Newbie need help picking a diamond...

[carbonriot]

Total newbie, just discovered this site. Not to sound like a broken record, but I only knew bluenile before discovering this site. I was certainly excited to find this site, but that also meant more choices, and they're not easy.

I'm looking to get an engagement ring. I plan to spend less than $7000. We just want a very simple platinum setting about $500 so I have close to $6500 for the diamond itself. I look at the GIA certificate and freak out when I see a bunch of inclusions, but I just don't know how to pick one out that is "eye-clean"

I am looking for: The biggest, brightest, eye-clean diamond my money buys (no qualms about spending less than $6k ). My search criteria thus far has been:

1.15-1.35 carat stone
Top 1 or 2 grade in cut, (excellent on GIA cert)
H
SI2

Here are couple of diamonds I really like, I would appreciate some opinions:

www.b2cjewels.com/dd-3550529-1.26-carat-Round-diamond-H-color-SI2-Clarity.aspx?sku=3550529

http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-search?track=NavEngLoo#diamonds_pid=LD03266702

The one on b2cjewels looks great, and if it is eye-clean that's where I'd like to go. It seems like I can contact them for photos? If you have any other alternatives, I would love to see them. Any help greatly appreciated!

My questions and :

1. Table %, I read somewhere to look for 60% so I started avoiding anything less than 58% is that dumb?
2. There is so much size variation in the same carat wt, that bugs me

 

[JulieN]

Under 58 is usually preferred. But over 58 is sometimes cheaper and may give you more spread.

 

[ecf8503]

You're basically looking at what is known as a 60/60 stone (read more about that here https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/60-60-proportioned-diamond)

Some 60/60's can be beautiful - some aren't. They can still be ideal cut with great light performance (which is what is most important), but there's no way to know that without ASET and Idealscope images.

The B2C stone scores a 1.4 HCA, the BN a 1.9. Both are good, and no the 1.4 isn't "better" than the 1.9.

The real question here is the SI2 clarity - they really need to be looked at to see if they have visible inclusions.