Looking for Engagement ring 1.5-2 carat - Advice?

[sunvila]

So,

I have only been looking for 2 weeks now, but I have done a lot of research.

I will summarize my research below;

I had stopped into a local jewelers place and I made a small deposit on a 1 carat SI1, H diamond with a Simon G band. The asking price was $5800. Which I guess is decent. He said the band retails for $3500 alone.

The second place I stopped into was Kay Jewelers. They have a collection known as the LEO diamond which seems to reflect light more than any regular diamond I have seen. It was priced at 7800 with 20% off

Third place I looked into was...ebay. There is this seller known as novo diamonds and they offer diamonds at an unbelievable price. Then I found out all their diamonds are the clarity enhanced diamonds. They look just like regular diamonds and half the price, but I read that they can loose this clarity over time. Otherwise I would have picked up their 2 carat diamond for just $3500

Blue nile seems to have a nice selection that is cheaper than retail, but their pricing still seems expensive.

The merchant Soloman brothers appear to have good pricing on loose diamonds.

Any advice? Are my expectations too high for a 6k budget I am looking for a 2 carat at least H and SI1, but I would settle for a 1.5 with similar rating.

 

[Krikawa]

Hello!

With a $6,000 budget, your expectations are right in line for a beautiful, top-quality 1ct round diamond. Do keep in mind, however, that the price of a diamond increases exponentially as the carat weight increases. In other words, a 2ct diamond with the same specs will cost a great deal more than its 1ct counterpart. For a 2ct diamond with the qualities you've described, you can expect to pay $20,000 or more. I would also like to add another note in regards to the clarity enhanced diamond. Some buyers are okay with these diamonds, and that's absolutely fine, as long as you know exactly what you're getting. Some "clarity enhanced" diamonds are fracture filled, meaning that they have been injected with filler to improve their appearance. It's important to keep in mind that a fracture filled diamond can break when it is knocked or exposed to high heat. That being said, a clarity enhanced diamond may be the best choice for you. It all just depends on your priorities in terms of size, the other 3cs, and durability/longevity.

I wish you all the best of luck!

Lisa

http://www.krikawa.com/diamonds