Help Selecting Diamonds

[thorin_rrk]

Hi folks,

This is my first post, so I'll try to be concise. I have a budget of about $2k for the setting + diamond. I am going for a basic 4 prong setting leaving me around $1.8K for the diamond. I am considering the following diamonds from James Allen. I've been told that Fluorescence helps cancel out some of the warmth. I have two questions:

1) Which of the following would you recommend and why?
2) Given my budget, and the size, is it worth considering J color stones (with blue fluorescence) in the 0.6-0.7ct range or should I be looking at smaller diamonds but with better color?

Thanks for your inputs! Please note that the SKUs correspond to those on James Allen.

SKU Carat Color Clarity Cut HCA Fluorescence Polish Symmetry Price
311825 0.73 J SI2 Excellent 2.2 None Excellent Very Good 1820
298830 0.61 J SI1 Excellent 0.9 Medium Very Good Very Good 1580
319596 0.7 J SI1 Excellent 2.4 Medium Very Good Excellent 1800
210965 0.7 J SI2 Excellent 2.5 None Excellent Excellent 1660
291102 0.61 I SI2 Excellent 2.3 Faint Excellent Excellent 1720​

 

[RockyRacoon]

If you don't know the color-sensitivity of the recipient, I might suggest sticking with I-colored stones and higher. Some will offer different advice, and they would not be incorrect.

Here are 3 great options (essentially the same size as the stones mentioned above), all of which end up with you walking away with a top-of-the-line stone and a setting you can be proud of -

Option 1
.52ct, I, SI1
http://www.highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=view-id-diamond-infinity-new&id=936
+
Wink will give you 15% off of a setting, if you buy the stone from him, so you can get a pretty solid setting with the leftover budget.

Option 2
This stone (after Pricescope discount):
.56ct, I, VS2
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.560-i-vs2-round-diamond-ags-bl-104068959008
+
This setting:
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/ashleigh-14k-white-gold-5853w14

Option 3 (JUST over budget)
This stone (after Pricescope discount):
.593ct, H, VS2
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.593-h-vs2-round-diamond-ags-bl-104067041027
+
This setting:
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/four-prong-solitaire-14k-white-gold-5342w14

 

[thorin_rrk]

Thanks for the suggestions! These are definitely worth consideration.

 

[SirGuy]

RR's third option looks pretty good to me as well.