Help me choose a diamond and decide on setting ideas

[dogginup]

Hi! Thank you all for the advice you’ve given thus far. I’m ready to buy my diamond now (my first ever!) and I’d really appreciate your help. I reached out to David Klass about the attached setting and it’s either going to be set in this or a Tiffany style setting- decisions are hard! I’m pairing it with my 18k yellow 2.5 mm flat band if that helps. So any advice you have on the setting decision or the diamond choice would be great! Here’s my diamond requirements:

2ct give or take
D-H
Eye clean
Ideal cut

anything else? Can @Kim N or @DejaWiz please help me ?

 

[tyty333]

Can you post a picture of your flat band so we can see what you are talking about? That will help us give advice on the setting.

 

[dogginup]

Yes! Here it is thank you @tyty333

 

[dogginup]

I do like mixing metals btw, I don’t need a super matchy look.

 

[DejaWiz]

Hi, dogginup!
Got a budget cap in mind for just the loose diamond?

 

[dogginup]

Hi @DejaWiz! Thank you! I’d spend up to 3k.

 

[dogginup]

I’ll say a couple more things about the setting- I do wear gloves and wash my hands a lot at work, and I’d still like to wear my ring there. I like the classic look of the Tiffany style but suddenly I’m wondering if it’s special enough. I do like a bit of an “artsy” look, but also classic. Which is why I do like the idea of mixing metals. Really impressed by all of your abilities to know what you like and make it come to fruition- I’m now seeing how involved this process is!

 

[Kim N]

Here are some for you to take a look at.

2.04 Carat Round Lab Grown Diamond D Color VS2 Clarity Ideal Cut | Ritani

2.04 Carat Round Lab Diamond ID Cut D Color VS2 Clarity with diamond report number IGI #LG536268453

www.ritani.com

2.24 Carat Round Lab Diamond IGI LG532259610 | Ritani

2.24 Carat Round Lab Diamond ID Cut D Color VS2 Clarity with diamond report number IGI #LG532259610

www.ritani.com

2.17 Carat Round Lab Diamond IGI LG544251943 | Ritani

2.17 Carat Round Lab Diamond ID Cut D Color VVS2 Clarity with diamond report number IGI #LG544251943

www.ritani.com

 

[dogginup]

Thank you @Kim N ! Hearts and arrows too! Those are beautiful. They all do appear to have little inclusions if that is the correct term. Do you think these would be noticeable?

 

[dogginup]

And how would one decide which one is best out of those three- should I use the HCA tool? What makes you all decide on which to choose? The videos look so similar to me

 

[momofive]

Good question. I think I can answer you about the inclusions. The videos are 30-50x magnified, if the certificate says "Eye clean" than you can probably assume it is (I'm sure there are exceptions). Also, where the inclusions are located and the types of inclusions are important. That's why the experts on here are great for helping you to vet the stones. I've seen some beautiful SI stones, and if the cut is awesome, you would never notice the inclusions. My husband bought my first engagement ring himself 40 years ago. It was 0.37 with a big black hunk of coal in the middle, but I didn't see it until it was under a loupe.

 

[Inked]

Yes! Here it is thank you @tyty333

I love this band! I love mixed metals, i mix all the time and my band is actually platinum and yellow gold.

 

[Kim N]

Thank you @Kim N ! Hearts and arrows too! Those are beautiful. They all do appear to have little inclusions if that is the correct term. Do you think these would be noticeable?

It would depend on your eyesight and how closely you'd be scrutinizing the diamond. Many VS2 will be eye-clean. It's also possible they're eye-clean but not mind-clean enough for you.

And how would one decide which one is best out of those three- should I use the HCA tool? What makes you all decide on which to choose? The videos look so similar to me

No need to use HCA on these because I've already filtered for good proportions. The third one above is VVS2 so it'll be completely clean. I usually prefer HPHT but this looks like a pretty good CVD.

Two more options.

2.18 Carat Round Lab Grown Diamond E Color VS1 Clarity Ideal Cut | Ritani

2.18 Carat Round Lab Diamond ID Cut E Color VS1 Clarity with diamond report number IGI #LG541276382

www.ritani.com

2.05 Carat Round Lab Diamond IGI LG550226439 | Ritani

2.05 Carat Round Lab Diamond ID Cut E Color VS1 Clarity with diamond report number IGI #LG550226439

www.ritani.com

 

[dogginup]

Thank you so much @Kim N thinking I like the 2.04 the best if the inclusions won’t affect how sparkly it looks. I’m really just looking for the most sparkly. Do you have a favorite of these? I think I’m afraid of the CVD due to reputation but I probably shouldn’t be!

 

[Kim N]

Thank you so much @Kim N thinking I like the 2.04 the best if the inclusions won’t affect how sparkly it looks. I’m really just looking for the most sparkly. Do you have a favorite of these? I think I’m afraid of the CVD due to reputation but I probably shouldn’t be!

I think my favorite is this one. HPHT and very clean, nice tall crown which should help with fire.

2.18 Carat Round Lab Grown Diamond E Color VS1 Clarity Ideal Cut | Ritani

2.18 Carat Round Lab Diamond ID Cut E Color VS1 Clarity with diamond report number IGI #LG541276382

www.ritani.com

Loupe360

loupe360.com

Second favorite: a tie between the 2.04 and 2.24 above.

 

[dogginup]

Do I need to be sad to not have hearts and arrows if I just want fire?

 

[dogginup]

I love this band! I love mixed metals, i mix all the time and my band is actually platinum and yellow gold.

Thank you @Inked ! A little tight post bebe but still loving it 10 years later!

 

[Kim N]

Do I need to be sad to not have hearts and arrows if I just want fire?

