Help with selecting 1.5carat diamond

[Karce]

Hello,

I've been a lurker and have spent hours on here reading and learning, and finally now would like to seek some help in deciding between several diamonds to pull the trigger on. Enchanted Diamonds got their 1%/10% off diamonds/settings before April 15th which is a nice bonus if I can decide before then.

Requirements (minimum):
Carat: 1.5
Color: I
Clarity: VS2
Cut: Excellent
Polish/Symmetry: VG or Excellent
Price: ~9000 USD but like everyone here would like the best diamond my dollar can buy! I am from Canada and the weak CAD is really affecting my budget.

(She specified 1.5 carats, but also said he could go to 1.4 lowest given the current weak Canadian dollar and that 1.5 may be to expensive... so there is some wiggle room and if there is a very good diamond between 1.4 and 1.5 I would look as well!)

I've been using the HCA tool to screen stuff out and between the diamond search on this site and some help from various e-tailers I've got the following diamonds in mind. For those that don't have H&A or ASET pictures I've requested but haven't received responses yet.

1. https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/R152-DBNHVA
1.52 carat I-color VS1 HCA1.6
Concerns: Strong blue fluorescence which I haven't completely decided whether it's OK...

2. https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/R153-RBST1C
1.53 carat I-color VS2 HCA2.7
Concerns: Strong blue fluorescence which I haven't completely decided whether it's OK...lower HCA score

3. https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/R140-QRN8RW
1.4 carat I-color VS2 HCA1.4
Concerns: I looked at this because I was having trouble finding a 1.5carat within my price range...

4. http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3355951.htm
1.42 carat I-color VS2 HCA1.3
Concerns: I looked at this because I was having trouble finding a 1.5carat within my price range...

Any advice on which one is the best of the three? Am I narrowing my search too much by constraining the budget but keeping 1.5 carats?
If there are any diamonds that you guys find/recommend within my criteria please share!

Thanks in advance,
John

 

[proto]

I expect there is a price jump somewhere around 1.49 to 1.50 for size, and for this reason, would aim for 1.4x to 1.48

I would go for H as a minimum colour, unless you know that your SO is not colour sensitive. I is too risky for me and if your SO compares stones side on (rather than face up) to other stones, she may be able to identify some colour which she may or may not care about.

I would look at Si2 and VS2. VS1 adds too much to the price for something I cant see. Some people are happy with Si1, but I was able to see inclusions with my eye and I did not want to buy an Si1 from an online vendor (because of the shipping tax import charges and refund hassle) if I have to return it after seeing with my own eyes.

 

[Karce]

I haven't actually side by side compared an I with an H before, but always went by that I is the minimum to go for near colorless.

Now that you've recommended H that changes my whole search! Does it have anything to do with size? The larger the diamond the higher grade color required to appear white?

Thanks for your response.