Help selecting 2 carat diamond..

[atm4]

I'm new to pricescope and am shopping for a round 2 carat diamond for my wife. These are the specs I am looking for:

Cut: eXXXcellent cut (can't sacrifice cut).
Clarity: VS2-SI1 (clean to naked eye)
Color: H-I (setting will be yellow gold, so could sacrifice on color if needed)

I'd like it to be GIA or AGS certified.

I was hoping to spend about $12K. Should I be able to find something with these specs in this price range?

I'm certainly not an expert and would like the best bang for my buck. I'd appreciate any advice.

 

[rockysalamander]

What color diamond does she now have, assuming she has one of course?

 

[atm4]

She doesn't have one now right now. Her wedding ring was lost at a family reunion a while ago.

What color diamond does she now have, assuming she has one of course?

 

[whitewave]

I just received my Crafted by Infinity super ideal diamond, so I looked at High Performance Diamonds and found this J (will face up white because it is a precision cut)...

https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD9112 1.63 J SI1 $11,561 credit. They also have a K SI1 super ideal for $11.004 credit (I had originally bought a K and it was white). https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD7591

Just thought I would throw that out... I'm very pleased and wowed by the super ideal diamond.

If you don't want to sacrifice cut, then go with a super ideal: high performance diamonds, whiteflash and Brian Gavin...

 

[valeria101]

While Pricescope is searching for a great RBC as requested ... this is something else that 12K buys today:

WWW

 

[whitewave]

While Pricescope is searching for a great RBC as requested ... this is something else that 12K buys today:

WWW

Ooh, and Yoram cut them...

 

[rockysalamander]

She doesn't have one now right now. Her wedding ring was lost at a family reunion a while ago.

Oh no! Do you recall what color it was? Just trying to get a sense of her baseline.

 

[HDer]

It's somewhat hard to find the highest cut quality diamonds at I/2 carat for your price. If you are willing to go down to a J/1.9 carat it's easier to find examples.

And here's an I/SI1 2 carat that the manufacturer says is eye clean (but with a shallow crown) but the wholesale price is close to your budget:

http://s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/hkfauna/Vision360.html?d=170423-27&sd=50&z=1&v=2&sv=0
http://s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/hkfauna/certificates/7266832492.jpg

 

[valeria101]

at first sight ...

Blue Nile lists just two diamonds as you asked for, both I / SI1, GIA XXX. Obviously the lowest prices I/SI1s - likey because the 'strong' fluorescence and GIA merely 'Very Good' cut grades - with which I may have some reason to disagree (HCA scores - an evaluation tool preceding GIA cut grades... HCA agrees better with AGS, I think; and the other brands of Ideal RBC. To each his own !)

This is what I make of these two:

#1.

https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD09056211

I like the crisp 'arrows pattern' & the HCA score (1.3 Fiery Ideal Cut), the interesting proportions (38/40 !). This is a deep cut RBC (64% - as opposed to the wishful 59-62 range), so you have the 2 carats, but not quite the mm spread.

This is the first diamond I have looked at...

#2
The other Blue Nile listing does not have a video:

https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD09309536

... merits the same comments about fluorescence & cut, but the HCA score is low... I have no reason to be curious about this one.

Let me see about I/SI2 ...

Goig below 2 carats would help, for sure. Perhaps 1.8 ?

 

[valeria101]

Ooh, and Yoram cut them...

I can put up with any signature ,-) ... for my one & only cut ...

[Insider jokes, @atm4 ... ]

 

[valeria101]

J / VS2 (GIA XXX)

https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD09387002

This 1.8 cts matches exactly the mm size of the 2 cts I mentioned earlier ... because of the slight differences in cut. (of course, a 2 carat example cut as this one would be larger - not greately so, but would not consider such two stones perfectly matched, KWIM)

Everything else works too, IHMO. I am curious about this one.

Obviously, I have looked for higher colour grades first, but would not consider J a great compromise; perhaps not even worth talking about for a YG & Pt. setting.

2C

____

Footnote: GIA's XXX is already a cut brand. There are others. If I looked that way I'd be listing 1 carat diamonds & not three of them at a time like the squares ... The HCA (which I used in all cases) remains more of a user's tool - except perhaps in its author's store, which happens to be down-under.

