Lurker turned member - ER diamond search (< $6500)

[lajoieb]

Hi All,

I've been reading these forums for awhile now and am about ready to pick up a diamond.

Originally I was dead set on using bluenile but soon realized how important it is to actually be able to see the diamond to make an educated decision (or at least a high-res pic!).

Budget is ~$6000 (+/- $1000) for diamond+ solitaire ring.

Will be using PS + wire discount.

I definitely want to go with quality over quantity.
I've looked at some rocks in person and consider myself a bit color sensitive.

Wish List:
Round Cut diamond + solitaire setting (18K white gold/Plat)
Cut is most important - Ideal cut with HCA < 2 (with close to hearts and arrows visible)
>= G color
>= SI1/eye-clean (tempted to go up to VS+ since I am ordering online)
.75 - .99ct

Right now I have four candidates and need to narrow things down to 3 to request ideal scope images from jamesallen.

0.91 (1.3HCA) - http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1515195.asp (put on hold)

0.91 (1.6HCA)- http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1504767.asp

0.91 (1.9HCA) - http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1489164.asp

0.77 (1.7 HCA) - http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1454994.asp

The 0.77 is in there mainly because of the quality/price.
I am wondering how much of a noticeable difference the 5.9mm vs the 6.2mm (30 sheets of paper?) will actually be.
To save the $2K would be great and I could probably take my (hopefully) new wife on a trip instead!

Any help from the veterans/experts would be much appreciated!

And I am certainly open to suggestions/picks from other vendors!

 

[mandasand]

You may want to look at GOG because they are having a huge H&A sale right now. Here's the link:
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamondResults.php?certNum=-&inHouse=3&resultsColumns=402669647

 

[Niel]

what about this one? PS wire price looks good
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2813971.htm

And then you could get a nice little setting. I like these setting

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/legato-sleek-line-pave-diamond-engagement-ring-422.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/caroline-solitaire-engagement-ring-by-vatche-251.htm

 

[lajoieb]

what about this one? PS wire price looks good
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2813971.htm

And then you could get a nice little setting. I like these setting

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/legato-sleek-line-pave-diamond-engagement-ring-422.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/caroline-solitaire-engagement-ring-by-vatche-251.htm

Diamond looks great as does the price. Thanks for the help! I'll browse through whiteflash a bit now Looks like they already include the ASET/Idealscope images.

 

[Niel]

Im a noob too so hopefully some other people come along but from what I can gather you cant go very wrong with a WF ACA

 

[lajoieb]

You may want to look at GOG because they are having a huge H&A sale right now. Here's the link:
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamondResults.php?certNum=-&inHouse=3&resultsColumns=402669647

I took a look at GOG. I liked the fact they are in NY (only a few hours drive for me should I want to visit in person). But from their website there only seem to be a few diamonds that fit my criteria. I certainly appreciated watching a lot of their youtube videos. I'll keep checking back though when they update stock.

Im a noob too so hopefully some other people come along but from what I can gather you cant go very wrong with a WF ACA

From the limited browsing I have been doing on the WF website, the ACA's are indeed quite nice! The tiffany's 4 prong solitaire setting doesn't look to shabby either.

 

[lajoieb]

Here is my new top 3 list:

#1 - 0.91 (1.3HCA) - http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1515195.asp

#2 - 0.91 (1.6HCA)- http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1504767.asp

#3 - 0.86 (1.5 HCA) - http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2813971.htm
(thanks to nielseel for pointing me to whiteflash!)

-

still a clost 4th place, but worried it may be a tad too small.
0.77 (1.7 HCA) - http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1454994.asp

Idealscope have been requested for the first 2 diamonds.
Any experts care to give their opinion on these three choices?
The price on the 0.86 (#3) is very attractive (and more in budget) - I am only worried if I will lose a bit by dropping from an F to a G.

 

[ecf8503]

I have 2 G colored stones and both of them face up nice and white!

 

[lajoieb]

Just to bring closure to this post.

I've ended up going with the whiteflash ACA diamond.

#3 - 0.86 (1.5 HCA) - http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2813971.htm

In the 4-Prong tiffany style soliate.
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/4-prong-tiffany-style-solitaire-engagement-ring-580.htm

The price on the 0.86 ACA was significantly lower than that of the .91's from jamesallen. I doubt the .1mm size difference will be very noticeable. Also moving down from the F to the G color saved a good deal of money. I also very much liked the fact that whiteflash already had the idealscope/aset etc. images on their website.

Fingers are crossed that it arrives looking spectacular!

Thanks to all on pricescope for the very useful resources and help!