Help Me Find a 2.5 Carat Ideal Cut Round For a Friend!!

[prbaglady]

Hello Pricescopers! I am helping a friend find a diamond for an engagement ring for his girlfriend, who is also one of my best friends. He wants a super ideal/ideal cut hearts and arrows round and we are looking for something that falls within the following parameters:

Shape: Round
Size: 2.4-2.5 carats
Color: G color (We looked at an ACA that was H color and found that it was just slightly too tinted. A GIA H might be OK)
Clarity: SI1 or greater- as long as it's eye-clean.
Cut: meets pricescope criteria for depth/crown angle/pavillion angle/table percentages, and has clearly defined H&A
Budget: around 35K but there is some wiggle room.

It's going to be placed in a classic style three stone setting with tapered baguettes.

I have been looking but would love some help from all of the experts on this forum!!!!!!!

 

[crbl999]

2.526 F SI1
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3954423.htm

Great proportions. Checked BGD and HPD/ CBI also but they didn't have anything that fits your requirements.

 

[prbaglady]

2.526 F SI1
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3954423.htm

Great proportions. Checked BGD and HPD/ CBI also but they didn't have anything that fits your requirements.

Thanks @crbl999 - We looked at that one, but we did not feel comfortable with the inclusions.

 

[prbaglady]

What about this one?
https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/R245-5080Z2563?utm_source=rarecarat&utm_medium=cpc

 

[ac117]

A few potentials:
https://www.adiamor.com/Diamonds/2....Cut-Round-Diamond/D42325845?&refer=pricescope
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...-color-vvs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-5826163
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...DiamondDetails&action=newTab&catalogView=true
https://www.adiamor.com/Diamonds/2....Cut-Round-Diamond/D42292251?&refer=pricescope
Not sure if eye clean: https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...DiamondDetails&action=newTab&catalogView=true

Since you said there's wiggle room....https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3986369.htm?source=pricescope

Just putting this one out there too lol: https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...g-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3719768

 

[carbonfan]

This one is an amazing find if you ask me! Great size and specs, looks pretty clean as well, and perfectly within budget to boot!

2.528ct G SI1

 

[Dancing Fire]

What about this one?
https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/R245-5080Z2563?utm_source=rarecarat&utm_medium=cpc

Not a H&A stone.

 

[KKJohnson]

I just wanted to say that H AGS diamonds have a color range, not all Hs will be the same so I wouldn’t fully rule them out. You would need a high h or even one with med fluorescence to help, to find a whiter H it might take a little more effort when having them reviewed but it opens a bit more options to the mix

This is an H
https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/...ls/2.432-h-vs2-round-diamond-ags-104101164015

 

[prbaglady]

@KKJohnson So, he initially purchased this stone:
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4039670.htm
In person it is super sparkly and symmetrical, but to his eye it’s a bit too tinted, and I can see the color for sure (it was closer to some GIA Is that we looked at). The tint didn’t bother me but I am worried that it will bother the intended recipient since she didn’t like how warm some GIA I stoned appeared to her. This is why we are shooting for a higher color grade. I get that there is a range with an AGS H and maybe this one was a low H? I’m just uncertain about recommending another H.

@Dancing Fire why does the one that I found not make the grade? Is it because the IdealScope image is just ever so slightly off? I was hoping that it wouldn’t be perceptible to the naked eye.

@carbonfan nice find. Do you think that it’s eye-clean with the dark inclusion under the table?

@crbl999 maybe we should revisit that F. The inclusions are white and the biggest inclusion could be placed under a prong.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed at the moment...

 

[ac117]

@KKJohnson So, he initially purchased this stone:
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4039670.htm
In person it is super sparkly and symmetrical, but to his eye it’s a bit too tinted, and I can see the color for sure (it was closer to some GIA Is that we looked at). The tint didn’t bother me but I am worried that it will bother the intended recipient since she didn’t like how warm some GIA I stoned appeared to her. This is why we are shooting for a higher color grade. I get that there is a range with an AGS H and maybe this one was a low H? I’m just uncertain about recommending another H.

@Dancing Fire why does the one that I found not make the grade? Is it because the IdealScope image is just ever so slightly off? I was hoping that it wouldn’t be perceptible to the naked eye.

@carbonfan nice find. Do you think that it’s eye-clean with the dark inclusion under the table?

@crbl999 maybe we should revisit that F. The inclusions are white and the biggest inclusion could be placed under a prong.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed at the moment...

Did you see any of the options I posted?

 

[crbl999]

This one is an amazing find if you ask me! Great size and specs, looks pretty clean as well, and perfectly within budget to boot!

2.528ct G SI1

@prbaglady You would have to call and ask if it meets your definition of eye clean. In larger stones I prefer clear inclusions vs dark and black especially in SI clarities.

