Please help picking an emerald cut!

[Durkinmj]

Hi friendly people, I'm ready to pull the trigger on an emerald cut but really struggling to pick one.
I'm looking for a 1.2-1.4 carat eye clean stone for a fairly minimal petite setting. Trying to keep the stone under $7000AUD (around $5500USD)
I'm finding it difficult to know what is well cut given that they are not rated.
As I'm buying from Australia I'm pretty much settled on James Allen as I like their photos and customer service seems great.

These are the two stones I've got my eye on, any thoughts?
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/emerald-cut/1.23-carat-i-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-2557316
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/emerald-cut/1.21-carat-h-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-2810359

Thank you all for your help

 

[bmfang]

I don't usually browse for emerald cuts, so take this view from one Aussie PS-er to another, with a handful of diamond dust.

Both look nice and clean inclusion wise so +1 there. I feel that the H is marginally brighter when looking at the vids with the table face up compared with the I. For the extra USD200, you get a colour upgrade with only a marginal loss in weight.

Any PS emerald specialists around to help the OP out?

 

[Durkinmj]

Thanks, yeah I'm definitely leaning towards the H right now.

 

[BlingDreams]

The H would be my choice as well. It seems to have beautiful steps and light play. Do you mind it not appearing white all of the time? Tint shows up very easily in step cuts, so as long as you're ok with a slightly warm diamond you'll be fine with an H; otherwise, go G or above.

Before buying it I'd ask James Allen for an ASET and share it here. The angle of their video makes it hard to see everything you'd want to know about how the diamond behaves.

 

[Durkinmj]

Here is the ASET if anyone has any comments?

 

[Matthews1127]

Here is the ASET if anyone has any comments?

 

[BlingDreams]

Here is the ASET if anyone has any comments?

Wow. One of the best ASETs I've personally ever seen. It sure seems to tick all the boxes we're told to look for!

Before someone else snags it, ask JA to put it on hold for you while you consider what to do. I believe they'll hold it for three days.

 

[Karl_K]

That is a nice looking ASET the video looked good also.
The center being red in ASET rather than green would be slightly better.
But if it hangs with the rest of the stone it can be fine. I have seen im person some ECs that I loved the performance of with similar ASET images.
That area is also very sensitive to girdle placement in the scope with just the slightest change can turn it from red to green.
My next step, make sure its on hold and have a JA gemologist take a look at and give an opinion asking them to pay attention to the center.

 

[bmfang]

Liking that ASET a lot. Glad to see the vendor was happy to provide you with one.