Help with MRB - budget $4,500 for stone.

[SapphireStyle]

I am helping a friend put together an anniversary present for his wife of 25 years. He wants to give her a simple RB solitaire. With the CDN dollar having dropped so much, the budget for the stone is only about $4,500 U.S. I have discussed the parameters with him, and he is comfortable going to H in colour and SI1 in clarity - with the best cut we can find. I am under a real time crunch to find the stone. We will have it set by a local bench here at home once we have it (we have a further budget for the setting). I would like to see the stone as close to the 1 carat benchmark as we can get - but my friend understands that in order to get a really sparkly stone, it is going to have to be smaller.

I am no diamond expert. I have purchased from James Allen before - and know that they will send stones to western Canada really quickly. If there's something in their inventory that looks good, please let me know. Otherwise - I am open to suggestions.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[pfunk]

Didn't look at everything they have, but this one looks pretty to me...

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-dia...-h-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-657111

I'm not sure where the feather is that is dropping it to an SI1 clarity. Looks really clean to me in the video.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Have you looked at HPD?? 5% discount with wire transfer.

http://highperformancediamonds.com/shop/clarity/HPD6749/

I know it is a pear...but...but...

http://highperformancediamonds.com/shop/solitaires-rings-jewelry-2/1-01ct-fif-natural-pear-brilliant-diamond/

cheers--Sharon

 

[Coralfish]

If he can go down to J... How about this Canadian diamond with an HCA score of 1.4? It's a beauty. Credit card price $3970

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.01-carat-j-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-671273

Next up: Blue Nile Signature Ideals. Dispatched within 1 working day, taxes and duties included by Blue Nile so no wait to clear customs.
Click on the GCAL report for a picture of the actual stone, an image of the 'hearts and arrows' and their symmetry and an idea of light performance.
When plugging numbers into the HCA use those on the GCAL report as they are more accurate than those on the GIA report.

Two H SI1's around 0.90. 1st is $4630 after wire discount, second $4733. Actually I prefer the first

http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-search?stockno=LD05817645
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-search?stockno=LD05784381

Cheapest over 1 carat is an I VS2 but $5600 after wire discount
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-search?stockno=LD05702973



I also really like the HPD Sharon posted. (The round). I would not go with a pear unless he is sure she will love one, and though the colour and clarity are incredible I am not sold on the cut.

I also like Pfunk's choice.


Any diamonds you like the look of that get posted in your thread, put on hold right away else they may get swiped.

 

[SapphireStyle]

Thanks Pfunk, Sharon and Coralfish. I really appreciate the time you have taken to help me. I will investigate the options and will let you know the final result.