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Help finding diamond

zoli

Rough_Rock
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Feb 23, 2018
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Hi guys. After 0 sleep last night, I told my jewler to hold off on my engagement ring until I get some advice from you experts. I am looking for a 1.1-1.4 carat round diamond for a solitaire engagement ring. Budget $9000 AUD. Could you experts suggest some stones?

zoli x
 
I'm sure someone will be along to help you anytime - in the meantime, there is the PriceScope Diamond Search in the menu bar above where you can get started yourself if you choose.
 
That's $6954 USD. I'll take a quick look.

Well, I spent some time on James Allen and didn't see a stone I really liked. Their prices on their better cut stones are about as high as the superideals at WF. The best I could find is this:

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3949678.htm

I couldn't find and I color that was enough larger than the H to be worth going down in color, but there is a 1.25 J VS2 if you don't mind the color.

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3836204.htm
 
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Is that AUD9000 before or after import tax has been taken into account?
 
Hi OoohShiny - before tax :)
I think Aussie tax is 10% import tax?

Some of our Australian members will be able to confirm if they see this thread :)

If so, that will mean diamond budget will be AUD8100, or whatever that is in USD!
 
I think Aussie tax is 10% import tax?

Some of our Australian members will be able to confirm if they see this thread :)

If so, that will mean diamond budget will be AUD8100, or whatever that is in USD!
Australian tax is 10%, however I mean my budget is $9000 and the 10% will come on top :)
 
Australian tax is 10%, however I mean my budget is $9000 and the 10% will come on top :)
So your budget is $10,000 before tax and $9,000 after tax :razz:

That's cool - more to work with means more choice!
 
OP, do you care about precision cut (ie a super ideal stone from Whiteflash, CBI, BGD, etc) or are you happy with a standard GIA triple excellent that would pass the muster of us Pricescopers?
 

These arent good...
Here are the ranges to stay in
depth 60-62.3%
table 54-58%
crown 34-35 degree sometimes up to 35.5 with aset or idealscope
pavilion 40.6 - 41
crown of 34 pairs better with 41 pavilion
crown of 35 pairs better with 40.6
 
OP, do you care about precision cut (ie a super ideal stone from Whiteflash, CBI, BGD, etc) or are you happy with a standard GIA triple excellent that would pass the muster of us Pricescopers?

I am a normal woman, no diamond expert :oops: For me, I think triple ex would be fine, but at the same time, I dont want to get the bad end of a deal - if that maks sense. I am not a jewllery person, so this will be my only sparkle :)
 
Under the table, it looks to be a little dark to my eyes. 35.5/40.8 combo is alright though given GIA rounding on CA & PA’s, it could be anywhere from 35.26-35.74 degrees CA and 40.71-40.90 degrees PA wise.

Grade setting inclusion is a feather on the sides and a fair few crystals. Would be a little concerned about the comment that additional clouds not shown in the additional comments part of the report. That could impact on transparency and light performance. Other thoughts from other members to help out the OP?
 

It has potential, an ASET or Idealscope image would be best if you can get one as although from what I can tell the angles are working reasonably well together, I would want to rule out any light leakage but it is a well cut diamond as far as I can tell. I would also want to check that it's eye clean to your specifications being SI2 and as a cloud is a grade maker, you'd want to check that's not impacting transparency or brilliance, the clouds in the comments don't normally pose a problem but in this clarity grade, I'd check. There's also a cavity mentioned which is a polite word for hole, so you'd need to check that's not going to be a potential durability issue.

So it shows promise pending further evaluation and answers to the questions concerning it.
 
It has potential, an ASET or Idealscope image would be best if you can get one as although from what I can tell the angles are working reasonably well together, I would want to rule out any light leakage but it is a well cut diamond as far as I can tell. I would also want to check that it's eye clean to your specifications being SI2 and as a cloud is a grade maker, you'd want to check that's not impacting transparency or brilliance, the clouds in the comments don't normally pose a problem but in this clarity grade, I'd check. There's also a cavity mentioned which is a polite word for hole, so you'd need to check that's not going to be a potential durability issue.

So it shows promise pending further evaluation and answers to the questions concerning it.

Thank you so much @Lorelei. I just talked to BN and they said it is not eye clean, so I will take that one off the list :)
 
Thank you so much @Lorelei. I just talked to BN and they said it is not eye clean, so I will take that one off the list :)

Oh blast....well at least you know and I'm glad they got back to you so quickly.
 
I'd say no to this one Zoli for a couple of reasons, although it might be ok it looks as if this diamond might show light leakage and also in SI2 clarity, the grade is based on clouds which could negatively impact brilliance and transparency.
 
