Is this the best overall 2 carat diamond around for £12k ?

[ukdiamondvirgin]

Hi

Firtly, what a website and what a forum. So glad to have found you! I am based in the United Kingdom . I have visited 4/5 jewellers and I have been doing a lot of research online at the likes of www.bluenile.co.uk , www.cooldiamonds.co.uk and of course on this website.

I am Looking to buy around a 2 carat ring for my girlfriend and probably pay around £12,000 GBP (approx $18-20,000 USD)altho there is some flexibility I guess if anyone thinks theres a diamond out there worth paying more for??!!

My girlfriend and I do not see the point in paying the extra price paid for something which is impossible to be noticed without the naked eye. If something truely is not noticeable to the naked eye then I dont see the point in paying the premium. I am looking to get the best all-round value for money but taking into consideration the order of importance of the 4 Cs - cut , colour , weight , clarity

I have got the hang of most of the learning needed on diamonds.
Still unsure on a few things such as;
is flourescence of any importance?
does SI1 represent the best value clarity ?? can inclusions be visible to naked eye ??

At the moment I favour this ring;

http://www.bluenile.co.uk/round-diamond-2-carat-signature-ideal-cut-g-colour-si1-clarity_LD00376645?tempcurr=GBP&rf=pd

Selected: 61.7% depth, 57% table, 34.5° crown angle, 41° pavilion angle
The result is for a symmetrical diamond with a medium girdle and very good polish
HCA scores were adjusted Dec. 15, 2001 and Feb. 6, 2003.

HCA
Factor Grade
Light Return Excellent
Fire Very Good
Scintillation Very Good
Spread
or diameter for weight Very Good
Total Visual Performance 1.9 - Excellent
within TIC range

WHAT ARE PEOPLES THOUGHTS ARE THERE BETTER DIAMONDS OUT THERE FOR SIMILAR MONEY ?
Do I have my priorities right in what is important when buying a ring etc ?


Look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Kind Regards

Robert

 

[stone-cold11]

BN Signature Ideal is the only stones they actually own. Most are good, but some of their ideals are just as good, just that they do not own it but is advertising for some other vendor.

SI are not created equal, some are eye-clean some not. Get BN to check it out for you if it is eye-clean.

EDT:

Fluor, is a personal preference thing, some like it some don't. In strong to very strong, you will notice a blue tint in the stone under sunlight and it glows under blacklight. Only a very small percentage of strong/very strong fluor will turn the stone hazy/oily under sunlight.

This stone looks promising from the numbers.

 

[ukdiamondvirgin]

thanks stone-cold11

i meant to add to my original post;

if i go minimum G colour, could i go down to SI1 vs minimum VS2 to save some money

for example G and SI1 with a HCA of 2.4

http://www.bluenile.co.uk/round-diamond-2-carat-ideal-cut-g-colour-si1-clarity_LD00197986#

£10,122 + VAT

 

[stone-cold11]

This look promising if you don't mind buying from US. Ask JA if the stone is eye-clean and request for an idealscope image if you are interested.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1248682.asp

 

[stone-cold11]

Yes, most people will not be able to tell the difference between the two color once mounted in a setting. SI1 will be a case by case basis, if it is eye-clean, no one will be able to tell the difference anyway.

 

[ukdiamondvirgin]

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1248682.asp

HCA 0.8 wow. great ring stone-cold11

 

[Lorelei]

Definitely try www.bestdiamonds.co.uk Dr Indira Marchant sells Infinity hearts and arrows which are excellent diamonds.

The BN diamond has potential but really an Idealscope image is best in order to check the diamond out properly and BN don''t provide those.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/12/2009 7:53:34 AM
Author: ukdiamondvirgin
thanks stone-cold11

i meant to add to my original post;

if i go minimum G colour, could i go down to SI1 vs minimum VS2 to save some money Yes absolutely if eyeclean, you will need to check with whoever has access to the stone if it fits your eyeclean requirements.

for example G and SI1 with a HCA of 2.4

http://www.bluenile.co.uk/round-diamond-2-carat-ideal-cut-g-colour-si1-clarity_LD00197986#

£10,122 + VAT

Fluorescence is only an issue rarely in some strong or very strong blue, in odd cases this can make the diamond look cloudy in some lights, however this is unusual, check in each and every case with these strengths to make sure the fluorescence isn''t having a negative effect on it.

