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Need advice picking an engagement ring diamond

G

gabegard

Rough_Rock
Joined
Dec 6, 2012
Messages
5
Hi all,

First of all, many thanks to everyone who runs and contributes to this fantastic forum. I've learned so much from reading here and I feel more equipped to make a good jewelry purchase than I ever have before. After tons of studying up and researching all aspects of this process, I'm just about ready to pull the trigger on an engagement ring for my girlfriend. Here's the situation:

I will be purchasing a platinum antique style ring and a round stone, and at this point I'm just about sold on this one from James Allen:

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/Platinum-Royal-Antique-Style-Diamond-Ring.html

I'm not sure how much that matters to the decision other than it has fairly large G-H sidestones, and the setting is quite open to the light on the bottom and sides. As for the stone itself, I have a budget in the $8-$11K range and I'm looking for 1-1.25 cw. This is the second marriage for both of us, and my future fiance is really not the overly particular type. I know she will be happy with whatever I get, so I'm looking for a nice balance of value and wow factor.

Cut - I have been leaning towards the H&A stones as we both have loved the symmetry and sparkle when looking at them in stores. I could go for an ideal cut with great characteristics if it was a super deal, but this is one area where I don't want to compromise. That being said, I've been looking at HCA scores until my head spins, and I could definitely use some more expert advice!

Clarity - I would like something eye clean if at all possible, and I've been mostly focused on VS grades. I've seen some 'eye clean' SI stones that have very noticeable flaws without a loupe, so I am a bit wary of those grades, but maybe I shouldn't be. I don't want to go nuts over it, and we do both have middle-aged eyes...

Color - This is an area that I am unsure of. I don't think she has a strong desire for a colorless stone, and my main desire it to get something that looks as white as possible in the setting. I've been looking at H and above, as some of the I and lower stones did have a bit of a tint in the stores. The setting also has G-H side stones. For the stones I've looked at so far, I've seen $1K or more difference between G and H, and I'm not sure if it's worth the premium or not.

So that's the lay of the land for me right now, and I'm looking for some advice on the clarity and color options as well as a bit more schooling on the cut. I've been eliminating those with a higher than 2 HCA, but beyond that, it's tough for me to get an handle on the differences between different stones. Of course it would be great to stay down around the $8K end of my budget, but if a larger or really special stone pushes that a few thousand higher, I could handle it. Any suggestions from the JA site would be fantastic! Here are a few that I've been considering:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1528122.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1475268.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1527106.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1535731.asp

Thanks in advance!

GS
 
That is a pretty setting, but I like it better with diamond center stones well over a carat. I think you are fine with G or H color. In fact, G-H VS is what I prefer for myself. So far, this is the best of the ones you posted:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1528122.asp

I will look and see if I can see any others. They do not have to be designated True Hearts to be great stones.
 
diamondseeker2006|1354897421|3325465 said:
Okay, here is one I'd like to see the idealscope image for:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1524957.asp ($9190)
Click to expand...

Thanks so much for your suggestions! I agree that this setting does look better with a larger stone. In the recently purchased photos, the pic of the 1.25ct diamond looks much more balanced than the 1ct.:

ring_74.jpg

I think going with 1.25ct or higher would be best as long as I don't have to compromise too much elsewhere. I have requested an idealscope of the diamond you linked to above, and I've been looking for a couple more since I have three requests. What do you think of these:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1522030.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1432453.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1525067.asp
 
I love the middle one the most of those three. I didn't search for H VS1, so that was a good idea to look there! I'll look forward to seeing the images!
 
Love that setting!!!!! :appl:
 
Thanks for the kind words, everyone. I think going with a 'near' H&A stone is going to be just the ticket to getting the larger carat weight that looks good with this setting while staying in my price range. I've ordered up Idealscopes of these three and I'll post them when they arrive. Thanks again!

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1524957.asp ($9190)

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1432453.asp ($10175)

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1525067.asp ($9515)
 
gabegard|1354917510|3325769 said:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1524957.asp ($9190)

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1432453.asp ($10175)

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1525067.asp ($9515)
Click to expand...


OK, back again with the Idealscopes and gemologist inspections. Diamond #1:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1524957.asp ($9190, HCA 2.0)

1524957.jpg

I think this one is out of the running due to the gemologist stating that it has the poorest light performance of the three as well as a slight "graining" that is not reflected on the certificate. Given the fact that it's only $325 cheaper than the next best option, I see no need to consider it further. On to diamond #2:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1525067.asp ($9515, HCA 2.3)

1432453.jpg

This one is reported to be a very clean stone with excellent light performance, with the main downside being a slight asymmetry. One side of the stone is a bit more brilliant than the other. And here's diamond #3:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1432453.asp ($10175, HCA 1.6)

1525067.jpg

Coming in with the lowest HCA and highest price tag, the gemologist practically gushed about the amazing light performance of this stone. It faces up eye clean, which is important to me, and the fire and scintillation is very well balanced.

So, I think I can't go wrong with either of the last two stones, so it's just a matter of whether it's worth paying the additional $660 to get the one rated highest by the gemologist. Any thoughts or comments based on this information would be much appreciated!
 
I think you mixed up the orderering of Ideal Scope images to links. Or maybe James Allen mixed them up. #2 and #3 should be switched.
 
JulieN|1355430238|3330506 said:
I think you mixed up the orderering of Ideal Scope images to links. Or maybe James Allen mixed them up. #2 and #3 should be switched.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I double checked and that's the way JA sent them to me, but they definitely appear to be mixed up. Now things make much more sense to me because the third stone that was said to be far and above the most superior of the three didn't have the best looking IS. I just edited my post above to correct this.
 
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