Need help finding an engagement ring diamond!

[joeandlester]

Hello! Looking to find a diamond for my (wonderful) girlfriend to get engaged. Would really appreciate the help since I'm not an expert in the field. She's not super set on anything in particular, but I'd love to give her something to be proud of.

Budget: Prefer $1100-1200, can stretch to $1500 for something fantastic
Shape: Round
Carat: prefer 1.7-1.8, would go between 1.6-2
Color: DEF
Clarity: I've been shopping VVS due to my lack of knowledge, but eye clean is ok with me
Cut: let's get it popping

I've already ordered a diamond through B2C, so I'd prefer to shop there so I can exchange easily. I haven't accepted the order yet.

Thank you in advance!

 

[DejaWiz]

Hello and welcome to PriceScope, joeandlester!
I'd be happy to do some searching and make some recommendations.
Do you mind sharing the grading report number of the diamond that is en route so that we can provide you with a basis for comparison?

 

[joeandlester]

Hello and welcome to PriceScope, joeandlester!
I'd be happy to do some searching and make some recommendations.
Do you mind sharing the grading report number of the diamond that is en route so that we can provide you with a basis for comparison?

Hello! Thank you!
The listing is here, I've also attached the ASET image I asked them to provide. I can turn down the receipt of this diamond (have actually already been recommended to do so on reddit), if I can get a better bang for my buck elsewhere. Paid $1166 for this one.

Let me know what other information I can provide.

 

[DejaWiz]

Hello! Thank you!
The listing is here, I've also attached the ASET image I asked them to provide. I can turn down the receipt of this diamond (have actually already been recommended to do so on reddit), if I can get a better bang for my buck elsewhere. Paid $1166 for this one.

Let me know what other information I can provide.

Nearing a 60/60 style cut, but appears to have been cut and polished by someone that actually knew what they were doing...the cut looks great.
I do have some concerns about possible graining/stria from the CVD growth method, however.

Loupe360

loupe360.com

Here's the zoomed video...spin it around to the rear angles and you can see the graining quite easily.

Loupe360

loupe360.com

 

[DejaWiz]

joeandlester I have a small list of 2.0x diamonds that are clean HPHT for you to look at...let me know when you're on and I'll post the links to the Loupe360 videos...they should all be avail either at LooseGrownDiamond, Calavera, Adiamor, Ritani, B2C Jewels, Distinctive Gem, etc.
You'd merely just need to ask for a price match.

 

[joeandlester]

joeandlester I have a small list of 2.0x diamonds that are clean HPHT for you to look at...let me know when you're on and I'll post the links to the Loupe360 videos...they should all be avail either at LooseGrownDiamond, Calavera, Adiamor, Ritani, B2C Jewels, Distinctive Gem, etc.
You'd merely just need to ask for a price match.

I'm on to grab them!

Quick question: what kind of issues would graining/striations have on the lighting? Slightly reduced light return against those facets? I'd assume you'd lose light to the striations within the crystal structure as well.

Also, what do you mean by 2.0x diamonds?

 

[DejaWiz]

I'm on to grab them!

Quick question: what kind of issues would graining/striations have on the lighting? Slightly reduced light return against those facets? I'd assume you'd lose light to the striations within the crystal structure as well.

Also, what do you mean by 2.0x diamonds?

Sorry for the delay...traffic jams on drive home from work.
Graining/stria can cause light scattering inside of the diamond, causing it to take on a milky, hazy, or cloudy appearance in certain lighting conditions.