Faint or medium you might not even notice it.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/12/2009 8:06:55 AM
Author: ukdiamondvirgin
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1248682.asp

HCA 0.8 wow. great ring stone-cold11

A lower HCA score isn't better than a higher one, all scores below 2 are considered equal pending evaluation with images. Some scoring under 1 need to be carefully checked for obstruction issues ( darkening of the stone due to head shadow at close inspection). This shouldn't be the case with the diamond above but something to bear in mind.

 

[FB.]

The inclusion plot doesn't look too bad, so the chances of eye clean are good.

I believe that BN don't offer lower than SI1 in their signature stones, to minimise the risk of complaints or returns due to stones not being eye clean.

As them if it's eye clean (their website invites you to ask the eye clean question!), but make sure that you specify a distance, a viewing angle or other conditions because different sellers have different interpretations of eye clean.

It will probably be eye clean at 12" when viewed from the top, but maybe not at 6".
It may also not be eye clean if viewed directly from the side.

G/SI1 is probably the best trade-off of colour/size/clarity/cost.

Fluorescence is a matter of personal taste.

 

[FB.]

Very strong blue fluor can look like this in strong sunlight, but will tend to look like a normal "white/colourless" diamond under most indoor lighting conditions unless you're near a window:

 

[stone-cold11]

Date: 11/12/2009 8:10:14 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 11/12/2009 8:06:55 AM

Author: ukdiamondvirgin

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1248682.asp

HCA 0.8 wow. great ring stone-cold11

A lower HCA score isn''t better than a higher one, all scores below 2 are considered equal pending evaluation with images. Some scoring under 1 need to be carefully checked for obstruction issues ( darkening of the stone due to head shadow at close inspection). This shouldn''t be the case with the diamond above but something to bear in mind.

Yap, HCA is a rejection tool to sort out bad performer not a selection tool. Get the Idealscope image and we can evaluate further.

 

[stone-cold11]

Date: 11/12/2009 7:53:34 AM
Author: ukdiamondvirgin
thanks stone-cold11

i meant to add to my original post;

if i go minimum G colour, could i go down to SI1 vs minimum VS2 to save some money

for example G and SI1 with a HCA of 2.4

http://www.bluenile.co.uk/round-diamond-2-carat-ideal-cut-g-colour-si1-clarity_LD00197986#

£10,122 + VAT

Can be good from the numbers but is of a combination that will require an idealscope image to verify if it is any good, by BN will not be able to supply it.

 

[ukdiamondvirgin]

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-981003.asp

HCA 1.7

colour G

worth an extra $500 versus stone-cold 11s colour H ?

kind of going off blue nile then if no pictures as it is impossible for me to feel secure in my decision as you guys are unable to give me ALL the wisdom of your knowledge.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/12/2009 9:12:35 AM
Author: ukdiamondvirgin
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-981003.asp

HCA 1.7

colour G

worth an extra $500 versus stone-cold 11s colour H ?

Get Idealscope images for each, this one has cloud inclusions noted so check with one of the gemologists that they aren't impacting performance and that both are eyeclean to your standards before proceeding.

 

[ukdiamondvirgin]

Idealscope images

can you explain what this is and where I go for these??

robert

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/12/2009 9:17:20 AM
Author: ukdiamondvirgin
Idealscope images

can you explain what this is and where I go for these??

robert

Just ask the vendor James Allen for the idealscope images and read here for info and a tutorial on them. Idealscope basically shows any light leakage in a diamond, or lack of. Read more here too.

 

[stone-cold11]

Date: 11/12/2009 9:18:29 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 11/12/2009 9:17:20 AM

Author: ukdiamondvirgin

Idealscope images

can you explain what this is and where I go for these??

robert

Just ask the vendor James Allen for the idealscope images and read here for info and a tutorial on them. Idealscope basically shows any light leakage in a diamond, or lack of. Read more here too.

Lorelei has you covered.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/12/2009 9:26:25 AM
Author: Stone-cold11

Date: 11/12/2009 9:18:29 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 11/12/2009 9:17:20 AM

Author: ukdiamondvirgin

Idealscope images

can you explain what this is and where I go for these??

robert

Just ask the vendor James Allen for the idealscope images and read here for info and a tutorial on them. Idealscope basically shows any light leakage in a diamond, or lack of. Read more here too.

Lorelei has you covered.

* blush...*