Find your diamond
Find your jewelry
shape
carat
color
clarity

Help on choosing?

B

berries

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jul 27, 2010
Messages
9
Hi,

So my boyfriend and I are looking and I am struggling because I wanted a bigger ring and he wants to stay within a budget even though he can definitely afford to get me more. He’s frugal and wants to save that money for something else. He wants to keep our budget as low as possible but somewhere around 20k.

I found two diamond I thought I’d be ok with and wanted to see if you guys can give me some guidance. I initially wanted a g color that is eye clean but I’m willing to sacrifice a little bit of color for a bigger size.

https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD10156915
Blue nile said their expert said it was eye clean


https://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/l...g-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3718193
The chat box man told me that this would be eye clean but we’re not sure if the haziness is from the camera or the stone.

Do you guys have any suggestions??
 
Last edited:
Have you looked at whiteflash? They have a few that are around 2 carats H/eye clean SI that are close to your budget. Super ideal diamonds (best cut possible) have edge to edge light return making them appear larger and whiter. Whiteflash also has a 100% trade up policy. I personally would not go for an SI2 for an ering.
 
Last edited:
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD10156915 {I would personally not find this clean enough. The inclusions are visible at almost every angle. There are clouds as grade setting and additional clouds in the notes. This diamond will very very likely be hazy and really not make you happy. But, you did good with the angles. I'd give this a pass.}

https://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/l...g-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3718193
{repeat what I said above. This has nice angles, but the SI2 grading and the visibility of these inclusions is problematic. This is marginally better than the stone above, but I'd still personally pass and look for a much cleaner stone}

Have you seen GIA graded diamonds in person? If not, I'd start by looking at some and look at G, H and I in person (not side-by-side; one at a time). If you can drop your color, you can get a better balance between the 3 Cs (cut being fixed at excellent). I'm pretty color observant and I'd personally go for a I color in a super-ideal (Whiteflash, HighPerformanceDiamonds, BrianGavin, etc.) to get my size goals (trade down on color for size). Both WF and HPD have generous upgrade policies that might help you work your way to your size and color goals over time. So, maybe you select something a bit smaller than 2.5 now to stay in budget. But, both these vendors offer 100% of cost of the diamond toward an upgrade.

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4879471 {request and idealscope image after you put on hold if you like}
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3980393.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3969520.htm
 
What's your ring size? For most 2 carats will look huge
 
I think my ring size is about 4.5 but I have always wanted a big ring (like a 3 carat). Regardless of the size of the diamond, I am getting a round halo setting for my ring.

Thank you rockysalamander for the suggestions. I did look at whiteflash aca for a while but wanted to see if there was a way to go down on clarity as long as it was eyeclean and try to keep the color at least an H because I think I may be a bit color sensitive. Are all the ACA diamonds definitely good choices?

I was also looking at this one:
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2994225.htm

https://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/l...color-vs2-clarity-true-hearts-cut-sku-4625294

Do you think it would be odd to pitched in more so I can get a better ring? =)2
 
Last edited:
lmkim said:
I think my ring size is about 4.5 but I have always wanted a big ring (like a 3 carat). Regardless of the size of the diamond, I am getting a round halo setting for my ring.

Thank you rockysalamander for the suggestions. I did look at whiteflash aca for a while but wanted to see if there was a way to go down on clarity as long as it was eyeclean and try to keep the color at least an H because I think I may be a bit color sensitive. Are all the ACA diamonds definitely good choices?

I was also looking at this one:
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2994225.htm

https://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/l...color-vs2-clarity-true-hearts-cut-sku-4625294

Do you think it would be odd to pitched in more so I can get a better ring? =)2
Click to expand...
You can certainly go down in clarity, but keep in mind that inclusions are much more visible the larger the stone. I worry less about the grade, per se, and the nature and type of inclusions along with their locations.

The WF stone you posted is very nice. WF carries their own "A cut above" and an Expert Select line. Those are both very very good. They also have some Premium select that are usually pretty good, but need to be individually evaluated. You'll get these if you check the "In House" diamonds. You can also reach out to them and tell them you are looking for a eye-clean SI2 as big as possible and down to an H. They can see what they have in their production line. HighPerformanceDiamods also is very good at finding SI2 super-ideals from their line. The downside of this is that it may take some time and patience to get over 2.5 carats within your budget (but check with them).

What I personally like about both these vendors is that you can get that 3 carat stone over time since 100% of the cost of any inhouse stone you buy from them will be credited to an upgraded stone. A number of PS member has started at 1 carat and are working their way up to 4 carats or more.

