Dipping my toe into the idea of upgrading my solitaire

[JenniferMarie90]

Hey friends. I’ve been browsing pricescope for a while now and feel ready to begin the process. I currently have a 1 ct amora gem as my ER. I am thinking of upgrading my solitaire to a natural diamond but the prices in WF and BN fluctuate between stones that look the same to me. One will be $8,000 and another thats similar (to my newbie self) is $11,000. I would like to stay around $9,000 but can go higher. I would like something bigger than what I have now but that I can still comfortably wear daily so at least 1.4 up to 1.7 ct, best cut round diamond I can for that price point. I get confused because I find some that are a great price (to me) in j and k color and I’m not sure if I’ll see that tint in person. I dont love icy white diamonds but I don’t want my solitaire to look weird next to my white diamond eternity band. And then some of the videos I see the “inclusions” and worry I’ll see that in real life too. Like I said I really am a newb and I’m just worried I cant get something I love with what I’m comfortable spending…which is why I have put off upgrading for 4 years now. Hopefully this post isn’t too vague! I appreciate any help and advice.

 

[DejaWiz]

I think a 1.4-1.7 with higher clarity is going to be a smidge of a taller order with the market right now, but you can come close. Whether or not that is acceptable is solely up to you.

Here are AGS000 diamonds currently (and constantly updated) listed with the PS diamond search engine.

Diamond Search Results | Real-time Information on 1,000,000+ Diamonds | PriceScope

PriceScope's Diamond Search is the best place to find the best diamond prices. Search and compare over a million natural, lab and fancy color diamonds.

www.pricescope.com

Here are GIA 3X diamonds, all other criteria the same as the above search link.

Diamond Search Results | Real-time Information on 1,000,000+ Diamonds | PriceScope

PriceScope's Diamond Search is the best place to find the best diamond prices. Search and compare over a million natural, lab and fancy color diamonds.

www.pricescope.com

If anything catches your eye and you have questions or need advice, feel free to ask, as there is a plethora of folks here that will gladly chip in and help (as you know already, I'm sure)!

 

[JenniferMarie90]

Thank you! I’m not in any sort of rush but I am curious what’s out there or what I should be looking for.

 

[DejaWiz]

Here are a couple of AGS000 diamonds at JA to have a look at.

First up is a 1.35 I VVS1 with a 40.7/34.5/54.7 combo and a taller 15.6% crown heigh.

1.35 Carat round diamond

This 1.35 carat round diamond I color vvs1 clarity has Ideal proportions and a diamond grading report from AGS

www.jamesallen.com

AGS Laboratories

agslab.com

Second one is a 1.38 J VS2 with a 40.8/35.1/56.8 combo and a 15.3% crown height.

1.38 Carat round diamond

This 1.38 carat round diamond J color vs2 clarity has Ideal proportions and a diamond grading report from AGS

www.jamesallen.com

AGS Laboratories

agslab.com

 

[JenniferMarie90]

Are these J colors anything that would be noticeable in really life ?

 

[DejaWiz]

Are these J colors anything that would be noticeable in really life ?

It is definitely a possibility, depending on your color sensitivity and tolerance levels.
My wife and I are both pretty color sensitive (her a little more so than me) so she and I both prefer diamonds in the D-F range, and I am usually sane up to G, maybe H before my "that's not icy enough" OCD kicks in.
All in all, if I were to see an H-J super ideal MRB face-up, I more than likely wouldn't pop a fuse over it because I wouldn't notice any tint at all from the sheer amount of light return abusing my retinas.

There are some past threads showing some higher tint/color diamonds that can give you a basic foundation to how an I, J, or K would look.

Show me your rings with J, K, L colored diamonds!

Inspired by the beauty of HDer's 2 carat ring, I have decided to look further into darker colored diamonds. I need ideas for settings that go well with those specific diamonds. I won't reach 2 carats myself, I'm looking towards 1.25 to 1.50. All shapes welcomed!! :razz: :roll2: Oh, and thank...

www.pricescope.com

J color or 2-3ct show and tell:)

Hello all.... not sure if this is the right place to post but I’m anxiously awaiting my ring to come back and wanted to see if anyone had a J color round or 2.4 ct round diamond to share so I can enjoy :-) I’ve searched through the past threads and wanted to see if there were any more. Thank you!

www.pricescope.com

J/K colored diamonds show-me thread

Moderators/ Admins, kindly remove/move this thread if there is another similar one/in the wrong section. J/K colored diamonds owners, could you post the photos of your J/K colored diamonds (along with their sizes)? Thought that it will be very helpful to help newbies like me. I did a google...

www.pricescope.com

A GIA D, a GIA J, and a GIA W/X all walk into a bar... color comparison!

And the punchline is... I don't have enough diamonds! I see so many posts asking about color comparisons that I wanted to add my 3 babies! I thought this would be fun since I have a GIA D, GIA J, and GIA W/X. All 3 have different cuts (OEC, Princess/square brilliant and oval) and all 3 are in...

www.pricescope.com

 

[JenniferMarie90]

Thank you! I know I’m asking some really basic questions I just feel like there’s so much room for error which is why I didn’t opt for a diamond years ago. I also tend to pick up on slight issues or differences in things as well. It’s very annoying sometimes and prevents me from buying things fairly often!
Edited to add I get “analysis paralysis” I forgot it had a name lol

 

[DejaWiz]

Thank you! I know I’m asking some really basic questions I just feel like there’s so much room for error which is why I didn’t opt for a diamond years ago. I also tend to pick up on slight issues or differences in things as well. It’s very annoying sometimes and prevents me from buying things fairly often!

