shape
carat
color
clarity

Help finding a good diamond ($2000)

pdacayo

Rough_Rock
Joined
Aug 16, 2017
Messages
4
Hi guys,

I am in need of your expertise in picking a great diamond for my budget (around $2000).

Here's the specs I am going for:

Shape: Round
Color: At least H
Carat: Around .7
Cut: Ideal/Excellent
Clarity: Looking for eye clean

I'm currently looking at JA's website (they have a really good site for diamonds!) and came across this one:

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...f-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2870816

I've used the HCA tool and this shows excellent on LR, Fire, Scintillation and very good on spread.

I was told by live chat that this is eye clean but they are unable to provide IS images as the diamond is not in NY (or somewhere along those lines?).

Open to suggestions! Thank you!
 
Hi OP, I am by no means an expert and there are many more people on here who will be able to help you out. But I would be cautious about an SI2 with a cloud as its first charity characteristic. The first diamond I bought from JA was an SI1 with cloud and it looked great in the pictures on the website, the JA people reassured me it was eye clean, but when it arrived it was very obviously clouded and we had to send it back. Just my 2c :) good luck with your search!
 
Just an update, I got a few more diamonds that I've received at least a photo/video for - I've ran all the 3 pass the HCA tool and they all look good.

1. https://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=7256646875

464678-1a9d48e000a7e7d339764aa175f56a74.jpg


Not sure if this one is going to be eye clean.

2. https://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=2185233970

Here's the video: http://diamonds.kirangems.com/GemKOnline/DiaSearch/VisionViewer/Vision360.html?d=2185233970

464679-38f766c14cc5c655d5a831b3f5e229f6.jpg


Jeweller's comments: beautiful diamond, amazing lustre, white colour, but with black inclusions on the table and sides, white inclusions on the table. 95% eye clean

3. https://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=5181322036

Here's the video: http://diamonds.kirangems.com/GemKOnline/DiaSearch/VisionViewer/Vision360.html?d=5181322036


464680-a0935288c88ddb42508e14ca1f649b85.jpg


Jeweller's comments: looks ok, normal SI2 inclusion level 95-99% eye clean.
 
Hi OP, I am by no means an expert and there are many more people on here who will be able to help you out. But I would be cautious about an SI2 with a cloud as its first charity characteristic. The first diamond I bought from JA was an SI1 with cloud and it looked great in the pictures on the website, the JA people reassured me it was eye clean, but when it arrived it was very obviously clouded and we had to send it back. Just my 2c :) good luck with your search!

Thanks for the tip! Yea the diamond fomr JA kinda looks like it will be eye clean to me as well but maybe the experts can verify that.
 
I agree with @ratatat. These areas won't be eye-clean or fully covered by a prong. I looked through other SI2 trying to stay with an H, but I didn't see much eye-clean. So, you will need to make some trades between color and carats.
upload_2017-8-23_8-37-8.png

This would be my top suggestion if you want G or H and can live with SI2. While black, the inclusion at 8'oclock is less visible.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...g-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2380869

Here are a few options to look at. Once you narrow the choices down, ask for an IS (but JA will only allow 3). Below, I lowered the color to see your options that still remain well cut and should be eyeclean. You need to make the trades you feel good about.

#1. https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3312407 {This is well cut, with a bit of a brown vs. yellow tone -- which some prefer. Ask if it is eyeclean}

#2. https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3130165 {No worries about clarity, color very white; slight yellow - which I prefer over brown}

#3. https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...-color-vvs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2744425 {clarity is beautiful and it looks bright and lively -- the J color lets you get a bigger size; more a brown than yellow tone}

#4. https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...j-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3161891 {May be eye-clean. Ask. But, you gain size. More color visible than #1 & #2).

Are you open to pre-owned rings?
http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/1-31tcw-round-brilliant-diamond-wedding-set-est-to-be-h-si2 {says eyeclean, reputable vendor.82 and set for $2650. Easily resized and you get two bands!)
 
I agree with @ratatat. These areas won't be eye-clean or fully covered by a prong. I looked through other SI2 trying to stay with an H, but I didn't see much eye-clean. So, you will need to make some trades between color and carats.

That's what I was thinking. I actually don't mind going down to .6x carat if I can get a better quality diamond.

This would be my top suggestion if you want G or H and can live with SI2. While black, the inclusion at 8'oclock is less visible.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...g-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2380869

Here are a few options to look at. Once you narrow the choices down, ask for an IS (but JA will only allow 3). Below, I lowered the color to see your options that still remain well cut and should be eyeclean. You need to make the trades you feel good about.

I'll look into this ones!

Are you open to pre-owned rings?
http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/1-31tcw-round-brilliant-diamond-wedding-set-est-to-be-h-si2 {says eyeclean, reputable vendor.82 and set for $2650. Easily resized and you get two bands!)

Not at the moment but I'll consider them if I can't get anything nice within my budget.


What do you think of the ones I posted in post #3?

Thanks for your help so far!
 
with a stone under 1ct, i think the compromise of an I colored stone for a little more size is a good one. I wouldn't go with a J unless you KNOW the tint from the size won't bug her. That .67ct rockysalamander posted is just :love: :drool: :love: :drool:

What color do you plan to set the stone in?

Not crazy about the ones you posted, if i had to choose i'd go with the third but it looks really fuzzy in the video. Could be the video quality or could be a result of the SI2 inclusions.

more options, in no particular order:
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD08779761 just need to ask about the inclusions/eye clean?
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-h-color-si1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-2299773
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3125061 I highly doubt the table inclusion will be visible but ask just to be sure.

as a side note, you can always give Yekutiel at ID Jewelry a call and see what he can find for you. They are really great with a tight budget and always seem to beat everyone's pricing. You can get IS images and post here if you want help with selections.
 
I too keep going back to that .67 I from JA. Very pretty. There is something so lively about it.

@pdacayo Don't trust the shipping dates that will pop up from JA. They just had a big sale and lots of delays as a result. So, don't plan on receiving the stone on the schedule they tell you. They are a good seller, but they are running behind. If you need a firm timeline, you can contact ID Jewelry and see if they can get that .67 I for you. They are open today, so give them a call. You don't want to risk losing that diamond if you love it...stocks are low so demand high. Three of us all like it, so I think its a winner. If Yuketiel can get that stone, he can provide an IS (tell them PS sent you!).

ID Jewelry, New York.
https://idjewelry.com/
212-921-9372
 
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