Rookie looking for advice on 1.5-1.8 carat diamond

[Hannahrahn]

I am looking for a 1.5-1.8 size diamond and would like to spend around 12k or under. Obviously the bigger the better but I want something nice, white and sparkly. Is this doable? Or am I underestimating the price of a round diamond? What should I look for? I keep reading excellent cut is very important...

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Hi and welcome! Yes, excellent cut is the number one factor in a diamonds beauty. Color and clarity (assuming eyeclean) are personal preference. You'll want a GIA Excellent cut or AGS Ideal cut stone. I will look on the PriceScope search and show you some examples of what you can get for your budget. It is going to be closer to 1.5 than 1.8.

 

[Hannahrahn]

Thank you! How is this one? http://m.adiamor.com/details_d.aspx?ID=22871767

What does very flourescent mean? Is it that bad?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

First I will list top cut quality diamonds, hearts and arrows, AGS Ideal cut:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/1-53ct-j-si1-superior-round-hearts-and-arrows-diamond.html

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3157619.htm?source=pricescope

Now some excellent cut (I only recommend looking at vendors who provide photos, videos, and or idealscope or ASET images:

https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/R154-8URMSS?cid=pricescope (looks good but ask for idealscope image to check for light return)

https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/R171-B6EPA6?cid=pricescope

Basically as you look at GIA stones, you can sort of use these as guidelines to help you screen the diamonds for the better ones in the excellent category:

table: 54-58

depth: 60-62.3

crown angle 34-35.0

pavilion angle 40.6-41.0

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Thank you! How is this one? http://m.adiamor.com/details_d.aspx?ID=22871767

What does very fluorescent mean? Is it that bad?

I think it is next to impossible to choose a diamond without photos, etc. The numbers are okay and it would pass the screening tool to consider except that this is probably a virtual stone that they do not even have in stock so they can't easily supply pictures and idealscope images.

Fluorescence: https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/diamond-flourescence

I happen to like fluorescence, and it can result in a slightly lower price since it is not favored in the diamond industry. However you have to be careful especially with very strong combined with inclusions because a diamond can appear milky or cloudy. It is rare, but it is best to buy from jewelers who have these stone in-house and selected them because they had no ill effects from the fluorescence.

Another screening tool aside from the parameters I already mentioned is the HCA. It just identifies stones worth considering if you can obtain photos and preferably idealscope images.

https://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca

I'd recommend looking at vendors who either carry ideal cut stones in house such as Good Old Gold and WhiteFlash or those that do not carry many in house but list a lot of stones with photos and you sometimes can access idealscope images such as James Allen, B2Cjewels, and Enchanted Diamonds. I just didn't see anything that stood out to me when I searched at JA and B2C this time.

I did fine one more superideal cut (Infinity) from High Performance Diamonds that was above 1.5 cts and close to $12k:

http://highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=view-id-diamond-infinity-new&id=1319