HELP! Which 3 carat diamond would you choose!!!!

[andrea1216]

I have been married for almost 8 years and unfortunately, my round brilliant diamond in a Natalie K setting was lost or stolen about a month ago. For the last month, I have been looking for a replacement stone at local jewelry stores and then also online.

I have narrowed it down to the following stones. I know it is impossible to truly judge a diamond without seeing it first; however, I can only have two shipped. The shipping is free, but the returns are not, so I will have to pay to return any stone I do not choose. Which two would you narrow it down to? I would like to make my purchase asap. Any help or advice offered is greatly appreciated!

1. http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-3-carat-ideal-cut-i-color-si2-clarity_LD02230931

2. http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-3-carat-ideal-cut-i-color-si2-clarity_LD01978311

3. http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-3-carat-ideal-cut-i-color-si2-clarity_LD02006441

4. http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1350123.asp

5. http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Very%20Good-Cut-Round-Diamond-1382138.asp

6. http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1389463.asp

 

[sna77]

I think the consensus reply will be that finding an eye clean SI2 in a 3 ct stone will be just about impossible.

 

[yennyfire]

Yup, I would go to at least a VS2 or be willing to be really patient in order to find an eye clean SI1 in that size. What is your budget and tolerance on color?

 

[andrea1216]

My last stone was a 2.5 carat SI2 EGL certified diamond and the inclusions were mostly hidden under the prong. I don't mind some inclusions, as long as they are not glaringly obvious by glancing at the stone. For me, the most important diamond characteristic is cut, and next wood be color. I have decided to not look any further at EGL stones, as the grading seems to be quite a bit off. I understand that an SI2 will not be free from inclusions. My budget is $30,000 to $40,000. I would like something between 3.2 and 3.5 carats.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I also personally wouldn't consider an SI2 in a 3 ct. stone. However, if I were, it would be absolutely essential to work with a vendor who will call in stones and examine them for you and provide you with magnified images. Trying to do it through Blue Nile would be a nightmare since they provide nothing. It would be a LOT of trouble having stones sent to you and then returning them. It might be that one out of 10 SI2's at best that would be worth considering. You might want to consider contacting ID Jewelry as they are very low priced and are pretty good about finding acceptable stones for PriceScope members.

 

[sna77]

If you are color sensitive, this is the only thing I could find that looks close:
http://www.idjewelryonline.com/diamond_details1.php?id=35881530&shape=&pricefrom=1&priceto=500000&ca