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Newbie choosing diamond for engagement ring

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Beats_MC

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jun 1, 2017
Messages
4
Hi all,

I have been looking at diamonds for an engagement ring for the last week or so.
I am trying to find the best quality 0.75ct diamond for a budget of approx $5,000.

Currently I am set on this; https://www.bluenile.com/au/build-your-own-ring/diamond-details/LD08613703

It appears to be very good value from my inexperienced perspective.
Can anyone offer some insight as to how good this price is?

Thanks,
 
Is there a specific (cultural?) reason you're looking for D/IF?
Generally cut is the single most important parameter since the point of diamonds is to reflect light and cut directly determines how well it does that. Clarity can have an effect on the light return where there's a lot of dense or diffuse inclusions. IF is only flawless at 10x magnification so bear that in mind if you're after a 'perfect ' diamond.
Colour is more of a personal thing although most people struggle to see colour top down until you get to the I-J range. You may be able to see colour differences when comparing diamonds side by side but that doesn't usually translate to seeing a tint when the diamond is by itself.
How are you planning to set it? That can have a bearing on the centre diamond colour since a halo's melee/pave light return will tend to be processed as bright white because the sparkles are too small.
There's a set of cut parameters for MRB which will help you ensure you get great light return - I can't find them right now but hopefully someone else will post them.
What does your intended prize most highly - size, colour, clarity? Do you know what style she wants? Is the $5k for the diamond or will it include the setting too?
 
IF clarity is an overkill unless you have a specific reason.
If you look for something very white and clean, G+ VS1+ should be sufficient.

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...d-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2779233
Clean, white, well cut. Lovely stone. Well priced as well.

There is this.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...-color-vvs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2707675
But, for another $300, I will get that D above.

Of course, if you lower the color even further to I or J, you have more options.
 
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Thanks for the detailed responses.
My partner's specific criteria have been;
size: 0.75ct
colour: as colourless as possible

With regards to cut and clarity, she is not concerned with what cannot be seen by the naked eye.
I will look for the best cut that I can find, but perhaps I've gone a bit overboard with clarity.

I'm thinking
Colour: D/E
Cut: Excellent/Ideal/Signature Ideal
Clarity: VVS1/VVS2

Thoughts?

My budget is for stone alone.
The diamond will be set on its own, 4 prongs, platinum band.
 
I would suggest going with VS1 if you want something that is 'eye clean' and 'mind clean' given that you'll save quite a bit of money by doing so. That will allow you perhaps keep in the colourless range.

At least she doesn't want anything over 1Ct!

Some people prefer the colourless range. I would even think an 'F' colour would be acceptable but that is your call. Some people are colour sensitive (I am) and there is something crystal ice about a D coloured stone that is stunning!
 
Get her what she asked for. I'm more concerned about the setting. Can you show me specifically what setting you have in mind? Are you getting it from blue Nile? Do you already own it? How much are you spending it total? Did she specifically ask for only 4 prongs?
 
Now the diamond you've choose isn't all that well cut. I wouldn't choose this diamond if her goal is perfection.
 
Since you have the budget have you considered going with a Super Ideal Cut stone like an ACA? They are AGS000, H&A cut stones with all the images
to back it up. If your girlfriend is wanting a great cut I would suggest an ACA. Here are just a few but they have several more.
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3809121.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3791265.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3709388.htm
 
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You can't go wrong with a Whiteflash Aca
 
That james Allen was never going to last long. Hope the OP purchased it
 
I think that what I am struggling with at the moment is the cut.
I find that different sellers seem to have their own cut ratings - and being inexperienced - I can't yet tell what is a good cut and what is not.

Can someone comment on how the cut compares between say this one;

https://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/l...d-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2779233

and these;

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3809121.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3791265.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3709388.htm

again, focusing mainly on what is noticeable to the naked eye.

Thanks
 
Regarding the band, I have not yet selected one, those have just been her criteria.
She just wants a thin, plain, platinum band, and has said she wants 4 prongs to 'show off the diamond' more.
I'm sure that 6 prongs will be fine, she just doesn't want the prongs to dwarf the diamond.
 
Beats_MC said:
I think that what I am struggling with at the moment is the cut.
I find that different sellers seem to have their own cut ratings - and being inexperienced - I can't yet tell what is a good cut and what is not.

Can someone comment on how the cut compares between say this one;

https://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/l...d-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2779233

and these;

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3809121.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3791265.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3709388.htm

again, focusing mainly on what is noticeable to the naked eye.

Thanks
Click to expand...
Those are all ideally cut diamond. They will have negligible difference in performance. I really think you should honor her request and get the whitest diamond you can afford. An agl f vs a gia D, though both white, different enough that I would not choose the Fs when she has a very manageable dream of a perfectly white .75 diamond.

If you can swing it, I'd get this setting in platinum
https://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/e...agement-ring-style-cl141-by-danhov-item-58198
 
Well you cannot go wrong with a whiteflash ACA. If you value size most (and it's in budget) the FVS2 .813 is awesome. If you must have a D, the James Allen stone has a good HCA score (TIC proportions just outside of AGS Ideal). But it is going to be visibly smaller. I think an F stone is plenty white but is not for me :(
 
I think rather than voting on what we would want, we should help him find what his girlfriend wants. She doesn't want size. She wants color.
 
If I had a dollar for every thread that ends in everyone yelling at a guy that "she has to wear the ring, get her what she wants" in regard to the setting, I could buy a 6ct stone. She said she wants as colorless as possible, which his budget allows for. Stop telling him to get her a lower color.
 
Right, but technically, F is still considered in the "colorless" range. I didn't see him asking our opinion on only the D stone; so of the four stones he asked about (which included 3 Fs) I gave an opinion on the options presented. It was only an opinion (mine), based on options presented for consideration, not a directive to "get this [super yellow] stone." Sorry.
 
No he just asked for advise as to how to get the best option within his girlfriend's criteria, not fangirl whiteflash like often happens here.
 
Why is (almost) everyone ignoring the JA diamond on LT - it is a D, VVS2, 0.9ct!, it has a great cut and it is within budget! OP, if I were you, I would snatch that stone in a heartbeat!
 
My vote is the JA D VS1 based on OPs criteria.
 
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