Advices for choosing diamond (engagement ring)

[Will_Wang]

Hi All,

I'm searching a diamond around 1.8ct (F, VS1, 3EX, no fluenrence). The followings are some I'm interested but there are some clouds, feathers in each diamond. I don't know which one is the best one. Could anyone give me some advices?

This one is the one I think best.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...f-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2850712

There are 2 more.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...f-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2608871
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...f-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2587264

Thanks in advance.

 

[Will_Wang]

For my lover, we also want it to keep the value over time. I know it may be not worth buying that clarity and color but she wants.

 

[Dancing Fire]

There are so many factors goes into the decision making for which diamond to buy. I'd suggest go pick up How to Buy a Diamond by Fred Cuellar. It a simple book worth reading. Again, we all can try to analysis your selections for you but at the end of the day, it is your money, so better educate yourself first!

Burn it first then read it...

 

[flyingpig]

disregard Logansolomon's advice

 

[flyingpig]

Hi All,

I'm searching a diamond around 1.8ct (F, VS1, 3EX, no fluenrence). The followings are some I'm interested but there are some clouds, feathers in each diamond. I don't know which one is the best one. Could anyone give me some advices?

This one is the one I think best.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...f-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2850712

There are 2 more.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...f-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2608871
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...f-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2587264

Thanks in advance.

These stones are steep and deep. You want a diamond with following numbers
table 54-58, depth less than 62.3, crown 34-35, pavilion 40.6-40.9/41

I did not find any reasonable priced diamonds with the above numbers that are 1.8c F VS1.

If you want to include VS2, something like this is reasonable
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...e-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2618042

Or you can for a branded super ideal cut for gauranteed quality and performance. But cost more $$
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-di...02918,3801973,3801975,3794733,3802920,3798132

 

[gm89uk]

For my lover, we also want it to keep the value over time. I know it may be not worth buying that clarity and color but she wants.

Diamonds do not value over time, particularly the MRBs you are looking at. Even a D IF will devalue significantly onto the second hand market. Don't take this into consideration when buying the diamond. When you accept this and focus on buying a diamond for the sake of buying a diamond alone, your decision making will be more straight forward.

The only 'value retention' you will get is by buying through a superideal vendor such as whiteflash that have an excellent upgrade policy so that you're entire value of the diamond purchased can go towards another one that must be a dollar more.

Your GF wants this colour and clarity as do many people when they first start looking at diamonds, as that is what is ignorantly marketed strongly in most places. Does she want this because you are from a culture that particularly values clarity and colour (eg Asian), or just because she perceives that this will make the diamond more beautiful.

Carat and cut are the most obvious things to maximise with your budget. From the 4Cs, if your GF is putting more emphasis on colour and clarity she may not realise the degree she is compromising on carat. Cut must be top whatever the choice.

As others have said, your diamond choices so far leave much to be desired from cut perspective. A well cut K,SI2 (even if it has visible inclusions if they aren't cloudy inclusions) will outsparkle your F VS1.

The sweet spot for many is H, VS2 and SI1 with careful selection.

I suggest you set it out like this to your girlfriend (assuming from your original post your budget is ~21-22k.

You can get a 1.8Carat that's FVS1 thats 7.76mm or a 2.25 thats 8.36mm across with idealcut parameters. The HSI1 will sparkle more, have brighter light return, and look immediately more impressive for the same price

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...h-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2843612

What will she notice more, the invisible inclusions that cannot be visualised without a loupe. An H is very white, particularly when well cut. If I saw these two diamonds side by side, it would be an easy choice.

 

[Will_Wang]

These stones are steep and deep. You want a diamond with following numbers
table 54-58, depth less than 62.3, crown 34-35, pavilion 40.6-40.9/41

I did not find any reasonable priced diamonds with the above numbers that are 1.8c F VS1.

If you want to include VS2, something like this is reasonable
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...e-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2618042

Or you can for a branded super ideal cut for gauranteed quality and performance. But cost more $$
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-di...02918,3801973,3801975,3794733,3802920,3798132

Thanks for you reply. I totally agree with you. I have calculated the HCA. All of them are not good. But that's what I can afford. : (

 

[Will_Wang]

Diamonds do not value over time, particularly the MRBs you are looking at. Even a D IF will devalue significantly onto the second hand market. Don't take this into consideration when buying the diamond. When you accept this and focus on buying a diamond for the sake of buying a diamond alone, your decision making will be more straight forward.

The only 'value retention' you will get is by buying through a superideal vendor such as whiteflash that have an excellent upgrade policy so that you're entire value of the diamond purchased can go towards another one that must be a dollar more.

Your GF wants this colour and clarity as do many people when they first start looking at diamonds, as that is what is ignorantly marketed strongly in most places. Does she want this because you are from a culture that particularly values clarity and colour (eg Asian), or just because she perceives that this will make the diamond more beautiful.

What will she notice more, the invisible inclusions that cannot be visualised without a loupe. An H is very white, particularly when well cut. If I saw these two diamonds side by side, it would be an easy choice.

Thank you for your advice. We are Asian so she cares more about the color and clarity. I think I have to go with F and VS1. I want to know which inclusions will affect the shining most, crystal, cloud or feather. One article says inclusions will affect the durable of diamond. Is that true? What kind of inclusion is worst one?

 

[EvaEvans]

What kind of inclusion is worst one?

Feather is the worst one. But with VS1 clarity there is nothing to worry about!
I like your 1.80 F VS1 diamond.

 

[Will_Wang]

Feather is the worst one. But with VS1 clarity there is nothing to worry about!
I like your 1.80 F VS1 diamond.

