Which WF/JA diamond? ($15-20k budget)

[bullgrid]

Hello diamond experts!

I'm a diamond newbie but have been reading PS for several weeks and finally feel ready to buy an e-ring. Here's what I'm looking for:

Size: 1.25-1.5 ct. round (her ring size is 4.5 and she doesn't wear much jewelry, so I'm reluctant to go over 1.5 ct. Thoughts on 1.25 vs. 1.5?)
Color: F (was looking at G's too but didn't notice a substantial price difference)
Clarity: VS1/VS2
Cut: Ideal
Budget: $15-20k for the diamond (I expect to pay up to $2-3k more for the ring)

Since I don't need to maximize size, I'm hoping to optimize for quality within my size constraint. Using the PS search tool, I narrowed my options down to these choices:

(1) 1.21 ct. F/VS2 1.5-EX $13600: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1391334.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131
(2a) 1.27 ct. F/VS1 1.4-EX $16763: http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2640830.htm (downside: not ACA)
(2b) 1.26 ct. F/VS1 1.4-EX $17117: http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2684398.htm (downside: not ACA, smaller and more expensive than 2a)
(3) 1.31 ct. F/VS1 0.9-EX $15060: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1395531.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131 (downside: not H&A)
(4) 1.32 ct. G/VS2 1.1-EX $14373: http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2684402.htm
(5a) 1.51 ct. F/VS2 1.1-EX $20705: http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2564411.htm
(5b) 1.50 ct. F/VS2 1.4-EX $20677: http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2531899.htm
(5c) 1.51 ct. F/VS2 1.8-EX $20829: http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2517134.htm (UPDATE: how do I evaluate between 5a-5c, which all seem similar?)

I am seeking your expert opinion on:

1. Which of these loose diamonds should I get? (and are there any good options I've overlooked?) Is there any additional info I should ask from JA/WF that would help me narrow it down?
2. I plan to set the diamond in a solitaire setting. If I'm not satisfied with any of the options offered by JA/WF and wish to go with a customer designer, who would you recommend for a solitaire setting? Leon Mege, Mark Morrell, BGD? Joe Escobar? (I'm in San Francisco)

Thanks in advance for your help! This forum has been invaluable and I look forward to moving on to the next step.

 

[slg47]

a 1.8 HCA score is not worse than a 1.1 HCA score...anything under 2 is equal.

There is a large price difference...I would probably pick the 1.318 G VS2 because G color is white enough for me, plus you don't pay the 1.5 ct premium.

ETA HCA score does not matter when you have idealscope images.

 

[plummiecat]

I would get one of the bottom 3.

 

[slg47]

also...what type of solitaire setting did you have in mind?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Okay, I need to ask you a few questions. There's a big difference between 1.20 and 1.5. Does she have any friends or sisters with engagement rings? If so, what size diamonds do they wear? It will help to know the size stones in her social circle. Do you live in a big city and does she work with people with larger stones or not? We need to know these things so we can advise you to go for the lower size end or to maximize size and go down to G color.

FYI, WF also carries Vatche settings. So you can go look at the Vatche site. They have fine quality settings and some very nice solitaires.

 

[bullgrid]

Thanks for your input so far!

diamondseeker2006: She has a sister with a 1.0 ct round solitaire ring from Blue Nile (G/VS1/Excellent). As for her social circle, she is a med school student so she's generally not around friends with big stones. That said, she'll be getting engaged earlier than most of her friends, so I do need to consider that in 1-3 years the situation might change (esp. once her + her friends become well-paid doctors). We are in San Francisco.

slg47: Thanks for clarifying that anything with HCA score under 2 is equal, I didn't realize that. As for what type of solitaire setting I want, I haven't quite decided yet. I was mostly trying to find out if any custom designers were "known" for their solitaire settings so I could look into those in addition to checking out the JA and WF settings.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Okay, well that was very helpful. I would absolutely go for a 1.5 unless you think there would be potential problems from her sister. Big city, professional, upper income eventually...I'd go for the 1.5 in either F VS2 or G VS1. Of the three from WF, I'd go with the one that had the largest diameter, even though they are close to the same. I like 1.5 ct. stones to have a diameter of 7.4, and these are just under, so that is one reason why I'd go for this one of the ones you have posted:

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2517134.htm

In regard to settings, the Tiffany replica by Vatche is one that I am strongly considering for my own ring. Here is a picture (with a huge diamond, though!):

http://www.whiteflash.com/gallery/solitaire-engagement-rings/vatche-6-prong-knife-edge-solitaire-engagement-ring-24302.htm

The best 4 prong basket choice is probably Victor Canera:

http://www.victorcanera.com/jewelry/engagement-rings/the-trueste-solitaire.html

But I will have to say, it is vastly easier to get a setting through your diamond vendor when possible. And since WF carries Vatche designer settings, that is a good option if you don't care for their stock settings.

 

[Amys Bling]

I agree with diamond seeker- I would go for the 1.5 carat size.

 

[Iluvprettyrocks]

I agree with diamond seeker- I would go for the 1.5 carat size.

I agree too!

 

[sna77]

Okay, well that was very helpful. I would absolutely go for a 1.5 unless you think there would be potential problems from her sister. Big city, professional, upper income eventually...I'd go for the 1.5 in either F VS2 or G VS1. Of the three from WF, I'd go with the one that had the largest diameter, even though they are close to the same. I like 1.5 ct. stones to have a diameter of 7.4, and these are just under, so that is one reason why I'd go for this one of the ones you have posted:

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2517134.htm

In regard to settings, the Tiffany replica by Vatche is one that I am strongly considering for my own ring. Here is a picture (with a huge diamond, though!):

http://www.whiteflash.com/gallery/solitaire-engagement-rings/vatche-6-prong-knife-edge-solitaire-engagement-ring-24302.htm

The best 4 prong basket choice is probably Victor Canera:

http://www.victorcanera.com/jewelry/engagement-rings/the-trueste-solitaire.html

But I will have to say, it is vastly easier to get a setting through your diamond vendor when possible. And since WF carries Vatche designer settings, that is a good option if you don't care for their stock settings.

+1 for everything DS says...

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Okay, well that was very helpful. I would absolutely go for a 1.5 unless you think there would be potential problems from her sister. Big city, professional, upper income eventually...I'd go for the 1.5 in either F VS2 or G VS1. Of the three from WF, I'd go with the one that had the largest diameter, even though they are close to the same. I like 1.5 ct. stones to have a diameter of 7.4, and these are just under, so that is one reason why I'd go for this one of the ones you have posted:

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2517134.htm

In regard to settings, the Tiffany replica by Vatche is one that I am strongly considering for my own ring. Here is a picture (with a huge diamond, though!):

http://www.whiteflash.com/gallery/solitaire-engagement-rings/vatche-6-prong-knife-edge-solitaire-engagement-ring-24302.htm

The best 4 prong basket choice is probably Victor Canera:

http://www.victorcanera.com/jewelry/engagement-rings/the-trueste-solitaire.html

But I will have to say, it is vastly easier to get a setting through your diamond vendor when possible. And since WF carries Vatche designer settings, that is a good option if you don't care for their stock settings.

+1 for everything DS says...

sna, a few of us are eagerly awaiting the arrival of your ring!!! I am getting the sample setting sent to me this week to try on with my bands!

 

[sna77]

sna, a few of us are eagerly awaiting the arrival of your ring!!! I am getting the sample setting sent to me this week to try on with my bands!

As is my wife! It'll be 2 weeks since ordering on Thursday, so I'm hoping it'll come in soon. I'm going to be in CT for work next week also, so if it comes in I'm going to shoot down to NYC to pick it up and surprise my wife when I come home...

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Perfect!!! Have that camera ready, too!