By looking at well-cut stones (the actual cutting of the facets), you will often find that they have better spread. So, I always look at the mm of spread, not the weight. Nobody will weight your stone, they will see the spread.

https://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/l...color-vs2-clarity-true-hearts-cut-sku-4625294
This is a very nice stone and would be beautiful. But, if your budget goes to $22k, go with the WF ACA you posted. Its bigger and better cut. Add that to WF's upgrade policy and customer service and they are a better option in my mind. (JA will require you to spend double to upgrade).

If you end up closer to $26k, you can get something like this. WF defines eyeclean as visible at 10" with an acute viewer. This would get you closer to the size you want, but really blow your BF's budget of $20k.
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3227683.htm

If your boyfriend is open to you adding funds, then why not? That is between you and he. But, tread carefully, many see an engagement ring as a gift and he might take offense if you were implying his gift was unworthy. A > 2 carat engagement diamond of the quality of these will be far and above what most people would expect. You can also add a lot of impact by having a blingy wedding band.

Have you ever worn such a large stone on a daily basis? If not, I'd get a CZ in the right size and wear that for a while. As the stone's weight goes up, so does the height. You might find that it is uncomfortable or you band it on everything. My daily diamond is just over 2 carats, but I have the stone set so low that they drilled a hole in the shank for the culet.

ID Jewellery in New York City is also great for a budget. I don't recall their upgrade policies, but they will be on their websites.
 

Attachments

  • upload_2018-6-13_12-23-50.png
    upload_2018-6-13_12-23-50.png
    34.8 KB · Views: 22
I personally dont think it would be odd. We have seen this before. The thing with Whiteflash is that they have an excellent trade up/in policy.
You just pick out a stone that cost more than the stone you are trading in and pay the difference. So say at your 1, 5, or 10 year anniversary
you can easily upgrade. Other places require you to spend 2X the original cost or to upgrade on 2 or more specs (color/size/clarity).
 
It's none of my business, but the bigger issue I see here is you and the BF aren't on the same page regarding your budget. IMO, you guys need to discuss this further and be in complete agreement. As a guy, I will be honest and tell you that if I felt comfortable spending $20k +/- and that wasn't good enough for you, then I'd have much bigger issues with you.

Also, as a guy, I would probably be offended if you offered to throw your cash into the equation. Obviously you know each other best. But I'm thinking if you want to try that approach, it may go better if you say something like, "you know I have an extra $5k that I want to throw at the wedding, and was thinking if I did that maybe we could go a little bigger on the diamond budget". It may or may not work, but will probably be less of a blow to his ego than, "hey, your $20k isn't good enough so let me add $5k of my own money so I can get the stone I really want".

Again, none of this is my business, but I saw it and that part rubbed me the wrong way, so I have to think it may do the same to him. I'm sure that's not your intent, and I'm not saying anything negative here. I just don't want you to create a problem for yourself. Plus, you never know what he may have planned for a honeymoon, house purchase, etc. that might have him limiting his cash reserves for the diamond purchase.

Now about the stone. I fall into the "cut is king" club. I'm much more impressed with a 2 carat stone that sparkles and dances than a 3 carat stone with no fire or life. We all have our own preferences, so you need to decide where you fall. Is size your number one goal? Purchasing diamonds is like a zero sum game meaning that if you gain in one area, you give in another area. There are ways to cheat as @rockysalamander and others already mentioned. H&A stones are cut to precision and tend to appear more white & larger than stones that aren't well cut.

Some great alternates have been provided already. If you better define your criteria, perhaps we can better help in your search. Whatever you end up with, it will be gorgeous as you came here and there is so much good information available that as long as you listen, you will end up with a splendid diamond at a very reasonable price.
 
If 20k was all he can afford, I would have respected his budget as I am financially responsible and would have preferred to spend my money on a house or something essential. However, I have told him from the beginning that I wanted a big ring and he has the ability to pay more for the ring. I don’t care about the wedding ceremony nearly as much as the ring. He just doesn’t like to spend money and doesn’t see the value in spending more for a ring (or even when I buy a designer purse). His recently married coworkers have a ring around 1.5-1.8 carats and that is all he references. Mind you that my boyfriend makes at least than double what his coworkers’ husbands make in terms of salary so if we took account the 2 or 3 months rule, I would get a ring if my choice easily with room to spare. Many of my friends who are recently engaged got 2.5-3 carat ring. So personally, I don’t feel it’s that it is outrageous to want a bigger ring. I have been a quiet stalker of pricescope for years ever since I met a friend who received a gorgeous 3 carat ring. My boyfriend is ok with my pitching in for the ring because he knows that was my wish for over a decade. I know ultimately that we can afford it without any debt and compromise to our finances so that is why I am contemplating spending a bit more for. I know this is not the norm and I only explain as someone may have been rubbed the wrong way.

