help help! Diamond selection in the $5k range. Any advice?

[sebseb]

Hi There,

I'm (like so many other people) shopping for engagement rings. I need to pull the trigger on the purchase in the 24 hours so that I can have it delivered on time for "the big show". I've been evaluating mostly online retailers, focusing mainly on Blue Nile because I heard good things about their service / returns if she wants to make a change.

I was hoping to get opinions on this guy: http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD05034594?keyword_search_value=LD05034594

I'm trying to keep my budget to $5k for the stone. The other criteria I'm trying to meet (with a "nicer but smaller" approach) is:
- Cut: VG to Excellent
- Clarity: SI1 - VS2 (with a preference for VS2, because I'm buying online and want to have more surety that it's eye clean)
- Color: F - G. It will likely be set into a yellow gold band with silver prongs
- Carats: As big as I can get while meeting the above criteria! (looks like I'm limited to the .9ct range)

Any thoughts on this diamond would be hugely appreciated! Or if you have any others you've seen that you think are a better deal, then please shout

 

[JulieN]

Re: help help! Diamond selection in the $5k range. Any advic

Steep/deep. Pass.

 

[JulieN]

Re: help help! Diamond selection in the $5k range. Any advic

How about this one? http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3237357.htm?source=pricescope

 

[sebseb]

Re: help help! Diamond selection in the $5k range. Any advic

Ah. Thanks Julie.

I don't suppose you've seen anything else on the market that might meet my criteria? I feel like there are so many options and I'm so lost

 

[sebseb]

Re: help help! Diamond selection in the $5k range. Any advic

Thanks Julie - appreciate the suggestion. I suppose that Whiteflash can be trusted when they say it's SI1 eye-clean? I've seen them referenced a lot here on the site but haven't looked at the closely.

 

[JulieN]

Re: help help! Diamond selection in the $5k range. Any advic

Here is Whiteflash's interpretation of eye-clean: http://www.whiteflash.com/about-diamonds/news/clarity-the-whiteflash-definition-of.htm

You might ask them if it is invisible to the naked eye or not. If not, under what circumstances? What color is the crystal?

8-10 inches is very reasonable to me, however I would want to be aware if it is visible under tilt/from the side.

There are other stones, but this one at WF is in-house, and you are under a little bit of a time crunch.

 

[JulieN]

Re: help help! Diamond selection in the $5k range. Any advic

Here is a VS2 but it is not in-house and won't ship out until the 15th.

http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-6503390-0.90-carat-Round-diamond-G-color-VS2-clarity.aspx

If you like it, ask for an ASET or Ideal Scope, and if it is eye-clean, and for the PS discount. Here is the report: http://www.gia.edu/cs/Satellite?reportno=5186535311&childpagename=GIA%2FPage%2FReportCheck&pagename=GIA%2FDispatcher&c=Page&cid=1355954554547

 

[sebseb]

Re: help help! Diamond selection in the $5k range. Any advic

Thank you!