HELP!?!PLEASE?!? I JUST DON'T KNOW :-{

[JBJTXSHOOTINGSPORTS]

I'm shopping for an engagement ring. My absolute top end can't budge cash price for a loose diamond is $9600. I've been researching diamonds, how to buy, what to look for, etc to the point I'm going nuts. I don't want to screw this up. The size and being eye clean (more than anything no carbon/easily noticable inclusions) are her most important traits for this diamond. She says a little sun kissed warmth isn't that big of a deal. Any suggestions. I need some guidance. I will try to post a pic of one that I am seriously considering. JJ

 

[cygnet]

Did she state a shape preference?

 

[JBJTXSHOOTINGSPORTS]

http://s985.beta.photobucket.com/us...pg.html?&_suid=136332241395307751205667098683

http://s985.beta.photobucket.com/us...rt=3&o=1&_suid=136332346350001722044486465366

Seriously considering the stone on the right in this pic. The specs are below.
The one on the left is J and its 12K. I just don't have the cash for that but I asked for a M/J compro just to give me a better idea of how yellow it would be. I'm on the fence.

Shape: Round Brilliant
Carat Weight: 2.15
Color: M
Clarity: Si1
Cut Grade: Excellent
Table %: 56.00
Depth %: 62.50
Girdle: Medium
Culet: N
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 8.22-8.26x5.15
Length/Width ratio: 1.00
GIA: 1149293044 - View Report

 

[JBJTXSHOOTINGSPORTS]

Yes RB Princess or Cushion

 

[cygnet]

That seems like a really great price for that stone, unless I'm missing something completely obvious. I can't find anything else in that size range for that price,, at least not for ideal cut stones.

I picked out a few other stones that might be worth a look. This wasn't a comprehensive search by any means. Just a few more options.

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.63-carat-k-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-148191

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/10426/
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8153/
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9409/


Anyone else care to weigh in?

 

[CharmyPoo]

Over 2ct and under 10k is very difficult to find. Are you willing to go old cuts, second hand, or ebay? I don't see you achieving this through straight retail.

 

[JulieN]

I like the M in the pictures. GIA EX^3 with good proportions.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

No way would I consider M color in a modern round brilliant for an engagement ring. You can get away with it more with an antique stone in an antique setting, but I wouldn't go below J or possibly K in a round brilliant (and you are getting into warm colors). Your budget is not realistic for 2 cts and she needs to understand that.

 

[Circe]

I like warmth, so I would consider an M (or lower!) but I'd want to set it in rose or yellow gold, like the beautiful fancy Mc2 ring over in SMTB. And i'd make sure my significant other was on the same page. I like the stone you posted. Just to double check 'cause the price is so low - it's a GIA certificate, an not an appraisal by a GIA grad, or to GIA standards, right?

 

[bunnycat]

I'm shopping for an engagement ring. My absolute top end can't budge cash price for a loose diamond is $9600. I've been researching diamonds, how to buy, what to look for, etc to the point I'm going nuts. I don't want to screw this up. The size and being eye clean (more than anything no carbon/easily noticable inclusions) are her most important traits for this diamond. She says a little sun kissed warmth isn't that big of a deal. Any suggestions. I need some guidance. I will try to post a pic of one that I am seriously considering. JJ

I think part of how low you can go could be a little dependent on what metal you put it in aside from personal color tolerance, as people mentioned. I think as you get down to M you'll have to let the diamond guide you to what color of metal it should be in.

But I do have a question.

Has she seen an M color stone in person away from fancy jewelry store lights? All you see is sparkle in those lights and that's not ANYTHING like what the diamond is going to be in on a day to day basis so don't let the lights fool you. A person can SAY they don't mind tint, but until you have seen some in person, you don't really know. KWIM? Try and look at it under fluorescent lighting as that tends to be one of the less flattering lighting situations to be in. If she can still say she likes it then, you're probably ok.

 

[stargurl78]

No way would I consider M color in a modern round brilliant for an engagement ring. You can get away with it more with an antique stone in an antique setting, but I wouldn't go below J or possibly K in a round brilliant (and you are getting into warm colors). Your budget is not realistic for 2 cts and she needs to understand that.

Absolutely this unless you know for certain that she doesn't mind that much tint in her engagement ring diamond.

 

[TC1987]

An M color in that size will show a lot of yellow. What I would do with it is not try to pass it off as white, lol. I'd go for a mounting with very white sidestones and play up the contrast between the cape color diamond and the white ones. There are a lot of old diamond rings like that. But it's not common for a modern engagement ring, though. If she is the artistic type or doesn't want something "typical" then it might work. But it's definitely going to be in the candlellight ivory to light yellow color range, and it will look different in different kinds of lighting. It's going to be in the range where you must celebrate the yellow.

 

[TC1987]

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-infinity-1-00-m-si2-is-here-photos.121329/
shows an M SI2 modern H&A RB, smaller than the one you are looking at. It's a Crafted By Infinity, so that gives a good representation of Ideal cut M color.

This buyer later traded the M in for an I color, also Crafted By Infinity. Same setting. (The amethysts would not be my pick, and they seem to distort the color of the center a little.)