Loose diamond choices?

[gabe2500]

I am shopping for a loose diamond for an e-ring and have narrowed down 2 different shapes that the woman prefers. The choice is either a princess cut, or a round brilliant variety and she said "surprise me!"

The vendors I am looking at are Whiteflash, GOG, BGD and James Allen. My budget for a stone is 4k give or take with some wiggle room with J color and SI2 being acceptable.

GOG I am looking at either a Solasfera around .7 or a H&A around the same size. I am also looking at a "signature" princess from them or a Solasfera. I know that a Solasfera round has practically no light leakage and bright from end to end. Does this also apply to a Solasfera princess? I know that Solasfera rounds have more pinfire but not too sure about the Solasfera princesses.

Whiteflash I am looking at either their ACA princess or ACA round. I like that just like GOG they have really tight parameters regarding crown, pavilion, depth and table. Once again the round around .8, but a princess around 1ct in their inventory. I like WF because I live in Texas and I could visit their store in Houston if I drove a couple of hours.

BGD I am looking at their blues, signature princess and signature rounds.

James Allen I am primarily looking at their AGS 0 princesses and they have great actual images.

Another compromise is looking for rounds at the 1ct mark AGS 0 or looking at GIA XXX around 1.2 for a round running it through HCA then getting aset/scope etc.

So the big question is it worth for more of a super ideal like a h&a/solasfera round in a .7-.8 in comparison to a 1ct ags 0 or a GIA XXX in the 1.2 range. There is a definite size difference and would like some expert and veteran experiences.

Thanks in advance!!!

 

[ariel144]

I would surprise her with this:
http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/0-79ct-g-si1-august-vintage-round-diamond.html

Have you seen them in person???....seems like many testimonials of those who go in and see these in person end up with them after comparing all the diff. types of faceting...just sayin.

Although you can't go wrong with a SolasFera either. With the round stones they will most likely face up larger than a princess cut and you can have the round stone set in a square shaped setting.

Good luck with your choice....you are definitely in the right place.

(Sorry, I didn't answer your question) Others in here will have more experience with that issue but most will say cut is king!

 

[gabe2500]

We went around and compared similar size rounds and princesses, thus if I get a princess it will be slightly larger than a round. I know by the GOG videos that AVR's have larger flashes because of the facets, but I haven't seen one in person. I will talk to the young lady about it and see what she thinks.

Thank you for the reponse!!!

 

[JulieN]

Where are you finding 1.2 ct rounds for 4k?

 

[gabe2500]

Pricescope search

 

[HappyNewLife]

I love BGD and I'm sure WF is great too, but if you order from a non-TX-based vendor, you won't have to pay sales tax. Just something to think about!

 

[RockyRacoon]

I love BGD and I'm sure WF is great too, but if you order from a non-TX-based vendor, you won't have to pay sales tax. Just something to think about!

If you'd like to take a trip to a nearby state, I'm sure they would be happy to ship it to the FedEx office in that area, with the item held until you picked it up.

I've done this with other vendors.

No sales tax!

 

[MollyMalone]

We went around and compared similar size rounds and princesses, thus if I get a princess it will be slightly larger than a round. * * *

gabe, when you say "a princess...will be slightly larger than a round", are you comparing the height x width dimensions (how it faces up to the viewer a/k/a "spread") or referring to the carat weights possible for the same price, more ore less? A well cut princess typically has less of a spread than a well cut round of the same carat weight.

 

[gabe2500]

Carat size the princess will be larger than a round that we select. Its kind of funny because even though dimensions wise a princess faces up smaller than a round in the same size, to me and the future wifey it looks the same because of the diagonal of the princess. Weird huh? To me both at the same carat size looked pretty close and we compared just to make sure. The lady likes the shape of a princess in comparison to a round, but likes the sparkle more in a round. Thus why I was considering princess either ACA and or Solasfera or signature style for more sparkle.