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diamondhunter1982

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 6, 2014
Messages
6
Hi Everyone,

I've been lurking a while now and have found the wealth of information invaluable. I'm getting fairly close to pulling the trigger and I would like some advise. My budget maxes out at about 5K for the stone, and I would like to get something in the 1ct ideal cut range.

I have found the band I want on james allen (http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/channel-set/18k-white-gold-bow-tie-channel-set-round-shaped-diamond-engagement-ring--item-506?gcsct=0ChMI6MT0hOXduwIVSVJECh0-EwAAEAI)

I had been looking at this stone (http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.12-carat-j-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-257816) and have been told that the clouding mentioned in the report are dotted throughout the diamond, some can be saw in the arrows at noon, three, seven and nine. They haven't steered me away or towards that stone, they have recommended these three as well (http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/?CaratFrom=1.04&CaratTo=10.00&Color=K&Clarity=SI1,SI2&PriceFrom=400&PriceTo=5380&Sort=Carat%20desc%20,DefaultOrder&TabSelected=3&ps=9&DiamondID=270786,271810,217359) In particular the 1.12, I, SI2 one.

However to my eye their recommendation has a lot more inclusions than the one i was originally looking at, so i'm a little confused, the three they suggested are excellent cut as opposed to the ideal i was looking at.

Any input would be much appreciated.
 
The stone you picked is definitely my choice of all the ones posted. I don't like most SI2 diamonds, but I really cannot see the clouds in this one. Also, it is definitely not as tinted as the other stones. The one danger in too many clouds is that it can affect the brilliance of the stone. And I don't think you'll be able to determine that through James Allen. You'd almost have to use an independent appraiser.

Is that the style e-ring that your girlfriend showed you that she likes?
 
Yeah, she has mentioned before that she likes that style of band.

It does look pretty clean to me, I guess I will have to go back to them and ask if the clouding is to an extend that it is affecting the brilliance?

Does the price seem good value at around 5k?
 
I have to get to bed soon, but I wanted to give you a couple of other setting suggestions if you don't mind (and if she didn't say that was the exact ring she wanted). Most women here would prefer a band/shank that is not quite as wide as that one because it can make the center stone look smaller. In addition, those channel set stones will get gunk in between them, and I think there are better choices if you don't mind a woman's opinion. :))

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/18k-white-gold-0.35ct-pave-cathedral-engagement-ring-item-1112

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/18k-white-gold-single-claw-prong-pave-set-surprise-diamond-engagement-ring-item-883

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/18k-white-gold-cross-prong-pave-set-surprise-diamond-engagement-ring-item-343

I think the stone is very good for the price! I wouldn't even consider the other three, to be honest.
 
diamondseeker2006|1389073468|3588018 said:
I have to get to bed soon, but I wanted to give you a couple of other setting suggestions if you don't mind (and if she didn't say that was the exact ring she wanted). Most women here would prefer a band/shank that is not quite as wide as that one because it can make the center stone look smaller. In addition, those channel set stones will get gunk in between them, and I think there are better choices if you don't mind a woman's opinion. :))

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/18k-white-gold-0.35ct-pave-cathedral-engagement-ring-item-1112

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/18k-white-gold-single-claw-prong-pave-set-surprise-diamond-engagement-ring-item-883

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/18k-white-gold-cross-prong-pave-set-surprise-diamond-engagement-ring-item-343

I think the stone is very good for the price! I wouldn't even consider the other three, to be honest.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your input, she had said that she liked the bowtie setting, but knowing her I know that she wouldn't have considered the things you have pointed out. I am now leaning towards the third setting you recommended.

This diamond (http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.19-carat-j-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-276230) that Julie suggested has caught my eye. Is there much difference between ideal and excellent cuts? It did score 1.6 on the HCA that this site provides.

Any input anyone has is greatly appreciated.
 
I love the diamond Julie suggested and it is 1.19 cts, too! I was just too tired late last night to search, so I am glad she did! Reserve it now before a lurker gets it! (Excellent is the highest grade that GIA gives, but the diamond also fits into AGS Ideal specs. Looks fine!)

I am thrilled that you might consider the third setting! I think it is beautiful and will work very well with this diamond! It has such a pretty side view, too! I also think it is a more elegant, timeless style and that she will love it! You later can get a wedding band that matches!
 
Hi guys,

So I decided to go with this setting (thanks diamondseeker2006)

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/18k-white-gold-cross-prong-pave-set-surprise-diamond-engagement-ring-item-343

I have now narrowed it down to one of these two stones:

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.19-carat-j-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-276230

which is my preference, and this one:

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.07-carat-i-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-268566

I have had James Allen do a gemologist inspection of them and they favour the latter of the two, so I am now unsure over which to go for.

The HCA rating for the two are as follows: 1.6 & 4.6.

I have been told that the feather on my preference is visible to the eye, but can mostly be hidden with a prong, it also only has a faint warmth for a J color.

Their choice is eye clean and they feel it is slightly brighter than my preference.

The stones are pretty much the same price, but the HCA 4.6 score concerns me.

I would love some advice one which stone (of the two) anyone would recommend and why.

Thanks!
 
Oof, that other diamond is not nice.

The J looks to be cut gorgeously. I want to point out, however, that it has quite a bit of yellow/almost green tint to it. Some J's barely show color, this J definitely shows color, and it will be noticeable for the wearer if she is at all color sensitive. Do you know if the wearer is comfortable with this color?

James Allen has the absolute best images for showing color against a critical, but not un-life-like background. Diffuse lighting in everyday activities will bring out the same colors that you see here, no question about it.

"Faces up white" doesn't cut it for a color-sensitive wearer because the majority of the time, she'll be looking at the angles that show the most color: 0 to 45 degrees.

You had originally asked for feedback on a J colored diamond, and I don't want to scare you into not getting this more recently posted J diamond if she's okay with J. I just want to point out something that has not yet been mentioned so that you can make a fully educated decision.
 
The I is definitely not as good as the J when it comes to cut. If they say that the J SI2 is eye-clean and has no haziness, I'd go for that. I always check the color of I/J/K before recommending them, and I reject any that are low for their grade. I usually only keep ones that look high for their grade, and keep solid/mid grades only if I think they offer some other value like size or price.
 
JulieN|1389834438|3593670 said:
The I is definitely not as good as the J when it comes to cut. If they say that the J SI2 is eye-clean and has no haziness, I'd go for that. I always check the color of I/J/K before recommending them, and I reject any that are low for their grade. I usually only keep ones that look high for their grade, and keep solid/mid grades only if I think they offer some other value like size or price.
Click to expand...

Thanks Julie, I am waiting on clarification on any haziness in the stone. I also forgot to thank you for finding it in the first place!
 
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