Maximizing a $6.5k budget in Halo setting

[NewKidNeedsBling]

First, I appreciate any help you can provide in this overwhelming endeavor... I have spent a good 30 hours over past week looking at hundreds of stones online, talking to jewelers in NyC diamond district and now, most recently, perusing this forum. I honestly thought I knew what I wanted until I came here. Being an independent forum vs someone trying to sell me something, I believe your opinion and insight would be invaluable to my quest for a perfect ring.

I am trying to maximize the value of a stone that would fit in a setting that looks like or is the one here from Helzberg, so a halo and twist pattern in white gold.
http://helzberg.com/products/1988579

Two questions:

1. Would it be advised against to go with a diamond district jeweler to custom make a setting similar the one above for $1300? Is that too good to be true? Assume similar color stones and ct. I can play it safe and go with helzberg, but lose $700 I can put towards stone.

2. For approx $6,500, what can I get away with in terms of size with it still being a pretty stone? I don't know that I necessarily need super cut quality, but I want it to have some life to it. I think at the end of the day, the larger size (1-1.3)will impress her more than any other factor. With the setting above, I think I can get away with an eye clean H as the starting point.

I'll add some that I think might be okay later but currently on mobile.

Thanks!!!

 

[canvasback]

Hopefully someone will post up some James Allen stones and help you out.


Is the budget for the entire ring 6.5k? Or is that the stone only?

This is about the only thing I found in the 6.5k category that matched your size needs. And even then it's one color grade below what you want.

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3178634.htm#

 

[Harst035]

Keep in mind that if you walk into your local Helzberg/brick and mortar store and buy the setting, you will be paying your state sales tax, further eating into your budget for the stone.

 

[NewKidNeedsBling]

Thanks for replies -$ 6.5 ish for stone only - so you'd think a 1.14 that is ideal would be preferable to a lesser cut 1.25 for example?

 

[Gypsy]

Di not do custom for that. Scott kay is expensive because the quality will stand up to everyday wear and tear. Gabriel and Co also has a similar settimg. You can go on their website and see.

 

[Gypsy]

Here's what you need to know.

The entire purpose of faceting a diamond is to reflect light.
How well or how poorly a diamond does this determines how beautiful it is.
How well a diamond performs is determined by the angles and cutting. This is why we say cut is king.
No other factor: not color, not clarity has as much of an impact on the appearance of a diamond as its cut. An ideal H will out white a poorly cut F. And GIA Ex is not enough. And you must stick to GIA and AGS only. EGL is a bad option: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/egl-certification-are-any-of-them-ok.142863/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/egl-certification-are-any-of-them-ok.142863/[/URL]
So how to we ensure that we have the right angles and cutting to get the light performance we want?
https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/diamond-cut
Well one method is to start with a GIA Ex, and then apply the HCA to it. YOU DO NOT USE HCA for AGS0 stones.
https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/holloway-cut-advisor
The HCA is a rejection tool. Not a selection tool. It uses 4 data points to make a rudimentary call on how the diamond may perform.
If the diamond passes then you know that you are in the right zone in terms of angles for light performance. Under 2 is a pass. Under 2.5-2.1 is a maybe. 2.6 and over is a no. No score 2 and under is better than any other. Also try to stick to stones with crown angles between 34-36 and depth under 62.4.
Is that enough? Not really.
So what you need is a way to check actual light performance of your actual stone.
That's what an idealscope image does. https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/firescope-idealscope
It shows you how and wear your diamond is reflecting light, how well it is going at it, and where you are losing light return. That is why you won't see us recommending Blue Nile, as they do not provide idealscope images for their diamonds. BGD, James Allen, GOG, HPD, ERD and WF do.

The Idealscope is the 'selection tool'. Not the HCA.
So yes, with a GIA stone you need the idealscope images. Or you can buy an idealscope yourself and take it in to the jeweler you are working with to check the stones yourself. Or if you have a good return policy (full refund minimum 7 days) then you can buy the idealscope, buy the stone, and do it at home.


Now if you want to skip all that... stick to AGS0 stones and then all you have to do is pick color and clarity and you know you have a great performing diamond. Because AGS has already done the checking for you. That's why they trade at a premium.

 

[canvasback]

There's many more factors involved to state it that easily. Since you're going to have to sacrifice cut (and know that) with your budget, I think the stone I posted is a solid option if you'll consider an I color. I think an I will compliment G-H stones is a halo nicely---though it's all personal preference.

Here's another you may want to look at.

http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-6257674-1.07-carat-Round-diamond-H-color-SI1-clarity.aspx

 

[Harst035]

http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-6195293-1.20-carat-Round-diamond-H-color-SI1-clarity.aspx this one looks like a fairly decent option– gia xxx H SI1 with an HCA under 2. Someone else may be able to interpret the images better than me.

 

[blingbuyer]

if your in NYC i would definitely reach out to Mark T and Brilliantly engaged. He will take good care of you. Good old gold is also supposed to be good. Both are in Nyc and Long Island respectively so you could see the stuff in person.

 

[1820blue]

Hopefully someone will post up some James Allen stones and help you out.


Is the budget for the entire ring 6.5k? Or is that the stone only?

This is about the only thing I found in the 6.5k category that matched your size needs. And even then it's one color grade below what you want.

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3178634.htm#

thats a nice stone canvas.. do u think the colour would be noticeable between H and I... also a few have mentioned that in a platinum setting you have to be careul of anything over h colour would you agree

also what is you're experience using WF as opposed to JA

 

[canvasback]

I've never used JA, so I can't comment on that one. Regarding WF, I liked their customer service so much that I decided to have them custom build my setting and wedding band. It's currently in the works, but they've been awesome throughout every detail of the process thus far.

Regarding H vs I...it's hard to say. I'm not color sensitive, and a well-cut I when placed in a setting looks very white to me. I would not hesitate to go with an I, though will say it is my cut off because color to me starts showing in a J.

I recommend going to a local jeweler and looking at either a GIAXXX or AGS000 in a platinum setting for yourself before making a commitment, if you feel you might be color sensitive. If you receive the diamond and it isnt everything you wanted it to be, simply return it. That's the great news about buying from either WF or JA.

 

[1820blue]

I've never used JA, so I can't comment on that one. Regarding WF, I liked their customer service so much that I decided to have them custom build my setting and wedding band. It's currently in the works, but they've been awesome throughout every detail of the process thus far.

Regarding H vs I...it's hard to say. I'm not color sensitive, and a well-cut I when placed in a setting looks very white to me. I would not hesitate to go with an I, though will say it is my cut off because color to me starts showing in a J.

I recommend going to a local jeweler and looking at either a GIAXXX or AGS000 in a platinum setting for yourself before making a commitment, if you feel you might be color sensitive. If you receive the diamond and it isnt everything you wanted it to be, simply return it. That's the great news about buying from either WF or JA.

thats very true... thanks for the input