Which ring to choose??

[darko886]

Hello all,

I am new to this forum and just want some input on a couple of rings I was looking at. I am in the planning stages of proposing and can't decide between two rings. My girlfriend and I have been to jewelry stores and looked at both round and princess cut diamonds and she didn't seem to have a preference. I am choosing between the following two:

1. Round 0.41 carat F color VS2 Excellent cut diamond on a solitaire setting: http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/14k-white-gold-2mm-knife-edge-solitaire-ring-17001w.html

2. Princess 0.39 Carat F VS2 Excellent cut on a pave setting: http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/14k-white-gold-thin-french-cut-pave-set-diamond-engagement-ring-17158w14.html

The round is bigger and more expensive, however with a more expensive diamond I would have to go with the plain setting to remain within budget, whereas with the princess cut I can choose a setting that isn't plain.

Any help on deciding would be greatly appreciated

Thanks!

 

[distracts]

Princess cuts face up somewhat smaller than round cuts, so not only is it smaller in carat weight, it will look smaller too. For that reason, I'd go with the round. Is there any particular reason you're going with F/VS2? In that size you could easily drop down to H or I Si1/2 (as long as it's eyeclean) and get a bigger diamond. If it's an ideal/excellent cut, the color won't be noticeable.

 

[darko886]

Also since I am new to this I am not too sure about quality. I have read about the 4 Cs but am not sure how much I can compromise on each of them. For example, with the solitaire would I be better off going with a 0.46 Carat I-SI1 Very Good Cut Round Diamond? Would there be much visual difference in quality between the two?

 

[Christina...]

I personally would go for the round in the plain shank. Princess cuts face up smaller for their weight than a round does, so to me the round in a plain shank will look more impressive than the princess with side stones. I've also owned both of these settings. I sent the french pave back for the larger version because I was very underwhelmed with the look. I replaced it with the larger version and have been very happy with that one. The two mm knife edge is a nice simple setting, I think that you would both be happy with it.

 

[darko886]

Princess cuts face up somewhat smaller than round cuts, so not only is it smaller in carat weight, it will look smaller too. For that reason, I'd go with the round. Is there any particular reason you're going with F/VS2? In that size you could easily drop down to H or I Si1/2 (as long as it's eyeclean) and get a bigger diamond. If it's an ideal/excellent cut, the color won't be noticeable.

Haha you beat me to my own question. I wasn't sure how much difference there would be. So I would still be safe going with a lesser color without it being noticeable?

For example: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Very-Good-Cut-Round-Diamond-1428101.asp

 

[Christina...]

I agree with distracts. I would definitely go down a bit in color and clarity but I wouldn't give up the cut. Stick with ideal and excellent cuts. The cut is going to give the stone its gorgeous light performance.

 

[Christina...]

What's your budget darko? Do you want us to help make some suggestions for you? Did you know that you also get a discount if you tell them that your a pricescope member?

 

[darko886]

What's your budget darko? Do you want us to help make some suggestions for you? Did you know that you also get a discount if you tell them that your a pricescope member?

My budget would be around $1200. I would definitely appreciate suggestions. And yes I found out earlier that we receive a discount with James Allen which is definitely welcome!

 

[darko886]

Also, if I go with the solitaire band I could stay within budget and go with a 0.54 Carat I-SI1 Ideal Cut Princess Diamond. However, I know that you guys stated that the princess cuts look smaller, so I'm not sure how a .54 carat princess would compare to a .43 carat round?

 

[Christina...]

I'm not sure how they will compare either, let me go take a look and pull some options up for you. Is $1200 for the diamond or for the stone and setting?

 

[darko886]

I'm not sure how they will compare either, let me go take a look and pull some options up for you. Is $1200 for the diamond or for the stone and setting?

For the stone and setting. Thank you in advance!

 

[Christina...]