As for the ring, I will probably just go with the recommended vendors from rocky salamander. I would not have posted on this forum if I was just going to buy an ACA ring but I wanted to see if the cheaper alternatives on the first post would be acceptable. Thanks again for all the recommendations.
 
Cool. :cool2:

You can absolutely find a diamond that isn't ACA and a good value. Based on your previous posts, are we correct to assume you have the following the criteria?
  • Size = 2.5+ carat, with preference for 3ct
  • Color = D-G
  • Clarity = SI2+, as long as eye clean
  • Cut = Excellent, but not necessarily super ideal (ACA, CBI, BGD, etc)
  • Budget = $20-30k?
 
I did some sleuthing focused on maximizing size. See notes about where the compromises come in...

https://www.adiamor.com/Diamonds/2....Cut-Round-Diamond/D41620957?&refer=pricescope {The inclusions here are pretty well-placed and may be sufficiently eyeclean. Its a good price and gets you closer to your size goal. They have a 30-day return policy. So, I'd quickly put this on hold (if the extra $4k is within your grasp) and then have them mail the stone to you unset for evaluation. The bad news is that I can't find any upgrade policy. They also don't provide IS or ASET. So, that might be a deterrent. }

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-h-color-si1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-4455455 {there are more but finer inclusions here as compared to the 2.84 above. But, this has a strong light performance based on the AGS.}.
 
lmkim said:
If 20k was all he can afford, I would have respected his budget as I am financially responsible and would have preferred to spend my money on a house or something essential. However, I have told him from the beginning that I wanted a big ring and he has the ability to pay more for the ring. I don’t care about the wedding ceremony nearly as much as the ring.
Click to expand...
Yeah, forget the ceremony. I'll take the bigger rock! :bigsmile:
 
lmkim said:
Hi,

So my boyfriend and I are looking and I am struggling because I wanted a bigger ring and he wants to stay within a budget even though he can definitely afford to get me more. He’s frugal and wants to save that money for something else. He wants to keep our budget as low as possible but somewhere around 20k.

I found two diamond I thought I’d be ok with and wanted to see if you guys can give me some guidance. I initially wanted a g color that is eye clean but I’m willing to sacrifice a little bit of color for a bigger size.

https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD10156915
Blue nile said their expert said it was eye clean


https://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/l...g-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3718193
The chat box man told me that this would be eye clean but we’re not sure if the haziness is from the camera or the stone.

Do you guys have any suggestions??
Click to expand...

If you are mainly concerned with size and budget, why don't you go the route of mad made diamonds? You could probably get a honker for 20K
 
McGinnis said:
If you are mainly concerned with size and budget, why don't you go the route of mad made diamonds? You could probably get a honker for 20K
Click to expand...
Maybe b/c she don't wanna be the laughing stock among her friends? :lol:
 
I'm with @sledge on this. As a guy, I would want my girlfriend to talk to me about these issues so we could set a budget together. If I was in a position to lay down $20k on a diamond and my girlfriend was insisting that we spend more, even though that could get a diamond well within the size range common among our group of friends, then I would personally have issues with it. But if he is OK with you chipping in for the diamond, then that may be a great solution if you want to spend around 30K.

If your discuss with your boyfriend and he is firm with the 20k, then I do like the idea of going with WhiteFlash for the ease of upgrading in the future. If you're not one of those who is sentimental about the original diamond and opposed to an upgrade, I think this would be the best option. Get something around 2 carats (or slightly below) for less than $20k (to leave money for a nice setting) now and then upgrade at some future milestone like the 5 or 10-year anniversary. Plenty of people do exactly this, and since WhiteFlash will apply the full value of the original stone to future upgrades, it might be easier to convince your husband to spend an extra $10-15k for an upgrade to a 2.5-2.7 carat of decent color and clarity.

I would be wary of going down too far in color or clarity in a diamond this large. Diamonds of 2+ carats definitely show more inclusions and also show more color, so you should be careful here.

ETA: I do really like that 3 carat posted by @sledge:
https://www.yadavjewelry.com/diamonds/2794969

If your boyfriend is OK with you chipping in, this is an absolutely gorgeous diamond, and very well-priced for a 3 carat as well.
 
