Looking for Engagement ring help

[Areva12]

I am getting ready to purchase an engagement ring. I am not planning to pop the question until mid march but My finances are in order so I am ready to start looking.

For a center stone I am looking for
Color: Faces up white in natural light (H-I, lower for the right stone with a professional opinion)
Clarity: Eye clean when mounted.
Cut: Excellent-Ideal, I am looking for excellent light performance, see below for more info.
Carat: maximized once the others are met. I would like to get into 1.7+ if possible, 1.5 range seems very achievable.
Price: I am targeting 10-11k but can stretch for a stone that offers exceptional value up to about 13k.

The stone is the part I need the most help with but for a setting I am looking for a split shank platinum setting. No halo, looking for pave, no more than half way around, any with filigree or other fine detail would be a big plus. If you know of any let me know. Looking to keep the total cost under 15k

As far as cut I am looking for excellent light performance, I am a huge fan of Brian Gavin Blue, he has a gorgeous 1.7ct stone for ~13.5k but that is stretching my budget and wouldn't leave much for the setting. I am unsure if the premium is worth it for some of the ideal cut stones. I am looking to maximize the apparent size (how big it looks) by balancing between cut and carat.

Any comments or advice are appreciated.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Hi! This one is $13,185 with pricescope/wire discount:

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2983080.htm

You'll probably have to drop in size if you want to spend below the $13k range on a 1.7. I wouldn't drop below I color, personally.

Do you have the stone on hold at BG? What is it?

 

[msop04]

How about any of these?

1.51 J/VVS2, Faint Fluro $9380 -- enough cash left over for an amazing halo
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-dia...j-color-vvs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-263018


This stone is amazing!! I would put this on hold ASAP!!
1.51 I/VS1, Stong Blue Fluro $12,790 (AGS Ideal w/ big fate arrows!!)
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.51-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-sku-196296 $12,790

 

[Areva12]

I love the White flash 1.7, with the other two wouldn't I be paying a premium for the better clarity that may not be noticible?

The Brian Gavin I was looking at is no longer available on their site.

I love the idea of getting a true H&A diamond, however I don't think my GF appreciates the difference. When we have looked before she has been very impressed with VG cuts. I have only seen VG cuts, Ex non hearts and arrows and H&A diamonds compared in videos. I think the difference is obvious, however she never seems impressed. I have heard that H&A diamonds seem larger due to light performand but to what extent is that true, if I am looking at a 7.5mm H&A vs a 8mm Ex vs a 8.2 mm VG how do they compare? Any one no of a video comparing a variety of quality cuts at the same price point? The ones I have seen all compare based on the same size. I know on here there is a huge drive towards quality but my girlfriend doesn't seem to be like minded, are there bob H&A diamonds that offer enough size at a price point to make it worth while while still having impressive light performance? Or is it just a matter of her having never seen a diamond of truly great cut.

On the same topic I will be visiting family over the holidays just outside NYC if I called a company in the Diamond District would they be able to pull an H&A, and Excellent, and a VG (or EGL) excellent all in my price range to compare them? ERD and IDJ were reccomended in another thread and I have looked at both sites. Would it be worth me contacting one of these companies? Anyone else you think would be better? Could I get internet prices or is there more markup?