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Round Diamond Suggestion (20k Budget)

M

mixit

Rough_Rock
Joined
Feb 1, 2018
Messages
9
I am on the hunt for a round diamond with a budget of about 20k (give or take 2k).

I initially had a bunch of requirements but now I am not sure if all of these really matter. Any guidance would be appreciated.

Carat: 1.8-2.1
Cut: Ideal
Clarity: VS1+ (not sure if I really need this)
Color: F+ (not sure if I really need this)
Polish: Ex
Symmetry: Ex
Depth: 61-62.5
Table: 53-57
Pavillion angle: 40.6-41
Crown angle: 34-35
Cutlet: none
Fluorescence: none
 
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mixit said:
I am on the hunt for a round diamond with a budget of about 20k (give or take 2k).

I initially had a bunch of requirements but now I am not sure if all of these really matter. Any guidance would be appreciated.

Carat: 1.8-2.1
Cut: Ideal
Clarity: VS1+ (not sure if I really need this) <-- I'd drop to VS2 or SI (eye clean)
Color: F+ (not sure if I really need this) <-- I'd drop to G/H (it'll still be white)
Polish: Ex
Symmetry: Ex
Depth: 61-62.5
Table: 53-57
Pavillion angle: 40.6-41
Crown angle: 34-35
Cutlet: none
Fluorescence: none
Click to expand...

If you do those two things (listed above), you can get a larger diamond, if that interests you (or the intended wearer)... Do you plan to upgrade in the future?
 
msop04 said:
If you do those two things (listed above), you can get a larger diamond, if that interests you (or the intended wearer)... Do you plan to upgrade in the future?
Click to expand...

I don't plan on upgrading in the future but if I did how will downgrading those 2 items affect resale? Thanks for your reply!
 
Resale on a diamond gets affected no matter what and clarity does not always stay the same after several years of wearing (depends on how rough people are on their rings) that is why an upgrade policy is better to look for instead of a resale position.
 
mixit said:
I don't plan on upgrading in the future but if I did how will downgrading those 2 items affect resale? Thanks for your reply!
Click to expand...

You will lose your butt reselling any diamond, so I don't think it would matter. Why do you think you'd sell it, if you don't mind me asking? You'd likely get about 1/2 of what you paid, maybe a little more if it's branded (like ACA/CBI/BGB), but that all depends on what your potential buyer is willing to pay.
 
msop04 said:
You will lose your butt reselling any diamond, so I don't think it would matter. Why do you think you'd sell it, if you don't mind me asking? You'd likely get about 1/2 of what you paid, maybe a little more if it's branded (like ACA/CBI/BGB), but that all depends on what your potential buyer is willing to pay.
Click to expand...

The only reason I would be selling it is if I was upgrading (which sounds like I would be losing money regardless).
 
mixit said:
The only reason I would be selling it is if I was upgrading (which sounds like I would be losing money regardless).
Click to expand...

You won't lose money with vendors who have an upgrade policy. With WF, for example, you only need to spend more on the new diamond and they'll give you 100% of what you paid to put toward the new diamond. JA requires that you spend double... Some vendors have other rules, like you must upgrade 2 of the 4 C's, they'll give you a lesser percentage toward a trade, etc...

This is why we ask if buyers would like to upgrade... you pay a little more for the diamond than those with lesser policies or none at all, but you can get 100% (or a large percentage back than if you were to sell it yourself) if you go with one of those vendors.
 
Do you want to go bigger than 2ct?

Also, going with a WF ACA would be great because you’d be able to upgrade in future with the full value of the diamond.

If your objective is to get an outstanding super ideal cut that looks white to you and is eye clean to you, people have been thrilled in the past when purchasing K SI1-2 WF ACAs. Going down on color/clarity could help you get an even bigger and sparklier stone with outstanding cut. If you’re in the US I’d strongly encourage you to purchase, have a look and return it if you happen not to like it.
 
