Looking for a bit of guidance

[zekky]

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to get a bit of advice on whether the loose diamond I am thinking of getting is a good deal.
Here is my criteria:

BUDGET: 4,000
Carat = 0.9
Cut = figured a very good cut would be better as it would have more radiance
Clarity = VS1
Color = I or higher

The budget is for the stone only and I narrowed it down to a few options on jamesallen. Here are the specs:

Carat: 0.9
Color: I
Clarity: VS1
Cut grade: excellent
HCA: 1.4
Fluorescence: Faint

This is going for 3,900 I believe and wanted to check in if this is considered a good price for what I am getting. I stayed away from crystals and hollows with regards to blemishes. Uploaded the GIA and also HCA. What do you all think?

 

[Niel]

This one is a bit deep,and wouldn't be my first choice. Also, paying for vs1 can be overkill at times, as under a ct a vs2 is almost always fine and often a si1 is too

 

[16ocean]

This one is a bit deep,and wouldn't be my first choice. Also, paying for vs1 can be overkill at times, as under a ct a vs2 is almost always fine and often a si1 is too

+1

Hi Zekky,
Neil a great pricscoper and knows what she is talking abt.

I couldn't find anything I liked at .9 w/ in your budget at JA but perhaps someone else can, I think there are so many options it's hard for me to find the winners at JA

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3461756.htm this is the size you like and it's eye clean but it's abt 600.00 over your budget

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3589416.htm
smaller .8 but in budget and it will be gorgeous and white flash has a nice up grade policy

 

[tuffyluvr]

I third Neil and 16ocean... A deep stone will look smaller, so you can get more out of your budget if you find a stone with more 'spread'--even if it's slightly under .90, it may look even bigger if it's nice and "spready". And I also agree that you can get more out of your budget if you look at stones with lower clarity. You can find some awesome stones with very unnoticeable inclusions. My engagement ring is an si1, but the inclusion is hidden under a prong, so who would know anyways?!?

 

[flyingpig]

I just bought a ring last week.
0.9 J VS1 AGS000.

J VS1 is about 3000~3400 USD. 4000 USD should be enough for I VS, I thought. I,too, wanted I color. But for some reason, that color/clarity/carat combination with ideal proportion is an extremely hard find. When I find one, it is usually a part of company's signiture line and costs at least 5000USD. If you expand your search to include J color and/or VS2/SI1, you may find more options. Have fun with shopping

 

[zekky]

thank you all for your input, I sincerely appreciate it!

I have searched more on JA and found the following that I narrowed down after reviewing HCA, table, inclusions.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-dia...i-color-vvs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-656773
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-dia...-h-color-vs2-clarity-very-good-cut-sku-614952
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-dia...-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-623873

Any thoughts on the above loose diamonds? I tried to take the depth-table into account more as was pointed out in an earlier post. I'm a bit worried about fisheye and not sure whether I should really even be worried about it for a 0.9ct.
Thoughts?

 

[flyingpig]

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-dia...i-color-vvs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-656773
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-dia...-h-color-vs2-clarity-very-good-cut-sku-614952
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-dia...-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-623873

1. Depth is deep at 62.6. Table angle is steep at 36. Measurements is 6.08-6.16mm. For me, that's too much deviation. HCA score of 2.0.
2. Table is big at 61. Table angle is WAY too shallow at 31.5. Cut grade is only very good. HCA score of 2.4
3. Table is big at 60. HCA score of 2.3.

None of these qualifies for AGS ideal cut. You already checked HCA scores; none of these are under 2.0.

It looks like you are firm on I color with at least VS clarity. Again, unfortunately, I have not seen a good looking 0.9 I VS for MONTHS. Keep shopping
H: 4700
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.90-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-756136
J: 3400
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.90-carat-j-color-vs1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-722705

Where are good looking "I"s at $4000? It is a mystery

 

[zekky]

thanks flyingpig, I saw the ones you sent across - the first one is a bit steep for my price but I do like the second one (722705 - HCA 1.1). I think its more of a reality check that I shouldn't be too worried about inclusions at this size and at a vs1 or 2.

I also found the below which seems to fit well into HCA with a 0.8 score.
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.90-carat-j-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-718392
thoughts?

I've switched my thinking to staying generally in line with HCA measurements for ideals and not focusing too much on inclusions.

Thanks!

 

[tyty333]

I would ask JA if this one is eye-clean.
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.90-carat-f-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-683199

 

[flyingpig]

I would ask JA if this one is eye-clean.
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.90-carat-f-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-683199

This stone would be an amazing buy if eye-clean, although the fact that this stone is an relatively old inventory bugs me a bit.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.82-carat-h-color-vvs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-749958
If you are willing to trade 0.2mm in diameter for a better clarity and color and ideal proportions, although VVS2 is great overkill.

In addition to GIA/AGS reports and HCA, check to see if the proportions fall into the following ranges (or something very close)
59.5-62 depth
53-58 table
34-35 table angle
40.6-40.9 pav angle

Following these, 0.9 J VS you questioned has the same issue as the very first 0.9 I VS stone you posted. a bit deep.

If you are truly firm on 0.9 I VS, I don't want to discourage you. It is out there. Keep checking inventory, if time is not an issue.

Bluenile, if you are comfortable dealing this company without photo
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD06193458 (good candidate, HCA: 1.0)
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD06427350 (good example of stone that is GIA ex whose proportions are within the ideal ranges individually, but fails HCA test)

 

[solgen]

I would ask JA if this one is eye-clean.
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.90-carat-f-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-683199

This stone would be an amazing buy if eye-clean, although the fact that this stone is an relatively old inventory bugs me a bit.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.82-carat-h-color-vvs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-749958
If you are willing to trade 0.2mm in diameter for a better clarity and color and ideal proportions, although VVS2 is great overkill.

In addition to GIA/AGS reports and HCA, check to see if the proportions fall into the following ranges (or something very close)
59.5-62 depth
53-58 table
34-35 table angle
40.6-40.9 pav angle

Following these, 0.9 J VS you questioned has the same issue as the very first 0.9 I VS stone you posted. a bit deep.

If you are truly firm on 0.9 I VS, I don't want to discourage you. It is out there. Keep checking inventory, if time is not an issue.

Bluenile, if you are comfortable dealing this company without photo
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD06193458 (good candidate, HCA: 1.0)
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD06427350 (good example of stone that is GIA ex whose proportions are within the ideal ranges individually, but fails HCA test)

The good thing with BN is their virtual inventory so often times you can use the cert number and search it on other sites that have images.
The second one has reflector images so you can see the light leakage and why it "fails the HCA test".
https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/R90-KFKFCN
https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/R90-B3KLJX

 

[zekky]

thanks solgen, flyingpig, tyty333!

I spoke with JA on it and they said it was eyeclean and they could put a prong over the inclusions area to cover some of it. I guess some of the inclusions will still be visible but it doesn't seem like much of an issue with a 0.9ct. By the way, I am not sure what to make of the comment about it being old inventory flyingpig...

I am hell-bent on a 0.9ct (must be a mental thing) and do not really want to go smaller than that. Also, after being spoiled by JA pictures, it feels odd to not be able to see the diamond I would be buying from other merchants. I'll sleep on the stone for now but I'm thinking of pulling the trigger on this one.

 

[flyingpig]

By the way, I am not sure what to make of the comment about it being old inventory flyingpig...

Good stones get picked up immediately. I am just surprised that noone picked up such stone with great proportions and color. It was graded awhile ago. Maybe people are discouraged by the blemishes , not knowing S1 can be eye clean.It is just a mental thing. Having that said, JA said its eye clean, and they have good return policy.