 

[rockysalamander]

This is 8.0 mm and 2 carats, but I had to really up the budget to $13350. I like the angles (love a 56% table). If pronged between the arrows, then you'd cover the one more prominent flaw that is on the girdle. Additional clouds not shown, so needs to be examined by JA gemologist to see if they have any impact. You can request an IS (3/email from JA).

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3317137



I usually stick to the higher colors, but in super-ideals, I think you can safetly go lower. But, this is a compromise in size to stick to $12670 budget so this is 1.735 ct J VS2 7.81 mm. {EDITED to fix weight of stone from 1.35 to correct 1.735 noted below by @diamondseeker2006 AND @valeria101, OOPSY }

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3858602.htm

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Here's a good option for you:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/gia-2-12-ct-round-engagement-ring-13-000.233285/

You could make an offer on the stone without the setting.

 

[valeria101]

But, this is a compromise in size to stick to $12670 budget so this is 1.35 ct J VS2 7.81 mm.

1.35 cts 7.8 mm ...

My 1.8 cts & 2 cts were 7.9 - barely

.1 mm couldn't matter.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

She left out a number...1.735

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3858602.htm

 

[rockysalamander]

She left out a number...1.735

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3858602.htm

Oopsy. Fixed it above with an editing note. Thanks for the catch @valeria101 and @diamondseeker2006

 

[valeria101]

No miracle ...

-

The 2.12 seems best so far ! Noticing: that must be the most merciless setting for J.

 

[CarbonBling]

While Pricescope is searching for a great RBC as requested ... this is something else that 12K buys today:

WWW

@valeria101 you are on a roll with all these Carre cuts! What a stunning stone!

 

[valeria101]

@valeria101 you are on a roll with all these Carre cuts! What a stunning stone!

An old itch ! - recently triggered by a rather nice EC with exceptionally small corner facets - WWW & the respective kind of colourful, broadflash brilliance if not the shape ...

 

[whitewave]

An old itch ! - recently triggered by a rather nice EC with exceptionally small corner facets - WWW & the respective kind of colourful, broadflash brilliance if not the shape ...

Yes, she has a gorgeous stone!!!

 

[atm4]

What setting would you recommend for J color?

No miracle ...

-

The 2.12 seems best so far ! Noticing: that must be the most merciless setting for J.

 

[HDer]

Generally yellow gold and rose gold make it harder to tell the difference between color and other sites will recommend anything down to a K/L/M. Few people on this forum go that low though.

I think with a J you could go either way. With a yellow gold setting like you originally planned the color will definitely be less apparent.

 

[rockysalamander]

What setting would you recommend for J color?

For any diamond with body color you want to hide, it is the side view you want to block. So, 6 prongs instead of 4. A decorative gallery. And yellow or rose gold will help reduce the visual contrast from the side (but you wnat the prongs on the diamond white metal).

You want something like these...
#1 - https://www.jamesallen.com/engageme...dern-tulip-diamond-engagement-ring-item-50763
#2 - https://www.jamesallen.com/engageme...e-flower-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-50164
#3 - https://www.jamesallen.com/engageme...ench-cut-six-prong-engagement-ring-item-49390

 

[rockysalamander]

Just checking in. Any progress?

 

[atm4]

I very much liked the 2.12, but it had already sold. So still looking...

Just checking in. Any progress?

 

[rockysalamander]

Other options listed in this thread.
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD09387002 (This 1.8 cts matches exactly the mm size of the 2 cts I mentioned earlier ... because of the slight differences in cut. Ask for a ASET. @valeria101)
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3317137 (ask for IS)
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3858602.htm
https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD9112 1.63 J SI1 $11,561 credit. https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD7591
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3858602.htm
Added. This gets you over 2 carats, but with a J color. Need to ask for IS.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...j-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2466783 (flaws not fully covered by prongs - not likely to be as clean as the three above).

So, it seems you can go in a couple of directions, but you need to make some choices. If budget is firm, then you'll have to drop color to J to get a 1.8-2 carat. You can drop the weight and raise the color. Color is personal, but I usually find G/H to be safe for most and I will drop to I/J in super-ideal. If we find a good SI1 or 2, I like to raise the color to G+. Raising the budget is always a possibility.

