I am between two diamonds, need help

[copticnet]

1- http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-1-carat-or-less-ideal-cut-f-color-vvs2-clarity_LD02876202?keyword_search_value=LD02876202
2- http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VVS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1527119.asp

Specs for above:
1- Ideal, 0.52, F, VVS2, GIA $1,912 (Total Visual Performance 1.6, Excellent [HCA])
2- Hearts and Arrow 0.46 round, E, VVS2, AGS $1,710 (Total Visual Performance 1.0, [HCA])

What is a better deal?

Budget is $2,000

 

[copticnet]

Any thoughts?

 

[04diamond<3]

The .46 is nice and it's a true H&A...that's also great color and clarity!

 

[bunnycat]

Well, of the two, I'd go for the bigger one unless you absolutely need and want to pay the extra for the H/A symmetry.

Is there a particular reason you are trying to go very high color and nearly flawless? It is, of course a personal preference, but in a stone of this size, you'd be able to get much more bang for your buck and still be very white and clean down in to G or H and VS2 or SI1.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1524749.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1528651.asp (im not sure why JA blurb says VG cut when the AGS report says AGS0) It's 5.5mm and under budget with the PS discount.

and here's a H/A G under budget and nearly 5.5mm:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1537454.asp

If you/your GF aren't overly color sensitive, you could even go down to I, though I think you'd have to ask about eye-clean on this one. This is what you could get at the maximum of your budget at 5.75mm. I and J are the last of the "near colorless" range. Color is not a bad thing in a stone, it's more a matter of whether you like it or whether it bothers you or not. Some people are fine lower and some not.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1545005.asp

 

[copticnet]

I really like this one you chose: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1537454.asp

 

[bunnycat]

I really like this one you chose: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1537454.asp

I think a G is a good compromise when you are looking for a stone. Nice and white, but saving you some $$$ also. The good thing with JA is you can pick a couple of them and have their gemologist look at them and assess them for you and tell you which one is best. You can also get a couple of stones to look at as they have free shipping and returns (up to 3 I think) so getting 2 in and choosing one and returning one would be very easy to do...in fact, it is what I did.