Last edited:
rockysalamander said:
I did some sleuthing focused on maximizing size. See notes about where the compromises come in...

https://www.adiamor.com/Diamonds/2....Cut-Round-Diamond/D41620957?&refer=pricescope {The inclusions here are pretty well-placed and may be sufficiently eyeclean. Its a good price and gets you closer to your size goal. They have a 30-day return policy. So, I'd quickly put this on hold (if the extra $4k is within your grasp) and then have them mail the stone to you unset for evaluation. The bad news is that I can't find any upgrade policy. They also don't provide IS or ASET. So, that might be a deterrent. }

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-h-color-si1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-4455455 {there are more but finer inclusions here as compared to the 2.84 above. But, this has a strong light performance based on the AGS.}.
Click to expand...

FYI, I recently purchased from Adiamor and their upgrade policy can be found at the link below. My experience was overall positive. Customer service was the only thing that could have been better, though it wasn't terrible. Diamond exceeded my expectations :love: and they were able to customize one of their stock settings for me at no additional cost. I am beyond satisfied with the result.

https://www.adiamor.com/Diamond-Upgrade-Program
 
Thank you guys for the awesome recommendations. I would prefer to stay around his budget so anything over 26-27k would be too much.

I have the James Allen 2.6 H on hold that rocky salamander suggested.

I spoke to whiteflash and they said I wouldn't be able to tell the difference between H and I. Is that true? And if so, do you think either of these two look ok?

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4394710

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4836960

If not, any other recommendations if I is ok too?
 
lmkim said:
I think my ring size is about 4.5 but I have always wanted a big ring (like a 3 carat). Regardless of the size of the diamond, I am getting a round halo setting for my ring.

Thank you rockysalamander for the suggestions. I did look at whiteflash aca for a while but wanted to see if there was a way to go down on clarity as long as it was eyeclean and try to keep the color at least an H because I think I may be a bit color sensitive. Are all the ACA diamonds definitely good choices?

I was also looking at this one:
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2994225.htm

https://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/l...color-vs2-clarity-true-hearts-cut-sku-4625294

Do you think it would be odd to pitched in more so I can get a better ring? =)2
Click to expand...

I don't have a problem with you saying you will pitch in to bump up the budget. I think it's very considerate of you in fact. He doesn't need to add more money so you are respecting his budget. You want a bigger stone, and if you have the money, it's smart to get a stone closer to what you originally wanted. I don't have any problem with how you and your BF work out the $$ to get a bigger stone. You're up front about it now, and honest with him. It's MUCH better to be honest about it than to hold it in and stew. And if he has problems with that you guys can work it out. You both need to work it out a solution that you are both at peace with. I would not be influenced by what other people wholly unrelated to you. Good luck!
 
lmkim said:
Thank you guys for the awesome recommendations. I would prefer to stay around his budget so anything over 26-27k would be too much.

I have the James Allen 2.6 H on hold that rocky salamander suggested.

I spoke to whiteflash and they said I wouldn't be able to tell the difference between H and I. Is that true? And if so, do you think either of these two look ok?

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4394710

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4836960

If not, any other recommendations if I is ok too?
Click to expand...

Understand on the budget. I will look later and try to throw up a few others. Are we correct to assume you are okay with 2.5+ carats, since you linked two of them?

I don't like either JA stone. Here's why:
  • First stone has a knot & cavity on the cert. In general, you want to avoid.
  • Second stone has an IGI cert. They are not strict on grading so it's possible getting an H SI2 could really mean a worse color and/or clarity. In nice terms, they are unreliable and I would not trust them for internet purchases.
In regards to the I color, WF is probably correct. Here are some factors to consider though. Are you sensitive to color? Is something that is light tan and dark tan actually some fancy color name for you, or is it simply "tan"? Are you artsy? Just think about how sensitive you are to color and then make a determination from there. I do think from the top looking down, most people would be hard pressed to see a color difference with an I. From the side view is where it will be more telling. Also, if you WF was talking about their ACA line or similar, it's pretty normal for super ideals to face up whiter than less well cut stones.

Another big factor here for you is the size. Color differences (along with clarity) will be more noticeable in larger sizes like 2.5+ carats. This isn't bad, just a fact. Still, I think you may need to compromise somewhere and unless you are super color sensitive or have friends with D-F colored stones then I think an I color might work for you. I might prefer going to I color and bumping up the clarity a bit as some of these SI2's have been ugly (referring to all the inclusions).
 