It looks like a .5 princess is approximately 4.3mm and a .5ct round is 5.25 or so, so you are going to get a much larger looking stone going with one of these options. I can pull up some princess cuts if you want though. James Allen will evaluate and provide images for three stones for free. All three of these need to be checked to see if they will be eye clean and you will need to ask for idealscope images and then post them here when you get them. Ordinarily you don't need to request them for an AGS stone because they have already graded the stones light performance but the proportions on this one are a bit broader than we normally recommend so I'd want to see the idealscope first.



http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1482921.asp 1172.00 with your discount.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1508306.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1489182.asp

 

[Christina...]

Ok, these ones are going to be slightly out of budget, let me go back and find a few more for you.

 

[darko886]

It looks like a .5 princess is approximately 4.3mm and a .5ct round is 5.25 or so, so you are going to get a much larger looking stone going with one of these options. I can pull up some princess cuts if you want though. James Allen will evaluate and provide images for three stones for free. All three of these need to be checked to see if they will be eye clean and you will need to ask for idealscope images and then post them here when you get them. Ordinarily you don't need to request them for an AGS stone because they have already graded the stones light performance but the proportions on this one are a bit broader than we normally recommend so I'd want to see the idealscope first.



http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1482921.asp 1172.00 with your discount.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1508306.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1489182.asp

Thank you for looking those up but my budget is $1200 including the setting. I found the following three, what do you think?

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1469322.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1362912.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1460951.asp

 

[Christina...]

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1464197.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1472227.asp

This one might work but you definitely need to get idealscope images for it, you need to do that for all the stones anyway.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS2-Very-Good-Cut-Round-Diamond-1505605.asp

 

[darko886]

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1464197.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1472227.asp

This one might work but you definitely need to get idealscope images for it, you need to do that for all the stones anyway.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS2-Very-Good-Cut-Round-Diamond-1505605.asp

Thank you! I think I have it down to three now. How do I go about getting the idealscope images from them? I can't find a link.

 

[Christina...]

It looks like a .5 princess is approximately 4.3mm and a .5ct round is 5.25 or so, so you are going to get a much larger looking stone going with one of these options. I can pull up some princess cuts if you want though. James Allen will evaluate and provide images for three stones for free. All three of these need to be checked to see if they will be eye clean and you will need to ask for idealscope images and then post them here when you get them. Ordinarily you don't need to request them for an AGS stone because they have already graded the stones light performance but the proportions on this one are a bit broader than we normally recommend so I'd want to see the idealscope first.



http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1482921.asp 1172.00 with your discount.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1508306.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1489182.asp

Thank you for looking those up but my budget is $1200 including the setting. I found the following three, what do you think?

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1469322.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1362912.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1460951.asp

I think that the first and third are going to have too much leakage under the table. The second one you posted though, could be a good one.

Have you seen the HCA? https://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca This is a tool we use to help create a short list. It's only a weeding tool, not a selection tool, but it can help you create a short list of stones that are worth getting more information on. If the stone scores under two it means you should put it on your list, if it scores under 3 then it's worth more investigating. The next step is an idealscope image. This is just another tool that will help determine if there is leakage in the diamond and if that leakage will have a negative effect on the diamond. You can read more about it here...https://www.pricescope.com/tools/ideal-scope

edit

 

[Christina...]

are you color sensitive? These could be good options..



http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/K-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1500369.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/K-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1472486.asp

 

[Christina...]

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1464197.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1472227.asp

This one might work but you definitely need to get idealscope images for it, you need to do that for all the stones anyway.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS2-Very-Good-Cut-Round-Diamond-1505605.asp

Thank you! I think I have it down to three now. How do I go about getting the idealscope images from them? I can't find a link.

Sorry I got carried away looking for stones and missed your post. When you contact them to put the diamonds on hold for you,tell them that you want them to be evaluated to see if they are eye clean and that you want them to provide you with idealscope images. It will take 24-48 hours for them to get them to you. when you have them start a new thread here and link them, we can then tell you how they look and which your best option will be. JA's gemologist will offer you an opinion as well. Good Luck, can t wait to see what you come up with!!!