HELP for a $15k 2ct+ Round Diamond

[Emeraldcutlover]

Hi All-

I was hoping to get some expert help from those of you who are familiar with excellent performing Round Brilliant Diamonds.

This is for a good friend who will be proposing as soon as I can find the right stone.


I found these few on line and was hoping you could weigh in. I apologize for not loading the videos (have photos and GIA) but will try and figure out how to do it.

His max budget is $15k for the stone.

He wants a traditional Harry Winston style with baguette sides and a double claw (4 prong) set. In Platinum.

She has size 7 fingers (therefore he is looking for as much presence as possible).

The setting style is non negotiable. I tried for a bezel or halo. Lol.

My thoughts were perhaps a I or J w Med to Strong Fl (non hazy) with SI (clean) stone w the best cut. Even a K if white looking.

I have read that brilliants hide color best (not necessarily from side but at looking directly at)?

Thoughts on these:

 

[Emeraldcutlover]

PS. Not sure why it didn’t post in order. The first Photo with the 2.20Ct /VS1 w Med Fl goes with the 4th one down (8.31x8.36). * as there are 2 w 2.20 and wanted to make sure you saw each coordinating report.

Please feel free to recommend something different. Thank you again.

QUOTE="Emeraldcutlover, post: 4678065, member: 53499"]
Hi All-

I was hoping to get some expert help from those of you who are familiar with excellent performing Round Brilliant Diamonds.

This is for a good friend who will be proposing as soon as I can find the right stone.


I found these few on line and was hoping you could weigh in. I apologize for not loading the videos (have photos and GIA) but will try and figure out how to do it.

His max budget is $15k for the stone.

He wants a traditional Harry Winston style with baguette sides and a double claw (4 prong) set. In Platinum.

She has size 7 fingers (therefore he is looking for as much presence as possible).

The setting style is non negotiable. I tried for a bezel or halo. Lol.

My thoughts were perhaps a I or J w Med to Strong Fl (non hazy) with SI (clean) stone w the best cut. Even a K if white looking.

I have read that brilliants hide color best (not necessarily from side but at looking directly at)?

Thoughts on these:

Hi All-

I was hoping to get some expert help from those of you who are familiar with excellent performing Round Brilliant Diamonds.

This is for a good friend who will be proposing as soon as I can find the right stone.


I found these few on line and was hoping you could weigh in. I apologize for not loading the videos (have photos and GIA) but will try and figure out how to do it.

His max budget is $15k for the stone.

He wants a traditional Harry Winston style with baguette sides and a double claw (4 prong) set. In Platinum.

She has size 7 fingers (therefore he is looking for as much presence as possible).

The setting style is non negotiable. I tried for a bezel or halo. Lol.

My thoughts were perhaps a I or J w Med to Strong Fl (non hazy) with SI (clean) stone w the best cut. Even a K if white looking.

I have read that brilliants hide color best (not necessarily from side but at looking directly at)?

Thoughts on these:

[/QUOTE]

 

[Rockcollector]

I’m no expert but I wouldn’t go for any of these stones as they won’t offer the maximum sparkle. i went to Brian Gavin website as they are having a sale until
feb 14. They offer ideal cut diamonds. For example there is an I colored 1.82 ct that lists for 16,110. With 14% off, the cost is 13,854. Not quite 2 carats but I’m sure it’s beautiful. Of course there are many other stones to choose from and they are a great company to order from.

 

[AV_]

For proportions without any consideration of symmetry, there is the HCA. This format of video does not make me happy - the diamonds look as unreal as they do via reflecto tools, excep here there are no rules to read them.

I need to think through what I am seeing, rather than see, and the result is a guess - not good enough to tell.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

You may need to start over and use these numbers to help you get within the range of ideal cut stones. I would choose none of the ones above. I'd stick with I color, too.

Table: 54-57

Depth: 60-62.3

Crown angle: 34-35.0 (can go up to 35.5 with a 40.6 pavilion angle)

Pavilion angle: 40.6-40.9

 

[diamondseeker2006]

This is a fantastic stone just under 2 cts. I understand if he really wants the number 2, though. But this is a superior cut GIA ex cut stone.

Diamond | 1.90 ct I VS2 Premium Select Round Cut Loose Diamond GIA Certified | 4190593

This fabulous 1.90 carat Round Excellent cut diamond has a clarity grade of VS2 and color grade of I.It is an excellent choice for diamond engagement rings or other fine diamond jewelry. | 4190593

www.whiteflash.com

 

[Emeraldcutlover]

This is a fantastic stone just under 2 cts. I understand if he really wants the number 2, though. But this is a superior cut GIA ex cut stone.

