Hello!
I've been educating myself, but I could use some help. I want to replace my wife's old engagement ring with something better. I want a 1 carat center stone in a platinum halo setting. The setting I like is from James Allen. My budget for the center stone is $3,000-$3,500. I could go a little higher for a much better diamond.
https://www.jamesallen.com/engageme...shion-outline-pave-engagement-ring-item-49998
These are the criteria I've been using based on the research I've done on cushion cuts:
Carat: 0.98 to 1.02
Cut: Ideal or Very Good
Color: G or H
Clarity: VS1 or higher
Table and Depth: 69% or Lower
Here are some questions:
1. I started out considering VS2 or lower, but almost every VS2 I looked at had what seemed like a noticeable black occlusion near the top center of the stone. Am I being too picky?
2. I've read that cushion-cut stones show color more than round stones, and some sites recommend G or less color. I can't tell much difference between G and H in the photos on Jamesallen.com. Would the color be noticeable with an H color stone in a platinum setting?
3. Also regarding color, the stones in the setting are G-H. Again, does it make any noticeable difference if the larger center stone is G or H against a background of G and H stones?
4. How much difference is there in Ideal vs Very Good cuts? My wife and I are in our early 50s, and our eyes aren't what they used to be, so could we tell the difference?
Finally, these are the diamonds I've roughly selected based on my VERY limited knowledge, but I would love to hear from experts on these or other alternatives. Thank you in advance!
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.01-carat-h-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-2201500
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.02-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-sku-4401375
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.01-carat-h-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-6708054
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.01-carat-g-color-vs1-clarity-sku-6712514
I've been educating myself, but I could use some help. I want to replace my wife's old engagement ring with something better. I want a 1 carat center stone in a platinum halo setting. The setting I like is from James Allen. My budget for the center stone is $3,000-$3,500. I could go a little higher for a much better diamond.
https://www.jamesallen.com/engageme...shion-outline-pave-engagement-ring-item-49998
These are the criteria I've been using based on the research I've done on cushion cuts:
Carat: 0.98 to 1.02
Cut: Ideal or Very Good
Color: G or H
Clarity: VS1 or higher
Table and Depth: 69% or Lower
Here are some questions:
1. I started out considering VS2 or lower, but almost every VS2 I looked at had what seemed like a noticeable black occlusion near the top center of the stone. Am I being too picky?
2. I've read that cushion-cut stones show color more than round stones, and some sites recommend G or less color. I can't tell much difference between G and H in the photos on Jamesallen.com. Would the color be noticeable with an H color stone in a platinum setting?
3. Also regarding color, the stones in the setting are G-H. Again, does it make any noticeable difference if the larger center stone is G or H against a background of G and H stones?
4. How much difference is there in Ideal vs Very Good cuts? My wife and I are in our early 50s, and our eyes aren't what they used to be, so could we tell the difference?
Finally, these are the diamonds I've roughly selected based on my VERY limited knowledge, but I would love to hear from experts on these or other alternatives. Thank you in advance!
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.01-carat-h-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-2201500
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.02-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-sku-4401375
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.01-carat-h-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-6708054
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.01-carat-g-color-vs1-clarity-sku-6712514