Lab engagement ring advice

[porterhouseblue]

Hi all! I recently came across the Pricescope community and have been excited to find a wealth of information for buying an upcoming engagement ring! I'm looking for some help from the experts in finding the following:
- 2.7-2.9 carat round diamond
- G color or better
- VS1 or better
- budget of around ~$5.5k for the stone

I've found a few options on the Pricescope tool from both B2C and Adiamor, though B2C seems to be significantly cheaper for whatever reason. I've read about a bit about evaluating the cut and HPHT vs. CVD, but wasn't sure how to pick a stone exactly. Also if I buy a loose stone online, would the same vendor usually provide the setting as well to create the whole ring or would I need to find someone local to set it? (am located in San Francisco)

Some options I'm considering for stones:

2.89 carat (ct) IGI Round Loose Diamond G Color VS1 Clarity Excellent Cut

www.b2cjewels.com

2.81 carat (ct) IGI Round Loose Diamond G Color VS1 Clarity Excellent Cut

www.b2cjewels.com

2.71 Carat G VS1 Round Brilliant Lab Grown Diamond IGI Certified 496135727 Affinity Cut - D48697438

www.adiamor.com

Thanks so much for all the help!

 

[Kim N]

It's usually easiest to buy the stone and setting from the same vendor. What kind of setting do you have in mind?

Check out these incredibly clean GCAL 8x stones, with superior proportions and light return, and the cut analysis is already done for you.

2.70 Carat G VS2 Round Brilliant Lab Grown Diamond GCAL Certified 313421044 Affinity Cut - D49724126

www.adiamor.com

Gem Certification & Assurance Lab

www.gcalusa.com

2.71 Carat G VS2 Round Brilliant Lab Grown Diamond GCAL 8X Certified 313421053 Affinity Cut - D49723794

www.adiamor.com

Gem Certification & Assurance Lab

www.gcalusa.com

2.73 Carat G VS1 Round Brilliant Lab Grown Diamond GCAL Certified 313421059 Affinity Cut - D49726461

www.adiamor.com

Gem Certification & Assurance Lab

www.gcalusa.com

The first stone you posted is promising, but IMO any of the GCAL 8x stones I linked will be better performers. I'm not a big fan of the other two stones.

 

[DejaWiz]

Welcome to PriceScope, porterhouseblue!
Have a peek at this one:

2.78 Carat Round Lab Diamond IGI LG516238309 | Ritani

2.78 Carat Round Lab Diamond ID Cut E Color VS1 Clarity with diamond report number IGI #LG516238309

www.ritani.com

Here's a VS2, but the inclusions are seemingly at the cusp of the SI1 realm and just on the edge of the table area, which is going to be a subjective judgment call.

3.11 Carat Round Lab Diamond IGI LG512231022 | Ritani

3.11 Carat Round Lab Diamond ID Cut E Color VS2 Clarity with diamond report number IGI #LG512231022

www.ritani.com

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

probably not such an important question for a younger person and certainly not for me because id be more than ok with it
but make sure your intended is ok with a lab stone

 

[itsfake]

A wise man once told me, never buy a diamond without looking at it in person first. Many things, including diamonds, can look good on paper but not be the best when you see it. I used the HCA, ASET and Ideal scope when I was shopping for my diamond.

 

[MightyDucks]

A wise man once told me, never buy a diamond without looking at it in person first. Many things, including diamonds, can look good on paper but not be the best when you see it. I used the HCA, ASET and Ideal scope when I was shopping for my diamond.

Buying a diamond online is completely fine as long you go through a reputable vendor. Several vendors use ASET and ideal scopes to vet stones. I have purchased all three of my diamonds online as have most people in the community here and have had zero issues.

 

[porterhouseblue]

Thanks everyone for all the advice! I have been doing some searching and went to a family friend who is a wholesaler who was able to find the below diamond for a price of $4,850. It is a lab, 2.83 carat, color G, VVS2, ideal cut.

The HCA score looks to be 0.7 and I saw it in person - it looks to be quite nice, but wanted to check with the community before buying! What do you all think?

Here is the link to the diamond on Ritani (though it's not for sale via there) and I've attached the certificate:

IGI number: LG524208273

2.83 Carat Round Lab Diamond IGI LG524208273 | Ritani

2.83 Carat Round Lab Diamond ID Cut G Color VVS2 Clarity with diamond report number IGI #LG524208273

www.ritani.com

I have attached some photos and a video is here:

https://imgur.com/a/s39qRLG

 

[DejaWiz]

Thanks everyone for all the advice! I have been doing some searching and went to a family friend who is a wholesaler who was able to find the below diamond for a price of $4,850. It is a lab, 2.83 carat, color G, VVS2, ideal cut.

