help needed with diamond purchase

[vinodr]

Hi all pricescope members. Your help is sorely needed here. I am planning on buying a ring and have been looking several places; blue nile, jared, james allen. My budget is 5-6k total for the stone. I have finally think I have picked a stone which I like. would like to get your opinions on it

Its a James allen hearts and arrows diamond for $5950

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1193759.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

Item Number: 1193759
Shape: Round
Carat weight: 0.93
Cut: Hearts & Arrows Ideal
Color: F
Clarity: VS1
Certificate: AGS

Is this a good deal ? are there better out there for almost 1 carat.
any input would be greatly appreciated

 

[Ellen]

Date: 12/21/2008 7:02:14 PM
Author:vinodr
Hi all pricescope members. Your help is sorely needed here. I am planning on buying a ring and have been looking several places; blue nile, jared, james allen. My budget is 5-6k total for the stone. I have finally think I have picked a stone which I like. would like to get your opinions on it

Its a James allen hearts and arrows diamond for $5950

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1193759.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

Item Number: 1193759
Shape: Round
Carat weight: 0.93
Cut: Hearts & Arrows Ideal
Color: F
Clarity: VS1
Certificate: AGS

Is this a good deal ? are there better out there for almost 1 carat.
any input would be greatly appreciated

It''s a great looking diamond!

When you say "better", what do you mean exactly? I found a nice one that is hitting the one carat mark (and facing up at a noticeable difference), is a great color, and if eyeclean would be nice. At less money. I guess to me that''s a better deal, but it might not be to you!

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1193887.asp

 

[coatimundi_org]

Ditto Ellen on the better deal with the G SI1 if eye clean. It faces up better(bigger), and also it's not quite as deep--just a tad better spread in general.

 

[vinodr]

thx for input. I would like to stick to the"VS" category for clarity and also be in the F or better range for color.
Has anyone seen a 1 carat VS1, F color for 6k or less ?
to me the difference between a 0.93 carat and 1 carat is not noticeable to naked eye as it is a 0.2mm size difference.
I guess Im trying to get as close to 1 carat as possible without sacrificing on color and clarity
I also used the HCA tool on the original diamond I posted and came out with excellent across the board.

 

[coatimundi_org]

If you want to go down in carat weight you can find ideal cut stones for that price, but for ideal cut quality and the carat weight/color/clarity combo you desire--it's going to be tough finding one for less than 6k.

There are some on this page.

With ideal/ex cut quality, I would seriously consider going down a bit in clarity--you can find many stones that are SI and eye clean. Also G color ideal cuts face up near colorless. Many PS'ers have these combos and can attest to their beauty.

Also, I got different results on the HCA for the original diamond you posted. Plug in the angles rather than the percentages--more accurate.

(if you like the first one you posted--you might want to snag it)

 

[Lorelei]

Good advice from the ladies!!

 

[Mrs W]

The 1st jamesallen stone looks great.....I think that is probley the best you could do pricewise on a stone with those stats at that carat weight.