How much should I be spending on the setting v. the diamond, and if I want a diamond in the 1-1.5 carat range, what specs are appropriate within that range to make to get the most beautiful diamond possible? G and a little bigger? E and a little whiter? I know it's all a matter of personal preference, but the problem is I don't know diamonds well enough yet to have strong preferences.
Of the diamonds I've seen in person, I've tended to like the D and E stones the best, but I can't say that the G I was looking at, for instance, at the same place was of equal cut quality to the D and E stones since brick and mortar stores only give you the GIA grades and they were all excellent. Someone told me she could see the difference in light performance for her IF stone v. VS stones, or even between VVS an VS stones because she says inclusions impact light performance. Is this true? Or was she also just looking at difference in cut quality and attributed it to clarity differences?
I am hoping to take the plunge soon, and any advice/clarification would be greatly appreciated.
Of the diamonds I've seen in person, I've tended to like the D and E stones the best, but I can't say that the G I was looking at, for instance, at the same place was of equal cut quality to the D and E stones since brick and mortar stores only give you the GIA grades and they were all excellent. Someone told me she could see the difference in light performance for her IF stone v. VS stones, or even between VVS an VS stones because she says inclusions impact light performance. Is this true? Or was she also just looking at difference in cut quality and attributed it to clarity differences?
I am hoping to take the plunge soon, and any advice/clarification would be greatly appreciated.