Help choosing 1 ct Round diamond

[GuMiBears]

I have a lot of questions.
Background:
Chosen setting: https://www.shaneco.com/engagement-...ings/lyon-infinity-engagement-ring/p/41069369
Going to have it set up with 6 prongs so the diamond looks "rounder". It is all white gold.
Ive been looking through diamonds on rare carat, blue nile, james allen, brilliant earth, derco, whiteflash, brian gavin, and shane.
Using the following for statistical references:

DNA of H&A Diamonds

Ideal cut diamonds, hearts and arrows ideal cut diamonds, H&A, super ideal cuts, AGS 000, GIA triple excellent, the definitive diamond cut website, GIA or AGS graded diamonds, diamonds with Sarin AGS Zero grades are discussed in detail, brought to you by the first importers of H&A diamonds in...

www.heartsandarrows.com

Ideal round stats?

Table %	52.4% to 57.5%
Depth %	56.88% to 63.92%
Crown Angle	33.7° to 35.8°
Pavilion Angle	40.2° to 41.25°
Girdle Thickness	Thin – Medium
Culet Size	None

Polish/Symmetry Excellent
Fluorescence Medium to None

Girlfriend wants 1 ct natural (just so she can say it is) and shiny/sparkly(this is the most important). Ive been trying to focus on having excellent/ideal cut 1ct in some near colorless range (I-J) and "eye clean" VS2-SI1 clarity. I assume that I can generally just avoid external scratches, black crystals, and "clouds not shown", and nothing in the middle of the table and be good to go?

Budget is $2.5-3k for diamond preferably less not more. $5k max (ring+setting) but the setting already takes ~$2k and its fairly unique among the brands so likely gonna keep the setting choice (chosen by her). If this is impossible, ill have to rethink or pay more or convince her that .9ct is the way to go.

Questions:
1) I notice that james allen/blue nile/whiteflash/brian gavin have a lot of photos that more clearly show the arrows pattern while rare carat rarely shows it despite all of them accounting for the above stats. Is this just cheap camera work on the part of the rare carat vendors?

2) If all the ideal stats are accounted for, does that generally make it the "shiniest" version if all other C's are equal?

3) How yellow/faint brown are K diamonds really? I went into blue nile in Santa Clara, CA and the row of diamonds from D thru M as examples color only was very noticeable on the M color diamond. Youtube seems to show that K diamonds look just fine (used a beyondthe4C's youtube video. I was thinking about K diamonds to cut the price down.

Different ones that im tempted to try getting:
Rare Carat, IGI, J VS2 with feathers? IGI doesnt seem to specify ever.

Round 1.01 Carat Natural Diamond, J, VS2, IGI Certified

1.01 carat natural diamond, certified by IGI. J color and VS2 clarity. Priced at $2615, is 49% lower than our fair price estimate, and seems like a Great Price for a Round Shape conflict-free diamond

www.rarecarat.com

Blue Nile, GIA, J SI1 with unspecified clouds/feathers/pinpoints but the arrows seem fairly clear.

1.00 Carat J-SI1 Excellent Cut Round Diamond

This 1 carat round diamond J color si1 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA

www.bluenile.com

James Allen, IGI, SI1 Not great on edges but hoping prongs block?

1.00 Carat round diamond

This 1 carat round diamond J color si1 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from IGI

www.jamesallen.com

James Allen, IGI, J VS2

1.01 Carat round diamond

This 1.01 carat round diamond J color vs2 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from IGI

www.jamesallen.com

James Allen, GIA, J SI1 Lots of crap on the edge but hoping prongs block?

1.00 Carat round diamond

This 1 carat round diamond J color si1 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

What do you guys think? Thanks for the help.

 

[lovedogs]

Unfortunately, even if you stick within those recommended ranges, it doesn't guarantee a truly great stone. The ones you chose aren't very well cut.

The stones in house at whiteflash are all super id3al cut, so you can rest assured they are the best of the best.

How color sensitive is your GF? That will make a difference in what color we recommend you sticking to

 

[lovedogs]

If you need to be above 1ct

1.02 Carat round diamond

This 1.02 carat round diamond K color si1 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

1.06 Carat round diamond

This 1.06 carat round diamond I color si1 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

1.06 Carat round diamond

This 1.06 carat round diamond J color si1 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

I'm nervous about the eye-clean-ness of these, but unfortunately your budget doesn't quite get you to an ideal cut 1ct stone.