You have to decide what is most important to you. Does it have to be colorless? Dropping a notch or two in color would mean a larger stone, same with clarity. For a superideal, on this forum Whiteflash and Crafted by Infinity would be recommended, both are excellent with good upgrade policies.
 
msop04 said:
You will lose your butt reselling any diamond, so I don't think it would matter. Why do you think you'd sell it, if you don't mind me asking? You'd likely get about 1/2 of what you paid, maybe a little more if it's branded (like ACA/CBI/BGB), but that all depends on what your potential buyer is willing to pay.
Click to expand...
CBI has a 100% trade in policy and a 80% buyback policy. I already told my hubby to give HPD and @Wink a call if something should happen to me.
 
Have you gone to see super-ideals in person? Everyone's color and clarity tolerances are different, and the wearer's are the only ones that matter. And super-ideals mask color well from the face up, so it's mostly the profile view that will really show the color grade. And even then, it depends on your setting choice.

For me and many on this forum, cut is the top priority. Nothing affects the appearance of a diamond as much as the cut quality. But below that, for carat, color and clarity-- it's all individual.

We have people that love their K's. We have people that have to have D color, because that's what they like. My boss wears a P, and he could have picked anything he wanted.

Especially since the cost difference is so much, say between an F and an I, I would advise you go in person to see the best cut diamonds you can find near you (near being relative for some) and then go from there.

If you are not the wearer, I would recommend you go with them make a romantic day of it-- make reservations for lunch somewhere nice, and then do a diamond deep dive for color, clarity, and setting style. Pay attention to specifics, takes notes and pictures (where allowed) and get the wearer's fingers sized.

You are spending a lot of money. You wouldn't buy a car-- or have someone buy you a car without a thorough research and a test drive.
 
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Thanks for all of the suggestions. Will be checking out stones in person shortly. Are there specific things I should be paying attention to (on super ideal diamonds)?
 
IMO, CBI would be your best bet...;))
 
mixit said:
What makes CBI better than WF ACA?
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Both company sells top cut H&A stones but CBI come with a 80% cash buy back policy just in case you needed cash in a hurry.
 
mixit said:
Thanks for all of the suggestions. Will be checking out stones in person shortly. Are there specific things I should be paying attention to (on super ideal diamonds)?
Click to expand...

Yes, absolutely! Great question.

First, I recommend asking on these boards for recommendations of jewelers to visit in your metro area. Pay attention to wall colors and the colors you are wearing. I do not recommend wearing yellow or beige shades. Diamonds reflect. So if you are seeing a lot of one color, try to see what is causing that color.

Second, you want to see diamonds in all light, even direct sunlight (if the stones have fluorescence you might get a blue glow, or the blue could be the reflection of the sky, depending). So IMO a store with windows is a great idea-- even better one that lets you take the diamonds outside (with an escort and leaving behind collateral). The first time I went to see TRUE super ideals (Not GIA EX stones vetted with the HCA, there is a difference) in person, I didn't go outside I was in an office, and that was a mistake. The last time I went, I was at a Crafted by Infinity (CBI) dealer with these HUGE windows-- and YOWZA. It was super important to see what it looked like in all light. You can, and should, do searches on here for sunlight and ideal diamonds.

Aside from outdoors though, see the diamonds INSIDE but away from the jewelers lights. Do a search on here about jewelers lights-- They are HIGHLY misleading at times, calibrated to make mediocre stones great. You don't want a diamond that looks great under jewelers lights, you want one that looks great in real life, in ALL conditions. In the visit I mentioned above, with the CBI dealer, I REALLY got to compare 'excellent' stones to super ideals head to head for hours. I noticed the biggest difference in dim-ish indoor conditions. I've been on here for over a decade, and been immersed in jewelry as one of my primary hobbies, but even with that, I was FLOORED at the differences I saw.

Next, make absolutely sure (with a loupe if you have to) that all the stones are clean when you first see them. THEN, rub your finger on them, and see them dirty. Why? You wear them dirty. Seriously, it's a thing.

Learn to use a loupe. I recommend Youtube for that. Or you can search on here. But I find videos helpful for that stuff.

Good luck!
 
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