The amount of fire difference will likely be negligible. The two H&A stones (take that designation with a grain of salt, though--you need actual images to verify, and these are only stock images) have beautiful proportions and look like they might be just a tad more tightly cut. I totally get wanting it to say H&A, and either of those two would be a winner.

 

[DejaWiz]

Sorry...crazy busy at work.
Here are some potential candidates that I found: some may be repeats that Kim posted.

1.92 Carat Round Lab Diamond IGI LG567347045 | Ritani

1.92 Carat Round Lab Diamond ID Cut D Color VS1 Clarity with diamond report number IGI #LG567347045

www.ritani.com

2.04 Carat Round Lab Grown Diamond D Color VS2 Clarity Ideal Cut | Ritani

2.04 Carat Round Lab Diamond ID Cut D Color VS2 Clarity with diamond report number IGI #LG536268453

www.ritani.com

2.05 Carat Round Lab Diamond IGI LG566330119 | Ritani

2.05 Carat Round Lab Diamond ID Cut D Color VS1 Clarity with diamond report number IGI #LG566330119

www.ritani.com

2.15 Carat Round Lab Diamond IGI LG567352444 | Ritani

2.15 Carat Round Lab Diamond ID Cut E Color VS2 Clarity with diamond report number IGI #LG567352444

www.ritani.com

2.17 Carat Round Lab Diamond IGI LG555263080 | Ritani

2.17 Carat Round Lab Diamond ID Cut E Color VVS2 Clarity with diamond report number IGI #LG555263080

www.ritani.com

2.18 Carat Round Lab Grown Diamond E Color VS1 Clarity Ideal Cut | Ritani

2.18 Carat Round Lab Diamond ID Cut E Color VS1 Clarity with diamond report number IGI #LG541276382

www.ritani.com

2.19 Carat Round Lab Diamond IGI LG569388890 | Ritani

2.19 Carat Round Lab Diamond ID Cut D Color VS1 Clarity with diamond report number IGI #LG569388890

www.ritani.com

2.21 Carat Round Lab Grown Diamond E Color VS2 Clarity Ideal Cut | Ritani

2.21 Carat Round Lab Diamond ID Cut E Color VS2 Clarity with diamond report number IGI #LG480174877

www.ritani.com

2.24 Carat Round Lab Diamond IGI LG532259610 | Ritani

2.24 Carat Round Lab Diamond ID Cut D Color VS2 Clarity with diamond report number IGI #LG532259610

www.ritani.com

2.31 Carat Round Lab Diamond IGI LG561281093 | Ritani

2.31 Carat Round Lab Diamond ID Cut E Color VS1 Clarity with diamond report number IGI #LG561281093

www.ritani.com

Loupe360

loupe360.com

 

[dogginup]

Thank you @DejaWiz ! I appreciate these additional ideas so much, if only to further my knowledge. I like the ones you overlap with @Kim N bc you are both such experts at this. Of course now I am now confused because there is the 2.15 which is 1600ish dollars which is like 1k less than the others. Is this one less ideal in some identifiable way? Because to my novice eyes it is hard to tell and if I can’t tell the difference maybe it is 1k wasted

 

[dogginup]

Also do you have a favorite @DejaWiz ??

 

[MMtwo]

Do I need to be sad to not have hearts and arrows if I just want fire?

No, just keep your tables little.

 

[Kim N]

Thank you @DejaWiz ! I appreciate these additional ideas so much, if only to further my knowledge. I like the ones you overlap with @Kim N bc you are both such experts at this. Of course now I am now confused because there is the 2.15 which is 1600ish dollars which is like 1k less than the others. Is this one less ideal in some identifiable way? Because to my novice eyes it is hard to tell and if I can’t tell the difference maybe it is 1k wasted

That 2.15 is fantastic and I'd have no hesitation in getting it.

 

[MMtwo]

That 2.15 is fantastic and I'd have no hesitation in getting it.

Pricing can have no rhyme or reason, just snatch that deal and run like the wind.

 

[dogginup]

whoop! Did it, purchased the 2.15. I can see how this could be a bit addicting. I will add pics when it arrives! Thank you all so much that was very fun and so great to have your help!

Still would love to hear setting thoughts

 

[momofive]

What style do you like? Traditional, transitional? Do you want melee in your setting or all metal?

 

[momofive]

Here are some good places to start, just to get an idea. People on here might have better places to make the purchase, but at least you can narrow the style down a bit.

White Flash - settings

Brian Gavin Settings

 

[momofive]

You can also look through "Show me the bling" on this site. These are all diamond settings, but you can get lab settings as well in platinum, YG, WG, RG etc.

 

[dogginup]

Hi @momofive ! I am not sure what transitional means. I think the problem is I appreciate many different things in settings. I love the Tiffany style- I think it’s the 6 prongs more than the knife edge though, which is why I like the David Klass I posted at the top of the thread. I like that that setting has a little vintage flair a La cvb or Erika winters but is a bit more classic than those designers. I am interested in pave but not a halo. And I’d like it to complement my band in the picture above but not look like I’m trying to match. And I’m also interested in stacking a diamond band in the future, like eternity ring.

Is this confusing enough for everyone or am do I sound even more confused than I am?

This is why I believe I keep going back to that classic Tiffany style- at least it makes sense to me!

 

[DejaWiz]

Also do you have a favorite @DejaWiz ??

It was a toss-up between the 2.15 and 2.25, so glad you picked one of those two options!
One thing you'll really want to check is edge/crown brightness...make sure that it has uniform brilliance and light return across the entire diameter of the diamond.

Here's the link to the vendor video:

Loupe360

loupe360.com

And here's your grading report (you can download the PDF version):

Verify Your Report | Verify Your Diamond Online | IGI

IGI's Verify Your Report service permits quick and convenient confirmation that your report matches what is recorded in the IGI database.

www.igi.org