Simple round cut solitaire - please help a tootal noobie!

[totalnoobie]

Hi everyone,

I must admit, I know next to nothing about diamonds, except what my GF wants: 1) round cut solitaire (no other diamonds, no fancy band, just a simple ring with a solitaire) and 2) 6 prong "Tiffany" setting.

We visited the name brands, we visited the local jewelers, and now I'm here asking for advice.

We obviously want the "sparkliest" diamond. The easiest thing for me to do is to just get a Tiffany's diamond and call it a day. I'm sure she will be thrilled. But can I do better? Can I really buy a diamond that has a "better" cut than those at Tiffany's? And how do I identify those diamonds? Also - can I get a setting that is really identical to the Tiffany setting?

Sorry for all the noobie questions, I really appreciate your help!

 

[flyingpig]

Re: Simple round cut solitaire - please help a tootal noobie

What are your budget, carat size, color, and clarity? It is better to discuss with your lady.

 

[totalnoobie]

Re: Simple round cut solitaire - please help a tootal noobie

Budget: 20k
Size: 0.95-1.25 carats
Color: G or better
Clarity: VS2 or better

Thanks!

 

[tyty333]

Re: Simple round cut solitaire - please help a tootal noobie

I would go straight to Whiteflash or BGD. There is also High Performance Diamonds which carries Crafted by Infinity diamonds.
You can get a lot bigger stone than you are looking for. Do you want to go bigger or do you want to stay at 1.25 range?

Example...
Towards the high end
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3596856.htm
Within 1.25ish range
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3365324.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3143307.htm


Setting
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/contemporary-tiffany-style-solitaire-engagement-ring-1416.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/6-prong-solitaire-engagement-ring-by-vatche-1779.htm Branded setting

BGD
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.232-g-vs2-round-diamond-ags-104081959008
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.500-g-si1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104069928025

Setting
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/classic-style-half-round-18k-white-gold-5478w18

HPD
http://highperformancediamonds.com/shop/diamonds/hpd6922/?shop=yes
http://highperformancediamonds.com/shop/diamonds/HPD7759/?shop=yes
Setting
http://highperformancediamonds.com/shop/engagement-jewelry/the-new-yorker-solitaire-14kwg/

Also GOG
http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/1-63ct-g-si1-superior-round-ideal-cut-diamond.html
http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/1-26ct-d-vs2-superior-round-hearts-and-arrows-diamond.html
Setting
http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/simplicity-engagement-ring.html

 

[totalnoobie]

Re: Simple round cut solitaire - please help a tootal noobie

Thanks for the suggestions! We're happy to stay in the 1-1.25ct range, since larger looks a bit too big for us.

Are these settings "identical" to the Tiffany setting?

And the cuts look absolutely top of the line, are they going to be better than what I could get at Tiffany? And is there someway I can compare the cuts directly? Maybe some measurement range I should stay within?

 

[ringo865]

Re: Simple round cut solitaire - please help a tootal noobie

Ask her - now knowing that not shopping at Tiffany would allow a larger stone within your budget- if she really wouldn't like larger (I would). If over 1.25 is really "too large," you could go up in clarity or color, or … keep the budget surplus and put it toward a wedding band. So excited for you! Keep us posted.

 

[totalnoobie]

Re: Simple round cut solitaire - please help a tootal noobie

We know that a bigger diamond is most likely in the budget, but she's tried a 1.5 ct and thought it was a bit too big for her hands.

In terms of cut, what is the "ideal" range of measurements if we want to aim for the absolute shiniest diamond?

 

[Polished]

Re: Simple round cut solitaire - please help a tootal noobie

A link to diamondseeker's Vatche u 113 - tiffany reproduction:

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/new-1-58-g-vs1-from-gog-in-vatche-u-113-tiffany-repro.171351/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/new-1-58-g-vs1-from-gog-in-vatche-u-113-tiffany-repro.171351/[/URL]

While not an exact replica of the tiffany the u113 is a very elegant ring in its own right. Also jewelery tends to "shrink" over time meaning a stone can appear very large to you at first but over time, as the eye adjusts to the size, it can appear smaller. Diamondseeker's finger size is 5.5. and the diamond size doesn't look too large to me.