Diamond | 1.90 ct I VS2 Premium Select Round Cut Loose Diamond GIA Certified | 4190593

This fabulous 1.90 carat Round Excellent cut diamond has a clarity grade of VS2 and color grade of I.It is an excellent choice for diamond engagement rings or other fine diamond jewelry. | 4190593

www.whiteflash.com

Thank you so much for those that chimes in! I would look at Brian also - and @diamondseeker2006 - that looks stunning. He really was looking to maximize also due to her finger size (that’s why he would do a SI1 but eye clean) to help perhaps push up in mm size. Any other thoughts? Will a J w Med Fl not look white? This is a beautiful stone. I’ll show him but I know he really wants a tad under 15 and if spent that wants a bigger coverage. Perhaps this is not achievable given his budget.

 

[Emeraldcutlover]

I’m no expert but I wouldn’t go for any of these stones as they won’t offer the maximum sparkle. i went to Brian Gavin website as they are having a sale until
feb 14. They offer ideal cut diamonds. For example there is an I colored 1.82 ct that lists for 16,110. With 14% off, the cost is 13,854. Not quite 2 carats but I’m sure it’s beautiful. Of course there are many other stones to choose from and they are a great company to order from.

. Thank you! I will take a look. Unfortunately- he really needs a bit more for size 7 finger coverage. Thank you again!

 

[whitewave]

I have a size 7.25 finger and a 2 carat would be a lot of ring for me.

I wanted to also remind you to check mm sizes instead of carat weight.

Is he absolutely set on 2 carats... 2?

Has she seen a J colored stone and she is ok with it?

 

[whitewave]

Thank you so much for those that chimes in! I would look at Brian also - and @diamondseeker2006 - that looks stunning. He really was looking to maximize also due to her finger size (that’s why he would do a SI1 but eye clean) to help perhaps push up in mm size. Any other thoughts? Will a J w Med Fl not look white? This is a beautiful stone. I’ll show him but I know he really wants a tad under 15 and if spent that wants a bigger coverage. Perhaps this is not achievable given his budget.

With his budget, something has to give. If he wants size above all else, then I’d call Martin at USA certified diamonds as his prices are bottom line. https://usacerteddiamonds.com/

Also, I’d call David at Diamonds by Lauren as he can source eye clean SI2 and even 1i Diamonds (my first ER was an eye clean I1 and you could only see the inclusions from underneath the ring).

 

[whitewave]

Whether a J is white or not depends on the eyes looking at it. I have keen eyes for yellow, and while I do love yellow diamonds, to me I’d rather have an O-Z color or Fancy yellow over JKL etc. (even though I have a M color travel ring).

But that is me.

What does SHE like? Does SHE think a J has too much yellow tint?

 

[mrs-b]

Hi @Emeraldcutlover

So - let's bite the bullet on these right off the bat; horrible stats - all of them. Mushy faceting pattern. Wouldn't buy any of them. Like - seriously.

For the budget as is, I'd buy this. It's a K color, nice and clean, well cut, .7 HCA, and BIG:

2.30-Carat Round Cut Diamond | Blue Nile

www.bluenile.com

Ok, so it's a K. But if he's even considering a bezel setting, this would be a PERFECT diamond for a yellow gold bezel! Yellow gold bezels eat tint for breakfast! For example - here's a photo of my K colored diamonds in a yellow gold bezel:









In my opinion, K colored diamonds in yellow gold bezel settings are the very best value you can get. There are beautifully cut K's out there, and if, like me, you like a bezel setting, then you can get big finger coverage for a reasonable price tag.

The diamond I tagged, in a bezel setting, would have at least a 10mm diameter. A size 7 finger, while not small, is also not that large (it's the standard Costco sizing for rings, for example), and 10mm will give a LOT of presence and look like a BIG ring. Apart from which - aw heck! - a 2.3ct diamond which isn't cut that deep IS a big diamond! And if you did a HALO - you'd be looking at around 12mm in diameter, and that's a VERY big ring!

So - there you have it - my best suggestions.

 

[Emeraldcutlover]

Whether a J is white or not depends on the eyes looking at it. I have keen eyes for yellow, and while I do love yellow diamonds, to me I’d rather have an O-Z color or Fancy yellow over JKL etc. (even though I have a M color travel ring).

But that is me.

What does SHE like? Does SHE think a J has too much yellow tint?