I'd say no to this one Zoli for a couple of reasons, although it might be ok it looks as if this diamond might show light leakage and also in SI2 clarity, the grade is based on clouds which could negatively impact brilliance and transparency.

Thank you so much for taking the time @Lorelei. If people buying in stores knew how much complexity there is to these stones :D
Can I ask, how can you detect leakage? Just so I dont continue posting stones that aren't worth the time :-)

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...f-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3553886 - other one.
 
Thank you so much for taking the time @Lorelei. If people buying in stores knew how much complexity there is to these stones :D
Can I ask, how can you detect leakage? Just so I dont continue posting stones that aren't worth the time :)

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...f-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3553886 - other one.

I can often tell if a stone is going to show light leakage by looking at the image, but that's because of many years of doing this and viewing thousands of diamonds, plus the angle combo. I'd be the most concerned with the grade making clouds with this diamond being problematic.
 
Thank you so much for taking the time @Lorelei. If people buying in stores knew how much complexity there is to these stones :D
Can I ask, how can you detect leakage? Just so I dont continue posting stones that aren't worth the time :)

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...f-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3553886 - other one.

Same with this one, the angle combo and grade making clouds could be a problem. Would you like us to help you search?

To help you look, run any diamonds you're interested in through the Holloway Cut Advisor, that'll weed out the steep deep potential leakies for the most part, then once you find those that score below 2, it's time to ask for images for further analysis.
 
It would be great with some help, I am obviously stabbing in the dark here :oops:

I will use the HCA tool as well. Thank you once again @Lorelei :kiss2:
 
It would be great with some help, I am obviously stabbing in the dark here :oops:

I will use the HCA tool as well. Thank you once again @Lorelei :kiss2:

You're welcome!

Did you look at the diamonds Diamondseeker posted earlier?
 
@diamondseeker2006

Thank you for the links. Will I be able to see any colour in an I/J colour? Maybe I have been listening too much to the retail stores spill about how important it is to have a D-G colour stone :roll
 
Stores like to sell high color stones that are cut like duds and then exclaim how white they are. How that's all anyone will notice. Don't mind that big iceberg in there. Nobody will notice. It is an E after all!

BS. Cut first, then probably cost (fixed Cs) then wiggle your other (variable) Cs around to fit within those two "musts". Some will take a lower color with a higher clarity. Some will go lower in clarity and higher in color. Some must have D IF, but to keep within budget and not compromise on cut, must go down in size.

Juggling.
 
Color acuity is high variable. But, people generally can detect color from the side of I color and lower. There are strategies to minimize that in how the stone is set. For your budget, you'll have to decide what is more important, especially between size and color. If you are not the intended wearer, there are a few things to consider. High color can be culturally prized, in which case you'd want to compormise the other Cs. If that is not the case, not everyone that can see color is bothered by it. But think of the wearer, are they in an artistic field for work. Do they use words like ecru, dove white, greige or is everything white or beige? Do they search for just the right shade of pink nail polish or do they go with whatever? These can give you hints to the wearer color acuity.

Here are few that are worthy of further investigation. Given that you've had a tough time finding options, I'm posting ones with solid numbers and, to the extent possible, AGS certified as they have light performance. Just keep in mind that some find AGS a bit more soft on color than GIA, but harder on cut. So, if you are concerned about color, I would not consider an AGS J.

I color
#1. https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-i-color-vs1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-2154034 {tiny inclusion on the table, but at VS1 it will be eye-clean. Excellent balance of angles; 6.63 mm)
#2. https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-i-color-vs1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-4425606 {clean table, great numbers. Cloud is a grade-setting inclusion, but at VS1 that would not worry me; 6.66 mm}
#3. https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...-color-vvs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4621032 {solid GIA stone with I VVS1; angles very good. Some might quibble with PA of 41, but with a CA in the low 34s should be good; 6.67 mm)
#4. https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...color-si1-clarity-true-hearts-cut-sku-2568939 {solid number, IS is fantastic. This is a great SI1 with a small central cloud. I'd want you to be assured that it won't impact light return; 6.57 mm}
#5. https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3577109.htm {great color, central inclusion eyeclean, but may be bothersome to some. Great numbers and a super-ideal; 1.148 H SI1}

Of these, #2 would be my favorite with #4 and 5 coming in next. Given WF's better tradeup policy, it would get the edge over 2 and 4 if you think that is likely.

Like DS, I had a hard time finding many above 1 carat with higher color in budget, so all these have compromises.

H color and above
#6. https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...h-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4518497 {solid numbers, central inclusion should be eye clean, but still might trouble some)
#7. https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...f-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4382191
#8. https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...f-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4292728

Of the higher colors, I would choose #8.

Put your top three on hold from JA. They generally only give 3 IS images per email the request is generated from.
 
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