 

[DejaWiz]

Hello and welcome to PriceScope, GuMiBears!
That's a tough order, but we can come close.

Diamond is slightly tilted in the video:

0.95 Carat Round Diamond GIA 1459758968 | Ritani

0.95 Carat Round Earth Diamond ID Cut I Color VVS2 Clarity with diamond report number GIA #1459758968

www.ritani.com

No holds barred lifetime upgrade program:

Diamond | 0.80 ct J VS1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond GIA Certified | 4596657

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 0.80 carat J color VS1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). | 4596657

www.whiteflash.com

 

[GuMiBears]

How color sensitive is your GF? That will make a difference in what color we recommend you sticking to

I personally dont think she is that color sensitive (but she says my fashion sense with colors are bad so...). In any case when we went to shane and looked at between a D and G color. She liked the G color better. D looked too "clear", but either way when we mixed D, G, F together we honestly couldnt tell which was which without looking thru a loupe and knowing what the expected clarity was to be able to differentiate between them. When we went to a random mall vendor that supposedly had an F VS2 it must have been cloudy enough that my GF was like its not very sparkly at all and we immediately left.

The I color VS2 at costcos look sparkly enough that she likes them but costco doesnt sell loose diamonds and theyre always in the case with the white led lights surrounded by melee.

At that point im pretty convinced that even J and K are probably ok but ive not seen J and K in engagement rings in real life yet. My hope is the 6 prong white gold will not only cover the sides enough but will induce white reflection.

Thanks for the james allen suggestions. What made you choose those? Are the stats specifically better or just by look? I suppose the only problem is the black crystal in the middle of the table on all of them and whether theyre clearly noticeable or not.

 

[lavenderdragonfly23]

What about this diamond?

Diamond | 0.80 ct J VS1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond GIA Certified | 4596657

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 0.80 carat J color VS1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). | 4596657

www.whiteflash.com

If you get your diamond from Whiteflash “A Cut Above”, you will get one of the best cut diamonds around, and should you decide to upgrade down the road, they have an awesome trade in plan.

You mentioned a six prong white gold setting… Whiteflash sells Vatche U113, a setting known by many of us to be the closest setting to a Tiffany & Co simple 6 prong solitaire

6 Prong Solitaire Engagement Ring by Vatche | 1779

6 Prong Solitaire Engagement Ring by Vatche. Experience classic elegance with the timeless beauty of the 6 prong solitaire engagement ring by Vatche. | 1779

www.whiteflash.com

 

[lovedogs]

Hello and welcome to PriceScope, GuMiBears!
That's a tough order, but we can come close.

Diamond is slightly tilted in the video:

0.95 Carat Round Diamond GIA 1459758968 | Ritani

0.95 Carat Round Earth Diamond ID Cut I Color VVS2 Clarity with diamond report number GIA #1459758968

www.ritani.com

No holds barred lifetime upgrade program:

Diamond | 0.80 ct J VS1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond GIA Certified | 4596657

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 0.80 carat J color VS1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). | 4596657

www.whiteflash.com

Sooo much better!!!

 

[lovedogs]

I personally dont think she is that color sensitive (but she says my fashion sense with colors are bad so...). In any case when we went to shane and looked at between a D and G color. She liked the G color better. D looked too "clear", but either way when we mixed D, G, F together we honestly couldnt tell which was which without looking thru a loupe and knowing what the expected clarity was to be able to differentiate between them. When we went to a random mall vendor that supposedly had an F VS2 it must have been cloudy enough that my GF was like its not very sparkly at all and we immediately left.

The I color VS2 at costcos look sparkly enough that she likes them but costco doesnt sell loose diamonds and theyre always in the case with the white led lights surrounded by melee.

At that point im pretty convinced that even J and K are probably ok but ive not seen J and K in engagement rings in real life yet. My hope is the 6 prong white gold will not only cover the sides enough but will induce white reflection.

