Round Diamond opinions

[matthewr87]

Hello everyone,

I am looking at the following diamond for an engagement ring.

1.01 carat
J color
VVS1
Gia cut grade: excellent
Table%: 57
Depth% 62.6
Crown angle: 35
Pavilion angle: 41.2

The HCA score is 3.7.

I'm looking at blue nile and none of the round diamonds in my price range have an HCA score better than 2. They are also all VS2 or VS1 clarity grade (as opposed to this one which is VVS1). So realistically I have to make a few compromises. I'm not sure if this particular stone is a good one. Thanks

 

[ecf8503]

With an HCA of 3.7 I'd keep looking. And J VVS isn't really optimizing your options - I'd go up in color (you CAN see color) and down in clarity (you pay a lot for something you literally can NOT see, and clarity has nothing to do with how sparkly it is - that's all in the cut quality).

Are you open to buying from other vendors besides BN? I'd start looking at James Allen, Good Old Gold, Whiteflash, Brian Gavin, High Performance Diamonds, etc. If you post your budget I'm sure we can help you find a winner!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

You also need to be looking at diameter. That stone is deep and may face up smaller than other excellent cut stones at that weight. Stay at 62.3 or less for the depth, preferably 60-62.

Also:

crown angle 34-35.0

pavilion angle 40.6-41.0

These will result in a better HCA score and thus a safer stone. But I agree with ecf that I would not buy a stone that I cannot have pictures and idealscope images of.

 

[matthewr87]

Unfortunately my budget is maximum $5100 with setting. So I think my options are limited. Blue Nile is easier for me because I am in Canada. I also just returned a ring to them and so buying again from them would be easier than waiting to get my money back and buying at another retailer. But I am open to other options.

 

[matthewr87]

How about this:

1.01 carat
G colour
GIA excellent cut
SI2
Depth 60.9%
Table 57%
Crown angle: 32
Pavilion angle: 41.2

HCA: 1.7

 

[matthewr87]

I also found another one:

1.01 carat
H color
SI2
GIA cut excellent
Table: 57
Depth: 61.2
Crown: 33.5
Pavilion: 40.8

HCA: 0.9

I guess with these I should make sure they are "eye-clean" right?

 

[matthewr87]

I called Blue Nile and asked them to verify that the diamond in the post above is eye clean. I'm sure it won't be however judging on the inclusions in the GIA report. They are all in the table region. I'm not really sure where to go from here.

 

[mwilliamanderson]

How about this one. I only came up with two excellent cut stones in your price range but this one looks good to me. Experts?

http://www.bluenile.com/certs/2156188443.pdf?params=cHJvZHVjdD1CTiZwaG9uZT04ODgtNTY1LTc2NDEmbGluaz1odHRwJTNBJTJGJTJGd3d3LmJsdWVuaWxlLmNvbSUyRl9MRDAzNDU0Mjc5JnNrdT1MRDAzNDU0Mjc5JmxhYj1naWEmc2l6ZT0xNjAwJmN1cnJlbmN5PVVTRCY%3D

Color I
VS2
Cut Excellent
Table 56
CA 35
PA 40.8
Depth 62.5
Girdle med.-sl. thick

You could upgrade the setting down the road.

 

[Behacad]

I am not sure why Bluenile would be preferable to a Canadian. Pretty sure all the big dealers ship to Canada regularly. Try James Allen and White Flash maybe.

 

[matthewr87]

Thanks for suggestions everyone. But I think I've decided to go with the following stone:

1.01 carat
J-colour
Medium fluorescence
VS2
Table 58
Depth 59.5
Crown: 34
Pavillion: 40.6
HCA score: 0.6

I think that one is a good stone but I'm not an expert. It appears to have an excellent HCA score though and I'm hoping that the medium fluorescence will make it look more like an "I" than a "J".