 

[KKJohnson]

@ac117 suggested gives you everything you want but it’s 3k over budget
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3986369.htm

2.7k over budget and will be noticeable smaller so I would go with the first one
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3947727.htm

Feather on the table but might be eye clean, it says to inquire. Is in budget but not my favorite
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4016766.htm

Smaller budget friendly with tiny table!
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4024619.htm

 

[diamondseeker2006]

@ac117 suggested gives you everything you want but it’s 3k over budget
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3986369.htm

2.7k over budget and will be noticeable smaller so I would go with the first one
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3947727.htm

Feather on the table but might be eye clean, it says to inquire. Is in budget but not my favorite
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4016766.htm

Smaller budget friendly with tiny table!
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4024619.htm

Great choices! (I'd eliminate the one with the feather on the table, though.)

 

[prbaglady]

@ac117 I liked the first one that you posted, but the table is 58, which made it fall outside the pricescope parameters
https://www.adiamor.com/Diamonds/2....Cut-Round-Diamond/D42325845?&refer=pricescope

Is it a better stone than the one that I initially found (which falls within the parameters)?
https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/R245-5080Z2563?utm_source=rarecarat&utm_medium=cpc


I am leaning towards one of these two or maybe revisiting the whiteflash F
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3954423.htm

JWe are trying to get higher color than this stone, which he purchased for 30K, without having to spend almost 10K more:

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4039670.htm

Thoughts?

@KKJohnson I agree that the first one that you posted would be perfect but I’m trying to find something that’s closer to 35k. He currently has a stone that was 30K, so spending almost 10k more to go up a color grade is a Lot. The last one you posted is my personal favorite but he wants the stone to be above 8.5mm and ideally 8.6mm

 

[carbonfan]

@carbonfan nice find. Do you think that it’s eye-clean with the dark inclusion under the table?

I would call Victor (or have your friend call him) to inquire about the stone. He will provide his honest opinion about its clarity and he may even be able to put together another video for her to see. If your friend loves the stone, she would be in amazing hands with the setting too, as Victor can create an incredible three-stone ring!!

 

[Dancing Fire]

@Dancing Fire why does the one that I found not make the grade? Is it because the IdealScope image is just ever so slightly off? I was hoping that it wouldn’t be perceptible to the naked eye.

b/c this is not a H&A stone if that's what you are looking for.

 

[prbaglady]

b/c this is not a H&A stone if that's what you are looking for.

For my own education- how can you tell it’s not H&A? Would this one be H&A?
https://www.adiamor.com/Diamonds/2....Cut-Round-Diamond/D42325845?&refer=pricescope

 

[Dancing Fire]

Smaller budget friendly with tiny table!
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4024619.htm

This one..

 

[Dancing Fire]

For my own education- how can you tell it’s not H&A? Would this one be H&A?
https://www.adiamor.com/Diamonds/2....Cut-Round-Diamond/D42325845?&refer=pricescope

You need to post pic of the hearts.

 

[prbaglady]

You need to post pic of the hearts.

I asked Adiamor for an asset or idealscope image and they can’t get that for me - makes it difficult to compare all these stones!

 

[Dancing Fire]

I asked Adiamor for an asset or idealscope image and they can’t get that for me - makes it difficult to compare all these stones!

b/c they do not own these stones. WF,HPD and BGD sell in-house stones.

 

[OoohShiny]

@ac117 I liked the first one that you posted, but the table is 58, which made it fall outside the pricescope parameters
https://www.adiamor.com/Diamonds/2....Cut-Round-Diamond/D42325845?&refer=pricescope

58 table does fall within PS parameters AIUI - I've always worked on the basis of 53-58 table.

(I may be wrong lol)

 

[carbonfan]

b/c they do not own these stones. WF,HPD and BGD sell in-house stones.

This is a great point, DF! Just for clarification, VC also sells in-house stones. And when shopping with WF and BGD, beware of virtual inventory stones, as those are not in-house and are not as strictly vetted. To my knowledge, VC and HPD only sell in-house stones, whereas WF and BGD sell both in-house and virtual inventory.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I'd not waste time with Enchanted. The last couple of times I recommended great stones to someone, when they went to buy the stones, they were told they were no longer available. They don't update their inventory in a timely manner, and that really wastes people's time (and that's the nicest possibility I can say).

I'd only consider a stone without light return images if the numbers were within the ideal numbers we post here (as in not over the 35 crown angle, etc.). True hearts and arrows stones are rarely found in virtual inventories. The stones with greatest cut precision are usually bought for in-house inventories and sold with a price premium for being top cut.