Thanks for the james allen suggestions. What made you choose those? Are the stats specifically better or just by look? I suppose the only problem is the black crystal in the middle of the table on all of them and whether theyre clearly noticeable or not.

Yeah, but G and K are very different. I honestly think you'd be better served getting an ideal diamond in a simple setting so you can put more $$ towards the stone itself

 

[lavenderdragonfly23]

Whiteflash has a 1ct K, if you throw in a couple extra hundred!

Diamond | 1.077 ct K SI1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4557172

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 1.077 carat K color SI1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4557172

www.whiteflash.com

 

[GuMiBears]

Yeah, but G and K are very different. I honestly think you'd be better served getting an ideal diamond in a simple setting so you can put more $$ towards the stone itself

well i mean K isnt THAT far from a costco I right and she seems fine with I. Quite frankly i made the "mistake" of going ring shopping with her so the setting is what it is. I actually would have gone for a simpler setting and nicer diamond but quite frankly she seems to like the setting more than the actual diamond...so at that point maybe i can convince her to just have a smaller diamond. Her ring size is size 6 if that matters for what looks "nice" for that size of finger.

Diamond is slightly tilted in the video:

0.95 Carat Round Diamond GIA 1459758968 | Ritani

0.95 Carat Round Earth Diamond ID Cut I Color VVS2 Clarity with diamond report number GIA #1459758968

www.ritani.com

No holds barred lifetime upgrade program:

Diamond | 0.80 ct J VS1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond GIA Certified | 4596657

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 0.80 carat J color VS1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). | 4596657

www.whiteflash.com

Is the .95 Ritani better than the .8 whiteflash with regards to sparkliness? or its hard to tell without idealscope/aset images?

Whiteflash has a 1ct K, if you throw in a couple extra hundred!

Diamond | 1.077 ct K SI1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4557172

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 1.077 carat K color SI1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4557172

www.whiteflash.com

thanks for the whiteflash suggestions.

 

[DejaWiz]

Is the .95 Ritani better than the .8 whiteflash with regards to sparkliness? or its hard to tell without idealscope/aset images?

If you are after true SIC with validated and vetted optics, then no not better perse.
The proportions on paper and visual characteristics in the video indicates a rather safe choice (diamond from Ritani), but not to the extreme level that a true SIC seller would provide if you want ultimate peace of mind.

Have you both had the serious discussion about LGD (at least as an initial placeholder), given the budget? Any of the SIC sellers carry them and even put them through similar paces as their natural offerings. Food for thought.

 

[GuMiBears]

An update:
It was a clear no for LGD. Ended up purchasing this blue nile diamond for 2.8k

1.00 Carat J-SI1 Excellent Cut Round Diamond

This 1 carat round diamond J color si1 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA

www.bluenile.com

It has HCA score of 1.7.

Question, since I am getting the setting from Shane Co. Should I have them be the ones to set the diamond ($4pp -> $400 to set it) or is it no big deal to just go to another jeweler to have it set. What are the risk factors with doing Shane or some other jeweler? I assume neither takes responsibility for diamond falling out if it wasnt set properly? Shane warranty allows for melee replacement of the ring it seems.

Thanks for all the helpful comments.

 

[searchinggold]

I personally dont think she is that color sensitive (but she says my fashion sense with colors are bad so...). In any case when we went to shane and looked at between a D and G color. She liked the G color better. D looked too "clear", but either way when we mixed D, G, F together we honestly couldnt tell which was which without looking thru a loupe and knowing what the expected clarity was to be able to differentiate between them. When we went to a random mall vendor that supposedly had an F VS2 it must have been cloudy enough that my GF was like its not very sparkly at all and we immediately left.

The I color VS2 at costcos look sparkly enough that she likes them but costco doesnt sell loose diamonds and theyre always in the case with the white led lights surrounded by melee.

At that point im pretty convinced that even J and K are probably ok but ive not seen J and K in engagement rings in real life yet. My hope is the 6 prong white gold will not only cover the sides enough but will induce white reflection.

Thanks for the james allen suggestions. What made you choose those? Are the stats specifically better or just by look? I suppose the only problem is the black crystal in the middle of the table on all of them and whether theyre clearly noticeable or not.

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[DejaWiz]

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