Guidance on Choosing an Engagement Ring 2.5ct round

[melthekoala]

Hi everyone,

I'm new here and have been soaking up much information, but I'm still feeling a bit overwhelmed. I'd love to hear your thoughts on choosing an engagement ring.

Our budget is upwards of $60k. Recently, my fiancé and I admired a D/VVSI 2.12ct round ring at Tiffany priced at over $115k. The specs were:

- Total depth: 61.3%
- Table: 60%
- Crown height: 13.7%
- Crown angle: 33.7°
- Star length: 50%
- Pavilion depth: 43.8%
- Pavilion angle: 41.2°
- Lower half length: 75%
- Girdle: Medium to slightly thick

Please share your thoughts on this piece.


After further consideration, we're exploring a local vendor who offered to help us find a 2.5ct D/IF, triple excellent cut, no fluorescence diamond for $100k.

I'd appreciate your input on the following:

1. Is $100k a reasonable price for a 2.5ct D/IF diamond?
2. How does D/VVSI compare to D/IF, and how do both fare against E/VVSI/VVS2?
3. What are my options for a 2.5ct round diamond within $60k, $75k, and $90k ranges?
4. I'm considering the following specs: table 56-59%, crown height 14-15.5%, and pavilion depth 42.5-43.5%.
Any thoughts on this, especially regarding crown and pavilion angles?

Your advice and thoughts would be invaluable to me.

Thank you so much!

 

[Ibrakeforpossums]

From the cheap seats: Perhaps consider VVS1 rather than the much more expensive IF. You'll still need good magnification to see the unique identifier that Mother Nature put on your diamond, and you'll have a bigger pool of candidates.
A friend of mine just bought a Canadian diamond about that size, and she told me "It's special because it has a dark spot in the middle." I thought, oh dear. But her diamond burns my retinas. It's spectacular. Don't be afraid to look outside the clarity report.

 

[Kim N]

To the naked eye, a VVS1 or even VVS2/VS1 will look identical to an IF.

Are you color-sensitive enough to be able to distinguish a D from an E?

These are the PS member-recommended proportions.

Diamond Proportions

The physics of light-behavior within a diamond are reliably consistent, which means proportions measurements can be useful.

www.pricescope.com

For your budget, I'd get one of these stones.

Diamond | 2.42 ct E VVS2 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond GIA Certified | 4638088

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 2.42 carat E color VVS2 clarity loose diamond is graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). | 4638088

www.whiteflash.com

Diamond | 2.51 ct D VS1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond GIA Certified | 4637490

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 2.51 carat D color VS1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). | 4637490

www.whiteflash.com

Diamond | 2.168 ct E VVS1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4483307

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 2.168 carat E color VVS1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4483307

www.whiteflash.com

 

[Dreamer_D]

Can you tell us more about your desires for your diamond and your priorities? The examples you gave prioritize color and clarity over size. And a Tiffany prioritizes the history and mystique of the brand over basically everything else.

Some of the valuable aspects of diamonds are primarily cultural and psychological. To the naked eye it’s usually impossible to discern IF from VVS and even VS1 is a phenomenally clean stone. For many people G is plenty white. So how important is colorless and flawless to your enjoyment of your gem?

 

[vintageinjune]

I'd appreciate your input on the following:

1. Is $100k a reasonable price for a 2.5ct D/IF diamond?
2. How does D/VVSI compare to D/IF, and how do both fare against E/VVSI/VVS2?
3. What are my options for a 2.5ct round diamond within $60k, $75k, and $90k ranges?
4. I'm considering the following specs: table 56-59%, crown height 14-15.5%, and pavilion depth 42.5-43.5%.
Any thoughts on this, especially regarding crown and pavilion angles?

Your advice and thoughts would be invaluable to me.

Thank you so much!

1. Is $100k a reasonable price for a 2.5 ct D/IF diamond.... maybe? Depends on a few things. How important is having the best cut? How important is an upgrade policy? For $96k(ish), you can get this 2.09 D/IF super ideal cut diamond from Brian Gavin Diamonds:

2.090 D IF Signature Round

Buy diamonds online - AGS Graded 2.090 carat D IF Round cut diamond. Free Shipping and 15 Day Returns!

www.briangavindiamonds.com

For $94k (ish) you can get this 2.8, D/IF 3x GIA diamond:

diamond-WSMBS078DD | Frank Darling

Sustainably grown lab diamonds and conflict-free natural diamonds. Shop competitively priced GIA diamonds in every shape, from emerald cut to round brilliant.

frankdarling.com

Or for $62k you can get this 2.51 D/IF 3X GIA diamond:

diamond-230268-24HK | Frank Darling

Sustainably grown lab diamonds and conflict-free natural diamonds. Shop competitively priced GIA diamonds in every shape, from emerald cut to round brilliant.

frankdarling.com

The last two are good diamonds, but not ideal diamonds.

2. Most people (myself included) would be unable to differentiate between D/E and anything from IF - VVS2, possibly even VS1.

3. Too many to list. @Kim N has some fantastic options around the $60k range posted. The 2.51 would be my personal choice.

4. Those specs are a good starting point, here is a great resource on diamond cut (my brain is currently too tired to try and summarize eloquently) :

Learn Why Diamond Cut is SO important with our Expert Guide

Diamond Cut refers to the finish of a diamond. Proper cutting enables a diamond to perform at its best. Click here to Learn more about Diamond Cut.

www.whiteflash.com

 

[Ibrakeforpossums]

Brian Gavin is top quality. One of his signature diamonds is a "none better" proposition.

 

[mayaINaU]

For your budget, I would buy a super-ideal with proven light performance measurement (Whiteflash ACA, Brian Gavin, or JannPaul). I would happily do D-E-F-G unless you have compared and can definitively differentiate between the colors and it bothers you. I would not pay for IF unless that was a "mind-clean" issue--that you just could not enjoy the diamond knowing it was not IF. You will not be able to see any flaws in a VVS2/VS1 and even VS2 probably, without magnification. I have an SI1 ACA and cannot see anything with the naked eye (but it's a smaller stone than you are contemplating).

Light performance--the ability of the stone to take in and reflect back all the light in the environment--is what makes it sparkle. The color and clarity (with some exceptions that would not be present in a Whiteflash ACA, Brian Gavin, or JannPaul stone as they screen for those issues) do not affect light performance.