Looking for a diamond!

[raggytrastic]

I'm located in Sydney (Australia) and currently in the market for a ring. I've already been in contact with www.diamondspecialist.com.au and they'll be making the custom setting for me. As for the diamond, I'll be making another appointment to see what they can offer me. They can also set a diamond if I purchase it elsewhere but they said that they can also source a diamond for me if I provide them with the GIA certificate number.

So here I am looking for a diamond (been looking at JA website) but would like some help from the experts here.

Setting will be a solitaire in 14k yellow gold and my budget is around $2000-2500AUD (Around $1600-2000USD)

Details of what I'm looking for (all open to suggestions):

Round
At least H colour (but open to I suggestions)
Excellent/Ideal Cut
Around .60-.70 carat
Not fussed with clarity as long as it's eye clean

Looking forward to checking out all of your suggestions!

 

[Snowdrop13]

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...h-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3168484

I like this one!

 

[Matthews1127]

Not JA, but a beautiful AGS000 diamond, under $2,000 USD:
https://www.pricescope.com/diamonds/round/0_6-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-1469324

 

[Matthews1127]

JA XXX under $2,000USD:
https://www.pricescope.com/diamonds/round/0_6-carat-f-color-si1-clarity-2730017

JA XXX under $1,900USD:
https://www.pricescope.com/diamonds/round/0_61-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-2187013

 

[rockysalamander]

If you settle on JA, they will allow you to request only 3 Ideal-scope images (IS). We'll want to see those IS images to help you look at how each of the diamonds actually perform (https://www.pricescope.com/tools/ideal-scope).

I color options - I did not look for high clarity, these just were the best options in budget. I do happen to love the clarity, but you'll have to decide on your color sensitivity. Most people begin to see color (from the side only) on an I.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...-color-vvs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2680037
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...-color-vvs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2480942

H color
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...e-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2800445 {ask if eye-clean}
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...h-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2749477 {as if eye clean}

Not JA, but here is a really nice ACA (super-ideal), just ask if the inclusion at 4'oclock is visible.
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3793640.htm

 

[raggytrastic]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys!

Not JA, but a beautiful AGS000 diamond, under $2,000 USD:
https://www.pricescope.com/diamonds/round/0_6-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-1469324

This looks nice and should be just within the budget once import tax is added (around 10%)

JA XXX under $2,000USD:
https://www.pricescope.com/diamonds/round/0_6-carat-f-color-si1-clarity-2730017

JA XXX under $1,900USD:
https://www.pricescope.com/diamonds/round/0_61-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-2187013

The F diamond looks nice and the inclusions look like they won't be too visible.

Not sure if it's just me but the H diamond shows some brown colour when looking at the top view. Is this normal?

Not JA, but a beautiful AGS000 diamond, under $2,000 USD:
https://www.pricescope.com/diamonds/round/0_6-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-1469324

Looks very nice and should be within the budget too once import tax is added.

If you settle on JA, they will allow you to request only 3 Ideal-scope images (IS). We'll want to see those IS images to help you look at how each of the diamonds actually perform (https://www.pricescope.com/tools/ideal-scope).

I color options - I did not look for high clarity, these just were the best options in budget. I do happen to love the clarity, but you'll have to decide on your color sensitivity. Most people begin to see color (from the side only) on an I.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...-color-vvs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2680037
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...-color-vvs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2480942

H color
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...e-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2800445 {ask if eye-clean}
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...h-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2749477 {as if eye clean}

Not JA, but here is a really nice ACA (super-ideal), just ask if the inclusion at 4'oclock is visible.
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3793640.htm

The JA ones look good but unfortunately a little over budget

The one from WF is the some one recommended above and looks good. I'll ask about the inclusion!


--------
Just a question about the True Hearts (JA) and ACA (WF) diamonds, are they only available from these respective stores? Can they be sourced out by local jewellers?

 

[whitewave]

ACA is only sold by Whiteflash.

 

[Matthews1127]

If you see more tint in the H, you may be more sensitive to color. H falls in the "nearly colorless" bracket, but can appear more tinted at certain angles & lighting environments. They tend to face up quite white, though, so, I'm not certain if this is something you should investigate for yourself, as far as determining your preferences, and sensitivities....

 

[rockysalamander]

Whiteflash ACA, Brian Gavin Select/Black/Blue, Crafted by Infinity (High Performance Diamonds is an authorized retailer) are all only available from that seller. The rest of the diamonds from their site virtual inventory (more or less) and can be obtained from many sellers. James Allen True Hearts is also their house brand, but note that JA TH is not super-ideal - they are near H&A. The others listed above are are super ideal.

So, if you want your local jeweler to source the stone, you'll have to stay away from branded stones. So, that would limit you to to following suggested stone (so far):

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...h-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3168484

It is hard to see subtleties of color with the imaging of online stones until they get quite strong. But, I agree with @Matthews1127 that you may be color sensitive (or that stone may have a brown understone). If you limit color to G or higher, then you will have to lower/clarity your size expectations to just over a half-carat.

If these are eyeclean (or inclusion can be covered with a prong), you will have to ask vendor, here are some choices. For SI stones, I like higher color.
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD09323657 {hit CTRL when clicking}
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD08421541
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD09137338
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD08952456 {ask is cloud is making it cloudy; if not, this is basically a perfectly clean stone that got dinged for the cloud but may look more like an VS}