Help finding a smaller diamond on a budget

[Najo]

Hi!

I hope you can help me find a pretty diamond on a budget. I'm just looking for something for my own birthday lol.

I'd like to buy from James Allen.

Preferably a cushion cut but my second option is a RB.

Budget around 500-800$.
Carat 0,4 and up.

 

[tyty333]

A really nice stone at the top of your budget...really depends on what look you like in a cushion.
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.51-carat-k-color-if-clarity-sku-951238

Another nice stone.
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.50-carat-k-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-822316

JA has several cushions with fat X's if you like that look. I think it would look nice in a smaller stone.
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.40-carat-k-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-792528
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.56-carat-k-color-vs1-clarity-sku-849848 biggest I could find

Here is a J that might be nice. It has some leakage on the edge of the table but not sure if it will show up in real life.
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-modified-cut/0.52-carat-j-color-vs2-clarity-sku-748105

Possible rounds...they have lots of 60/60 type stones with lower crowns in your budget. What is this stone for?

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.45-carat-k-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1004885
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.44-carat-j-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-689613

 

[msop04]

If you'd like a cushion or a round cut stone, I would shoot for a 60/60 round. Rounds tend to face up larger than cushions, and 60/60 rounds typically have an even larger spread than those with smaller tables.

 

[msop04]

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.45-carat-k-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1004885
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.44-carat-j-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-689613

Great finds, tyty! I really like the K stone better -- the facets are crisp, and I truly don't think the color will be an issue at all at this size.

OP, I think K color is a great compromise for you, especially in a well cut round stone. Niel's 5 stone ring has K colored stones, and it looks very white. I believe her center is about a 0.75-0.85, so a stone in the 0.5 ct range will definitely face up white.

Is this for an engagement ring or a pendant?

 

[msop04]

I really liked this one as well... it's at the top of the budget, but scores well on the HCA (0., and just almost hits the 5 mm mark at 4.98.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.45-carat-k-color-vvs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-788620

 

[Najo]

Wow thank you guys! I think I will go for a cushion after all!

Would these be safe without asets?

 

[msop04]

Wow thank you guys! I think I will go for a cushion after all!

Would these be safe without asets?

I would want an ASET with a cushion, yes.

 

[Najo]

Cushions never home with AGS certificate?
I don't really have the time to request asets :/ going to nyc tomorrow on holiday.

 

[msop04]

Cushions never home with AGS certificate?
I don't really have the time to request asets :/ going to nyc tomorrow on holiday.

You can't buy fancies based on the numbers/cert. That is only true for rounds, as there really is no "Excellent/Ideal" for cushions.

Seeing them is definitely a plus if you can tell apart the good from the bad.

 

[msop04]

Najo, how to you plan on setting this diamond? The reason I ask is because if you're considering a halo, the best idea is to get a round stone and do a soft cushion halo setting. That's what I had on my old ering. Almost everyone thought it was a cushion.

There are several PS members who have similar "round-in-cushiony" halos... Here is mine.

 

[Najo]

That is really pretty! I never thought about setting a RB into a halo but this is beautiful!

I would like to ask for asets but I won't have time to wait for the images

 

[Najo]

Both RB are sold now wasn't quick enough to decide!

Any other options? Please

 

[msop04]

Both RB are sold now wasn't quick enough to decide!

Any other options? Please

You have to hold any potential stones at James Allen… They will get sold if not.

 

[Najo]

I know. But I was considering a cushion until a saw your RB halo setting

 

[msop04]

That's okay... We can find some more. [emoji1360]

 

[msop04]

I also wanted to add that the cushion halo will make the round appear larger then if you did a round halo. [emoji57]

 

[msop04]

Would you consider K color with fluorescence?

 

[msop04]

Oops! Just remembered that's what we were looking at! [emoji16]

 

[msop04]

Ok... What metal were you wanting? White, yellow, or rose?

 

[msop04]

Another thing... A halo setting that is more flush (diamond set lower, only barely exposing the girdle) will mask any side time and make the stone appear whiter bc you'll only be seeing it from the face up position.

 

[msop04]

Example: this is as tinted as my stone ever looked... from this angle. Notice how low it's set.

 

[msop04]

This is what I'd see 95% of the time.

Mine is a 2.43 J, so a 0.4-0.5 K will be WHITE.

 

[msop04]

OP, this stone stone is still available -- put it on hold NOW!

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.45-carat-k-color-vvs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-788620

 

[Najo]

I'm not worried about color. My ERnis white gold with a J colored RB. So a little yellow doesn't bother me

I've asked JA about that one, I hope they can ship faster though! I will be in NYC from tomorrow and one week and I want to pick it up there. (If I have it shipped to my home the tax is high )

 

[Najo]

This one is located overseas so they can't deliver it while I'm in nyc ((

 

[msop04]

This one is located overseas so they can't deliver it while I'm in nyc ((

How much longer will you be in NYC?

 

[msop04]

Sorry. Just saw your other post.

Is it imperative that you get it while you're there?

 

[msop04]

If you live in the US, there shouldn't be any tax to ship.

 

[Najo]

No I live in Europe, so it's about 25% extra in tax

 

[Queenie60]

OP - may I suggest that if you're in NYC, you should stop by IDJ to see if they can help you find what you're looking for. Yekutiel is very helpful and quite resourceful. Just a suggestion. Have fun in NYC and hope you find a nice stone.