Need help choosing 1 carat diamond for halo setting

[Robteam70]

Hello,

Just want to say you guys were great in giving me information on engagement ring settings and the whole insurance process. I wound up purchasing a setting from Jared and now need a rock for it which I will be purchasing online. I’m looking for a diamond of at least SI1 clarity, excellent cut, I color or better and at least a carat in weight. The budget is no more than $6,000. I’ve narrowed it down to a few and would appreciate your input.

Ct: 1.01
Price: 5300
Clarity: SI1
Color: I
Cut/sym/polish: E/E/E
Table: 61%
Depth: 59.9%
Girdle: med-slightly thick
Size: 6.50 x 6.52 x 3.9
Fluorescence: None
HCA: 1.8
http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-1-carat-ideal-cut-i-color-si1-clarity_LD03125261

Ct: 1.01
Price: 5500
Clarity: VS2
Color: I
Cut/sym/polish: E/E/E
Table: 50.9
Depth: 60.7
Girdle: thin-medium
Size: 6.47 x 6.50 x 3.94
Fluorescence: Strong Blue
HCA: 2.8
http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-1-carat-ideal-cut-i-color-vs2-clarity_LD02816550

Ct: 1.06
Price: 5800
Clarity: VS2
Color: I
Cut/sym/polish: E/E/E
Table: 61
Depth: 60.2
Girdle: medium
Size: 6.60 x 6.64 x 3.98
Fluorescence: Medium Blue
HCA: 3.4
http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-1-carat-ideal-cut-i-color-vs2-clarity_LD03231975

Ct: 1.10
Price: 5800
Clarity: VS1
Color: I
Cut/sym/polish: E/E/E
Table: 58
Depth: 62.4
Girdle: med-slightly thick
Size: 6.55 x 6.59 x 4.10
Fluorescence: Strong Blue
HCA: 2.0
http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-1-carat-ideal-cut-i-color-vs1-clarity_LD03225001

The one inclusion I’m trying to stay away from is too many feathers. I looked through the in house vendors but just couldn’t find anything in my price range with everything I’m looking for. Any help/opinions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[SMC]

I'd eliminate the stones that scored above 2.0 on the HCA.

Is there a reason why you're sticking to Blue Nile? James Allen provides pictures of their stones, and you can get a gemologist's opinion and Idealscopes on up to 3 diamonds. Pricing is comparable to BN.

 

[Christina...]

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.008-i-vs2-round-diamond-ags-bl-104063998002#!prettyPhoto[gallery2]/0/
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.98-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-sku-200937
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.11-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-sku-197682 need to confirm if it's eye clean
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.06-carat-j-color-si1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-107905 it's a

James Allen offers a discount to PSers and and additional discount for wire transfers, they will also provide you with ideal scope images of three stones for free.

 

[Christina...]

Do you know exactly what size stone will fit in the setting?

 

[Robteam70]

I'm mainly looking at blue nile since they seem to be the cheapest and have a good reputation. The brian gavin diamond is very nice and I like the second one from james allen too, but they are a little more expensive. The $5,800 dollar ones I posted from blue nile are already pushing it. I like the J color james allen diamond too, I know J's look great especially when they are well cut but it makes me a little nervous since the halo stones are H-I. Do you think it would be a noticeable contrast?

The ring specs say it can accommodate a 0.95-1.11 carat weight with a stock weight of 1. We did look at some smaller diamonds in the store but anything under 7/8 looked like it left too much room between the diamond and halo so I figured I might as well get a carat. Thanks for the feedback so far.

 

[SMC]

Here's another: http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.95-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-sku-204059.. It just missed the 1ct mark so it's more reasonably priced.

I personally wouldn't get a J in a halo because I would be concerned about contrast, but it's really up to you. Like Christina mentioned, remember to ask for the PS discount from JA. Choose your top 3 and ask them for Idealscopes. Then post them to PS and ask for opinions.

 

[SB621]

Typically you should always buy the diamond FIRST and then the setting.

I like the JA one the best. And the color contrast probably won't be noticable with the halo. I'm thinking H/I from Jared is actually lower since it is all in house color grading.

 

[Robteam70]

Well if it were up to me jared would certainly not be my first choice, I would prefer to buy everything onlne but she fell in love with the setting there and I can not find the same one online so I am kind of stuck. She is EXTREMELY picky about what she likes, not taking chances there. As for Jared's color grading I think most of the loose diamonds I looked at there were IGI but you might be right about the diamonds in their settings.

I will look at some more JA diamonds though and inquire about their discount.