What's the right balance for a 15-17K budget?

[blingmeup]

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.

 

[Vizsla Girl]

In a round stone these would be the parameters to stick to:

Total Depth: 59 - 61.8%
Table: 53-58%
Crown Angle: 34.3 - 34.9 degrees
Pavilion Angle: 40.6 - 40.9 degrees

I wore an H VS1 Tiffany solitaire for over 6 years and for me, it was plenty white. I now need to replace it (I lost it ) and I'm in the same price range as you. I want a 2+ carat stone so I am going to a J color which has warmth but doesn't bother me. I don't like inclusions that can be seen, but have honestly never heard that they could impact light performance??? For me, I am maxing out the stone with a J VS1/2 and doing a simple setting with an amazingly well cut stone. But that's me! We can't choose for you

I would check for stones with the parameters above, see what's in your price range, and what 'speaks' to you, then come back and see what people think of your choice. It is hard to do this at brick and mortar stores - use James Allen or white flash online to get started.

 

[telephone89]

There are a few inclusions that CAN impact light performance, however I highly doubt you'd be able to see a difference in it (light performance) between an IF and VS, I think she is just tooting her own horn a bit there. A lot of people look at the 4c's and think that if they have 3/4 it will outweigh cut. It will not. A D will not perform better than a G. It will just be whiter. An FL/VVS will not perform better than a VS, you will just need to look harder for inclusions (or wont see any). The most major thing that will impact light performance is cut. A well cut vs a poor cut (or even a very good cut!) will perform better.

You have a great budget. Does that include the setting?

Some G's for size
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3587730.htm 1.566 ct G VS2
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3586225.htm 1.488 ct G VS2
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3577114.htm 1.324 ct G VS2

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3143307.htm 1.302 ct D VS2
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3365324.htm 1.23 ct E VS1

Alternatively, you can use the parameters from Vizsla to look on other sites like James Allen or in your jewellery stores.

 

[ecf8503]

Inclusions are graded at 10x magnification - there is virtually no way a VS or higher will have any impact on light performance. In lower clarities (some SI1, most I's) will have the potential to have more light disruption, simply because the inclusions are bigger / more noticeable.

Light performance is all about the relationships of the angles of the facets. Not color or clarity. You want an AGS0 or at least a GIA excellent cut (GIA's X category is very broad - run numbers through the HCA to help narrow down options, then ask for an idealscope image on those that score under 2). Don't compromise on cut quality - it's what makes the diamond sparkle, not the color or clarity.

You have a very nice budget. A good "sweet spot" range is G/H color, VS (and most SI1) clarity.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Some G's for size
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3587730.htm 1.566 ct G VS2

I'll take this one...

 

[solgen]

Really depends who is grading the stones. In GIA or AGS graded stones I really doubt you could see the difference in VS vs VVS.


The above spec range listed by Vizsla Girl shouldn't be strictly adhered to. If you do so you'll wind up excluding quite a number of very well performing stones. It would exclude around 20-25% of AGS Ideal 0 cuts.

 

[blingmeup]

Thanks so much, everyone--all your comments have been really helpful. My budget, alas--includes my setting.

Are either of these good diamonds? They are E VVS2 and about 1.3 carats each, and they look good to me (though I know their ASETS are not as good as the ACA diamonds referenced above) but I'm wondering if I'm missing something, and they have issues I'm not noticing.




There was a G color diamond I was looking at that was about 1.5 carats with what looked like a slightly better ASET, but it sold the same night I looked at it.

thanks again for your help. this is such a nerve wracking process!

 

[blingmeup]

p.s. and thanks for all your recommendations re: Color and clarity--I posted some diamonds I had bookmarked, but I will certainly look at diamonds closer to the G/H VS range as well.

 

[telephone89]

What kind of setting are you looking for? Maybe we can find everything all together for you?

 

[Travelgal]

I love E-G diamonds, some might say overkill...but I wouldn't do vvs+ in clarity. SI-VS1 is my sweet spot. Everyone is different, but I can see color, I can't "see" clarity.

 

[blingmeup]

telephone89: something very simple--either a solitaire setting (knife edge, six prong) or tapered baguettes (which would lower my budget for the stone since it's more expensive).

 

[blingmeup]

Travelgal--yes, I agree with that! do you know what the lowest clarity you can go that it's still guaranteed you won't see inclusions or it won't affect light performance? I don't necessarily trust my own eyes in real life or in images to make that distinction.

 

[telephone89]

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/ritani-1rz7265-solitaire-engagement-ring-4021.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/contemporary-tiffany-style-solitaire-engagement-ring-1416.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/bliss-solitaire-engagement-ring-by-vatche-1647.htm
(wf has tons more if none of these interest you)

Any of these leave 14-16k with your budget (assuming no taxes)
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3588146.htm since you mentioned H
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3586225.htm G
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3365324.htm E
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3143307.htm D

Or
http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/1.54ct-g-vs2-platinum-select-round-ideal-cut-diamond.html
http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/1.49ct-g-vs2-round-hearts-and-arrows-cut-diamond.html
http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/1-54ct-h-vs2-superior-round-hearts-and-arrows-diamond.html
http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/1-26ct-d-vs2-superior-round-hearts-and-arrows-diamond.html
http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/1.6ct-d-vs2-platinum-round-ideal-cut-diamond.html

with

http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/simplicity-engagement-ring.html
http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/vatche-engagement-ring-90.html

 

[blingmeup]

wow, this is amazing. thanks so much! I have a question: would the diamonds in the links that you sent vastly outperform the diamonds I posted images/ASETS of? I'm just curious--not wedded to any of those stones, just trying to learn how to assess ASETS and understand what information they give.

 

[telephone89]

I think some of them would - some of them wouldnt. For example, I can (99%) guarantee that the ACAs would. They are so stictly chosen, there is really very few comparable diamond cuts. With the good old gold stones, there were 2 'platinum selection' which is a half step down from their premium ones.

I dont think the ones you posted were bad at all - but I can assume they were a bit more expensive, based on the vvs. So, if you're looking at a 1.3 vvs when you could get an equivalent 1.5 vs I think it's certainly something to look at! Of course, that's total speculation on my part.

 

[kenny]

How much should I be spending on the setting v. the diamond

I'd buy the cheapest setting so I could afford the most expensive diamond.

 

[blingmeup]

Ah, so those E stones are both about $14K, so at least $1K less than the cheapest ACA, but in the same range as these stones at goodoldgold that you posted: http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/1.54ct-g-vs2-platinum-select-round-ideal-cut-diamond.html (would this be eye clean, I can see so many inclusions!)
http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/1.49ct-g-vs2-round-hearts-and-arrows-cut-diamond.html

For below $14K (which I would need to get the Vatche U113 at Whiteflash and stay within budget), we've got:
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3567817.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3571556.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3466458.htm

would these still be a better value?

and again, thanks so much for taking the time to walk me through this, telephone89!

 

[blingmeup]

also, how does this look as a setting? https://enchanteddiamonds.com/rings/view/SL5-PT-R does it look comparable to the tiffany six prong, or the vatche u113?

 

[telephone89]

That setting is really pretty! Do you mind if there is a gap with a wedding ring? The small donut will create a small gap between the band and the erring (I personally like) which can bother some people.

And value is a whooollleee nother concept haha.

For all of those diamonds (at each respective vendor) you can ask them to evaluate them for you. They are all in-stock diamonds, so you would have the expertise of the vendor to look at them and give you their opinion.

I do think the 1.54 GOG would be eyeclean though - but of course the vendor would be able to give you a much better analysis (maybe even a video comparison).