 

[bullgrid]

I've decided to get a 1.5 carat -- thanks for your help! Any thoughts on whether I should get a G/VS1 or F/VS2? (they seem comparably priced)

diamondseeker - For the Tiffany replica setting by Vatche you linked to (http://www.whiteflash.com/gallery/solitaire-engagement-rings/vatche-6-prong-knife-edge-solitaire-engagement-ring-24302.htm), is that available as a custom only or does Whiteflash carry it along with their other Vatches? I couldn't find it on their solitaires page: http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/search.htm?t=solitaire

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I've decided to get a 1.5 carat -- thanks for your help! Any thoughts on whether I should get a G/VS1 or F/VS2? (they seem comparably priced)

diamondseeker - For the Tiffany replica setting by Vatche you linked to (http://www.whiteflash.com/gallery/solitaire-engagement-rings/vatche-6-prong-knife-edge-solitaire-engagement-ring-24302.htm), is that available as a custom only or does Whiteflash carry it along with their other Vatches? I couldn't find it on their solitaires page: http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/search.htm?t=solitaire

They can order any Vatche ring. They just don't carry it in their regular selection probably because they offer their own version of a Tiffany replica. But with all due respect, the Vatche is the best Tiffany repro currently available. That ring is not custom for Vatche. The model number is U-113. I have pictures of the setting for a 1.5 if you want to see it, by the way.

I buy G VS1 for myself, but F VS2 is nice as well.

 

[bullgrid]

Pictures would be great! How high is the diamond set in the Vatche Tiffany? I can't have the diamond set too high since she'll occasionally need to wear doctor gloves over it.

Also, I imagine it's personal preference, but would you mind elaborating why you prefer G VS1 to F VS2?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

The diamond is a nice height...not high and not too low. I think it will be just right. I just like VS1 clarity for my engagement ring and G is the highest color that works for the size and budget I have! My earrings are G VS1 and VS2 as well. But it is possible to get a nice clean VS2 if you work at it!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Vatche U-113 for 1.5 ct. diamond (my ring with this setting will be here on Wed. if you need more pictures then). First two pics just so the setting with a 7.5mm cz sitting in it. Last has my diamond set.

 

[bullgrid]

DS: Wow...just saw your photos in the other thread ([URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/new-1-58-g-vs1-from-gog-in-vatche-u-113-tiffany-repro.171351/page-2']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/new-1-58-g-vs1-from-gog-in-vatche-u-113-tiffany-repro.171351/page-2[/URL]). It looks great!! Congrats!

I am becoming more convinced that this is the setting I should get for my 1.5 ct. as well. The only reservation I'm having is that I don't know if she'll find the knife-edge uncomfortable. I saw you mention in the other thread that:

I am not sure I would like to wear a knife edge setting alone, but since it is the same height off my finger as the wedding band, I don't feel it at all. I think the only time someone could feel it would be while they were engaged, but I don't think it is thick enough that it would really bother me. So I would never discount this setting because of the knife edge being uncomfortable. It is meant to be worn with a wedding band.

Would you mind elaborating on why the wedding band makes the knife-edge less uncomfortable? I guess I don't really understand why knife-edges are more uncomfortable in the first place and where the discomfort lies (I've only read that they're less comfortable).

Also, would you have any recommendations on how I can see for myself the difference in comfort between a knife-edge setting and one that's not knife-edge? Should I go to Tiffany's and try on their classic ring? Is that the best approximation for the U-113?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Well, thank you!

Let me see if I can explain it. When I hold my fingers tightly together (which is fairly unnatural), I cannot really feel the knife edge because I am feeling all the rings I have on that finger as one. My Legacy wedding band is 2mm wide and right next to the e-ring, so I just feel a flat surface on the fingers next to the ring finger. When I take off the wedding band, I really don't feel the e-ring band very much, because again, it is almost never that you have all your fingers jammed next to each other. She would need to be told that it is more comfortable once you have on a wedding band. Tiffany has had the design for over 100 years, so I think there probably aren't too many complaints! I tried on the real Tiffany a couple of weeks ago, and I found it a little more bulky than this ring. I actually think the Vatche has better proportions. But that is the best approximation. Just know that the Vatche shank will be a little smaller. It is really a pretty setting and hard to capture well in pictures!

I think this would be a good ring for her. It is a classic, and you can later take her to Tiffany to try on different styles of wedding bands which is really fun!

 

[bullgrid]

Thanks DS..I think that helps. So you're saying that with the e-ring only (no band), it's only the adjacent fingers (pinky and middle finger) that would feel uncomfortable when they rub against the ring? But the ring finger itself isn't the one that feels uncomfortable?