 

[Dancing Fire]

This is a great point, DF! Just for clarification, VC also sells in-house stones. And when shopping with WF and BGD, beware of virtual inventory stones, as those are not in-house and are not as strictly vetted. To my knowledge, VC and HPD only sell in-house stones, whereas WF and BGD sell both in-house and virtual inventory.

I don't look at any virtual stones.

 

[KKJohnson]

For my own education- how can you tell it’s not H&A? Would this one be H&A?
https://www.adiamor.com/Diamonds/2....Cut-Round-Diamond/D42325845?&refer=pricescope

The table is 58% on this one

 

[prbaglady]

Thank you all for being so helpful! After considering the options, we decided to rule out the ones that were above 35k for now and we are down to the three listed below--which would you pick? @KKJohnson, @diamondseeker2006, @Dancing Fire, @carbonfan, @OoohShiny, @crbl999, @ac117 and anyone else who would like to opine!:

1)
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3954423.htm
We asked WF about the inclusions, and they said that they are not visible at 10" (which qualifies it as eye clean) but that you can see some of them at about 6" (which is really close up!). I like that the inclusions are white, and I was wondering if it would be possible to cover the largest inclusion with a prong.

2)
https://www.victorcanera.com/diamonds/ags104100800001-2.528-g-si1-ideal-hearts-arrows-round
Victor Canera said that he cannot see the inclusions without using a loupe, but it worries me that the inclusions are dark. It's also a bit warmer than the whiteflash option

3)
https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/R245-5080Z2563?utm_source=rarecarat&utm_medium=cpc
It is within PS parameters, and it looks pretty in the video. It is not a hearts and arrows stone, but it's pretty close. It's a virtual stone though and I can't get an asset image.

I am hoping that one of these would work since it would keep the stone at 35K and under.

We ruled out some of the other stones:
https://www.adiamor.com/Diamonds/2....Cut-Round-Diamond/D42325845?&refer=pricescope
- did not love the 58 table
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4024619.htm
- I loved this one, but it was too small

 

[ac117]

Thank you all for being so helpful! After considering the options, we decided to rule out the ones that were above 35k for now and we are down to the three listed below--which would you pick? @KKJohnson, @diamondseeker2006, @Dancing Fire, @carbonfan, @OoohShiny, @crbl999, @ac117 and anyone else who would like to opine!:

1)
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3954423.htm
We asked WF about the inclusions, and they said that they are not visible at 10" (which qualifies it as eye clean) but that you can see some of them at about 6" (which is really close up!). I like that the inclusions are white, and I was wondering if it would be possible to cover the largest inclusion with a prong.

2)
https://www.victorcanera.com/diamonds/ags104100800001-2.528-g-si1-ideal-hearts-arrows-round
Victor Canera said that he cannot see the inclusions without using a loupe, but it worries me that the inclusions are dark. It's also a bit warmer than the whiteflash option

3)
https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/R245-5080Z2563?utm_source=rarecarat&utm_medium=cpc
It is within PS parameters, and it looks pretty in the video. It is not a hearts and arrows stone, but it's pretty close. It's a virtual stone though and I can't get an asset image.

I am hoping that one of these would work since it would keep the stone at 35K and under.

We ruled out some of the other stones:
https://www.adiamor.com/Diamonds/2....Cut-Round-Diamond/D42325845?&refer=pricescope
- did not love the 58 table
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4024619.htm
- I loved this one, but it was too small

I'd go with the WF stone. First, I think it would be a harder to see the smaller white inclusions on the WF stone than the black inclusions on the VC stone (but I'm sure both are visible at a close distance if you're searching for them). Also, if he saw tint in a previous H (which I personally think would be closer to a GIA I), he might still be able to see tint in the G so the F is a very safe bet. Splitting hairs but I also prefer the smaller table of the WF stone. As for the Enchanted stone, you're not hitting the 2.5 mark and instead you're paying for IF clarity when that's unnecessary and we can't be certain about light performance bc those are hearts and arrows images, not IS images. Go with the super ideal sure thing.

 

[ringo865]

Plus with Whiteflash you can upgrade later if it’s too tinty or small.

 

[carbonfan]

I think you can easily eliminate #3 from Enchanted, so that quickly narrows it down to WF and VC. Both of these diamonds would be considered super ideals, both vendors have the same upgrade policy, and the diamonds are identical in size. The differences between the stones are fairly subtle other than the extra $2k for the WF stone. The order of inclusions is somewhat different (feather listed first for WF, crystal listed first for VC), and given the choice I would prefer crystals to feathers as primary inclusions. I also personally prefer the 75 LGF on the VC stone over the 78 LGF on the WF stone, but that is definitely splitting hairs! The only other major differences are the F vs. G color and the difference in price. I doubt you will notice any appreciable difference in color, so if it were my choice I would select that 2.5ct G in a heartbeat!