Need help selecting diamond ASAP!

[justdeb__]

Hi all,

Helping my mother-in-law select a ring and looking for assistance in selecting a diamond from James Allen for this setting. Absolute max budget for the stone is $5200. I have ranked the 4Cs in order of preference.

1st - Cut: Would like the most ideal cut for scintillation and sparkle. True Hearts or Ideal?
2nd - Carat: Between 0.9-1.2ct
3rd - Clarity: Eye clean
4th - Color: I and above; may consider J if better value for my money
5th - Fluorescence: None to slight

Time is of essence as we would like to receive the ring on hand by Aug. 10th and turnaround time from JA is 2-3 weeks. We prefer JA because we have made previous purchases here and we know what to expect. Thanks in advance!!!

 

[sledge]

Confirm eye clean, but looks promising.

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...color-si1-clarity-true-hearts-cut-sku-4535330

 

[sledge]

I know you said you wanted to stay with JA, but this is a super ideal ACA from WhiteFlash (WF).

Weight is just a little less than the JA stone, but dimensions are only 0.10mm difference. It takes about 0.20mm before the human eye can detect a size difference. So for all practical purposes, they are the same size.

Plus the WF stone has a much better upgrade policy (spend $1 more and get FULL credit on your new stone). In comparison, JA requires you spend 2x the amount. From what I've seen, if you like JA then you will love WF. I think most here would agree that WF is more preferred to JA if you have nothing tying you to JA.

Not to mention this is an E....yes, an E....and cheaper. Have WF gemologist pull the stone and confirm it's eye clean but I'd call and reserve this ASAP so someone doesn't snatch it from you.

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3982403.htm

 

[justdeb__]

Hi all,

Helping my mother-in-law select a ring and looking for assistance in selecting a diamond from James Allen for this setting. Absolute max budget for the stone is $5200. I have ranked the 4Cs in order of preference.

1st - Cut: Would like the most ideal cut for scintillation and sparkle. True Hearts or Ideal?
2nd - Carat: Between 0.9-1.2ct
3rd - Clarity: Eye clean
4th - Color: I and above; may consider J if better value for my money
5th - Fluorescence: None to slight

Time is of essence as we would like to receive the ring on hand by Aug. 10th and turnaround time from JA is 2-3 weeks. We prefer JA because we have made previous purchases here and we know what to expect. Thanks in advance!!!

Oops, forgot to add she would like a round stone!

@sledge Thanks for the recs above! I'll request to confirm eye clean on the JA stone. It was a challenge just to get my MIL to sit through browsing JA's website that I don't even want to push WF on her (even though I've heard nothing but great things about them). Let's just try and stick with JA. Thanks!!!

 

[justdeb__]

Thoughts on this stone?

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...at-j-color-vvs1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-5075749

 

[justdeb__]

Any qualms on this one also?

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...color-si2-clarity-true-hearts-cut-sku-2876562

Should I be worried about the feather at 10 o'clock taking into consideration the particular setting my MIL picked?

https://www.jamesallen.com/engageme...pave-adorned-crown-engagement-ring-item-63076

 

[Matthews1127]

Thoughts on this stone?

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...at-j-color-vvs1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-5075749

I like this one!

 

[sledge]

Thoughts on this stone?

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...at-j-color-vvs1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-5075749

Love the VVS1 although you are way overpaying for a trait that you state o ly needs to be eye clean (most SI1 and VS2, and select SI2).

Angles are great as evidenced by ideal cut 0 on AGS cert. I prefer the AGS cert personally because they use 3D modeling, etc to be able to report those angles and confirm ideal cut.

I am curious why this missed their true hearts and arrow collection. Also you are dropping to a J in color to achieve VVS1 and ideal.

After H, color can become more subjective meaning color could be closer to I, J or K. Either way you are pushing the color bounds IMO unless she specifically likes these warmer tints.

Personally I'd give up the VVS1 to gain G color and true H&A. For a stone this size the extra money dumped into VVS clarity is not well spent, unless you told me that was important because of cultural reasons or you had eagle eyes.

Any qualms on this one also?

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...color-si2-clarity-true-hearts-cut-sku-2876562

Should I be worried about the feather at 10 o'clock taking into consideration the particular setting my MIL picked?

https://www.jamesallen.com/engageme...pave-adorned-crown-engagement-ring-item-63076

Unless money is the issue I'd still prefer the G SI1 I linked earlier. Mainly because this is an H SI2. I didn't see an inclusion chart but I'm on my mobile so I will have a look later as well.

Also I feel the GIA cert is less, although it is part of their H&A collection. The arrows image was broke for me.

Worst case, have JA gemologist pull both this stone and the G I recommended and do a side by side comparison. Also both needs confirmed to be eye clean.

Eye clean is subjective. Many consider 10" away from the top only as eye clean. You may see inclusions from the side. I'm more sensitive to this and narrowed my definition to 6" from side or top. My definition is likely overkill for most so you need to take your moms sensitivity to clarity in consideration when defining eye clean.