Help please? Looking for an oval 1-1.25 carat diamond D-F SI1+

Nicm · Jul 30, 2020

I've been close to purchasing a couple of diamonds on JA but have come here for advice and realised they weren't great options. I feel like I have more control if I purchase online, as in a store I have no idea if what they are telling me is true. I also know I can probably get a better stone for my budget online. I can spend up to $7000 CAD or $5200USD on the diamond.
Online I have been filtering by:

Shape: Oval
Colour: D-F
Clarity: SI1+ (preferring VS+)
Carat: .96 - 1.25
Fluorescence: None - Faint
Polish: Ex - VG
Symmetry: Ex. - VG
Lab: GIA
Depth: 58-63%
Table: below 63%
Ratio: 1.35 - 1.5

I've then been looking at measurements. I basically want as big as possible without losing brilliance and fire. Minimum length I would go for is probably 7.8mm, with the other measurements keeping it in 1.35 - 1.5 ratio.
I then go on to look at the 360 video and rule out diamonds with visible inclusions and diamonds that (to my very untrained eye) don't sparkle well. I also use the James Allen chat and live consultation function.
From there I've been close to purchase a couple of times, then thankfully I've posted on here and realised I hadn't chosen as well as I thought.

Am I looking for the impossible?

tyty333 · Jul 30, 2020

Is JA the only place you're looking? Have you tried BlueNile? You might want to drop down to a G if you can (to allow more possibilities of finding
a good oval). I dont worry too much about the numbers. I worry more about whether the stone will return light well or not. I'll take a quick look
and see if I can find anything.

Nicm · Jul 30, 2020

tyty333 said:
Is JA the only place you're looking? Have you tried BlueNile? You might want to drop down to a G if you can (to allow more possibilities of finding
a good oval). I dont worry too much about the numbers. I worry more about whether the stone will return light well or not. I'll take a quick look
and see if I can find anything.

I've looked on Blue Nile but I seem to have more come up on JA. Most on Blue Nile didn't have a 360 view. I've also looked on Adiamor, but I really know nothing about them so am cautious. I looked at a G in a shop the other day and wasn't so keen. My lost engagement ring was a D so maybe I need to stop comparing so much. I'm also aware the lighting in the shop would have made a difference. Thank you so much, I really appreciate all advice - we're at the point I think my husband is going to hide my laptop because I've been obsessively looking at diamonds!

tyty333 · Jul 30, 2020

What size stone was your lost ring?

Edit...I'm having all kinds of problems with the JA site on my laptop. Here are some of the ones that had decent light return. Most are smaller
than what you are looking for...I think you might be trying to gain too much length. I was going to take a second run through this list and narrow
it down some more but I cant get the stones to pop up so...here is the non-narrowed down version.

All Diamonds - Magnified in 360° HD | JamesAllen.com | Page 11

James Allen offers a wide selection of GIA, IGI and AGS certified conflict-free loose diamonds, all viewable in 360° HD. Take the guesswork out of buying a diamond. | Page 11

www.jamesallen.com

Nicm · Jul 30, 2020

tyty333 said:
What size stone was your lost ring?

It was a .96c 7.44 x 5.60 x 3.50 mm. I'm still pining over it so thought I'll be happy if the new one is bigger. Plus I have a bit more to spend on this one.

Kaycee2018 · Jul 30, 2020

Nicm said:
I've looked on Blue Nile but I seem to have more come up on JA. Most on Blue Nile didn't have a 360 view. I've also looked on Adiamor, but I really know nothing about them so am cautious. I looked at a G in a shop the other day and wasn't so keen. My lost engagement ring was a D so maybe I need to stop comparing so much. I'm also aware the lighting in the shop would have made a difference. Thank you so much, I really appreciate all advice - we're at the point I think my husband is going to hide my laptop because I've been obsessively looking at diamonds!

Do you know what lab graded the G you saw IRL? A G as graded by a less reputable lab won’t be as white as a GIA G.

Nicm · Jul 30, 2020

Kaycee2018 said:
Do you know what lab graded the G you saw IRL? A G as graded by a less reputable lab won’t be as white as a GIA G.

That's a good point. I'm not 100% - it was either IGI or GIA.

Nicm · Jul 30, 2020

tyty333 said:
What size stone was your lost ring?

Edit...I'm having all kinds of problems with the JA site on my laptop. Here are some of the ones that had decent light return. Most are smaller
than what you are looking for...I think you might be trying to gain too much length. I was going to take a second run through this list and narrow
it down some more but I cant get the stones to pop up so...here is the non-narrowed down version.

All Diamonds - Magnified in 360° HD | JamesAllen.com | Page 11

James Allen offers a wide selection of GIA, IGI and AGS certified conflict-free loose diamonds, all viewable in 360° HD. Take the guesswork out of buying a diamond. | Page 11

www.jamesallen.com

Sorry I just noticed your edit! Thank you so much. I seem to be having problems now too - it says 'showing 10 results' but the page is blank. I will keep trying! Thank you so much, I really am so grateful.

