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Thoughts on small round for classic solitaire

chel180

chel180

Brilliant_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jan 2, 2008
Messages
1,246
The numbers on that stone are not good. Let me look around a bit and post some other options.
 
 
I found 3 on Blue Nile, all of which I think would sparkle a lot more than the one you posted. They're all J's, they all have great stats, they're all around the same price as the one you posted

1) This one is a great balance of size, price and cut. The cut stats are great (and I particularly like that its arrows are slightly wider and its table slightly smaller), the inclusions look fine to me, and its price is roughly the same as the one you posted: LD 00002665

https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...MONDS&track=viewDiamondDetails&action=sameTab

2) I think this stone would be terrific for what you want, and for the money you want to pay. It also has strong fluorescence, which will make it appear a tiny bit whiter and it's a VS2, so it will be nice and clean: LD00002667

https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...MONDS&track=viewDiamondDetails&action=sameTab

3) Although there's no video, I also very much like this one and would be willing to take a punt on it. If this takes your fancy, call Blue Nile and ask them if the stone is eye clean - they'll tell you and they'll tell you honestly. It's an SI2, but has a twinning wisp, which can be one of the BEST inclusions to have. There is no video, but the cut is terrific and it's very spready: LD09931891

https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...MONDS&track=viewDiamondDetails&action=sameTab

All things considered, that's the order I'd choose, tho I'd be willing to try any of them.

Good luck!
 
Thank you both for the suggestions. Rounds are not my thing. Is Bluenile currently the most cost effective on rounds?
 
I like the .77 carat posted above by @mrs-b. Great stone for the price!
 
We routinely look at JamesAllen, BlueNile, Whiteflash,HighPerformanceDiamonds, BrianGavin, EnchantedDamonds, BrilliantlyEngaged, DiamondsbyLauren, etc.

My complaint about BlueNile is that they won't provide Idealscope or ASET images for rounds, which allow you to assess light return. So, I tend to look elsewhere.

#1) https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...olor-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4402856*** {beautiful clarity, i color, tiny table, chubby arrows. My favorite by far among these.. :love:

#2) https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...-color-vvs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4276133 {CA a bit high, but well balanced by PA. This raises color to I}
 
.

... rounds are the most expensive, in theory; & too many of them.

_

I would want a bright stone in this size (approx 7 X 5 mm) - some would say too bright at the expense of complex play of light.

Would consider this oval WWW, or this emerald cut WWW ...

I would have loved to find this sort of thing WWW ! There is never a flood of such specialty shapes - things happen when they happen.
 
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rockysalamander said:
We routinely look at JamesAllen, BlueNile, Whiteflash,HighPerformanceDiamonds, BrianGavin, EnchantedDamonds, BrilliantlyEngaged, DiamondsbyLauren, etc.

My complaint about BlueNile is that they won't provide Idealscope or ASET images for rounds, which allow you to assess light return. So, I tend to look elsewhere.

#1) https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...olor-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4402856*** {beautiful clarity, i color, tiny table, chubby arrows. My favorite by far among these.. :love:

#2) https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...-color-vvs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4276133 {CA a bit high, but well balanced by PA. This raises color to I}
Click to expand...

Hey @rockysalamander :)

I often recommend BN because - unless it's for a more hardcore collector who appreciates such numbers - a well cut (and I mean great stats) stone which pleases the eye is sufficient.

There's a premium to all that extra paperwork, and when a person comes onto PS and says - "I'm trying to get to a certain size for a certain price" - and it's either line-ball or that goal can't be reached at all but they're trying to get as close as they can - it makes sense to drop off paperwork they're not looking for and a level of performance they almost certainly won't notice. And when I say 'they' - I mean me. Because here's the thing. I've been collecting diamonds for decades, and I STILL often cannot see the difference between a well cut BN stone and (for example) an ACA. Or a VC H&A. Or a GOG Ascendancy. Or a BGD Signature cut. And so on and so on. I have had 3 stones I bought on BN re-sold by one of our favorite PS vendors as signature cuts, and a 4th stone re-sold by a different PS vendor as one of their best selection alternatives to their signature cuts. There might be the teensiest increase in visual crispness to be achieved (and that's a big 'might' as the most beautiful stone I've EVER owned was a BN stone), but when 2 out of three people on PS are buying old cuts with 'good' and 'fair' gradings - and they're still beautiful - you have to ask yourself - how necessary is this really?

