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Please help me choose a diamond for an engagement ring.

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Mars786

Rough_Rock
Joined
Apr 23, 2018
Messages
7
Hi all,

I’m in the process of buying an engagement ring for my girlfriend. My budget is $26,000 for the diamond. She wants big, sparkly and white with an emphasis on big. I found two diamonds that are within budget in the near colorless range. I am waiting for Idealscope imaging on the James Allen diamond. Are these decent options at a fair price? Can someone find bigger, sparklier and whiter for under $26,000? Thank you in advance.

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...h-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4562713

https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...AMONDS&track=viewDiamondDetails&action=newTab
 
Hi there, I'm no where near an expert, but just speaking for myself I do aviod any diamonds with big inclusion on the table. These two diamonds you shown look like have feather and crystals on the table and near the surface, so they may likely to be grade-deciding inclusions. I think It might have effect on the "sparking" and "white" aspects of the stone. Also,the hca scores on these diamonds are a little bit higher than the PSers' "safe" zone. Most of PSer will not consider a HCA score higher than 2.
 
nico8amy said:
Hi there, I'm no where near an expert, but just speaking for myself I do aviod any diamonds with big inclusion on the table. These two diamonds you shown look like have feather and crystals on the table and near the surface, so they may likely to be grade-deciding inclusions. I think It might have effect on the "sparking" and "white" aspects of the stone. Also,the hca scores on these diamonds are a little bit higher than the PSers' "safe" zone. Most of PSer will not consider a HCA score higher than 2.
Click to expand...

Hello nico8amy,
Thank you for your message. Unless I am mistaken, the James Allen diamond scores 1.7 and the Blue Nile diamond scores 1.6 on the Holloway Cut Advisor. I have been told that both options are eyeclean.
 
Mars786 said:
Hello nico8amy,
Thank you for your message. Unless I am mistaken, the James Allen diamond scores 1.7 and the Blue Nile diamond scores 1.6 on the Holloway Cut Advisor. I have been told that both options are eyeclean.
Click to expand...

My bad. Misread on my phone. As long as the hca score under 2 you should not concerned about the proportion too much. Eye clean is great. Both diamonds come very close on paper. I will ask the vendor to send an ASET and ideascope image so you can really tell the light return performance.
 
For me the JA stone is not my cup of tea given that the LGF percentage is between 82.5-87.4%. That results in pavilion mains (the arrow shafts) being incredibly thin which will give very small reflections of light relative to stones with LGF’s around the 75% mark (which will have larger pavilion mains that will be able to reflect more light back to the viewer).

The BN stone looks better to my eyes (loving the 75% LGF in it) but at that carat size, the crystal could be quite noticeable from a viewing distance of 12”/30cm away.
 
Mars786 said:
Hi all,

I’m in the process of buying an engagement ring for my girlfriend. My budget is $26,000 for the diamond. She wants big, sparkly and white with an emphasis on big. I found two diamonds that are within budget in the near colorless range. I am waiting for Idealscope imaging on the James Allen diamond. Are these decent options at a fair price? Can someone find bigger, sparklier and whiter for under $26,000? Thank you in advance.

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...h-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4562713

https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...AMONDS&track=viewDiamondDetails&action=newTab
Click to expand...

I agree with @bmfang. #1's visual is very chaotic because the long LGFs lose the arrows. You should see crisp, pretty arrows in a modern round diamond. I'd eliminate that from the running.

The BN stone actually looks pretty good. The inclusion may be visible, but I'm less worried about that. My only real issue would be that BN does not offter any light performance data (Idealscope or ASET) on rounds. Ask them and keep this on hold, but if you are spending this kind of money, let's make sure you get a sparkle-bomb.

If you have the patience, let PS member offer some stones for your perusal.
 
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Wow. Thank you for the help. I still have not seen light image from James Allen but I do not like the middle as much because it look like needles. I asked about inclusion on Blue Nile diamond and they said it is eyeclean not cloudy. The third option is very beautiful but my girlfriend always dreamed of proposal with 2.5 carat diamond.
 
OP, I took a look around within your carat and budget range. I didn’t find any options atm that are higher color/clarity with the right proportions. If you want to stay with JA, I’d take a look at these two:

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-i-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-4455427

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-i-color-vs1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-4455447 (while this is cut much deeper than PS normally recommends, it’s face-up dimensions are comparable to the stone above that has a 62.2 depth)

They’re both I color, however with AGS 000, they should be a beautiful cut and still near colorless. Definitely ask JA to apply the advantage pricing if you opt to hold them.