 

[totalnoobie]

Re: Simple round cut solitaire - please help a tootal noobie

Thanks all for the suggestions. I'm looking into more diamonds now and am struggling between something: color or clarity? (I know cut is #1 thanks to this forum!!)

For example, is there a difference between E and G in color? I'm willing to spend extra to be in the middle of "colorless", but if there's really no difference, I think dropping to the top tier of "nearly colorless" makes sense from a value standpoint.

It seems like clarity matters more when the diamond gets bigger. VS2 is the absolute minimum for me, and seems like a great value, but would it be worth it to get into the VVS2 range?

 

[bcr83]

Re: Simple round cut solitaire - please help a tootal noobie

Hey there, no expert by any means but have exhaustively researched on this forum and have learnt a lot of what to look for during the purchase of my stone..
If you really want it to sparkle and throw off light all around the room I would prioritise cut first it really can make a whole lot of difference.

An ideal cut will make a good colour look even better and as long as your hunting in reasonable clarity ranges you will get an amazing stone. With your budget you will have no issues, if I was to do the process again I would want the sarine report and aset image upfront which would lead to me a confident purchase. GOG for instance has the sarine reports online so you can check cut quality by seeing the variations between facets etc.

That's my 2c again no expert but I think of you prioritise cut you will take the safer approach.

 

[bcr83]

Re: Simple round cut solitaire - please help a tootal noobie

Sorry forgot to add FYI. Yes as size goes up consider clarity however a VS2 or even better VS1 in a 1.25 unless looking at 10-20x should be completely clean and very beautiful.

I purchased a 1.5 G VS2 and wanted more than the typical GIA xxx cut so have been doing a lot of research to get the ideal proportions and symmetry.

The experts on here will give you heaps of tips though for me I would go cut , colour, clarity/size as I want a real sparkler.

 

[wildcat03]

Re: Simple round cut solitaire - please help a tootal noobie

I will warn you that most women experience "DSS" or diamond shrinkage syndrome. What seems like the perfect size initially begins feeling smaller over some time frame. When my SO and I looked originally, I felt like 0.9 was just right. On our second trip, I felt like 1-1.25 was perfect with 1.25 seeming just a tiny bit big. I've read somewhere that diamonds start looking "big" at the 7 mm mark. We eventually decided to go with a 1.5 ct stone set in the Vatche u113 - so the same setting you are considering. I think it's just the right size - large enough to have a "wow" factor, but not so big that it will seem out of place for my age, occupation, and social circle.

By the way - I think G/VS2 is the perfect color/clarity combination and will fall well within your price range for your targeted size (and even slightly larger)

 

[totalnoobie]

Re: Simple round cut solitaire - please help a tootal noobie

Sorry forgot to add FYI. Yes as size goes up consider clarity however a VS2 or even better VS1 in a 1.25 unless looking at 10-20x should be completely clean and very beautiful.

I purchased a 1.5 G VS2 and wanted more than the typical GIA xxx cut so have been doing a lot of research to get the ideal proportions and symmetry.

The experts on here will give you heaps of tips though for me I would go cut , colour, clarity/size as I want a real sparkler.

Can you share the ideal proportions that are better than the typical GIA triple Ex cut?
And what are the proportions that they use to assign the triple Ex?
I assume your ranges are tighter than theirs?

 

[flyingpig]

Re: Simple round cut solitaire - please help a tootal noobie

These are specification for whiteflash's ACA
http://www.whiteflash.com/a-cut-above-diamonds-specifications-and-qualifications/

These are specification for GOG's ascendancy H&A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPpLlElW9LY

GIA EX
http://www.diamondcut.gia.edu/pdfs/booklet_cut_estimation_tables_lowres.pdf

AGS Ideal
https://www.americangemsociety.org/uploads/85481435071929.pdf

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

If you want further reading... then..
https://www.americangemsociety.org/uploads/85441435072031.pdf

Yes.. I consider all these for my purchase, in addition other PS members' comments based on their real-life purchases. Everyone has different specifications.