Looking for a 2.5+ diamond - some flexibility on shape

[ladybugkd03]

I previously had a 2.43 G SI1 Princess cut. It was set in a halo with rounded corners, and two ~.25 round diamonds on either side. It was stolen and now I am looking for a new stone. I am trying to find a new stone primarily around 2.5-3.5 carats, eye clean and appears white/colorless.

Any suggestions on vendors? I LOVE diamonds. I am interested in Radiant, Round, Oval, Asscher, Emerald and the occasional cushion.

Any thoughts on where to look? I am undecided between setting it in a halo or a solitaire. Previously, my halo was the kind that did not allow a band to sit flush.

 

[misskittycat]

Do you have a budget to work within?

 

[CharmyPoo]

I have a number of vendors listed in this post.
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/cushion-101-my-experience-in-making-a-harry-winston-halo.183473/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/cushion-101-my-experience-in-making-a-harry-winston-halo.183473/[/URL]

 

[sakari_8]

I think if you are going for round diamond than my suggestion would be Clarity SI1 or above and Color H or above and if you are going with
Radiant, Asscher than I would suggest VS2 or above Color H or above, stone will appear eye clean and white.

There are several online stores like James allen, B2C Jewels etc, I would recommend you b2c Jewels simply because there prices are
the lowest, and we have seen many happly clients in recent past. B2C Jewels have also started giving Ideal Scope Images which is also
another good thing.

 

[Niel]

An oval would be stunning, cheaper than a round and require less clarity than a step cut. Plus they face up large SK you wouldn't need a halo.also a chubby marquise at that size would be stunning
These are my absolute favorites and I'd buy any of these a heartbeat if I had your funds.

 

[ladybugkd03]

Thanks for all the help PS'ers. I am drooling over that oval!

I have some flexibility on budget. We are receiving a $30k payout from the insurance, but I would like to try and cover 2 matching bands with that.

It seems like I should be able to get a nice diamond in a nice setting for around $25k, which would leave some money for my bands.

I had never heard of b2c jewels, but had been looking at Union Diamond prior to this site. It seems like they were the lowest I had found.

Does anyone have any experience with USA Certed?

 

[JulieN]

For fancies, Good Old Gold has nice photography and video, which you may find helpful.

I would not work with Union Diamond or USA Certed for fancies, as they are not based in NY, though they are fine for local clients or people shopping for rounds.

 

[Niel]

I agree if you go fancy I'd go good old gold. Email them tell them you want an f (or g, bit I know you said you want white) eye clean oval (or whatever shape). As big as you can get for X budget.

If you sent for a solitaire or three stone I would go with ERD for the setting. Stunning work with their prongs and a better price than hand forged, leaving you more money for the stone and bands. If you go halo, I'd get quotes from leon mege, victor canera, AND Steven kirsch. They do hand forged and there pave is impeccable. Pricier though.

Whatever the quote is from the setting vendor is just subtract that from the 25k and give that budget to good old gold. A hand forged halo would be more expensive, but if you went with ERD for a solitaire or 3 stone I'm sure that would leave you over 20k for the stone.

 

[ladybugkd03]

Thank you for all the recommendations. I really love how ERD has the settings from the different brands. Very similar to King of Jewelry.

I am based in CA, so unfortunately I don't get to make the trips to the East Coast Showrooms.

What kind of solitaire do you think makes the diamond look the most prominent?

 

[Niel]

Personally I think the classic Cartier style makes the diamond most prominent.

 

[sakari_8]

Thanks for all the help PS'ers. I am drooling over that oval!

I have some flexibility on budget. We are receiving a $30k payout from the insurance, but I would like to try and cover 2 matching bands with that.

It seems like I should be able to get a nice diamond in a nice setting for around $25k, which would leave some money for my bands.

I had never heard of b2c jewels, but had been looking at Union Diamond prior to this site. It seems like they were the lowest I had found.

Does anyone have any experience with USA Certed?

B2C Jewels have some great prices on the site and recently many pser's have good things to talk about them, you could try them,
as it could save quiet a lot or with that same available funds you could even go for bigger stone. I would suggest try B2C Jewels
simultaneously they might able to find the stone better than others.

Since you like Oval, ensure the stone has minimum bow tie, you could ask the Jewelry consultant to review the stone and ask
for images as well prior buying, it would help you take correct decision.

Good luck

 

[Christina...]

I'm going to second or third GOG for fancy shapes, or at the very least a vendor who has actual pictures of the diamond and can offer ASET images like James Allen. Unlike rounds were there is usually some indication of cut quality based on the numbers, it's impossible with fancy cuts. Ovals also have leakage areas that need to be seen to evaluate, and they can hold color differently than some other cuts. I would want to work with someone who could actually hold the diamond and put it through a bunch of different tests to ensure that I was getting the best stone possible.