Here's a fantastic blurb about it that Whiteflash's Texas Leaguer wrote and posted in this thread:

Laboratory Grown Diamonds - Strain and Striation can cause Milkiness
As noted above, atomic level defects can have impacts on transparency. This is relatively common in laboratory grown diamonds, particularly those grown by the CVD method. Whereas HPHT grown diamonds are rigidly constrained during growth by enormous pressure from all sides, CVD grown diamonds are not. This can lead to deformation of the carbon lattice in the form of crystal strain. Strain in diamond can best be seen when viewed through polarizing filters, but if severe enough can also affect its visual appearance causing a faceted diamond to have a roiled look. This can cause the virtual facets to look blurry and for the stone to take on a slight haziness. A diamond with this problem will never achieve optimal light performance, no matter how precisely cut. Unfortunately, there is nothing on a laboratory report to draw attention to a problem of this nature.

The CVD growth method allows an operator the opportunity to stop and re-start the process, sometimes to correct problems that can be observed through a view window on the CVD machine. Starting and stopping can present its own set of problems however, in the form of striations in the carbon lattice. This is a type of graining due to fluctuations in the growth environment and if severe enough can make the diamond look milky. HPHT growth is done in a single uninterrupted run and normally produces diamonds with no appreciable striation, little strain, and generally no transparency issues.


You still standing by for links?

 

[joeandlester]

Sorry for the delay...traffic jams on drive home from work.
Graining/stria can cause light scattering inside of the diamond, causing it to take on a milky, hazy, or cloudy appearance in certain lighting conditions.
You still standing by for links?

Yes! What do you mean about price matching? Ask B2C to match a diamond of similar specs elsewhere?

 

[DejaWiz]

Yes! What do you mean about price matching? Ask B2C to match a diamond of similar specs elsewhere?

Price matching by asking B2C to match the price of the exact same diamond listed at other sellers if it's at a lower price.
...all of these diamonds are in the global virtual supply chain and sellers like B2C, Adiamor, LooseGrownDiamond, etc are drop-shippers, meaning that when a customer buys a diamond on their site, the seller then reaches out to the supplier to see if the diamond is still in distributor/supplier inventory then places the order with them if it is available.
Compare pricing by searching grading report numbers at all those different sellers to see who has a specific diamond listed for the best value.
My recommendation is to start with LooseGrownDiamond to see pricing, then search B2C to see if they also have the diamonds listed...email or chat with them to request price matching.

All of these are listed under $800 at LooseGrownDiamond

Loupe360

loupe360.com

Loupe360

loupe360.com

Loupe360

loupe360.com

Loupe360

loupe360.com

Loupe360

loupe360.com

 

[joeandlester]

Got the ID's, let me sort through them quickly & look at the advice!

 

[joeandlester]

Forgot to respond directly to the message. I ended up reserving one of the 2.02 diamonds through B2C so they could verify the price match. Hopefully I can get it locked down tomorrow morning. Thanks for the help! If you have a tip jar I'd love to send a tip

Price matching by asking B2C to match the price of the exact same diamond listed at other sellers if it's at a lower price.
...all of these diamonds are in the global virtual supply chain and sellers like B2C, Adiamor, LooseGrownDiamond, etc are drop-shippers, meaning that when a customer buys a diamond on their site, the seller then reaches out to the supplier to see if the diamond is still in distributor/supplier inventory then places the order with them if it is available.
Compare pricing by searching grading report numbers at all those different sellers to see who has a specific diamond listed for the best value.
My recommendation is to start with LooseGrownDiamond to see pricing, then search B2C to see if they also have the diamonds listed...email or chat with them to request price matching.

All of these are listed under $800 at LooseGrownDiamond

Loupe360

loupe360.com

Loupe360

loupe360.com

Loupe360

loupe360.com

Loupe360

loupe360.com

Loupe360

loupe360.com

 

[DejaWiz]

Forgot to respond directly to the message. I ended up reserving one of the 2.02 diamonds through B2C so they could verify the price match. Hopefully I can get it locked down tomorrow morning. Thanks for the help! If you have a tip jar I'd love to send a tip

You're very welcome and I appreciate the sentiment, but I'm here to help my fellow humans find the best diamonds to pick from...knowing that they are enjoying their perfect diamonds is payment enough for me!