Thanks. After doing more research, I find out that HCA is more important than color or clarity. I will try to convince her about that. If I can downgrade one, which one is better? color to G or clarity to VS2?

 

[gm89uk]

The worst inclusion depends on what grade the inclusion is, and where the inclusion is. A small feather on the edge in a round is better in an SI1 in my opinion than clarity based on clouds.

If your culture demands a high clarity and colour then you are in a difficult position to diverge!

I prefer this over your original:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...e-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2855022
but it does have 'strong' fluor which may give it quite a blue look in bright sunlight being an E. Theres lots of options and I think you can do better with your budget.

F to a G is very very subtle. VS1 to VS2 is irrelevant if they're eye clean. Colour is more relative. Depends which you value more and from the choice of the diamonds you find.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Thanks. After doing more research, I find out that HCA is more important than color or clarity. I will try to convince her about that. If I can downgrade one, which one is better? color to G or clarity to VS2?

If it was me I'll go with a top ideal cut F VS2.

 

[Will_Wang]

Thank you very much, all. I tried to go F, VS2 but it is hard to find one I like. I finally pre-ordered this one https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...g-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2692975 . I don't know why they charged me sale tax. I though only NY should be charged but I'm in maryland. They gave a $570 off for pricescope member. I'm so glad I find this place and got lots of good advices.

 

[gm89uk]

Personally I'd stretch the price a bit and get this,

https://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/l...e-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2618042, it appears better cut. Difference between E and G is subtle but noticeable, difference between both in clarity is not visible. E might be better appreciated?

I also prefer the cut in this. Yours is fine, but it's a 60/60 style stone with a slightly shallow crown angle. This will compromise fire (the rainbow coloured flashes of light coming off a diamond) but it should be a bright diamond.
The one I linked you to provides a better balance between fire and brightness. I advise you to request an ASET/idealscope before they ship whichever diamond you go for, and post it here. You are paying too much money to not have reflector images!

 

[Will_Wang]

Personally I'd stretch the price a bit and get this,

https://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/l...e-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2618042, it appears better cut. Difference between E and G is subtle but noticeable, difference between both in clarity is not visible. E might be better appreciated?

I also prefer the cut in this. Yours is fine, but it's a 60/60 style stone with a slightly shallow crown angle. This will compromise fire (the rainbow coloured flashes of light coming off a diamond) but it should be a bright diamond.
The one I linked you to provides a better balance between fire and brightness. I advise you to request an ASET/idealscope before they ship.

Thank you. I will check with them if I can get an idealscope before they ship. Your diamond looks good. I will compare them.

 

[tanalasta]

In the Asian culture:
- don't convince her what's better. If she and her family/friends/siblings all have colourless, high clarity stones, you'll going to have to go with the F, VS1 etc... It's all about perception. You can convince her all you like, but sometimes asian culture and families can be concrete in their ways. I would save yourself the angst and just budget appropriately. Otherwise, you'll always have the risk some stupid family member will make a judgement or comment that can offend if the stone isn't as good on 'paper'. We here all understand that cut is the most important. Asians who don't know their diamonds think 'colourless, high clarity, 3 Ex's on a GIA' are all equally important.
- Even if it's not noticeable in real life, it's noticeable in the mind.
- I would downgrade clarity before colour, but not below VS2 (and for some asians, even VS1)
- Make sure you know what carat size she wants.

A lot of what we say on PS is splitting hairs. More brilliance, more fire, HCA 0.9 vs 1.2 etc... If it's a well cut diamond, set well in a setting she wants, eye-clean AND mind clean AND meets HER minimum criteria, then you won't go wrong as long as you get the proposal right!

Or if she already knows you're looking, ask if she wants to take part in the choice. It makes it easier to get it right. I picked the diamond and she fine tuned the ring I picked into what was eventually a custom design (through WF)

Just to prove a point, I didn't initially like a 6.5mm stone set in a ring at a shop because it had less 'white brightness' than the one next to it. The cut was considered 'excellent'. Once in natural light, the contrast, brilliance and fire were exceptional and it looked every bit as sparkly as the ACA stone. With the naked eye, outside and in a restaurant they were equally attractive. The numbers don't always equate to real world performance. And to add insult to injury, the 6.5mm was a supernova moissonite.

 

[island21]

I think I found the diamond for you. It's on Blue Nile. Type in LD08786303 in the search box.

 

[gm89uk]

I think I found the diamond for you. It's on Blue Nile. Type in LD08786303 in the search box.

Commentary angles but too deep

 

[Will_Wang]

Personally I'd stretch the price a bit and get this,

https://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/l...e-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2618042, it appears better cut. Difference between E and G is subtle but noticeable, difference between both in clarity is not visible. E might be better appreciated?

I also prefer the cut in this. Yours is fine, but it's a 60/60 style stone with a slightly shallow crown angle. This will compromise fire (the rainbow coloured flashes of light coming off a diamond) but it should be a bright diamond.
The one I linked you to provides a better balance between fire and brightness. I advise you to request an ASET/idealscope before they ship whichever diamond you go for, and post it here. You are paying too much money to not have reflector images!

4 days after I requested the ideal scopes of those 2, JA told me the diamond I chose was sold by the sub store and they did not synchronize the data in time. I can not understand how this happened. It was on hold for me and I had placed an order for it. So disappointed. They still sent the ideal scope of the second one. It seems good but not very symmetric. Is it OK? I have uploaded it.

 

[JulieN]

JA is actually located in Maryland, so yes it is correct you got charged sales tax.

That Ideal Scope picture is fine. Very nice.

 

[gm89uk]

Idealscope looks great! Symmetry looks fine. Genuinely looks much better than the one you preordered so maybe it's for the best!