Need serious help in selecting diamond for engagement ring.

[dandoe123]

Hello.

Been perusing this forum for a bit and was hoping to get some advice/help on selecting a diamond for an engagement ring. I'd like to buy my significant other the biggest and the best quality diamond out there, but unfortunately, my current financial situation doesn't allow me to do so, especially with the need to pay for a wedding/honeymoon and all. Anyway, my self-imposed budget is around $2500 and here are couple diamonds I've picked out at Bluenile (I've chosen a platinum band costing approximately $750):

#1

http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-...tep=DIAMONDS_STEP&builder=BYOR&pid=LD01845249

Shape: Round
Price: $1681
Carat: 0.5
Cut: Ideal
Color: H
Clarity: VS2

#2

http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-...tep=DIAMONDS_STEP&builder=BYOR&pid=LD02106894

Shape: Round
Price: $1759
Carat: 0.43
Cut: Ideal
Color: E
Clarity: IF

#3

http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-...tep=DIAMONDS_STEP&builder=BYOR&pid=LD02067634

Shape: Round
Price: $1783
Carat: 0.6
Cut: Ideal
Color: I
Clarity: VS2

#4

http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-...tep=DIAMONDS_STEP&builder=BYOR&pid=LD02069097

Shape: Round
Price: $1809
Carat: 0.7
Cut: Ideal
Color: J
Clarity: SI2

I'm leaning towards option #2 as I'm all about quality over quantity. However, after talking to a few female friends/co-workers of mine, many suggest that it's the size that counts as most can't really notice quality with the naked eye. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[stone-cold11]

Re: Need serious help in selecting diamond for engagement ri

Prefer #3.

All VS2 and above of that size is going to be eye-clean, you will not see a difference unless you look at it with a scope and has training.

 

[farmer gal]

Re: Need serious help in selecting diamond for engagement ri

If I were you I would go with a vendor that supply pictures of the diamonds. The thing about blue nile if you call them about the diamond they can't actually look at it

Here is an option from whiteflash, I would call and ask if it is eye clean. And you do get a pricescope discount so don't forget to mention that. This is their top cut diamond

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2618033.htm

Factor Grade
Light Return Excellent
Fire Excellent
Scintillation Excellent
Spread
or diameter for weight Very Good
Total Visual Performance 1.4 - Excellent
within TIC range

Setting options

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/6-prong-tiffany-style-solitaire-engagement-ring-4.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/4-prong-tiffany-style-solitaire-engagement-ring-1024.htm

If you went with gold or palladium this one would be within the budget

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/rounded-open-cathedral-diamond-engagement-ring-626.htm

 

[farmer gal]

Re: Need serious help in selecting diamond for engagement ri

If I were you I would go with a vendor that supply pictures of the diamonds. The thing about blue nile if you call them about the diamond they can't actually look at it

Here is an option from whiteflash, I would call and ask if it is eye clean. And you do get a pricescope discount so don't forget to mention that. This is their top cut diamond

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2618033.htm

Factor Grade
Light Return Excellent
Fire Excellent
Scintillation Excellent
Spread
or diameter for weight Very Good
Total Visual Performance 1.4 - Excellent
within TIC range

Setting options

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/6-prong-tiffany-style-solitaire-engagement-ring-4.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/4-prong-tiffany-style-solitaire-engagement-ring-1024.htm

If you went with gold or palladium this one would be within the budget

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/rounded-open-cathedral-diamond-engagement-ring-626.htm

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: Need serious help in selecting diamond for engagement ri

I like the stone Farmer Gal posted best because it gives you more size for your money, plus you are staying with H color which is at the higher end of near colorless. Of the 4 above, there is a significant difference in the size of a .43 and a .70! I'd have to pick the I VS2 out of those, but I wouldn't do it when I could get the larger H SI1 from WF, which happens to have a lifetime upgrade policy.

 

[nfowife]

Re: Need serious help in selecting diamond for engagement ri

Go with the whiteflash stone, great pick!

 

[tyty333]

Re: Need serious help in selecting diamond for engagement ri

Yes, Farmer gals whiteflash stone...very nice stone!

 

[dandoe123]

Re: Need serious help in selecting diamond for engagement ri

thanks everyone!

so, if i'm understanding everyone's suggestion correctly, things like color (E vs H) and clarity (IF vs VS2 vs SI1) really don't mean much when we are dealing with diamonds in the size that i'm looking at? i should get something bigger but slightly "less" quality vs something smaller but "better" quality?

all this is so confusing.

 

[slg47]

Re: Need serious help in selecting diamond for engagement ri

thanks everyone!

so, if i'm understanding everyone's suggestion correctly, things like color (E vs H) and clarity (IF vs VS2 vs SI1) really don't mean much when we are dealing with diamonds in the size that i'm looking at? i should get something bigger but slightly "less" quality vs something smaller but "better" quality?

all this is so confusing.

Clarity...you will see no difference with the naked eye between IF and VS2 (and many SI1s). As far as color, some people are more sensitive to differences in color and may see differences between E to H, especially when upside down and next to each other. H is still near colorless though and will not look 'yellow' on its own.

Since size and cut quality will make the biggest visual difference, I would go with a top quality cut and then look for a nice balance of color/clarity within your budget.

 

[yssie]

Re: Need serious help in selecting diamond for engagement ri

Ditto.


The reality is... if you live in the US at least, the first thing people do notice is size, then sparkle. You may want very high colour/clarity but how does your intended feel about it?

In this size range finding a clean (or prongable-inclusion) SI2 is by no means an impossible task.. or SI1/VS2 if you want to play it safe - don't allocate precious resources to IF/VVS unless it's very important for you to *know* that your stone is high clarity. I also like the WF farmer pointed out, for the reasons PPs have given

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: Need serious help in selecting diamond for engagement ri

Normally I would prefer VS2 over SI1. But in this case, we have a similar size I VS2 and H SI1. You'll see the color difference more than you'll see the clarity difference, assuming a stone is eyeclean. You are getting ideal/excellent cut quality regardless of the color and clarity, and that has the greatest influence on how beautiful the stone appears.