Help Me Pick

[DopplerShift]

I'm conducting my search on James Allen since they have such awesome pics and videos of their inventory, and I have found some candidates for my girl.

My budget is $10000 and, Im looking to get a round diamond larger than 7mm for between $7000 and $9000 with $1000 to $3000 left over for the setting which will be yellow gold.

Ive read that colorless and perhaps near colorless diamonds are a wasted in a yellow gold setting and that color on the K range is acceptable? Is this true? I am looking at G, H, I , and J but am reluctant to go lower than that. Should I shed this preconception?

Anyways, here's what I found so far....

This 1.32 seems very white for a J and the inclusions are very unnoticeable for a SI2 it seems to me, but it just barely makes 7mm. For $6820 though I can get a nicer setting with $3000 left over.
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.32-carat-j-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-185042


This 1.4 for $7540 comes in at 7.2mm and it's VS2. Not as white as the 1.32 and surprisingly doesn't look as clean, but would easily be eye clean, so I guess that's all that really matters.
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.40-carat-j-color-vs2-clarity-sku-180253


This 1.5 J for an even $8000 comes in at 7.3mm it also seems very white to me but more noticeably included and cloudy
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.50-carat-j-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-186128


This 1.51 J is the largest at 7.45 but seems the least white of the bunch and has some ugly brownish inclusions on the edge.
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.51-carat-j-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-186431


This 1.5 G color is the whites rated and most expensive at $8740 comes in at 7.31 mm. It's nice but has a dark inclusion in the table. It doesn't seem to have as much contrast as some of the others too.
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.50-carat-g-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-195062

Let me know what you think!

 

[JulieN]

The 1.32 J SI2 is the best cut. The others are not as well cut. The 1.51 J Si2 7.45 mm is ok if you want something very big. Those two are worth getting Ideal Scopes and having a gemologist review them.

 

[DopplerShift]

Thanks! What makes the 1.32 a better cut?

Also, what are people's opinions about color in yellow gold settings?

I read an article here about diamond color, and they recommend using K-M in yellow gold settings.
http://www.truthaboutdiamonds.com/truth-about/diamond-color/

 

[JulieN]

Most of the ones you picked have deep pavilions.

https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/diamond-cut

http://goodoldgold.com/4Cs/Cut/Proportions/

 

[DopplerShift]

Thanks. I just found the HCA tool as well, and according to that you're right!

 

[DopplerShift]

The 1.5 J SI2 get an HCA 1.9 though

 

[JulieN]

In the video it has a very strange appearance, but it might be dirty.

GIA numbers are averaged and then rounded to the nearest .5 degree for crown angle, and .2 degree for pavilion angle. Usually these borderline cases are ok, but if the angles have a high level of variance, using HCA on it is not very good. In the picture it shows 3 out 8 arrows going white, I'm not inclined to use an Ideal Scope request on it (limit 3 from JA.)

 

[DopplerShift]

Here's one with a good spread and it's a VS1 for $7650. 1.31 J VS1 7.13 mm and get an HCA of 1.6
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.31-carat-j-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-209411

I think this might be 2 of 3

Edit:
But this one doesn't have nice arrows

 

[JulieN]

How about this: http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.34-carat-i-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-194878

 

[DopplerShift]

How about this: http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.34-carat-i-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-194878

Yes. That is very nice.

I was also considering this one but it's $750 more.
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.32-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-194876

 

[JulieN]

also nice.

 

[DopplerShift]

I put a 2nd on hold. It's BIG and reaches (dare I say pushes slightly) the limits of my budget, but I think it looks very promising.
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.56-carat-i-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-186643

 

[DopplerShift]

OK so I picked my 3rd diamond to have analyzed by James Allen...
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.38-carat-j-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-198721
It gets the best HCA score of the 3 (1.1), has the best clarity, and comes in at 7.12 mm. We'll see what their analysis is, and I'll post idealscope images when I get those.

Thanks JulieN for your help so far.

 

[ariel144]

I would go with this 1.31 G SI2 True H & A and spend less on the setting.

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.31-carat-g-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-182295

MRB's are great faceting for hiding inclusions and this G color looks really nice to me. CUT IS KING and a H &A cut are the best. Also the G color will make this diamond extra bright.

I also like this one posted above for the size and color combo and again get a less expensive setting:

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.56-carat-i-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-186643


These are my picks but here are other H & A's from great vendors:


http://www.victorcanera.com/diamonds/3tgsml
http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/1.26-carat-h-si1-hearts-and-arrows-round-cut-diamond-gid-108287.html

Beverly K settings come highly recommended in PS for quality and best price. I also like GabrielNY ...they have some really pretty settings for under $2k

 

[DopplerShift]

I would go with this 1.31 G SI2 True H & A and spend less on the setting.

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.31-carat-g-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-182295

MRB's are great faceting for hiding inclusions and this G color looks really nice to me.

