Please Help Me Prioritize!!

[irishboyjason]

I have between $2,500 and $2,900 to spend and I was hoping to get something at least .75 ct (bigger the better I guess) for a solitaire setting. But what elements are "MOST" important.

I keep hearing that cut is the most important element. Does that mean I should get a real Hearts and Arrows Ideal cut diamond? Is ideal ok? What about very good? If I get the best cut will it make an H color look white enough for a white gold setting? Some people say you can''t even see the inclusions in a SI2 with a perfectly cut diamond. Is this true? How important is polish? Is very good a lot worse than ideal?

Bottom line... what is the perfect combo of cut, color, clarity, size, etc? Would a .75ct diamond look cheap on a solitaire? If it is ok for size, what about all the other elements. Should cut and polish be my top priority... with color and clarity down the list (settle for an H, SI1). ANY advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[hoorray]

Cut should be number one. Use the HCA to help weed out potential duds, and make sure you get all the angles to tell the whole story. .75 is a great size for a solitare, and H/SI1 is a nice combo and should look good and white in a well cut stone.

It is a series of tradeoffs finding the right stone for you. I wouldn't pay for clarity you can't see, so look for an eye-clean SI1, ideal cut stone as your first choice, maximizing size and color as much as you can. G-H color is a good safe point to be. Some people have found great I colored or SI2 stones. Talk to the vendors and get them to help be your eyes. And, if you haven't done it, try to go look at some well cut stones in person to get a feel for color. (Make sure they are well cut tho...)

Good luck!

 

[moremoremore]

I don't know that much about rounds....I dont know if a stone can be "ideal" without being a H&A..(i think so)..or maybe it's the other way around...someone will tell us...I'd go see some to compare....and I agree, I do a search for "ideal" cuts- b/c that what was important to me (princess cut, more tricky). I also knew what color I wouldn't go below. I def think an H is just fine for white gold in a round. Then I go for clarity....I wanted an Si1...why pay for what you can't see....most of the time....you need to see it to be sure...All that said, I can't tell you enough how important it is to get a good vendor who deals in great stones...that will make your job so much easier. I also feel that it is very important to be able to see a stone b/f paying for it...

 

[Magnum]

Here's a great stone that maximizes bang for the buck. It's a 0.83 carat I SI1 A Cut Above stone from whiteflash.com for $2732 with the pricescope discount. It should face up white and be eye-clean, and that's something I'm sure whiteflash could confirm if you ask. And it should be an exceptionally cut stone. Here's the link:

Whiteflash 0.83 I SI1 $2732