The stone I recommended was, to my way of thinking, a point of convergence between all the things the OP wants. And it's a terrific, beautifully cut, stone. We subject round brilliants to a level of critical judgment that we never apply to (genuine) old cuts, and I've never been able to work out why that is.

In the final analysis, light return has to be approved by the eye.

Having said that, I do like the stones you posted - very much. But they don't automatically come with Idealscopes or ASETs either. They have to be requested, and JA can't always provide them without calling the diamond in. A lot (and I mean a LOT) of buyers aren't comfortable requesting paperwork they aren't familiar with, and will shy away from doing it. It sends me crazy when posters are turned away from companies they've heard of and with which they're comfortable on the basis of finding a more 'perfect' stone. Sometimes we're not looking for Miss Right. Sometimes we're just looking for Miss Right Now - to say nothing of Miss Affordable And Good-Enough. And keep in mind, both stones are over 20% above what the OP ideally wants to spend. So there's that....

I only collect round brilliants. A lot come from BN, tho I've bought from all the popular PS vendors. My BN stones are all beautiful, and I don't believe buying them was a mistake. I picked them all on the basis of the stats - and a lot of them were pre-photo even. I feel it's a very safe way to choose a beautiful stone, which still getting most bang for your buck.

And now this has been a huge thread-jack - sorry, @chel180, and apologies also to @rockysalamander !! OP, I would also recommend you check out b2cjewels.com Or perhaps someone here could check out B2C for you? I don't have the time right now but could do it later, tho it would be a fair bit later. They're prices tend to be rock bottom also, and they are currently offering a sign-up discount. I don't know how that's calculated, but it will count for something. And their settings are very pretty, too, which is helpful!

Wishing you the very best of luck with what I'm sure will be an awesome gift! :wavey:

ETA Sorry - I just wanted to come back and make it clear that my opinion is my own - as Rocky's is her own. Neither is wrong, and this post is by way of chewing the fat, not taking an intractable position or trying to start a debate on the subject. (Rocky - you must know I highly respect your opinion!) The trick is in working out with which opinion you most align - or a different one (and there's thousands on this topic!) - and going with that. Just wanted to be clear.
 
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All advise is gratefully received. @mrs-b @rockysalamander @valeria101 @tyty333

I'm a fancies fan not RB's but I need to buy what the recipient likes not what i like.... so I would be up for an oval if it was for me. Unfortunately its not.

The 2K is a hard limit as I need to add a setting plus import/shipping. The person I'm buying for is not a PS level person and will be very happy with a very well cut stone, with a middling clarity and colour, in the biggest size for the budget.

I have a few week to finalise the purchase. And appreciate all the suggestions. It will be going into a cheap tiffany-esque white gold mount to maximise the budget for the diamond.
 
chel180 said:
All advise is gratefully received. @mrs-b @rockysalamander @valeria101 @tyty333

I'm a fancies fan not RB's but I need to buy what the recipient likes not what i like.... so I would be up for an oval if it was for me. Unfortunately its not.

The 2K is a hard limit as I need to add a setting plus import/shipping. The person I'm buying for is not a PS level person and will be very happy with a very well cut stone, with a middling clarity and colour, in the biggest size for the budget.

I have a few week to finalise the purchase. And appreciate all the suggestions. It will be going into a cheap tiffany-esque white gold mount to maximise the budget for the diamond.
Click to expand...

Given that the person is not a PS-level over-analyzer and the budget is a hard 2K, then I would still say the .77 J VS2 posted above by @mrs-b is the best option!
 
@chel180 - does your 2k limit include the setting? Your total on the ring you initially suggested is $2046, so is there any flexibility in there at all?

If your budget is as stated above, and if you reeeeeeally want it to be .8 or better, I'd go with *this*: it's an I1 clarity, but it looks like that rare-as-hens-teeth stone; the eye clean I1. It has size, it's whiter, looks eye clean to me, and is a well cut triple excellent.

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...-i-color-i1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4327175

Please note - the stone above can go into a JA setting. Their Valentine's Day sale ends TODAY. But currently you can get a Tiffany-style setting for $135, meaning that your total would be $2015 for diamond AND ring.

That's a great deal for a ring like that.

I dont know if you've ever shopped at JA before, but if you've ever bought a diamond with them in the past, you'll get a little more off - which would definitely bring you in below $2k. But even without that, if you move NOW, you'll get a great ring, almost on budget. But their sale ends today and they don't 'extend' (I've tried more than once in the past).

