Help me chooes a James Allen engagement ring?

[bucsoftb]

I am very sorry to create a new post, but I am in a time-crunch to pick out an engagement ring for my girlfriend. We are traveling to celebrate our 3-year anniversary and I need to find a ring in the next couple weeks.

My budget is $4,000-$5,000 and I am looking for a round stone. Solitaire or pave setting.

1) Is James Allen reputable? I was looking around their site and I love some of the things I see. I know this sounds lazy, but could someone help me find an overall good stone in my price range? I know nothing about dimensions, etc.

2) I was considering this http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/18k-White-Gold-Thin-French-Cut-Engagement-Ring.html for the setting or http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/2-5mm-Comfort-Fit-18K-Gold-Solitaire.html

What are the advantages of platinum over white gold?

Thank you kindly in advance, I desperately need help finding a special ring!!!

 

[bucsoftb]

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1431911.asp

What about this stone? How noticeable is the increase from .8 carat to .9 carat? Is it worth the extra $1000+?

Thanks!

 

[tyty333]

I would ask how eye-clean this one is and ask for an idealscope if it is eye-clean enough.
Edit - doh
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1421743.asp

I like the pave ring better than the solitare. I dont care for the straight lines on that solitare.

 

[minmin001]

James Allen is very reputable, I got my e-ring from there and it is great!

 

[yssie]

And I prefer the plain solitaire, the heft of the shank and head suit each other better to my eyes

The stone you picked looks like a nice 60/60 type - very bright, lots of white light return, you may see less colour in some types of lights than you would from a differently proportioned stone. Request IS.

I like the one tyty suggested as well - different flavour, a bit more coloured light and a bit less white in some types of lights...

 

[bucsoftb]

Who exactly do I ask about the stones being eye-clean? Do I email them? I am sure the representative chat wouldn't work?

I don't even know what eye-clean and idealscope mean.

Thanks, and I appreciate any further suggestions!!!!

 

[tyty333]

Who exactly do I ask about the stones being eye-clean? Do I email them? I am sure the representative chat wouldn't work?

I don't even know what eye-clean and idealscope mean.

Thanks, and I appreciate any further suggestions!!!!

Best to call them and talk to them personally. For eye-clean you need to ask them at what distance they see anything in the stone?
Is it clean at 6 inches, 8 inches, 10 inches, or can you not see anything at all?

The ideal scope tells us how well the stone is reflecting light and if there is any light leakage. Ask JA for the images of both
stones (will take a day or 2) and then post here so we can have a look at them.

Read more here on it...
https://www.pricescope.com/tools/ideal-scope

 

[bucsoftb]

Okay I think I narrowed a couple things down... I will be putting the stone in this setting: Platinum 2mm Comfort Fit Solitaire Diamond Ring

Out of the following four stones, which would you prefer? Anything stand out in the images?

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1421743.asp
0.9 carat, Excellent, SI2, I color, $4020

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1398467.asp
0.82 carat, Excellent, VS2, I color, $3640

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1421498.asp
0.8 carat, Excellent, VS1, I color, $3470

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1431911.asp
0.83 carat, Very Good, VS2, I color, $3400

I obviously like the .9 carat because it is bigger and the price difference is not more, but it is only an SI2. It looks like I can see the markings in the image. Will they be visible to the naked eye? I also like the .83 carat, and when I put it in the "HCA tool" someone recommended me, it said 1.4. Less than 2 is good right? Yet the cut is only "VG"...

I really need help choosing one... I would appreciate any opinions asap. I asked bout the "ideal-scope" images to post, but they said that can take a couple days. Plans have changed and I am asking her next weekend at her parents house up north so I need to order the ring soon. Thank you so much for any help!!!!!!
Jay

 

[marchesa6989]

that 0.9 I SI2 looks eye clean to me - remember that that picture is much bigger than the one u will see. plus if u look at the certificate it says twinning wisps - if u look that up in the search box on pricescope, u'll see that they are one of the preferrable inclusions as they are not able to be seen to the naked eye at all (except very rarely when they can be black - but the ones in the picture look white and james allen should be able to confirm that for u).

if it were me, that would be the one i'd pick!

 

[tyty333]

Okay I think I narrowed a couple things down... I will be putting the stone in this setting: Platinum 2mm Comfort Fit Solitaire Diamond Ring

Out of the following four stones, which would you prefer? Anything stand out in the images?

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1421743.asp
0.9 carat, Excellent, SI2, I color, $4020
Good numbers...you have to call JA and ask them about eye-clean.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1398467.asp
0.82 carat, Excellent, VS2, I color, $3640
Not enough info since the GIA cert isnt loaded. You would need to ask them for a copy but just looking at the image
this stone looks like its probably not a good pick.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1421498.asp
0.8 carat, Excellent, VS1, I color, $3470

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1431911.asp
0.83 carat, Very Good, VS2, I color, $3400
Numbers are good on this one. Need to request an ideal scope image. It looks like it has
more than normal light leakage to me under the table. Ideal scope image will tell.

I obviously like the .9 carat because it is bigger and the price difference is not more, but it is only an SI2. It looks like I can see the markings in the image. Will they be visible to the naked eye? I also like the .83 carat, and when I put it in the "HCA tool" someone recommended me, it said 1.4. Less than 2 is good right? Yet the cut is only "VG"...

I really need help choosing one... I would appreciate any opinions asap. I asked bout the "ideal-scope" images to post, but they said that can take a couple days. Plans have changed and I am asking her next weekend at her parents house up north so I need to order the ring soon. Thank you so much for any help!!!!!!
Jay

The .9 would be my choice if it is fairly eye-clean.