Help on finding Engagement Ring up to 13K

[andythlee]

Hello,

I have been searching for a E-ring for my girlfriend over a month. Initially just searching only in Bluenile and searching only with F color VVS2/VS1 clarity with around 1.1 carat. But since learned about Pricescope and learn about Idealscope and ASET, now only searching sites like Whiteflash, Brian Gavin and James Allen. My budget is 13k and found a few stones from Whiteflash:

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2645116.htm
Category Expert Selection
Shape Round
Carat 1.208
Color G
Clarity VS1
Cut Ideal
Depth % 61.4
Table % 57.5
Crown Angle 34.9
Star 54.0
Pavilion Angle 40.9
Crown % 14.7
Lower Girdle % 77.0
Measurements 6.84x6.85x4.20
Culet Pointed
Fluorescence Negligible
Girdle Thin to Medium Faceted

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2684404.htm#

Category Expert Selection
Shape Round
Carat 1.26
Color H
Clarity VS1
Cut Ideal
Depth % 61.7
Table % 55.5
Crown Angle 34.9
Star 56.0
Pavilion Angle 40.9
Crown % 15.4
Lower Girdle % 79.0
Measurements 6.94x6.95x4.28
Culet Pointed
Fluorescence Negligible
Girdle Thin to Medium Faceted

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2724958.htm
Category A CUT ABOVE®
Shape Round
Carat 1.17
Color H
Clarity VS1
Cut Ideal
Depth % 61.9
Table % 55.9
Crown Angle 34.9
Star 53.0
Pavilion Angle 40.9
Crown % 15.4
Lower Girdle % 77.0
Measurements 6.75x6.77x4.19
Culet Pointed
Fluorescence Negligible


All of them seem to have a bit of white around center circle, does that mean they have a bit too much leakage? Anyone can comment on which would be a better choice? Or any better choice from another site?

Any help would be really appreciated!!!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

All three of these are beautiful ideal cut stones! G-H VS is usually my personal preference as well! I would have to decide between the Expert Selection G stone or the ACA H stone. Both are great choices. I might lean a little toward the G since it is a color grade higher and over the 1.2 mark. The ACA H will be more technically perfect, however, it is unlikely that you could see that if put beside the G. I think color will be the characteristic most easily seen, and if higher color is important to you, I would go with the G. I have diamonds from WF myself, and I can highly recommend them!

 

[zedy44]

I basically just finished doing the same thing you are doing now and with nearly the same budget. I actually had that Whiteflash 1.17ct ACA you list above in my final 3 diamonds. In the end I decided on a 1.26ct G color VS2 Expert Selection for under $10.5 + a solitaire setting. Total around $11,800 after discounts and what not.

How big do you want to go? Obviously you have your eyes set on a high quality cut diamond browsing at BGD/WF/JA. I think G color and VS2 or better will get you the most total value for your money. If you are hunting for something 1.50ct or higher you may need to drop to I color to maintain the VS2 or better clarity and keep it under $13k. There is a 1.41ct I color VS2 ACA on the search I just ran on WF under $12k.

If your looking at 1ct-1.25ct like me then I think the diamonds you posted above are pretty good offerings for those color/clarity ratings from Whiteflash. I would personally go for an ES over an ACA to save a little money. I doubt your naked eye can tell a difference in brilliance because the cuts are nearly identical.

Here are some similar sized diamonds from BGD...the blue signature series is a little cheaper than the normal signature series because of the fluorescence, but other than that they are top quality diamonds and based on the ASET/Ideal Scope they will have a very nice H&A pattern just like the regular signature series. Just ask BGD to supply you with one if you want to see it. I did the same for my ES diamond from WF.


1.216 H VS1 Signature Blue Round
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.216-h-vs1-round-diamond-ags-104052029007

1.283 H VS2 Hearts and Arrows Round
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.283-h-vs2-round-diamond-ags-104067041020

1.208 G VS2 Hearts and Arrows Round
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.208-g-vs2-round-diamond-ags-104064813013

 

[andythlee]

Thanks diamondseeker for the great advice. I was a little hesitant about ES over ACA as I am really new on how to read a IS and ASET image. Would you think the 1.208 G/VS1 has bit more white leakage around the center?

 

[andythlee]

To zedy44:
I just saw your post, you had almost identical budget and requirement that I was looking for!!!! The 1.26c G/VS2 you bought looking amazing!!!! Congratulation!!!

I was looking for 1.1 -1.3 Carat with preferably F/G color and VS1/VS2 clarity. I would like to stick to G and VS1 as my GF has sharp eyes, don't want her to possibly see any inclusion .

I like the last one that you posted on BGD, but it seems it has be reserved already.....

 

[zedy44]

The nice thing about Whiteflash is they do the eye-clean rating on their diamonds just as extra precaution. Remember all those photos online are at 5x, 10x, or 20x magnification. Unless your GF is going to whip out a loupe I think you'll be pretty darn safe with a VS2. I was originally looking at VVS1/VVS2 and people had to talk me down to VS1/VS2 because I was paranoid hehe.

Anyhow, that's a bummer the last one is reserved. That first WF 1.21ct that you posted scores a 2.0 on the HCA. Maybe someone with a little more ideal scope and aset image reading can clarify your concern about the white space that it's displaying. I'll tell you that before I discovered Pricescope and WF/BGD I was browsing Aset/Ideal-scope images that look horrible compared to the clean crisp ones on WF/BGD. Even with a bit of white in those images I think the cut quality is still top notch for the money.

 

[andythlee]

Thanks, I have found another diamond from GOG. THE HCA scores better with 1.4 and 3 EX and 1 VG. Also the ASET/Ideascope images seems to be a bit better than the ones from Whiteflash? How does it compare with the G color VS1 in Whiteflash?

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9958/