Help me pick out a round diamond for engagement please!

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Hello all,

I am in need of some help picking a round diamond. I've never done this before, but have done a little research. However, help from all of you pros is much handier. So, I applaud you guys!

My budget is around $5,000 USD. (with hopes to stay close to 4,500) I'm going to have to finance, so I will have to buy from a local jeweler, I believe. Luckily, I'm close to Atlanta, so I have many options.

Okay, here is what I believe I'm after. I want ideal to excellent dimensions on cut, depth, table, etc.... I would like to stay in the G-H range, also. The diamond will be placed in a white gold setting. As far as carat weight, I'm good with staying under a carat for savings purposes. I am certain I want a .9-1.1 carat range. Quality is also a big deal to me, I care about what it looks like under a loop, though obviously, what is most important is what it looks like in natural daylight to the average eye.

I really prefer to keep the clarity grade in vvs1-vs2. I also would prefer a GIA diamond. But will consider a EGL in say..... 1 carat vvs2, G color with close to ideal dimensions on cut/table/depth/etc...

I realize what I'm asking for may be close to impossible for my budget. That's why I'm looking to you guys. I am all open ears to advice.

Here's some sample stones i found. Tell me if I'm approaching this correctly!
THANKS EVERYONE.

http://www.gia.edu/cs/Satellite?reportno=1166081081&childpagename=GIA%2FPage%2FReportCheck&pagename=GIA%2FDispatcher&c=Page&cid=1355954554547

http://www.solomonbrothers.com/Dialog.aspx?ImageUrl=http://certs.rapnet.com/userfolders/8258/Certs/RB18138.jpg

http://www.solomonbrothers.com/Dialog.aspx?ImageUrl=http://certs.rapnet.com/userfolders/61524/Certs/909208505.jpg

 

[Gypsy]

The entire purpose of faceting a diamond is to reflect light.
How well or how poorly a diamond does this determines how beautiful it is.
How well a diamond performs is determined by the angles and cutting. This is why we say cut is king.
No other factor: not color, not clarity has as much of an impact on the appearance of a diamond as its cut. An ideal H will out white a poorly cut F. And GIA Ex is not enough. And you must stick to GIA and AGS only. EGL is a bad option: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/egl-certification-are-any-of-them-ok.142863/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/egl-certification-are-any-of-them-ok.142863/[/URL]
So how to we ensure that we have the right angles and cutting to get the light performance we want?
https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/diamond-cut
Well one method is to start with a GIA Ex, and then apply the HCA to it. YOU DO NOT USE HCA for AGS0 stones.
https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/holloway-cut-advisor
The HCA is a rejection tool. Not a selection tool. It uses 4 data points to make a rudimentary call on how the diamond may perform.
If the diamond passes then you know that you are in the right zone in terms of angles for light performance. Under 2 is a pass. Under 2.5-2.1 is a maybe. 2.6 and over is a no. No score 2 and under is better than any other.
Is that enough? Not really.
So what you need is a way to check actual light performance of your actual stone.
That's what an idealscope image does. https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/firescope-idealscope
It shows you how and wear your diamond is reflecting light, how well it is going at it, and where you are losing light return. That is why you won't see us recommending Blue Nile or Solomon Brothers, as they do not provide idealscope images for their diamonds. BGD, James Allen, GOG, HPD, ERD and WF do.

The Idealscope is the 'selection tool'. Not the HCA.
So yes, with a GIA stone you need the idealscope images. Or you can buy an idealscope yourself and take it in to the jeweler you are working with to check the stones yourself. Or if you have a good return policy (full refund minimum 7 days) then you can buy the idealscope, buy the stone, and do it at home.


Now if you want to skip all that... stick to AGS0 stones and then all you have to do is pick color and clarity and you know you have a great performing diamond. Because AGS has already done the checking for you. That's why they trade at a premium.


Your budget of 5k will get you a nice .90 carat diamond. That's what you are reasonably looking at. You can also get a nice one carat, with I SI1 or J SI1 color and clarity. Adjust your expectations accordingly and we can help you look later on.