help with engagement ring?

[ye]

Hi guys and gals,

Been wandering the forums for a few months now filling my brain with all your wisdom. Now that I'm finally getting around to picking an engagement ring, I could use your help!

I'm currently choosing between the following two diamonds:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1311979.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VVS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1315147.asp

I had the gemologists take a look at these two (the first one is one that one of theirs salespeople actually found for me) and said the following:

I have great news, our gemologist has determined that diamond 1311979 is perfectly eye clean, has a nice I color performance, and has great light performance.

Diamond 1315147 is also eye clean and has great light performance but has a slightly lower color than diamond 1311979.

I unfortunately do not remember how much they cost since I made the request over 2 weeks ago but I imagine they're both in the low to mid 5000's range... I like the idea of a hearts and arrow cut, but does it really matter much day to day? And is it worth the size tradeoff? Anyone have any additional thoughts on these two? I have 24 hours to decide on them before they release the stones.

Also curious if anyone had thoughts regarding settings (or should I have it set somewhere else?). My girlfriend doesn't like the "claw" look found on standard 4-prong settings, prefers a taper to maximize the diamond appearance, and I think would prefer the diamond to stand out front the ring proper. Oh, and a solitaire setting. I've been looking at the following. Any thoughts?
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/solitaire-ring-setting.html
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/platinum-solitaire-engagement-rings.html
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/round-diamond-solitaire-engagement-ring.html
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire-rings/ring/item_57-4039.asp


Thanks so much for any advice I get!!!

 

[slg47]

I actually wouldn't classify the J as H&A, has small heart 9-10 o'clock.

As far as the other one, do you have an idealscope image?

 

[ye]

Unfortunately, no idealscope. I requested additional light performance measures but they ignored me...

 

[JulieN]

Both have excellent light return, you don't really need a reflector image. I like the two basket settings.

 

[yssie]

Call and ask again for the IS for the I. Emails can get lost, and you want that confirmation before you drop x thousand on a stone since you *can* get it from JA.

Would not pay a H&A premium for the J, but it looks like a nice stone - if it's at a good non-H&A pricepoint then certainly worth consideration.

Is the SI eyeclean to your specifications, whatever they are? Define your personal requirements (clean from 6"? from 15"? from the sides?) and call in and have them vet the stone by those criteria, which may or may not match the in-house standard definition of "eyeclean"