Help needed selecting 3ct round brilliant

[theshirlgirlNS]

I'm hoping the experts here might be able to help me out with some suggestions. I am looking to upgrade my 1.8ct I VS2 to a 3ct diamond. My diamond was originally purchased from BlueNile so I can take advantage of their upgrade program if I find something there, however I seem to see better stones with better pricing from JA, WF. I'm not against keeping the stone I have and turning it into a pendant if I don't find something at BN. My budget is approximately 30k. Diamond will be set in a classic platinum 6 prong setting.

For my desired size and budget, a J colored stone may be my best option, in which case I'm hoping to find something as white as possible. Cut is by far my number 1 priority - I'm not as concerned about color and clarity as I am making sure the stone is brilliant and sparkly.

I'm lost trying to run the calculations and determine the best stones between BN, JA and WF. BGD currently has nothing close to that size in my budget.

Suggestions greatly appreciated!

 

[tyty333]

You have the budget for a super ideal...and if you think you ever might want to upgrade again, branded Super Ideal would be the
way to go. You can ask for side-by-side pictures and whether one looks more white than the others.

Diamond | 3.177 ct J SI1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4187474

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 3.177 carat J color SI1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4187474

www.whiteflash.com

Diamond | 2.996 ct J VS2 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4166414

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 2.996 carat J color VS2 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4166414

www.whiteflash.com

Diamond | 2.983 ct J SI1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4193183

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 2.983 carat J color SI1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4193183

www.whiteflash.com

 

[lovedogs]

You have the budget for a super ideal...and if you think you ever might want to upgrade again, branded Super Ideal would be the
way to go. You can ask for side-by-side pictures and whether one looks more white than the others.

Diamond | 3.177 ct J SI1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4187474

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 3.177 carat J color SI1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4187474

www.whiteflash.com

Diamond | 2.996 ct J VS2 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4166414

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 2.996 carat J color VS2 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4166414

www.whiteflash.com

Diamond | 2.983 ct J SI1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4193183

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 2.983 carat J color SI1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4193183

www.whiteflash.com

Came here to say this. Agreed

 

[OoohShiny]

Don't forget to use the search bar at the top of the forum to pull up all the options in the database - select 'Excellent' in the HCA score section to find the stones that have angles that work well together (which should therefore give good light performance).

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Love the 2.996 (!) J VS2 from Whiteflash!

 

[AV_]

You could always ask any of the H&A sellers if they would take in your diamond (trade-in) or if/how could be repolished upto the same H&A standards. I can't know what the options are as details often depend on your stone & their current possibilities. Just a thought

 

[Gussie]

I would grab that 2.996 if it were me!

 

[Dancing Fire]

Love the 2.996 (!) J VS2 from Whiteflash!

A rarity indeed!..

 

[headlight]

My only input is that you are doing a really big jump in size. And with that much larger size color is much more apparent. So think hard about the J. It will be much more than "a little more tint" than what you have now. There will be a much greater impact than if your current stone was a J. In an approx 3 ct I would not go below your current I and, quite honestly, you should consider an H. Sorry to burst your bubble but some food for thought.

 

[theshirlgirlNS]

I appreciate everyone's input. I have had a concern about the color but have been hoping the super ideal would offset the warm with it's light return performance. Any thoughts on the below H stones from JA?

2.71 Carat round diamond

This 2.71 carat round diamond H color vs2 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

2.91 Carat round diamond

This 2.91 carat round diamond H color vs2 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

2.91 Carat round diamond

This 2.91 carat round diamond H color vs2 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

Or I could consider these I stones from WF

Diamond | 2.945 ct I VS2 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4135238

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 2.945 carat I color VS2 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4135238

www.whiteflash.com

Diamond | 3.058 ct I SI1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4219825

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 3.058 carat I color SI1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4219825

www.whiteflash.com

So hard when you can't see them in person!

 

[theshirlgirlNS]

I should add, the team at WF is being super helpful and created this image for me to better compare...

 

[Gussie]

I would ask wf for pictures comparing the I and J stones. If it were me, I would definitely stick with wf. Their customer service and upgrade policy is far above james allen, not to mention the ACA cut.

 

[theshirlgirlNS]

Yes, I feel more confident going with WF. All my emails are currently bouncing back from them so will try to contact them when they open today.

Also just found this stone which could be a possibilty: https://www.victorcanera.com/diamonds/ags104097357001-2.824-i-vs2-hearts-arrows-round