Hi @whitewave - Thank you so much for your help! I hear you loud and clear. He is willing to sacrifice certain things... but cut is king. Also- mm size is what I have been looking at (however, anything I have seen that is under 2.05 is in under 8mm and he really would like to be atleast that ++++ He is also willing to do a SI 1 or 2 but must be completely eye clean. I looked at Brian Gavin’s and anything on sale is his signature and they are all in the 1.7 range and at the higher end of price. Beautiful!!!! But just not large enough.

 

[Emeraldcutlover]

Hi @Emeraldcutlover

So - let's bite the bullet on these right off the bat; horrible stats - all of them. Mushy faceting pattern. Wouldn't buy any of them. Like - seriously.

For the budget as is, I'd buy this. It's a K color, nice and clean, well cut, .7 HCA, and BIG:

2.30-Carat Round Cut Diamond | Blue Nile

www.bluenile.com

Ok, so it's a K. But if he's even considering a bezel setting, this would be a PERFECT diamond for a yellow gold bezel! Yellow gold bezels eat tint for breakfast! For example - here's a photo of my K colored diamonds in a yellow gold bezel:









In my opinion, K colored diamonds in yellow gold bezel settings are the very best value you can get. There are beautifully cut K's out there, and if, like me, you like a bezel setting, then you can get big finger coverage for a reasonable price tag.

The diamond I tagged, in a bezel setting, would have at least a 10mm diameter. A size 7 finger, while not small, is also not that large (it's the standard Costco sizing for rings, for example), and 10mm will give a LOT of presence and look like a BIG ring. Apart from which - aw heck! - a 2.3ct diamond which isn't cut that deep IS a big diamond! And if you did a HALO - you'd be looking at around 12mm in diameter, and that's a VERY big ring!

So - there you have it - my best suggestions.

Hi @mrs-b. Thank you! I’m not sure you saw above but I did mention he wants (or she wants) Platinum in a traditional Harry Winston style setting. Simple baguettes w clawed prongs. No bezel, unfortunately. That would help immensely!

 

[AV_]

Voting @mrs-b 's choice. I can see this stone.

The required setting can work.

 

[mrs-b]

Hi @mrs-b. Thank you! I’m not sure you saw above but I did mention he wants (or she wants) Platinum in a traditional Harry Winston style setting. Simple baguettes w clawed prongs. No bezel, unfortunately. That would help immensely!

Dang. My apologies! I saw you mention bezel and I thought that's what he wanted. Pity he won't consider yellow gold; he could do a Harry Winston setting in yellow and it would look fab.

But if he wants platinum, he's going to have to live in the real world, unless he's specifically willing to get a duller looking diamond so it can look bigger. Halos, tho, are hugely forgiving, and I don't think he'd see the difference between a 1.9 and a 2.1ct diamond.

Just btw - I had a 4ct halo'd ring on my (at that time) size 7.5 fingers and it looked shapeless and unflattering. I think smaller diamonds, which makes the head more in proportion to the band, look way better for halos. A halo will add about 3mm in diameter; any diamond 7mm or more will give you a lot of finger coverage on a size 7 finger.

 

[mrs-b]

Voting @mrs-b 's choice. I can see this stone.

The required setting can work.

Yes it can! There are plenty of halo'd K's in platinum on this site, and they're lovely! A halo will obscure any side tint, but he'll need to get a well cut diamond, since all the view will be face up. He can virtually skip any side tint issues and a lot of color issues in general, with a halo and a well cut stone.

ETA If he got H/I - or even I/J - melee, it would be a good segue between the K colored diamond, and the platinum.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Thank you so much for those that chimes in! I would look at Brian also - and @diamondseeker2006 - that looks stunning. He really was looking to maximize also due to her finger size (that’s why he would do a SI1 but eye clean) to help perhaps push up in mm size. Any other thoughts? Will a J w Med Fl not look white? This is a beautiful stone. I’ll show him but I know he really wants a tad under 15 and if spent that wants a bigger coverage. Perhaps this is not achievable given his budget.

Fluorescence can only be seen when there is UV lighting, and that is not often. I would not let fluorescence be a factor in anything but price, and then, it usually only results in a discount in high color stones. My I color diamond looks wonderful in natural lighting, but it can look tinted in environments with certain colors, such as in the car with smoky tinted windows.The whiter the stone, the brighter it looks, assuming the stones are well cut.

 

[AV_]

Yes it can!