I know exactly what you mean and how you feel about that!

 

[Kim N]

Would you consider a lab diamond? Your budget would go a lot further, and you could get a much whiter stone than J-K to look better with your eternity band.

 

[JenniferMarie90]

Yeah I totally wouldn’t mind that. But I have been checking out BN and WF and I do see stones in my budget and size so I thought it was possible but maybe not.

 

[DejaWiz]

Yeah I totally wouldn’t mind that. But I have been checking out BN and WF and I do see stones in my budget and size so I thought it was possible but maybe not.

Definitely head over to the LGD subforum and make a thread there...we'll find you some outstanding examples for whatever budget you decide.

 

[Kim N]

Yeah I totally wouldn’t mind that. But I have been checking out BN and WF and I do see stones in my budget and size so I thought it was possible but maybe not.

Have you already seen this one?

Diamond | 1.408 ct I SI1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4172748

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 1.408 carat I color SI1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4172748

www.whiteflash.com

 

[JenniferMarie90]

Have you already seen this one?

Diamond | 1.408 ct I SI1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4172748

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 1.408 carat I color SI1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4172748

www.whiteflash.com

No I haven’t! I was looking at some ACAs from them though. I see a tiny “mark” in the video but, an excuse me if this is a dumb question, would you see that in real life?

 

[JenniferMarie90]

Definitely head over to the LGD subforum and make a thread there...we'll find you some outstanding examples for whatever budget you decide.

Thanks I’ll do that! Are there specific vendors or brands of LGD that are commonly recommended?

 

[Kim N]

No I haven’t! I was looking at some ACAs from them though. I see a tiny “mark” in the video but, an excuse me if this is a dumb question, would you see that in real life?

Whiteflash considers it eye-clean, but I would call and ask them about the inclusion. I don't *think* you would see that with the naked eye, but the best way to find out is to talk to them.

Thanks I’ll do that! Are there specific vendors or brands of LGD that are commonly recommended?

James Allen is great because they provide light return images on their best cut stones, but they're a little pricier. For the more budget conscious, I like Yadav Jewelry or The Art of Jewels, but they don't provide light return images so you'll have to look at the videos and proportions more carefully.

 

[JenniferMarie90]

Thanks again!

 

[AnastasiaBeaverhausen]

I went through the same thing recently. Found too many options with the specs I wanted. So I ended up choosing 3 options with varying specs. Then I asked my SA to send me some comparison pics/videos. It helped me see which aspects were actually important/noticeable to me and which weren't.

 

[JenniferMarie90]

I went through the same thing recently. Found too many options with the specs I wanted. So I ended up choosing 3 options with varying specs. Then I asked my SA to send me some comparison pics/videos. It helped me see which aspects were actually important/noticeable to me and which weren't.

That’s great advice or maybe I’ll find three and bring those options here and see what people think instead of being sort of ambiguous like I am. Thanks for that, that’s good advice

 

[tyty333]

To be honest, as a person who has owned a couple of Js and a K-colored stone I would stick to an "I" + colored stone
if you have any sensitivity to tint. If you were going after a smaller stone (like a half-carat) then it wouldn't matter so
much but in a bigger stone, you are able to see/comprehend the tint much easier. The only way to know whether it
will bother you or not is to go see some J/K stones in person. Unfortunately, $9k is a little tight for a 1.4 carat stone.

 

[EClove]

Would you consider a lab diamond? Your budget would go a lot further, and you could get a much whiter stone than J-K to look better with your eternity band.

If this is something you would consider you can get an F colored well cut eye clean 1.7ct+ diamond for less than $6000 - I love my LGD.
Head on over to the LGD forum and post any specs and approx budget and I’m sure you’ll find some beautiful stones! @DejaWiz is great at finding beautiful round brilliants!

 

[Piper70]

To be honest, as a person who has owned a couple of Js and a K-colored stone I would stick to an "I" + colored stone
if you have any sensitivity to tint. If you were going after a smaller stone (like a half-carat) then it wouldn't matter so
much but in a bigger stone, you are able to see/comprehend the tint much easier. The only way to know whether it
will bother you or not is to go see some J/K stones in person. Unfortunately, $9k is a little tight for a 1.4 carat stone.

I agree. My avatar is a J/K and I see tint. My DIL has a 2 carat I and I don’t see it there. I’m sure some would but I’m not that color sensitive.

 

[AnastasiaBeaverhausen]

I always thought I wasn't very color sensitive. So I was surpised that I noticed tint in an I ACA I just bought and returned. The tint wasn't the reason I returned it though!

 

[mrsctobe]

I'm not color sensitive at all so the I on my ACA looks white to me. I have an H from an EGL diamond which is clearly multiple shades darker than labelled, and that only started bothering me when I saw it beside my new ACA I color!