Oval diamond help (james allen diamonds)

[ovalhelp]

Hi,

I'm looking for some help/opinions on a couple of oval diamonds I've found on James Allen. I'm looking for roughly the following criteria for the diamond:

Budget: Around 5300 CAD max (4000 USD?)
Colour: I or better
Clarity - SI1 or better
Carat - 1
Polish & Symmetry - Very good or better
Fluorescence - None to Medium
L/W: 1.35-1.50
Depth: 59 - 64%
Table: 55 to 60%

The band I'm looking to place the oval in is a 14ct white gold Pave setting from James Allen (https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/14k-white-gold-petite-pave-engagement-ring-flush-fit-item-56252). Do you think that an I colour diamond is not colourless enough for this setting? Will the contrast with the white gold and side diamonds make the oval seem yellow?

Here are the diamonds I have found:

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.00-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-sku-2093360 - Nice and cheap! (relatively)

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.00-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-sku-2077358

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.01-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-sku-1885863

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.01-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-sku-1119353

So, which one do you like the most? Are any of them poor deals? Good deals?

Thanks!

 

[cchloe]

Hello! Just passing the time here in the early morning and wanted to drop in and say:

First one has a dark/grey/brown undertone, will not appear bright against the setting;
Second is mushy;
Third has a bow tie;
Forth appears to be quite nice! It has nice crisp facets and most will probably tell you not to go lower than H in an oval because they will show more body color than a well cut round.

If I were you I'd put it on hold and ask for an aset while the expert chime in and offer other options.

 

[cchloe]

Here's another H for your consideration while you wait.

https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/search?carat_min=0.9&color=D,E,F,G,H&heirloom=true&shape=Oval&wire_price_max=4000.0#diamond=O101-289501Z38

And if you don't mind dropping sligtly below 1 carat

https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/search?carat_min=0.9&color=D,E,F,G,H&heirloom=true&shape=Oval&wire_price_max=4000.0#diamond=O91-21623402Z

https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/search?carat_min=0.9&color=D,E,F,G,H&heirloom=true&shape=Oval&wire_price_max=4000.0#diamond=O91-4Z9Z19430

https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/search?carat_min=0.9&color=D,E,F,G,H&heirloom=true&shape=Oval&wire_price_max=4000.0#diamond=O93-8157Z2353

 

[cchloe]

If you prefer staying with James Allen I liked this one too if eyeclean but it is under 1 carat if you're ok with that.

https://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/0.91-carat-e-color-si1-clarity-sku-735318

 

[tyty333]

Out of the choices you posted I like the last stone the best. The E that choloe posted is also nice (but smaller). I will take a look
for you a little later. Got to run!

 

[tyty333]

2 more to consider

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.01-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-sku-1805390

This is IGI certed (why oh why...because it looks like it has a nice faceting pattern and good light return)
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.01-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-sku-1794976

 

[ovalhelp]

If you prefer staying with James Allen I liked this one too if eyeclean but it is under 1 carat if you're ok with that.

https://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/0.91-carat-e-color-si1-clarity-sku-735318

Thanks for your help! I think I'm settled on going with James Allen at this point. I do like the look of the diamond you have posted, but I'm afraid my girl has 1 carat in her mind as a "milestone" if you understand me.

2 more to consider

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.01-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-sku-1805390

This is IGI certed (why oh why...because it looks like it has a nice faceting pattern and good light return)
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.01-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-sku-1794976

For the first one, does the strong fluorescence not signal an issue? I understand that faint to medium can help with I colour stones to make them appear more colourless.... but would strong be an issue? Is this something that perhaps can be looked at by the experts at james allen and an impartial opinion given?

For the second, looks very nice. Is IGI certified a deal breaker? I am under the impression that GIA is the go to for certification but is IGI still considered fairly reputable?

Edit: One more thing. The 4th diamond that i posted, which you both seem to like the most, has good ratings for symmetry and polish and thin-very thick girdle. Do either of these concern you? Or are they not significant enough factors to injuriously affect the diamond?

 

[tyty333]

Fluorescence is usually a non-issue. It usually takes strong Fluorescence to help a lower color stone. For strong we do like to ask
the gemologist if there is any affect when it is in bright sunlight (I've only seen it be an issue in maybe 1 or 2 cases out of, well, lots).

We usually stick to AGS/GIA paperwork. I wonder why they did not send that stone to GIA.

I would prefer Very Good or higher for symmetry/polish and not such a wide range in the girdle of that stone but a nice faceting
pattern is more important to me.

 

[ovalhelp]

Fluorescence is usually a non-issue. It usually takes strong Fluorescence to help a lower color stone. For strong we do like to ask
the gemologist if there is any affect when it is in bright sunlight (I've only seen it be an issue in maybe 1 or 2 cases out of, well, lots).

We usually stick to AGS/GIA paperwork. I wonder why they did not send that stone to GIA.

I would prefer Very Good or higher for symmetry/polish and not such a wide range in the girdle of that stone but a nice faceting
pattern is more important to me.

Thank you. So looking at the 4th one, despite the subpar girdle, polish and symmetry, you are still comfortable with the look of it? I agree that it looks like the best out of the 4 i posted.