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Help me find an amazing engagement ring on JA.

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Rough_Rock
Joined
Feb 2, 2015
Messages
42
I am looking to buy an engagement ring all in for between 4-6k so that I can propose around Christmas. I like the solitaire setting below, but am open to suggestions in regard to that aspect of the hunt. Specs I am interested in. Thanks for your help!

Color - H or better
Clarity - Eye Clean. so potentially SI1 and up. (Need more clarification on what to look for in this category)
Cut - Ideal and up
Carat - 1.10-1.30

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/18k-white-gold-six-prong-knife-edged-solitaire-engagement-ring-handmade-item-22590
 
Your budget is low for what you want. You will have to expand to I color if you want to stay above a carat. If that size, and in a six prong solitaire an I will be very white if the stone has excellent light return.

This is the only H in budget and personally, it's got too much shmutz on the table for me: http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.01-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-702987

Here are the stones that I would recommend.
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.02-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-775039 first choice
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.03-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-362098
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.01-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-760389
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.07-carat-i-color-vvs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-686496 Ask if overblue, if not, second choice.

I did look for SI1 stones. But this is a popular time to buy, one carat is a popular size and 5k is a popular budget. So most of the Si stones remaining were not going to be eyeclean. It just worked out that way.


Get the setting in platinum if you can afford it.
 
Those are some nice recommendations from Gypsy and I think an "I" will still look very white.

I found a nice ish stone that is a H-Si2 and scores less than 2 on the HCA. Not sure it would be eye clean though.
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.10-carat-h-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-767985

As jamesallen are not offering idealscopes until January, personally I would go with Gypsy's recommendation: http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.03-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-362098 which is an AGS0
 
Thanks Gypsy
 
Should I go with a GIA or AGS grading?
 
If you have two stones with similar proportions and quality and pricing, you should go with AGS grading (platinum report), assuming that no light performance image is provided by the vendor (eg idealscope)

1. AGS platinum report includes a ASET image. This is added assurance and extra information.
2. GIA rounds proportion numbers a bit more. For an example, pavilion angle is rounded to the nearest multiple of 0.2.

But both labs are well respected
 
Do GIA or AGS tend to appraise for more?
 
If you want it, put it on hold before somebody else grabs it.

AGS cut grades are accurate and you don't have to be concerned about performance of any AGS 000. However there are differences in table size, crown height and angle, and minor facets that can affect the personality of the diamond. For example, Lower girdle facets 75% gives fatter arrows than 80% that makes more splintery arrows. AGS might not appraise for more, but most cutters who are certain they have a stone that will get AGS 000 send it to AGS. All AGS 000 will have HCA score 2 or less, so you don't need to run that.

GIA excellent cut grade includes not only peak performers, but some questionable ones, as well. "Steep deep" is one that we warn about (steep crown angle, and steep pavilion angle). Most jewelers on here have stated that there are GIA excellent stones that they'd never buy. You have to run the HCA on GIA excellents, because GIA is liberal and not all will have HCA score 2 or less.

NiceIce.com has 5 seconds to success, and the longer "15 minute" version. Todd Gray used to sell diamonds on Pricescope. His guidelines are a very narrow subset of diamonds, but what most of PS recommends for a modern H&A RB. (I'd pick a table size 55%-55% because I like steeper crown and smaller table for fire. If you pick something more 60% table and 60% depth 60/60 diamond, you might get more brilliance than fire and the fire may be seen only around the rim, or if the diamond is tilted.)
http://niceice.com/diamond-buying-secrets/15-seconds-diamond-buying-success/#
http://niceice.com/diamond-buying-secrets/5-minutes-diamond-buying-success/
Total depth between 59 – 61.8%
Table diameter between 53 – 58%
Crown angle between 34.3 – 34.9 degrees*
Pavilion angle between 40.6 – 40.9 degrees
Lower girdle facets between 75 – 78%**
Star facets between 45 – 50%***
Girdle thickness between thin and slightly thick
Culet: AGS pointed or GIA none
 
A look at your past topics shows you, OP, have posted this same topic under almost the same title a full 7 times, starting in February 2015.

Since you still have not found the specs + price combo you want yet, I'll steer you to talk to also I.D. Jewelry and B2C Jewels, because they find nice diamonds for people on tight budgets. If you want this for Christmas, you are almost out of time now.
 
Hey Gypsy, the consultant said that there is a lot of fluorescence in the 686496 stone.

Leaning towards either : 775039, 767985, and 362098

Can everyone here rank these please. Thank you
 
It puzzles me why you let go of ideal stones people recommended over the last few months, and now ask for opinions on these relatively inferior stones.
 
I like this one if it is eyeclean, but I suspect its not: http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.10-carat-h-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-767985

This is my next favorite: http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.02-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-775039

This is my least, and it's on hold, so if you didn't put it on hold, then it's probably gone: http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.03-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-362098


Please any stones on hold. We have a lot of lurkers and a lot of stone stealing .
 
Why inferior?
 
flyingpig|1449083136|3956496 said:
It puzzles me why you let go of ideal stones people recommended over the last few months, and now ask for opinions on these relatively inferior stones.
Click to expand...

Why inferior?
 
Gypsy|1449087181|3956513 said:
I like this one if it is eyeclean, but I suspect its not: http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.10-carat-h-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-767985

This is my next favorite: http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.02-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-775039

This is my least, and it's on hold, so if you didn't put it on hold, then it's probably gone: http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.03-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-362098


Please any stones on hold. We have a lot of lurkers and a lot of stone stealing .
Click to expand...

If they tell me the 775039 is eye clean how would I truly know?
 
You don't. But you can always order and send it back if you find it not eyeclean to your standards.

You may want to clarify what they consider eye clean (ie from 12" with 20/20 vision vs from 6" with 20/20). Each company has their own standard of eyeclean.
 
They seem to think that to a professional the twinning wisps would easily be seen but to a regular persons naked eye they wouldn't see it. Other than that what makes this a better option over the others?
 
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