Need help for my first ring

[Krish123]

HI All...I am planning to get a diamond engagement ring for the first time. I am looking at a simple small ring as my budget is very low(1500$ for the entire ring). I am thinking more like 1200-1300 for the diamond and 200-300 for the ring. I am looking at the james allen site and i have found the below ones. But i am not at all sure of how to choose from them. Can any one please help ? Thanks.


http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.51-carat-h-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-182562

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.50-carat-h-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-211802

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.50-carat-h-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-211538

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.50-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-174157

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.50-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-199981

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.50-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-217352

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.51-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-199870

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.52-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-213600

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.51-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-200482

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.53-carat-j-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-209932

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.56-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-190603

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.50-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-174157

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.50-carat-j-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-211416

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.54-carat-j-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-211196

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.50-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-199973


Thanks in advance.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I think I SI1 is a good middle ground, so I will check those out.

This one looks pretty good. Remember that there is an additional Pricescope member discount, too.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.54-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-217368

 

[Krish123]

I think I SI1 is a good middle ground, so I will check those out.

Thanks. I do feel the same. I am looking at some J's and i did not find the color good( i know, i cant complain for this budget). One more thing, as the pictures are magnified, we can see the color difference. How will it be in real ? For 0.5 caret, can we know the color difference easily between I and a J ?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I just added a stone to my last post but am still looking at them. I personally draw the line at I color. Most people can begin seeing some tint in a J and I think I color is safer for an engagement ring.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

This one is a possibility although I try to find crown angles at 34-35 when I can.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.50-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-174157

I'd be tempted to try this one:

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.50-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-217351

I'm just not wild about any of the other I SI1's for various reasons.

 

[heididdl]

This .54 that DS selected would be my choice in a simple tiffany white gold setting . Beautiful
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/14k-white-gold-2mm-knife-edge-solitaire-engagement-ring-six-prong-item-7990

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I just did a quick search using the PS search, and while I am not trying to sway you away from James Allen, I found what I think is an excellent option. It is a .5 I VS2 ideal cut stone at WF for only $1440 with PSdiscount/wire payment. That is a better cut than any of the ones above and a clarity grade higher. I know it may stretch your budget just a bit, but I feel more confidence that it is a better stone for you for such a small price difference.

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2890068.htm

But if you can't, I'd probably go for the .54 but I'd like to see the idealscope images on all three.

 

[Krish123]

This .54 that DS selected would be my choice in a simple tiffany white gold setting . Beautiful
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/14k-white-gold-2mm-knife-edge-solitaire-engagement-ring-six-prong-item-7990

From what all i saw, i liked 0.54 one better.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.54-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-217368

and as you said, may be i will go with the simple ring and it fits perfectly in my budget.

 

[Krish123]

I just did a quick search using the PS search, and while I am not trying to sway you away from James Allen, I found what I think is an excellent option. It is a .5 I VS2 ideal cut stone at WF for only $1440 with PSdiscount/wire payment. That is a better cut than any of the ones above and a clarity grade higher. I know it may stretch your budget just a bit, but I feel more confidence that it is a better stone for you for such a small price difference.

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2890068.htm

But if you can't, I'd probably go for the .54 but I'd like to see the idealscope images on all three.

Thanks for the info. I cant do a wire, as i am planning to buy with a credit card. So the difference would be > 150$ compared to the 0.54 one. But for 1484 i find it good. Before buying anything should i ask for the idealscope images ??

 

[hawk25]

The good thing about WF is that they already provide the idealscopes/ASET. The images look good

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Yes, you have to request images from James Allen, but WhiteFlash already has it on the page with their diamond. Not all of James Allen's stones are in-house, so sometimes it takes 2-3 days for them to get images.

 

[Krish123]

Yes, you have to request images from James Allen, but WhiteFlash already has it on the page with their diamond. Not all of James Allen's stones are in-house, so sometimes it takes 2-3 days for them to get images.

I liked this one very much and i will ask for idealscope image. I will post it here once i get it. Thanks all for the help.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.54-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-217368

 

[Krish123]

I talked with the james allen customer service and apart from

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.54-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-217368

they also suggested

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.52-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-213600

and

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.52-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-217350

I asked for ideal scope images and they said it might take 3 days.

I have a question, should i wait for the ideal scope images ? is it important in this case ? Because, i am leaving the country for some time very soon and i need it before that. The customer care said that they are eye clean and can buy without the images, but we cant fully trust them. So, can any one help me out ? Thanks.

Personally i prefer the first one.

 

[hawk25]

IMO whether you wait for the idealscope images or not comes down to your own risk tolerance. I'm the type that wants to be dead-sure about a purchase, and would wait for the images to know which one was best, especially in trying to decide between three stones. Others may put faith in the numbers and trust things will work out.

I will say that by waiting for the images, I believe JA's gemologist will rank them in order of preference, giving you an expert opinion from someone who's actually compared the stones (as opposed to us PSers). I'm not sure if you have to specifically ask them to do this however, and would check with them.

 

[Krish123]

Hi I have go the idealscope images and the review. Here is what i got:

The great news is all three diamonds are very pretty and will appear white face-up. In comparing them to each other, however diamond item #213600 and 217350 are the top contenders. They both have nice light performance, brilliance and sparkle. They are well-balanced and symmetrical. Please note on diamond item #217350, the feather inclusion, may be seen by a very keen eye. Diamond item #213600 is eye-clean.

Diamond item #217368, is a very pretty, white, eye-clean diamond in its own right, however compared to the other two diamonds the light performance, sparkle, and brilliance is less.

Links for the three:

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.54-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-217368

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.55-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-217350

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.52-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-213600


here are the images:
217350 :


217368:


213600:


So, with the above information is it safe to with 213600 ? Please suggest ? Thanks.

 

[Krish123]

IMO whether you wait for the idealscope images or not comes down to your own risk tolerance. I'm the type that wants to be dead-sure about a purchase, and would wait for the images to know which one was best, especially in trying to decide between three stones. Others may put faith in the numbers and trust things will work out.

I will say that by waiting for the images, I believe JA's gemologist will rank them in order of preference, giving you an expert opinion from someone who's actually compared the stones (as opposed to us PSers). I'm not sure if you have to specifically ask them to do this however, and would check with them.

Thanks a lot for the information. My least choice from looking at the images, got the best review and idealscope image from JA. Please look at the images and let me know if i should go with the Diamond 213600 ? Thanks.

 

[SB621]

How do you feel about pre-loved rings? JBEG is having their spring sale right now and they have some pretty ones that are budget friendly for you.

 

[hawk25]

217350 seems to have the best IS image in my opinion, but I personally couldn't live with a visible feather inclusion. 213600 seems like its the best out of the remaining two, so if you want to stick with JA I'd choose that one out of the group. I tend to put trust in what the gemologist says.

 

[Lula]

IMO whether you wait for the idealscope images or not comes down to your own risk tolerance. I'm the type that wants to be dead-sure about a purchase, and would wait for the images to know which one was best, especially in trying to decide between three stones. Others may put faith in the numbers and trust things will work out.

I will say that by waiting for the images, I believe JA's gemologist will rank them in order of preference, giving you an expert opinion from someone who's actually compared the stones (as opposed to us PSers). I'm not sure if you have to specifically ask them to do this however, and would check with them.

Thanks a lot for the information. My least choice from looking at the images, got the best review and idealscope image from JA. Please look at the images and let me know if i should go with the Diamond 213600 ? Thanks.

Yes, it's eye clean, and I'd trust the gemologist's assessment. The IS image only tells you about leakage; it doesn't tell you about sparkle and brilliance and eye-cleanliness.