Ooooo I really like that G H&A! The only thing is that this is definitely going into a yellow gold setting, and I'm afraid the better color will be wasted in the gold setting and I should just get a larger stone.

Also, what is an MRB?

I'll check out those sites for settings and other stones.

 

[ariel144]

MRB = Modern Round Brilliant cut

Yes if you want large the I color will be plenty white...The clarity issues on that one might be a factor..."graining" can cause some haziness in a stone but JA can tell you if that is the case with this stone. Faces up interestingly large for the depth of 61.5%

 

[ariel144]

These custom Old European cuts (OEC) are awesome...they face up smaller per carat but are wonderful performers...no one will have a stone like this that you know.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9868/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8240/

Watch GOG's videos to learn all about diamonds...cut color & clarity... they are the best!

 

[DopplerShift]

I'm liking the Gabriel NY settings. Thank you for the tip. I really didn't like many of the James Allen settings much except for the Danhov ones.

Where do you suggest getting the Beverley K Settings? They don't have prices on their website.

 

[ariel144]

I'm liking the Gabriel NY settings. Thank you for the tip. I really didn't like many of the James Allen settings much except for the Danhov ones.

Where do you suggest getting the Beverley K Settings? They don't have prices on their website.

Do a pricescope search for Beverlyk settings....Can't remember who's site carries the prices. GOG and other vendors carry Beverly k and GabrielNY

Once you have chosen your stone, start a new post for setting suggestions in your budget, and the setting experts will help you find the best setting for your budget.

 

[DopplerShift]

These custom Old European cuts (OEC) are awesome...they face up smaller per carat but are wonderful performers...no one will have a stone like this that you know.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9868/

Watch GOG's videos to learn all about diamonds...cut color & clarity... they are the best!

You know, If it were up to me, I would be buying a colorless Emerald cut or Asscher Diamond set in a platinum solitaire, but my Love is more mainstream and is all about brilliant round diamonds and yellow gold halo/multistone settings. That OEC is very cool (I love it), but I shouldn't stray too far from the beaten path.

I'll check out those videos.

Edit:
Yeah they have some cool diamonds at Good Old Gold. This august vintage cushion cut is REALLY cool:
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/7958/

 

[ariel144]

These custom Old European cuts (OEC) are awesome...they face up smaller per carat but are wonderful performers...no one will have a stone like this that you know.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9868/

Watch GOG's videos to learn all about diamonds...cut color & clarity... they are the best!

You know, If it were up to me, I would be buying a colorless Emerald cut or Asscher Diamond set in a platinum solitaire, but my Love is more mainstream and is all about brilliant round diamonds and yellow gold halo/multistone settings. That OEC is very cool (I love it), but I shouldn't stray too far from the beaten path.

I'll check out those videos.

Edit:
Yeah they have some cool diamonds at Good Old Gold. This august vintage cushion cut is REALLY cool:
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/7958/

yes, and this K is lovely and larger too:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/10426/

cushion cuts are very popular.

This J cushion is listed with the AVR's for some reason and is slightly elongated but is nice and so is the price $6k:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9876/

You can't go wrong with a stone from GOG...they "prove" the performance of their stones which is nice for those who know nothing about diamonds and don't have time to research. They have videos comparing the different facet patterns of MRB OEC's, antique cushions, modern cushions, H & A etc etc etc....a wealth of information and an highly respected vendor on PS.

 

[DopplerShift]

OK so I went to Good Old Gold and put this beauty on hold 1.33ct J VS2 Superior Round Diamond ($8599) that comes in at 7.17mm
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9974/

We'll see how the idealscope for the above 1.56 turns out, but in the mean time I need to see how to get a 18k yellow gold Gabriel NY setting. I also need to find out how much of an up charge there is for 18k gold and which settings are available in 18k gold.

If the 1.56 doesn't pan out, I'm going to go with this one.

 

[ariel144]

OK so I went to Good Old Gold and put this beauty on hold 1.33ct J VS2 Superior Round Diamond ($8599) that comes in at 7.17mm
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9974/

We'll see how the idealscope for the above 1.56 turns out, but in the mean time I need to see how to get a 18k yellow gold Gabriel NY setting. I also need to find out how much of an up charge there is for 18k gold and which settings are available in 18k gold.

If the 1.56 doesn't pan out, I'm going to go with this one.

Very nice stone. GOG carries GabrielNY and BeverlyK and they can help you find the best setting for your budget. That well cut J will face up very white.

GOG will do a video for you with several of their in stock stones and you can choose the one you like best ...great feature that no other vendor will do that I know of.

 

[DopplerShift]

I'm going to do a 3 stone with these 2 darlings:
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8944/
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8936/

It's going to be like a lightning storm on her finger!

 

[two_little_birds]

It's going to be beautiful!

Make sure you come back and post photos of the completed project.