A halo is a huge size-equalizer.

What I mean by this: the halo extends the end-to-end diameter of the “sparkly thing on your finger” considerably, minimizing the visual impact of small (0.2mm, 0.3mm) increments or decrements in centerstone size.

A halo also provides an incredibly easy way to boost the size of that “sparkly thing on your finger” slightly - a little flexibility in design can go a very, very long way.

Truly. Give your desired setting style... don’t sweat the carat weight. A 2.2ct in a halo will look exactly the same as a 2.5ct in an identically-designed halo to absolutely everyone except you and your jeweller. A 2.5ct in a halo will look exactly the same as a 2.7ct in an identically-designed halo to absolutely everyone except you and your jeweller.

My recommendation:
1. Drop carat.
2. Go up in clarity - you want a stone that’s guaranteed to be eyeclean in all lighting conditions.
3. Drop colour. All the way down to I. In well-cut MRBs body tint is most visible from the sides... your diamond’s sides will be largely hidden by the surrounding halo.
4. Use some of what you’ve saved from 1 & 3 to invest in a well-made setting with single-cut melee. Single cuts will minimize the apparent difference in colour between large and small stones (ie. centerstone and halo melee) - but they cost more than regular full-cut RB melee. A well-made setting will show your stone off to its best.
 
yssie said:
A halo is a huge size-equalizer.

What I mean by this: the halo extends the end-to-end diameter of the “sparkly thing on your finger” considerably, minimizing the visual impact of small (0.2mm, 0.3mm) increments or decrements in centerstone size.

A halo also provides an incredibly easy way to boost the size of that “sparkly thing on your finger” slightly - a little flexibility in design can go a very, very long way.

Truly. Give your desired setting style... don’t sweat the carat weight. A 2.2ct in a halo will look exactly the same as a 2.5ct in an identically-designed halo to absolutely everyone except you and your jeweller. A 2.5ct in a halo will look exactly the same as a 2.7ct in an identically-designed halo to absolutely everyone except you and your jeweller.

My recommendation:
1. Drop carat.
2. Go up in clarity - you want a stone that’s guaranteed to be eyeclean in all lighting conditions.
3. Drop colour. All the way down to I. In well-cut MRBs body tint is most visible from the sides... your diamond’s sides will be largely hidden by the surrounding halo.
4. Use some of what you’ve saved from 1 & 3 to invest in a well-made setting with single-cut melee. Single cuts will minimize the apparent difference in colour between large and small stones (ie. centerstone and halo melee) - but they cost more than regular full-cut RB melee. A well-made setting will show your stone off to its best.
Click to expand...

This is great advice, and I think a nice halo would be a great option for you. As @yssie mentioned, it would allow you to:
1.) Drop the carat size and still get the spread you wanted and
2.) Drop the color, as most halos hide the side profile of the diamond almost completely. Dropping the color and carat weight will allow you to stay in the VS range for clarity, which I personally think is a good idea in a stone this size.

I know David Klass and EVS designs both do very nice halos for reasonable prices. I would definitely check with them about melee options, overall design, and center stone options. :)
 
I would echo the thoughts on the halo setting.

FYI, here is a very nice 2.42ct H SI1 that is eye clean. I know you aren't looking for a true H&A, but this hits your $25k mark and gives you access to a superb upgrade program -- essentially, all you have to do is spend $1 more and you get full credit for your original stone. It doesn't get easier or better.

Another thing I like about this stone is the dimensions are 8.62 x 8.68mm so it's facing up more like a 2.5ct+ stone. It keeps you in H color and being a super ideal you shouldn't have any concerns at all. The cert is very clean for an SI1, with a little area under the table but I don't think it affects the stone in a negative way. Regardless, if you are interested you should have WF put on-hold and ask them to pull and perform an inspection on your behalf. I would make sure it isn't causing any issues, but I seriously doubt it considering it hit their ACA criteria.

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3639112.htm

If you want to stick with WF for the stone & setting, here is one idea:
https://www.whiteflash.com/engageme...ings/amphora-diamond-engagement-ring-1039.htm

Amphora-Diamond-Engagement-Ring-in-White-Gold_gi_3543_3-34812.jpg



If you want to go the DK route, here is one that just got posted that I think is gorgeous:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/you-all-rock.241485/

6eae04b9-8b5a-476f-81a5-158c5f174646-jpeg.632808
 
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Jewelry Blog
PriceScope-Concierge-Ad
Find prime cuts.
Top