If you have $30K budget, what kind of diamond will you get?

[astar11]

So, I just came back from brick and mortar store to see how big is 2 carat diamond in real life. Then this sales lady told me that I should buy diamond with high clarity (vvs1, vvs2 or the lowest would be vs1). She said that color is important but "for future resale", clarity is also important.

What surprise me is when she said that clarity affect the performance of the diamond, "eventually". For example, diamond with color D and clarity vvs1, after cleaning, will be more sparkle than si1. The diamond with si1 will get dirty and dirty. Is that true? Also, the resale value of higher clarity will be better than lower clarity.

I feel like what she told me is contradicting from what I've learned here. I'm so confused now.

So far, I've believed that cut and color are 2 most important factor in diamond. ASET image will be one of the determining factor whether to buy or not to buy. Clarity is the least important.

But then I also read that too much "feather", "natural" "clouds" can affect the performance of the diamond. If that's so isn't clarity also important?

If you have $30k + budget to get 2 carat diamond, what kind of diamond will you prefer to buy? I mean I don't want to spend huge amount of money for something that'll crack easily due to too much feather, etc...

 

[orbaya]

Re: If you have $30K budget, what kind of diamond will you g

I'd go with a Whiteflash A Cut Above. They are gorgeous stones!

Here's one that is 2.25 cts for under $30k.

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2696792.htm

More -

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2645108.htm

 

[CharmyPoo]

Re: If you have $30K budget, what kind of diamond will you g

For myself, I would buy a GIA G VS1. I find AGS to be a bit softer in color (1 color grade) on some occasions.

Other than that, cut is hugely important. It wouldn't matter what the color and clarity is if it is cut badly.

 

[GemFever]

Re: If you have $30K budget, what kind of diamond will you g

I wouldn't listen too much to the saleslady. Clarity is important, of course, but it's not as black and white as she said. There are different kind of inclusions, and the key is to find a diamond that is eye-clean (which means you cannot see the inclusions, they are hidden away in places that are hard to find, and can be covered up when set), and one in which the inclusions do not present a risk to the structural integrity of the stone (so no surface-reaching inclusions, etc). When looking at stones, you have to look at the diamond plot to see what inclusions there are, where they are located, etc. If you do this extra work, you could score a beautiful diamond with safe and inconspicuous inclusions for a better price.

Personally, if I had a $30K budget and wanted to get an ideal cut diamond, I would go... maybe G color, VS1-2 clarity. I would definitely not pay for the extra high VVS clarity.

 

[Smith1942]

Re: If you have $30K budget, what kind of diamond will you g

Here is my dream stone for 30k. I am completely spoilt by my D colour pendant. It has an extra iciness that other colours don't have, even my E and F diamonds. So I would go D, Signature ideal cut (superlative precision H&A cut) and VS2. Size 1.71, which would be more than enough for my small fingers.

http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-search?filter_id=0&pt=sig#diamonds_pid=LD02536768

 

[Niel]

Re: If you have $30K budget, what kind of diamond will you g

If i had 30k for a diamond I would buy an emerald cut haha

But if you mean what kind of specs would i get for a round? Probably an H VS2. You get it at a place with a good upgrade policy what does it matter about resale if you just upgrade? Plus a well cut stone i going to be easiest to sell.

 

[heididdl]

Re: If you have $30K budget, what kind of diamond will you g

I have a GIA certifed H color si1 3.66 emerald cut ring ideal cut . If you saw it you would flip as there is one tiny tiny inclusion that you have to see with a 10x and you have to really look for it. It is so clear that if you are in the ocean with it you can see the sand at the bottom. So each stone has to be considered as an individual.

Regaring Brick and Mortor sorry but don't listen to one thing she says. If I had that much to spend on 2 carat I would go to WF they have magnificant stones and upgradable. Also they will help you hand select a stone that has the best of the 4 C......getting an IF or a D color stone is just not necessary each stone has its special characteristics as will the stone you finally select.

Keep looking enjoy the hunt and find your perfect stone you have alot of money to spend so take your time and let the experts here also help you ......

 

[Niel]

Re: If you have $30K budget, what kind of diamond will you g

they say on the site this is eye clean, if so, seems perfect
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2696792.htm


if youre concerned about the "specs" they have another one
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2645108.htm

But again, if both are eye clean, what else really matters?



I agree, that woman is trying to upsell you. The point of clarity, to me, is to know if you will see an inclusion or not. If you're not able to see it and its not going to be a danger to the structural clarity, IMO, then the lower the clarity the better

 

[SB621]

Re: If you have $30K budget, what kind of diamond will you g

I would get the largest emerald cut I could find in a Q-R color or lower (with clipped corners)!!!

