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HELP with Engagement Ring :) from JA

M

mirv

Rough_Rock
Joined
Apr 21, 2013
Messages
12
Hi everyone,

Been following these forums for a month now, educating myself while preparing to buy a ring for my fiance! I would appreciate any comments or help, thanks in advance guys and gals :)

We have selected the ring, and here it is: http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/engagement-rings/halo/14k-white-gold-pave-halo-and-twisted-shank-solitaire-item-6874

Now its my turn to choose the diamond. I am trying to look for something between 0.65-0.80 cts. My gf's fingers are thin and she fell in love with this diamond in a B&m store,(http://www.peoplesjewellers.com/product/index.jsp?productId=18102336) but I promised her we could get a nicer ring. I am trying to get the highest cut (Truehearts, or ideal) because my gf loved the brilliance and fire of the B&M store. I am worried about color J so i prefer not to go below H or I.


I am trying to spend less than 3K on the diamond so that I can keep the total cost around 4K. I have talked to JA and I have these stones on hold, and I wanted to get your opinion on them or if you have seen better ones, let me know.
1. http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.61-carat-g-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-146887
2. http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.76-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-sku-210224 (bigger but not TH)
3. http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.75-carat-j-color-vs1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-178783 (good size, TH, but J color)
 
I like the J best, but because its going in a halo, id want to know if its a high J or a low j
 
Niel|1366572301|3431726 said:
I like the J best, but because its going in a halo, id want to know if its a high J or a low j
Click to expand...

I tried asking but they said its a standard J color... and then the sales pitch about how with the cut, it will perform great.
 
I like the J because of the dimensions, but I would not get it because you're putting into a halo with f/g colored stones and it will be noticeable. If you watch the video of the J you can see when it turns that it's very yellow (at least very noticeable) and it doesn't have fluorescence. So even the the I is a hair deep, that'd be my choice.
 
Niel|1366573129|3431735 said:
heres one i like. maybe a little too expensive, BUT i think you would get a very similar look with this setting and it would save you a bit of money on the setting.

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.75-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-175188

heres an example of someone who got an almost identical setting (i believe .75 ish I ) and it looks really beautiful,i know its not a split shank, but i its really pretty
2013-01-18_18_1.jpg
Click to expand...

That's a nice stone, but the setting is fixed. My gf is very apprehensive about shopping online and it took a lot of convincing, and it took her some time to choose a setting. Can't change it now :) Hopefully the final ring will come out good and I won't have to use JA's return policy..
 
Thanks 04diamond, i know what you mean with the yellowing which is why I am very cautious.. the 0.75ct TH posted above by the other fella is nice too..but i gotta be aware..of price creep.. :P
 
heres a j in a halo. And an oval holds a lot more color than a well cut round does. in the first pic i cant even really see a difference ( personally)

_5709.jpg

_5710.jpg
 
here are some pictures from JA i found of J center stones too

8503.jpg

8802.jpg
 
Wow, thanks a lot ! Niel!. You are right, some of the J stones don't have much of a yellow hue to them..
I am still hesistant on getting that one in J because the pictures do show a yellow hue.. But I really appreciate your help.

that 176366 is a really nice rock. how do you think that compares to a TH? it looks beautiful. and price is not bad. As for the other rock, its beautiful but i am thinking that below 0.65 might be too small ?

Btw, I have updated the list. (it still includes the J, :))

1. http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.75-carat-j-color-vs1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-178783 (Price 3100)
2. http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.70-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-182263
3. http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.75-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-175188

I will update op as well.
 
oops.. i guess i cant edit the first post with the updated list..
 
I like the .75 I best of those three, then you wouldnt have to worry about size OR color. but I think any of those would be nice, so i dont think you could go wrong. I guess its just a budget thing. Id probably say the i .75, i .7, then the J ( just because i know youre concerned about the contrast)

If you did pick the .75 id just ask them to put a prong on that little black spot (at 12 o clock on the vid) im sure at that clarity its not noticeable, but just to be safe id see if they could prong it.
 
How color sensitive are you and your girlfriend? I used to have a 0.81 ct I with F side stones and the color difference bothered me. I'd scratch #2 or #3 from your list and ask for an idealscope image of the H/SI1 I posted above. You cannot go wrong with an AGS 0 stone.
 
Sakuracherry|1366576690|3431766 said:
May I suggest that you take a look at those 2 AGS 0 stones?

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.73-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-176366

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.65-carat-g-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-165495
Click to expand...

I LOVE that H SI1!!! It's graded by AGS who are the same people that grade the TH stones. It also has the report with the aset image and it looks stunning. This would be my first choice. Nice find Sakuracherry!
 
I don't know how color sensitive I am? but I was able to tell the yellow hue on the J stone but then again its 10x magnified. and why did you say scratch #2 or #3 and not #1, because wouldn't the J stone have the highest contrast with the side stones of the ring (F-G).

K, thank you Neil, and Sakura. I have narrowed it down to the two you have recommended, and I have requested Idealscope images for both of them. Sakura, the H/SI1 stone has a inclusion that you can see on the table at 10x, so I have asked the gemnologist to check if its eye clean...

Anyways, I have to wait for 3 days, buts its down to the wire. Thanks everyone, you guys are angels!
Final two:
1.http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.75-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-175188
2.http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.73-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-176366
 
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