Help! The Impossible Dream?

[CCNYC]

Hi all... Long time lurker, first time poster here. I've seen some miracles happen on these boards, and I guess I am hoping for one for myself now.
I'm on the hunt for a GIA-graded stone for my ering, RB, weight range 2.75-3.10 ct - as close to 9.5mm diameter as possible. Excellent cut, I color or better, and an eyeclean (subjective, I know) SI1 or better. Budget is around $30k for the stone only - there may be a little bit of play there but not too much.
FF has been working with his family jeweler since mid-January to find something viable that meets those criteria and the jeweler has come up empty. I've done some independent reconnaissance work myself but I honestly have started to feel like I am chasing a ghost here. Is our (well really HIS, to be fair lol) budget too limited for a stone with those specs? Should I start to consider something closer to the 2.25-2.50 range? I have large hands (ring size 6, and long yet stumpy-ended, ungraceful fingers ) so the smaller sizes I've tried on really are not shown to advantage on my hands.
Eventually, this will be set in a pave band for an ering, no halo to obscure the gallery, so the stone itself will truly be the star .
Anyway... I'm open to suggestions if you have any, please fire away!
Thanks in advance

 

[SB621]

Nothing is impossible it will just take time.

I know this is an L but I'm posting it for purely selfish reasons as I covet it. It is also a tranny so you might have zero interst, but i just need someone to buy it so I will stop looking at it!
http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/loose-diamonds/3-01-ct-and-up/3-04ct-transitional-cut-diamond-gia-l-vvs1.html

What vendors have you contacted to see what they recommend? Have you reached out or run searches yet at JA, BGD or WF? Even IDJ?

 

[CCNYC]

Thanks for taking the time, SB.
FF has been working exclusively with his family jeweler, who works on 47th Street and generally has access to a significant inventory of whatever is available on the street. He feels strongly about staying with "his guy" - which I can appreciate, but after 2 months of empty searches, I'm more than a little tired of the quest. The fact is that this is holding up my life, so I'd like to get on with it, frankly.
That tranny is lovely, but I'm not much for warmer stones and would prefer to stay in the whiter range. I've only done some vague searches myself on WF and IDJ but have only begun participating in earnest today. I just have to know for myself whether this jeweler is trying to force FF into increasing the budget another $10k (not going to happen) or if this is truly an unrealistic set of parameters for what we want.

 

[kay1]

I just quickly went onto bluenile (only because i like their diamond search page - remember most of those are just listed from internationally available diamonds and most jewelers could source the same stones).

Setting the filter to J to D, SI1 to FL, price limit 30,000 and sorting by carat. I see:

Biggest in J is 3.11 / J / SI1 (there's also a 3.01 / J / VS2)
Biggest in I is 2.76 / I / SI1
Biggest in H is 2.60 / H / SI1

So your budget is right on the low end for what you're looking for I think.

 

[emmebee]

Hi, CC!

Except for the J color, this preloved diamond seems to fit the bill/budget! I'm not good enough like the experts around here to comment on performance, but I thought I'd show you an option:

Thread on PS:
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/forum/preloved-ps-jewels/final-reduction-3-02-carat-round-brilliant-solitaire-diam-t199053.html']https://www.pricescope.com/forum/preloved-ps-jewels/final-reduction-3-02-carat-round-brilliant-solitaire-diam-t199053.html[/URL]

LoupeTroop link:
http://loupetroop.com/listings/rings-natural-diamond-center/3-dot-02-carat-round-brilliant-solitaire-diamond-ring-gia-triple-ex

 

[SB621]

I would stay away from Blue nile. They are more expensive and offer less services to ensure you are getting a quality diamond.

I'm more into settings vs. diamonds. But for now I would look on James Allen, White Flash and Brian Gain Diamonds. Then use teh HCA to ensure cut. Give it a few more hours and I bet people here will also come out of the wood work and find stuff.

And I personally LOVE teh preloved diamond already posted!

 

[baby monster]

I'd call or email IDJ with your criteria and budget. They are also on 47th street and have access to lots of stones. If they say your budget is too tight, then most likely it is. I would also expand your criteria to SI2 stones. They can be eye-clean and will increase available options.

 

[CCNYC]

Thanks, everyone for the kind assistance. I will definitely reach out to IDJ and pick their brains a little bit, great thought. I can certainly broaden the search to include SI2 stones as well, agree that eyeclean and excellent cut are far more critical when it comes to overall performance & scintillation.
Prefer to stay away from Blue Nile, having had a less-than-stellar experience with them a few years ago myself, though.

 

[mamasooz]

I have been looking/lurking for the past three months for my son who gave me the same 30,000 budget. I have looked on Ebay, Jewels by Grace , I do now I don't as well as Loop Troupe and Diamond Bistro. I could not get anyone to comment on the stone on Diamond Bistro and I reached the conclusion that the Internet has changed the diamond business. It used to be people would have to dump stones for low prices ala pawn shops. Now the Internet has pretty much set the prices....Instead of taking a chance on a stone I decided that for 1000 I would rather be able to return and trade up. I don't know if others agree with me or not but that has been my experience. Big Love to all for your help!