Help me choose a diamond

[shawn900]

Hi folks I am new here but have been doing a lot of reading and what a great forum this is. I am looking for a diamond and would love some suggestions. My girlfriend and I have looked at some stores locally and determined that she likes a round diamond set in a Halo pave setting. She tried on and looked at many rings in the local stores and she came to the conclusion she doesn't want a large diamond. Lucky me right . I am shooting for H-I color and VS2- SI1 clarity and .70 -.75 carat to get a great cut diamond. I would like to stay under the $5K mark with the setting and of course the matching band included once we get married. I have been looking a lot online and would like some opinions or some help from the pros Here are a few I am considering. Are there better options out there that you guys could suggest?

This is my first choice due to the fact that they have the setting I like also.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.74-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-697068

Second

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.700-h-si1-round-diamond-ags-c-104077304067

Third

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3502530.htm

Fourth

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.70-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-550430

These are the settings I have picked out, not sure which one yet.

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagemen...shion-outline-pave-engagement-ring-item-49998

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/halo/platinum-petite-diamond-halo-engagement-ring-item-41150

 

[tyty333]

You've done your homework and picked some really nice stones. What is the price on the first JA stone? Did you ask if its eye-clean?

 

[shawn900]

Thanks for your input. The first stone is $2600. Seems to be the best deal. I havent found a better stone for the money yet but havent looked super hard either. Anyone else have any better choices?

 

[Dancing Fire]

#1 looks good!. I love the proportions. We don't get to see these everyday..

 

[shawn900]

Ok good thanks for the reassurance I did call on the first stone and it is eye clean so I have it on hold for now while I look around to see if I can find anything better or someone on this fine forum finds a better stone than the one I have picked out. Anyone have input on which setting of those two I linked would look better with that first stone?

 

[16ocean]

Three very nice choices on stones . . . as long as you are ok w/ fluorescence (ask JA if it makes the stone look oily or milky) go for the JA stone

So with the settings . . . eek this is a hard one.
My preference is the first one HOWEVER the second setting is going to look more round, do you remember what your girlfriend’s preference was when she was trying on rings at the store?
My only guess if she liked a round stone . . . go for http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/halo/platinum-petite-diamond-halo-engagement-ring-item-41150
It seems more round to me:
but your first option is very nice as well w/ a touch of a thinner shank

perhaps Neil will pop on this thread she is so great at finding stones and settings at JA


also some how you can get a small discount if you purchase at JA