Helping my brother purchase an engagement ring

[magnoliasmom]

Hi all,

I'm helping my little brother purchase an engagement ring. He's just finished his PhD and he has about $15K CDN to spend. He wants a round brilliant, super-ideal, will go as high as I in colour, around 1.5 carats, solitaire. He is going to buy from James Allen. Out of these two diamonds, which one would you choose, and why?

1. https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-i-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-2430876

2. https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3242308

This is the setting his girlfriend has chosen, in rose gold: https://www.jamesallen.com/engageme...e-flower-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-50164

thanks!

 

[farrahlyn]

oh, i LOVE that setting!!!!

normally an AGS000 stone would be a no brainer for me. But i'm not sure if it's the video quality but the stone looks hazy. Under clarity, it's noted that there are "clouds not shown" and that can cause that haziness so i'd hesitate on that one, maybe ask a gemologist to take a look at it if that's yours/his preference. 3242308 would be my preference between the two, great spread on it and it looks very crisp and lively.

 

[Matthews1127]

I'm not a fan of either due to obvious clarity issues against the table. I noticed a "haziness", as well, but it's difficult to truly tell with videos...
I found this, for comparison, to demonstrate the difference...
https://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/l...-color-vvs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3176159

 

[whitewave]

Check out high performance diamonds which sells the brand crafted by infinity. All of their diamonds are eye clean.

ETA: I see he wants James Allen. Just take a look at this one and ask for a video: https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD9012 The K will face up white and it is going in a rose gold setting anyway, which they can make. He can get a super ideal 1.69 for $9887.

James allen doesn't have a great trade up policy.

 

[Matthews1127]

Here is another...

https://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/l...-color-vvs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3395786

 

[Matthews1127]

...and...another...

https://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/l...-color-vvs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3390762

 

[whitewave]

One more plug for HPD and then I'll leave you alone. Look at how white this K was... https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/blown-away-by-crafted-by-infinity.234157/ (Melissa at HPD told me there would be no noticeable difference to the eye for an I, J or this K because of their precision cutting.)

 

[rockysalamander]

This one is the same weight as your #2 with similar cut proportions, but 0.07 mm smaller, but I like the cleaner table on this. Otherwise, both have good numbers and similar ASET. My recommendation is AGS0 vs. GIAXXX for your #2.

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-i-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-3117340

All together, I prefer this one to your #1 for the haziness and #2 for table cleanliness.

 

[whitewave]

This one is the same weight as your #2 with similar cut proportions, but 0.07 mm smaller, but I like the cleaner table on this. Otherwise, both have good numbers and similar ASET. My recommendation is AGS0 vs. GIAXXX for your #2.

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-i-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-3117340

All together, I prefer this one to your #1 for the haziness and #2 for table cleanliness.

Does it look like it has brown undertones to you? It is a pretty diamond, but I would recommend asking a gemologist to visually inspect it for brown undertones and reject it if it does... (I have read brown undertones tend to be dull and lifeless).

 

[whitewave]

Information on brown, green, milky undertones: https://www.victorcanera.com/blog/diamond-color-undertones

 

[rockysalamander]

Information on brown, green, milky undertones: https://www.victorcanera.com/blog/diamond-color-undertones

Certainly worth asking. I find JA lighting inconsistent, like different temps...so I find color quite variable in their videos. I actually prefer brown to yellow in lower colors, K+.

 

[rockysalamander]

Hi all,

I'm helping my little brother purchase an engagement ring. He's just finished his PhD and he has about $15K CDN to spend. He wants a round brilliant, super-ideal, will go as high as I in colour, around 1.5 carats, solitaire. He is going to buy from James Allen. Out of these two diamonds, which one would you choose, and why?

1. https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-i-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-2430876

2. https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3242308

This is the setting his girlfriend has chosen, in rose gold: https://www.jamesallen.com/engageme...e-flower-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-50164

thanks!

Just checking in. Did you/he make any decisions?

 

[PumpkinOrange]

Hi all,

I'm helping my little brother purchase an engagement ring. He's just finished his PhD and he has about $15K CDN to spend. He wants a round brilliant, super-ideal, will go as high as I in colour, around 1.5 carats, solitaire. He is going to buy from James Allen. Out of these two diamonds, which one would you choose, and why?

1. https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-i-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-2430876

2. https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3242308

This is the setting his girlfriend has chosen, in rose gold: https://www.jamesallen.com/engageme...e-flower-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-50164

thanks!

For $15k CA you can get a better color diamond or perhaps a faint pink diamond that would look great in pink gold.