Were it me, I would go with something from Whiteflash or HighPerformanceDiamonds. They both have generous upgrade policies allowing you to put 100% of the diamond cost toward another diamond with no restrictions. So, if you get a J now and she ends up liking higher color, you can put the funds toward a higher color even beyond the 30day evaluation. Both of these vendors provide all the images you need to evaluate.

What are your thoughts?

 

[atm4]

I appreciate the suggestions. Looking at the Whiteflash 1.735 stone. Should I be concerned it scores .5 on HCA? J color should be ok because of the ideal cut, right? Thank you

Other options listed in this thread.
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD09387002 (This 1.8 cts matches exactly the mm size of the 2 cts I mentioned earlier ... because of the slight differences in cut. Ask for a ASET. @valeria101)
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3317137 (ask for IS)
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3858602.htm
https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD9112 1.63 J SI1 $11,561 credit. https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD7591
Added. This gets you over 2 carats, but with a J color. Need to ask for IS.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...j-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2466783 (flaws not fully covered by prongs - not likely to be as clean as the three above).

So, it seems you can go in a couple of directions, but you need to make some choices. If budget is firm, then you'll have to drop color to J to get a 1.8-2 carat. You can drop the weight and raise the color. Color is personal, but I usually find G/H to be safe for most and I will drop to I/J in super-ideal. If we find a good SI1 or 2, I like to raise the color to G+. Raising the budget is always a possibility.

Were it me, I would go with something from Whiteflash or HighPerformanceDiamonds. They both have generous upgrade policies allowing you to put 100% of the diamond cost toward another diamond with no restrictions. So, if you get a J now and she ends up liking higher color, you can put the funds toward a higher color even beyond the 30day evaluation. Both of these vendors provide all the images you need to evaluate.

What are your thoughts?

 

[rockysalamander]

I appreciate the suggestions. Looking at the Whiteflash 1.735 stone. Should I be concerned it scores .5 on HCA? J color should be ok because of the ideal cut, right? Thank you

Don't worry about the HCA score. The HCA is used to narrow the choices among AGS0 and GIAXXX to those with expected better performance. Then, we use Ideascope or ASET to actually look at and evaluate that performance. A good ASET trumps the HCA score.

The 1.735 will be totally clean even upon close inspection. J works in super-ideals because the cut returns more white light and sparkles that you really have trouble seeing color. They are kinda amazing that way.The PP had a K from HighPerformanceDiamonds and found it very white too.

Do you have a type of setting in mind? We can point you to something by WF. I'd let them set the stone as setting is a time of danger for diamonds and if they damage the stone, you want WF to replace it with something of their quality.

 

[atm4]

She likes simple yg settings—either solitaire or pave with a very skinny band.

What do you think about this one? Thanks
https://www.whiteflash.com/engageme...rnity-diamond-engagement-ring-3591.htm#size=6

Don't worry about the HCA score. The HCA is used to narrow the choices among AGS0 and GIAXXX to those with expected better performance. Then, we use Ideascope or ASET to actually look at and evaluate that performance. A good ASET trumps the HCA score.

The 1.735 will be totally clean even upon close inspection. J works in super-ideals because the cut returns more white light and sparkles that you really have trouble seeing color. They are kinda amazing that way.The PP had a K from HighPerformanceDiamonds and found it very white too.

Do you have a type of setting in mind? We can point you to something by WF. I'd let them set the stone as setting is a time of danger for diamonds and if they damage the stone, you want WF to replace it with something of their quality.

 

[atm4]

She likes thin bands that are under 2mm. Preferably 1.7 or 1.8mm.

Don't worry about the HCA score. The HCA is used to narrow the choices among AGS0 and GIAXXX to those with expected better performance. Then, we use Ideascope or ASET to actually look at and evaluate that performance. A good ASET trumps the HCA score.

The 1.735 will be totally clean even upon close inspection. J works in super-ideals because the cut returns more white light and sparkles that you really have trouble seeing color. They are kinda amazing that way.The PP had a K from HighPerformanceDiamonds and found it very white too.

Do you have a type of setting in mind? We can point you to something by WF. I'd let them set the stone as setting is a time of danger for diamonds and if they damage the stone, you want WF to replace it with something of their quality.