Round Brilliant Engagement Ring around $20K

[GStar]

Hey guys, I've started my journey of finding an engagement ring for the past few weeks. I've taken my girlfriend with me to a few local jewelers in SF Bay Area to get an idea on what she's looking for in a ring. Of the 4Cs, she puts caret weight above all else, but I care the most about cut and color. The jewelers I talked to are all currently trying to find a stone for me from their cutters. I am looking at G color and higher, excellent cut (triple ex) and at least eye clean for clarify. My budget is around $20k, is it possible to get a round diamond close to 2 ct. that fits the specs I am looking for? Any help would be much appreciated, thanks!

 

[m-2-b]

Did you check out diamondseeker2006's ring on preloved section:
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/forum/preloved-ps-jewels/1-58-gia-xxx-g-vs1-and-vatche-tiffany-repro-setting-t178939.html']https://www.pricescope.com/forum/preloved-ps-jewels/1-58-gia-xxx-g-vs1-and-vatche-tiffany-repro-setting-t178939.html[/URL]
This ring is a classic one that never goes out of style! And you would have extra $$ leftover for a nice wedding band!

 

[distracts]

Well, hitting 2 carats might be hard. The vast majority I saw online that were two carats, close to the color you want (GIA or AGS graded), and within your budget had significant problems, like crazy cuts (way too shallow or deep) or big black inclusions.

Looking around, I found these on JA - they may have problems we just can't see, or they may be priced incorrectly:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1456057.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1512168.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1482601.asp

I'd be more comfortable with something like these though:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1518710.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1518572.asp
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2813948.htm

 

[Gypsy]

If she puts carat above all else. I would hold to excellent cut. But I would adjust your color requirements to include H and even I. I would be absolutely fine with an eyeclean SI diamond.

I like this one distracts found for you: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1482601.asp I'd ask JA to put it on hold for you, have the gemologist tell you if it's eyeclean, and then get you an Idealscope image.

 

[GStar]

Thanks for all the great feedback. After looking around online, I decided to drop the caret weight down to around 1.7 ~ 1.8 to maintain good cut quality. I figure I can always upgrade at a later time when I have more money. These are the two diamonds that I am looking at now:

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2813948.htm
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1521289.asp

The diamond from WF is ACA and eye clean SI1, and it qualifies for lifetime upgrade (no $ limit). The JA diamond is slightly smaller but with better color and clarity. It's not one of their True Hearts selection but the specs and images all look pretty good. I am slightly turned off by their upgrade policy where customers are required to spend 2x $ amount to qualify for upgrades.

Can the experts here give me some advice on which one is better? I am also open to other suggestions if anyone know of similar quality diamonds to the two I mentioned. Thanks in advance!