What I am thinking: a four prong basket with a high bezel (the bridge between prongs) will do much of the job of a girdle covering bezel does; the high HCA is exactly what I'd want for a K that needs to not look the K part; the high contrast is visible in the video, and this is not the first time I can see HCA predictions in BN videos; I find this spectacular, since even the IS is not easy to read. The baguettes will have to fit the range of color & the cut - possible.

 

[mrs-b]

I just took a look at the WF website and saw that @diamondseeker2006 has already posted the diamond I was going to add. Seriously - if he wants a slam dunk, the WF 1.9ct I VS2 is the way to go. And - WOW! - it has all my favorite stats; slightly higher rise for the crown angle, slightly smaller table - so the whole thing will look better in a halo!

And keep in mind, the whole thing with a halo will be roughly 11mm - that's BIG. The sparkle will be off the chain and it will look like a very high quality ring - which the average person can pick up, even if they don't know why. If he sets it with someone like David Klass in LA, he'll probably save at least $500 anyway, compared to someone like Victor Canera (who is normally my choice for Harry Winston style settings), so it should meet his budget. And there's no way she'll see the difference between this and a 2ct center. And....

What a ring!! Don't let what he doesn't know push him into something of lower quality, just to hit a mythical number which she wouldn't be able to define anyway.

 

[AV_]

The 1.9 is obvious.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

@mrs-b Unfortunately he is wanting the platinum HW solitaire with baguette sides, so no halo. I agree that a halo would solve the size dilemma!

 

[KKJohnson]

2.73ct Old European Cut Diamond Diamond Ring, AGS M VS2

Talk about a statement ring! The old European cut diamond has a beautiful warm ivory face up, with a gorgeous flowery facet pattern, set in the classic Harry Winston style setting style with tapered baguettes along the shoulder. This ring looks so present on the finger, with the diamond just...

www.jewelsbygrace.com

 

[mrs-b]

@mrs-b Unfortunately he is wanting the platinum HW solitaire with baguette sides, so no halo. I agree that a halo would solve the size dilemma!

Oh for Pete's sake! I've spent ages on this thread and I just can't get it right!!

I'm so sorry, @Emeraldcutlover - and thanks, @diamondseeker2006; I am clearly going out of my ever loving!!

In that case, I am DEFINITELY standing by the WF suggestion - 2ct be damned!

ETA I am now bowing out of this thread and going to stick my head in a bucket of cold water!

 

[minniezhang]

As someone with a J-colored diamond (and eager to upgrade), I really don't recommend sacrificing the color so much to get a bigger carat. The shine is very important but hard to achieve if the cut is not ideal (I made that mistake too ).

 

[whitewave]

I have a some time right now... I’m looking. BRB

 

[whitewave]

Ok, for 2 carats and putting size as main priority, for 15k you aren’t going to get best cut. As long as he knows and is ok with that, here are some over 2 HCA round choices.

I found an under 2 but remember HCA is a rejection too, not an inclusion tool
HCA 1.7 https://www.b2cjewels.com/dd/13110675/2-08-carat-round-diamond-i-color-vs2-clarity

2.08 I vs 2 $15,470 credit price

HCA 3.5 worth buying if price is right, very good light return, good fire, good scintillation and very good spread
https://www.b2cjewels.com/dd/10705950/2-01-carat-round-diamond-j-color-vs2-clarity 2.01 J vs2 ex ex ex $13,528

HCA 3.6 worth buying if the price is right
https://www.b2cjewels.com/dd/17760388/2-08-carat-round-diamond-j-color-vs2-clarity J vs2 ex ex ex 2.08 $15,308

 

[Rockcollector]

I found one a little above 15k.

 

[whitewave]

1.3 HCA need pics.

2.03 H Si1
Depth 61.6
Table 57
Crown 35.5
Pavilion 40.6
LGF 75%
8.11 x 8.15 x 5.01 ex ex ex

Clarity based on clouds not shown (red flag probably) and it has a feather

Still, I’d ask for pics and images

2.03 carat (ct) GIA Round Loose Diamond H Color SI1 Clarity Excellent Cut

www.b2cjewels.com

 

[Emeraldcutlover]

Yes it can! There are plenty of halo'd K's in platinum on this site, and they're lovely! A halo will obscure any side tint, but he'll need to get a well cut diamond, since all the view will be face up. He can virtually skip any side tint issues and a lot of color issues in general, with a halo and a well cut stone.

ETA If he got H/I - or even I/J - melee, it would be a good segue between the K colored diamond, and the platinum.

. I’m on your side ladies!!! However- he is definite this is her dream setting . I’m halo all the way. Lol. Thank you again.