The HCA score looks to be 0.7 and I saw it in person - it looks to be quite nice, but wanted to check with the community before buying! What do you all think?

Here is the link to the diamond on Ritani (though it's not for sale via there) and I've attached the certificate:

IGI number: LG524208273

2.83 Carat Round Lab Diamond IGI LG524208273 | Ritani

2.83 Carat Round Lab Diamond ID Cut G Color VVS2 Clarity with diamond report number IGI #LG524208273

www.ritani.com

I have attached some photos and a video is here:

https://imgur.com/a/s39qRLG

Something seems a bit off about the optics.
Could be the lighting or camera focus.
Definitely get ASET images!

 

[porterhouseblue]

Hi everyone - I'm back on the search for the diamond! I decided to pass on the diamond from the family friend since I wasn't sure about it and am now looking again for a ~2.8 carat with similar specifications as my original post.

I found a local jeweler who will do the setting (this is the link to the one I was thinking in 14k yellow gold with white prongs). Though maybe it's a better for convenience to buy the setting from the same place as wherever I get the diamond?

Either way, any ideas on diamonds for me? I found a couple below but not sure how these compare to what else is out there. I really appreciate all your help!

2.83 Carat G VVS2 Round Brilliant Lab Grown Diamond GIA Certified 6442234615 Affinity Cut - D51467205

www.adiamor.com

2.90 Carat G VS1 Round Brilliant Lab Grown Diamond GCAL 8X Certified 320320781 Affinity Cut - D54891779

www.adiamor.com

 

[DejaWiz]

Hi everyone - I'm back on the search for the diamond! I decided to pass on the diamond from the family friend since I wasn't sure about it and am now looking again for a ~2.8 carat with similar specifications as my original post.

I found a local jeweler who will do the setting (this is the link to the one I was thinking in 14k yellow gold with white prongs). Though maybe it's a better for convenience to buy the setting from the same place as wherever I get the diamond?

Either way, any ideas on diamonds for me? I found a couple below but not sure how these compare to what else is out there. I really appreciate all your help!

2.83 Carat G VVS2 Round Brilliant Lab Grown Diamond GIA Certified 6442234615 Affinity Cut - D51467205

www.adiamor.com

2.90 Carat G VS1 Round Brilliant Lab Grown Diamond GCAL 8X Certified 320320781 Affinity Cut - D54891779

www.adiamor.com

Did you see this GCAL 8X F VS1?

2.88 Carat F VS1 Round Brilliant Lab Grown Diamond GCAL Certified 321711806 Affinity Cut - D51429698

www.adiamor.com

Gem Certification & Assurance Lab

www.gcalusa.com

 

[Kim N]

Did you see this GCAL 8X F VS1?

2.88 Carat F VS1 Round Brilliant Lab Grown Diamond GCAL Certified 321711806 Affinity Cut - D51429698

www.adiamor.com

Gem Certification & Assurance Lab

www.gcalusa.com

I would put this one on hold ASAP, porterhouseblue!

 

[porterhouseblue]

Thanks so much, this looks incredible! It looks like the same one is available via my local retailer (https://www.yadavjewelry.com/diamond/round-diamond-2.88-carat-f-vs1-yd19468755) if I'm looking at it correctly?

The GCAL number seems to match (321711806). I think they may be able to price match it so I reached out to them to ask. Do you think it's better for me to do both the diamond and the setting through them if they're willing to price match Adiamor's price?

I was just a bit worried about getting the stone and then needing to get insurance for having them set it / the 30 day return policy on the diamond (since it takes the retailer a couple weeks to set it, doesn't leave much time between getting the ring ready and then perhaps needing to do any returns / tweaks to it).

 

[Kim N]

Thanks so much, this looks incredible! It looks like the same one is available via my local retailer (https://www.yadavjewelry.com/diamond/round-diamond-2.88-carat-f-vs1-yd19468755) if I'm looking at it correctly?

The GCAL number seems to match (321711806). I think they may be able to price match it so I reached out to them to ask. Do you think it's better for me to do both the diamond and the setting through them if they're willing to price match Adiamor's price?

I was just a bit worried about getting the stone and then needing to get insurance for having them set it / the 30 day return policy on the diamond (since it takes the retailer a couple weeks to set it, doesn't leave much time between getting the ring ready and then perhaps needing to do any returns / tweaks to it).

Yes, it's definitely better when you get the setting and diamond from the same vendor. Let us know how it goes with the price-matching!

 

[porterhouseblue]

Perfect, thank you - will keep you updated!

 

[DejaWiz]

Too big?

3.34 Carat Round Lab Diamond IGI LG536294223 | Ritani

3.34 Carat Round Lab Diamond ID Cut F Color VS2 Clarity with diamond report number IGI #LG536294223

www.ritani.com