Help picking a diamond ???

[iahawk]

I need help picking a stone. I am going to get the best cut diamond I can (b/c that''s what seems to be most important for sparkle) but I need to know what everyone thinks about color and clarity. I am looking at getting a 1.5-1.75 ct round diamond on a 3mm plain white gold band.

For me to afford this I was probably thinking about getting a stone that was an I color and VS2 for clarity. Is this a good choice or with the size of the stone should I get a G or H for color and go down in clarity.......

One more thing.... Her best friend has about a 1.3 ct, E , SI2. Knowing how women are, I know that they will somewhat compare them and of course I want my girl''s to look better.

Any tips ??? (again, let''s assume I am getting a superb cut diamond)

 

[chrono]

With a round, the clarity can drop safely to a SI1 if purchased from a reputable vendor. Depending upon the individual stones and your eagle eyeness, you might also want to be open to SI2s. In terms of colour, I can go down to a J, but others tend to see too much warmth in it and prefer to stay around H and I.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

If her friend has an E SI2, then you can go to SI1 on the clarity and be fine. I do not think I'd go to I color if she is going to be holding it near her friend's ring, though. I'd look at F and G SI1, maybe H.

Two very nice ones (F):

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3586/ ($13,567)

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-231902.htm ($13,580 w/discounts)

Didn't find a G, but here is an H:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3494/