Please help newbie compare. Tight budget

[car10107]

First off, thank you so much to everyone on this wonderful site. I would have been taken for a ride at one of the local BM stores if it wasn't for the valuable information I have learned here.

I already have purchased a wonderful setting and now just want a beautiful stone to go with it that also fits my tight budget. After the setting, I have $1500 left for the stone and am looking for something in the .60-.70 range that is H or better, with a nice cut and eye clean. After looking high and low, I found this .65 G SI2 that is in my budget and it scores a 1.0 on the HCA.
http://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/GIA_Certified_Round_0.65_CT_G_SI2_Loose_Diamond_480088/#cert
I haven't read anything about this vendor, Enchanted Diamonds on Pricescope so I am looking for opinions on the stone and also the vendor please.

If I wait another 30-60 days, I could spend another $750-$1000 and get something more along the lines of this stone from JA. Its a .64 H VS1 that scores .9 on the HCA and is about $750 more than the first stone ($2170 vs. $1410).
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1473342.asp

Please help me compare these two stones. Why or even would I be better off spending the extra money for the JA stone when they both score well as long as both are eye clean to me? The first stone seems to be the better deal to me but I am new to all this so.... Thank you all so much!!!!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Welcome! First of all, I have never heard of that vendor after being here several years, so I would strongly suggest working with one who we "know" of here and who value their reputations on this forum. That gives the buyer some protection. Honestly, I'd wait and spend the $1000 more. We can help you get a better stone. I wouldn't do SI2 for an engagement ring, but you also don't have to go all the way up to VS1. I think G-H, VS2 to SI1 is a nice range. But $2500 is going to get you a good bit more than $1500, so I would wait unless you go with someone like Good Old Gold that has a 6 month interest free financing arrangement.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Here are a couple others to consider with the larger budget:

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2781311.htm (additional discount if you tell them you are a pricescope member)

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2680233.htm

 

[aron42486]

If you don't mind going just below a .6 carat, then I think this is a nice one for around $2000.
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2724640.htm

I'd say realistically, $1,500 would get you a nice diamond slightly below .5 carats. Diamondseeker found you some good picks though if you decide to go up to that $2,500 cap.

 

[car10107]

Is there anything wrong with the $1410 stone from my original post? I know I can buy a better stone with an extra $1000 just wondering if the $1410 stone is a good value. As long as the stone is eye clean, I'm not really concerned if its an SI2, SI1 or a VS2. The vendor offers a 30day no questions asked return policy and my credit card will protect me. Just trying to get a feel for if it's a good value for the money and what exactly an extra $1000 would get me and would my girlfriend see a difference for that $1000? Thank you.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Is there anything wrong with the $1410 stone from my original post? I know I can buy a better stone with an extra $1000 just wondering if the $1410 stone is a good value. As long as the stone is eye clean, I'm not really concerned if its an SI2, SI1 or a VS2. The vendor offers a 30day no questions asked return policy and my credit card will protect me. Just trying to get a feel for if it's a good value for the money and what exactly an extra $1000 would get me and would my girlfriend see a difference for that $1000? Thank you.

The stone is too deep (you want no deeper than 62.3%), and it is very good cut instead of excellent...girdle is med thick to thick and you want the girdle size to range between thin and slightly thick. Plus, the clarity is SI2 which may not be eyeclean. They are not showing the actual GIA report, so I can't tell what the crown and pavilion angles. But this is a diamond I would not consider.

Stick with GIA Excellent cut.

This will explain why cut is important:

https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/diamond-cut

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Something like this is close to your budget:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1489396.asp

 

[webdiva]

There are a number of others in the .7 range for about $2200 that I don't want to post since a lurker may get it. SI2, high color. The inventory may change next month though.

 

[car10107]

Thank you for the information on why the less expensive stone was not a good stone. I was thinking that the HCA score made it a good buy but as you can tell, I'm still learning. I'm going to wait and get a higher quality stone in the $2500 range in the next 30-60 days. I appreciate it!!!!