I actually really like the look of this stone for the money, and it being an I color is a huge bonus, to my way of thinking.
 
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I could go a few dollars over. $2015 for both would be fine. I've got myself in trouble in the past with budget creep so I'm trying to be really firm with myself.
 
Hmmm, an I1 with Twinning Wisps. Others can chime in on that, but I would personally avoid such a diamond. It looks like the twinning wisps are significantly affecting the light return and transparency in that diamond, although it would be difficult to tell from a JA video alone.

I would much rather have a diamond where the clarity grade is based on white crystals that are off of the table, like the one below, as the light return would not be affected by such inclusions:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...j-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4399089

This would put you at $1700 total, which is significantly below your budget.

Or this one, which is a higher clarity, although I know at $2100 total with setting it would be a bit of budget creep:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...j-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4294314
 
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I think you need to decide what is most important to you, and if waiting a bit and saving more would get your closer to that goal. If you think you'll upgrade in the future, then I'd suggest you go with WF or HPD due to their upgrade policy. That would allow you to have something now, but upgrade to what you really want as you have funds saved/available.
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3952927.htm

Other options include pre-loved rings/stones and antique OECs. Colored stones? Do those appeal?
http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/0-86ct-old-european-cut-gia-k-si2 (in budget if not include the setting cost, 5.77 mm)
https://loupetroop.com/listings/rings-natural-diamond-center/1ct-marquise-solitaire
https://loupetroop.com/listings/rings-natural-diamond-center/radiant-wg-halo
https://loupetroop.com/listings/rin...n-pink-tourmaline-platinum-diamond-ring-pt900
https://loupetroop.com/listings/rings-colored-stone-center/green-sapphire-ring
 
rockysalamander said:
I think you need to decide what is most important to you, and if waiting a bit and saving more would get your closer to that goal. If you think you'll upgrade in the future, then I'd suggest you go with WF or HPD due to their upgrade policy. That would allow you to have something now, but upgrade to what you really want as you have funds saved/available.
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3952927.htm

Other options include pre-loved rings/stones and antique OECs. Colored stones? Do those appeal?
http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/0-86ct-old-european-cut-gia-k-si2 (in budget if not include the setting cost, 5.77 mm)
https://loupetroop.com/listings/rings-natural-diamond-center/1ct-marquise-solitaire
https://loupetroop.com/listings/rings-natural-diamond-center/radiant-wg-halo
https://loupetroop.com/listings/rin...n-pink-tourmaline-platinum-diamond-ring-pt900
https://loupetroop.com/listings/rings-colored-stone-center/green-sapphire-ring
Click to expand...

Thank you for the suggestions but this is a gift so no upgrades considerations and the receiver only wants a MRB. I would happily consider pre-loved. I have a few week to finalise the purchase.
 
@chel180 -

I think you should call JA and ask if that stone is eye clean. If it is, and it's whiter, larger and cheaper than other things you've been looking at - what would stop you from proceeding? This is a great deal.

But call them and check. I've owned an eye clean I1 in the past - bought it from Good Old Gold - and it was completely eye clean. It happens. It just doesn't happen a lot. So if this fits your other parameters, I'd be jumping on this.
 
Well, I don't know if the OP bought the diamond to which I linked, but either way - it's gone. Somebody got a great deal. :)
 
Hi All, I contacted JA and am waiting to hear their in person assessment.
 
I have purchased the 0.8, in the 18k white gold comfort band 4 prong solitaire, I've asked them to put a prong over the larger veil-like inclusion on the outer edge.

I will show the photos when it arrives.

Thank you all for the advice.
 
@chel180 - awesome! I hope you love it and, more importantly, that she loves it! Photos would be great, so pls don't forget us when it arrives!
 
Received the ring and its super sparkly. Sorry its taken me a few weeks to post photos but It's been sitting waiting for pick up. I can't find the inclusions with the 6" rule. I have to really look for them even with the loupe as they hide in the facets and the big one on the edge has been hidden under a prong.
 
That’s brilliant! I hope the recipient loves it and fantastic sleuthing @mrs-b!
 
Oh congratulations!! We do kinda need pics tho. Pretty please?!?:oops2:
 
7961B4D3-621A-4D09-AF94-8112EC56DBB0.jpeg EF159F58-BBF9-4877-B09D-A1630D23928C.jpeg
 
Apologies for the iPhone photos. I can’t get the better ones to load.
 
Thanks everyone for the help. I got a much nicer stone than I expected for my budget!
 
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