Please - Quick thoughts on this Princess

[cspear1]

I was going to get a diamond closer to 1.5 ct and spend about $10,000 on the diamond, but my girlfriend said even a 1.25 will be a little too big for her small finger. I have put the extra monies into the color and clarity. Any thoughts on this diamond?

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-IF-Very%20Good-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1474484.asp

 

[cspear1]

Please!

 

[Chicago Girl]

I am by no means an expert at all, but from my understanding, it's kind of a waste of money to get something of a higher clarity if it's not going to make a difference to your naked eye. Why don't you use the extra money for the perfect setting, or to add something special to the engagement night? Also, is your soon to be fiance absolutely opposed to a 1.25 carat size? If not, then I would actually go for the bigger carat size!

 

[yssie]

First question - when she says 1.25 would be too big for her tastes, is she referring specifically to 1.25ct princesses? A 1.25ct RB will face-up a lot bigger than a princess, so if that's the standard she's using the 1.5 may actually be comparable in terms of face-up size.


Second question - any particular reason to go with JA? Instead of putting money into super high clarity that you will never appreciate, I'd suggest upgrading to a branded precision-cut stone that will come with more generous upgrade/trade-in/buyback/etc. policies than JA offers. A higher-crown smaller-table type like Solasfera or WF's newer ACAs will permit more coloured light return, and fewer chevrons will permit bolder, chunkier flashes of light, if those are things you like to see. The JA type will excel in quick white twinkle.

Here's an AGS0 G VS2 w/ the same type of light return as the JA
1.13 G VS2 WF-ES 8.2k http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-2287345.htm

A G VS1 smaller-table higher-crown type
1.008 G VS1 WF-ACA 7.6k http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-2612495.htm

1.07 E VS1 Solasfera from GOG $9.4k http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8956/


Third question - do you absolutely need to spend 10k on the ring, if she does in fact want a ~1.1ct princess? Because you could get a stone that is visually identical for quite a bit less, and 2-3k goes a long way in settings - or in wedding bands and weddings and honeymoons!

If you do want to stick w/ JA but don't need such high clarity
Texbook 1.09 E VVS2 $7.6k http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VVS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1470662.asp
1.25 F VS1 $8.8k - a bit bigger than you wanted and a bit out-of-square but it looks lovely http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1428932.asp

 

[cspear1]

Her ring size is 4.75. She said she doesn't want anything that is going to be big and showy. I figured a 1.25 ct (princess cut) would be nice, but she says that 1.25 (princess cut) is kinda pushing it. So I figured something closer to 1.1-1.2 may be a little better.

No particular reason to go with JA other than it is what I was looking at today.

No, I don't have to spend $10k, it was just my budget. I am ideally looking for a 1.1-1.2 princess, Excellent cut, G+, VVS2+, and preferably no inclusions under the table.

Any other ideas from the PS'ers?

 

[chel180]

I would recommend you focus all your attention on getting an ideal cut and a killer aset, thats what will make the real difference.

The dimensions of diamonds vary a lot. 2x 1 carat diamonds will have different mm measurements. So I would suggest you pay more attention to the dimensions than the carat weight.

How about this one:
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8959/
or
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8964/

I recommend that you put any money left over from the budget into a beautiful setting rather than a diamond that may be a bit to big/blingy for your GF. Even solitaire settings can run 2-3k- easily if they are handmade.