That said, if I were buying a new stone, I would lean towards these two options from Whiteflash simply for the long-term upgrade options and the assurance you’re getting a super ideal, hearts and arrows stone. They also face up larger than either JA stone for the same carat weight. So, the price difference is negligible, imho, for the difference in quality.

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3959046.htm

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3965448.htm
 
bmfang said:
For me the JA stone is not my cup of tea given that the LGF percentage is between 82.5-87.4%. That results in pavilion mains (the arrow shafts) being incredibly thin which will give very small reflections of light relative to stones with LGF’s around the 75% mark (which will have larger pavilion mains that will be able to reflect more light back to the viewer).

The BN stone looks better to my eyes (loving the 75% LGF in it) but at that carat size, the crystal could be quite noticeable from a viewing distance of 12”/30cm away.
Click to expand...

same. i much prefer the look of the fatter arrows
 
Thank you for the advice! My girlfriend wears diamond earrings that are G color. It is nice for the set to match but if you are saying there is no good G/H option online in my budget, I will consider I color.
 
Mars786 said:
Thank you for the advice! My girlfriend wears diamond earrings that are G color. It is nice for the set to match but if you are saying there is no good G/H option online in my budget, I will consider I color.
Click to expand...

I was also going to suggest the I VS2 that @stonewell posted - a nice option if I color is suitable!

Slightly smaller but REALLY pretty :love:: https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...g-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4664841

Two more I'd that are slightly larger: https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3734411
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-i-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-4771907
 
Hi Mars and welcome!

I actually like skinny arrows in a diamond and the way they look, but I've compared many and know that I enjoy the way stones like this can look but I'd guide you more towards the second stone from BN if it's eye clean to your standards and have a look at the stones the others have posted.

I colour can be an excellent choice even in so large a diamond, you might notice a tiny hint of warmth from the side though if that's ok with you and your lady?
 
Thank you for the suggestions. I like the James Allen G VS2 option. The diamond would match her earrings. We value colorless diamonds in our culture and I worry that I will be too tinted for her liking. She would like any size but I know she would be very happy with 2.5 carat or larger. So I have to decide between size and color.
 
Mars786 said:
Thank you for the suggestions. I like the James Allen G VS2 option. The diamond would match her earrings. We value colorless diamonds in our culture and I worry that I will be too tinted for her liking. She would like any size but I know she would be very happy with 2.5 carat or larger. So I have to decide between size and color.
Click to expand...

There's always a compromise - is this something you could ask her? This gorgeous stone is just a smidge under so she could still round it up to 2.5! I would also suggest putting it on hold while you decide bc stones come and go fairly quickly.

Not sure if your budget is flexible but here's a super ideal stones slightly over 2.5 and going down to H SI1 for $28k wire price: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3907538.htm
 
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Thank you for your suggestion. I am afraid to show her the 2.58 H SI1 because it will burn my wallet! :lol:

I know she really wants 2.5 but I also want to take advantage of James Allen’s ring sale. I eliminated the first James Allen diamond according to your suggestion. I am going to ask her sister which she will like more. Depending on if she chooses size over color, do you think the two diamonds will have good light return?

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...g-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4664841

https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...AMONDS&track=viewDiamondDetails&action=newTab
 
Mars786 said:
Thank you for your suggestion. I am afraid to show her the 2.58 H SI1 because it will burn my wallet! :lol:

I know she really wants 2.5 but I also want to take advantage of James Allen’s ring sale. I eliminated the first James Allen diamond according to your suggestion. I am going to ask her sister which she will like more. Depending on if she chooses size over color, do you think the two diamonds will have good light return?

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...g-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4664841

https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...AMONDS&track=viewDiamondDetails&action=newTab
Click to expand...

Both nice choices and they should both have very good light return! If you look at the dimensions, the difference is only .13mm which won't be very perceivable but I do get that the H SI1 *hits* the 2.5 mark and some ppl care more about that. Keep us posted!
 
Thank you for all your help!
 
Tough decision, @Mars786, they’re both excellent options. While I’m a big fan of the JA stone, the BN diamond is also very nice. Look forward to seeing what you choose!
 
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