases, that crystal now appears black-on-grey or black-on-white - much more visible.

Clarity grading scale is not linear relative to objective inclusion size & visibility... A given inclusion might be acceptable in a 5ct VS2 but might cause clarity of a 0.5ct to drop to SI2. A 4ct SI2 on the virtual market is extremely unlikely to be eyeclean to particular standards across all lighting environments - if it WAS the rare eyeclean SI2 of significant size tradepeople earlier in the food chain would have snatched it up long before it reached virtual inventory.

 

[yssie]

http://diamanti.s3.amazonaws.com/certificates/6341880447.jpg

V360 Viewer

Black crystal that you see in the video under the table will be visible IRL at slight tilt up-close, and the feather at the culet pavilion-side is a chip waiting to happen. Safer to be more judicious with pavilion inclusions that breach the surface or that represent fragmentation/fracture of the diamond crystal.

 

[Rocko78]

Thank you yssie

 

[yssie]

I realize I'm being a dishrag @Rocko78. The reality is that your budget is simply not enough for an excellent specimen in your desired size/colour range. It's not even high enough for "minor sacrifice" - that size is going to come at the expense of something that most buyers would consider "meaningful". The stones you are looking at are all priced the way they are because they've got flaws that impinge on durability, visible appeal (clarity/transparency/etc.), or both.

If you're okay with this type of non-trivial, non-meaningless tradeoff then you're making an educated decision, and an educated decision inherently can't be a bad decision. But you need to be making an educated decision.

 

[Rocko78]

Thank you. I understand what youre saying and I will consider either increasing my budget or maybe look closer to 3.5ct

 

[Rocko78]

And definitely my girlfriend isn’t concerned with any of these flaws. I’m just trying to make the best purchase and I appreciate all the feedback and opinions I have gotten so far

 

[lovedogs]

I realize I'm being a dishrag @Rocko78. The reality is that your budget is simply not enough for an excellent specimen in your desired size/colour range. It's not even high enough for "minor sacrifice" - that size is going to come at the expense of something that most buyers would consider "meaningful". The stones you are looking at are all priced the way they are because they've got flaws that impinge on durability, visible appeal (clarity/transparency/etc.), or both.

If you're okay with this type of non-trivial, non-meaningless tradeoff then you're making an educated decision, and an educated decision inherently can't be a bad decision. But you need to be making an educated decision.

Agreed 100%

 

[yssie]

One option: $35050 USD: https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...j-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-8405809



Not the proportions PS zeitgeist normally recommends but they will work well together, the stone spreads nicely, the slightly thick girdle (and sheer diamond size) mitigate the chipping risk of the shallow crown, and the short lower halves will enable more coloured light output across various lighting environments than longer lower halves would given these proportions. Downside, of course, is that it's a bit of a sacrifice on size.

 

[Rocko78]

https://static.adiamor.com/pdfview/45049400.pdf

3.45 Carat I VVS2 Round Brilliant Natural Diamond GIA Certified Affinity Cut - D45049400

3.45 carat, Round, I Color, VVS2 clarity, GIA Certified Diamond, Affinity Cut Natural Diamond, D45049400

www.adiamor.com

came across this one then realized it fell into my search criteria because of the fluorescence again. At least I don’t have to worry about the etch channel.