Edit: Got it. I switched to list view and they appeared. Thank you again! And I will consider what you said about the length. I'm possibly being a bit greedy!

tyty333 · Jul 30, 2020

I'll post if I do see something a little bigger.

Adimore is a Featured Sponsor and I know of a few PSers that have bought stones from them lately. I'll take a look there in a minute.

Featured Sponsors

VENDORS & ADVERTISERS VENDORS & ADVERTISERS PriceScope Vetted Vendors and Advertisers As the world’s largest diamond and jewelry community, PriceScope is a place where many would like to advertise and […]

www.pricescope.com

Nicm · Jul 30, 2020

tyty333 said:
I'll post if I do see something a little bigger.

Adimore is a Featured Sponsor and I know of a few PSers that have bought stones from them lately. I'll take a look there in a minute.

Featured Sponsors

VENDORS & ADVERTISERS VENDORS & ADVERTISERS PriceScope Vetted Vendors and Advertisers As the world’s largest diamond and jewelry community, PriceScope is a place where many would like to advertise and […]

www.pricescope.com

I'm really loving this one! https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.01-carat-e-color-vs2-clarity-sku-5911632 It literally ticks all the boxes.

tyty333 · Jul 30, 2020

Thats a pretty one @Nicm . You can see all the facets flashing on/off at the stone turns. Minimal mush.

I found one ad adimor that I think could be pretty nice. Its so hard to compare stones when they rotate on the North/South ends
and not at an angle like JA and BN. It is an 8 main and these tend to have nice light return (although you have a hard time telling
from the video). It also hits the 8mm mark (its a G/IF). Anyway, take a look.

1.00 Carat G IF Oval Natural Diamond GIA Certified 2354093132 Excellent Cut - D44949618

www.adiamor.com

Nicm · Jul 30, 2020

tyty333 said:
Thats a pretty one @Nicm . You can see all the facets flashing on/off at the stone turns. Minimal mush.

I found one ad adimor that I think could be pretty nice. Its so hard to compare stones when they rotate on the North/South ends
and not at an angle like JA and BN. It is an 8 main and these tend to have nice light return (although you have a hard time telling
from the video). It also hits the 8mm mark (its a G/IF). Anyway, take a look.

1.00 Carat G IF Oval Natural Diamond GIA Certified 2354093132 Excellent Cut - D44949618

www.adiamor.com

Oh wow, that is stunning. I would only worry about the colour. Do you think it is worth sacrificing colour for clarity? (And size in my case!) Everything else about it is far beyond my hopes! I really think one of these could be the one. I'm very grateful - you have really been more than kind and generous!

lovedogs · Jul 30, 2020

I love the one that @tyty333 found. In general I don't recommend going above VS clarity since you can't see the differences with the naked eye, but well cut ovals are super hard to find right now in your color/size/budget, and this one looks great. I also like the E/VS2 that @Nicm posted above.

Nicm · Jul 30, 2020

@lovedogs The E/VS2 was also a recommendation that came from @tyty333!

Any thoughts on these?

1.00 Carat oval diamond

This oval cut 1 carat F color vs1 clarity has a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

1.01 Carat oval diamond

This oval cut 1.01 carat F color vs2 clarity has a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

If you say no I'll just know I'm really terrible at this and to go with one of the above

lovedogs · Jul 30, 2020

Nicm said:
@lovedogs The E/VS2 was also a recommendation that came from @tyty333!

Any thoughts on these?

1.00 Carat oval diamond

This oval cut 1 carat F color vs1 clarity has a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

1.01 Carat oval diamond

This oval cut 1.01 carat F color vs2 clarity has a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

If you say no I'll just know I'm really terrible at this and to go with one of the above

I like the F/VS1 more than the 1.01 VS2.

I think I like the E/VS2 better than either of these though

Nicm · Jul 30, 2020

I agree. It's just me still trying to find a bigger stone face up without losing the sparkle. And maybe a slightly longer shape than the E/VS2 at 1.33. It does seem like the deeper ovals have more brilliance? Or is that me trying to make it about numbers when it isn't?
I have been looking at https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.01-carat-f-color-vs2-clarity-sku-8432267 which has a 63% depth but isn't as sparkly as the E/VS2? Maybe it's depth + higher crown? The E/VS2 crown does look higher.

Edit: The E/VS2 and the G are the only ones with this shape:

Is this a factor?

WillyDiamond · Jul 30, 2020

what about calling Jonathan

The Elyque Oval by AV Inc.

The Elyque Oval by August Vintage Inc. is the first oval of it's kind that eliminates the bowtie effect, eliminates blatant light leakage as well as color absorption producing the brightest, most stunning oval diamonds to ever hit the market and are confirmed AGS Ideal. Each day I am alerted to...

www.distinctivegem.com