 

[Niel]

Re: If you have $30K budget, what kind of diamond will you g

I would get the largest emerald cut I could find in a Q-R color or lower (with clipped corners)!!!

Right!!! Im with you there. but i think is question isnt exactly what the title leads you to believe

 

[marymm]

Re: If you have $30K budget, what kind of diamond will you g

If I had $30K budget for a round diamond and had to buy right now, I'd probably want to check out this 2.75ct I-SI1 Transitional platinum ring from Lang Antiques - http://www.langantiques.com/products/item/10-1-3991.

If it had to be a loose round brilliant, I'd contact Brian Gavin for the largest eyeclean G/H BGD Blue within budget - this 2.043ct G-VS1 BGD Blue is just over budget http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/d...2.043-G-VS1-Round-Diamond-AGS-BL-104062571037, but quite tempting.

 

[kenny]

Re: If you have $30K budget, what kind of diamond will you g

0.42 Carat, Fancy Intense Purplish Pink Diamond, Round, VS1



http://www.fancydiamonds.net/view_diamonds/8447.htm

 

[Niel]

Re: If you have $30K budget, what kind of diamond will you g

or of course there are these lovelies

lesss than 27k 3.6ct with setting
http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Rings-Antique-Vintage/362ct-Old-European-Diamond/26944767_CRDXBL#!i=2260703895&k=2W4sKK4


33k 4.5 ct, i know its over and probably a shame to do it but i bet if you asked for just the setting they might might do that. Pop that in a gold or rose gold tiffany repro and it would be amazing
http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Rings-Antique-Vintage/410ct-Old-European-Cut-Diamond/26743813_pGp5n6#!i=2243189504&k=Tw2gKv8

 

[TitanCi]

Re: If you have $30K budget, what kind of diamond will you g

If i had 30k for a diamond I would buy an emerald cut haha

But if you mean what kind of specs would i get for a round? Probably an H VS2. You get it at a place with a good upgrade policy what does it matter about resale if you just upgrade? Plus a well cut stone i going to be easiest to sell.

Slightly off topic, but damn! 2k+ posts in less than a year and nice avatar, BTW!

Sorry OP, back to your topic: get the 1) most well cut, 2) most colorless 3) largest, 4) clearest stone your money can buy (at least that's my order). This can easily be achieved if you shop one of the favorite vendors we have online. That's where I'd put my money. Although I'm sure the lady has good intentions of telling you what she told you, she wants more money from you and is probably old school in thought.

 

[TitanCi]

Re: If you have $30K budget, what kind of diamond will you g

0.42 Carat, Fancy Intense Purplish Pink Diamond, Round, VS1



http://www.fancydiamonds.net/view_diamonds/8447.htm

Kenny, more color to add to your fancy colored stone collection??? Any new ones???

 

[heididdl]

Re: If you have $30K budget, what kind of diamond will you g

Okay I'll play

https://www.google.com/shopping/product/4677255496170419705?q=fancy%20yellow%20diamond&sa=X&ei=_BI9UZ6aFsjD0QHupYGICw&ved=0CH0QwBMwBQ

 

[PinkyPie]

Re: If you have $30K budget, what kind of diamond will you g

0.42 Carat, Fancy Intense Purplish Pink Diamond, Round, VS1

http://www.fancydiamonds.net/view_diamonds/8447.htm

+1

 

[Niel]

Re: If you have $30K budget, what kind of diamond will you g

If i had 30k for a diamond I would buy an emerald cut haha

But if you mean what kind of specs would i get for a round? Probably an H VS2. You get it at a place with a good upgrade policy what does it matter about resale if you just upgrade? Plus a well cut stone i going to be easiest to sell.

Slightly off topic, but damn! 2k+ posts in less than a year and nice avatar, BTW!

haha yeah what can i say.

 

[kenny]

Re: If you have $30K budget, what kind of diamond will you g

0.42 Carat, Fancy Intense Purplish Pink Diamond, Round, VS1



http://www.fancydiamonds.net/view_diamonds/8447.htm

Kenny, more color to add to your fancy colored stone collection??? Any new ones???

No.

 

[Niel]

Re: If you have $30K budget, what kind of diamond will you g

this would also be in the mix for me
http://www.doverjewelry.com/engagement-rings/all-engagement-rings/product/11275-tiffany-co-legacy-2-34cts-diamond-platinum-engagement-ring

 

[SB621]

Re: If you have $30K budget, what kind of diamond will you g

I would get the largest emerald cut I could find in a Q-R color or lower (with clipped corners)!!!

Right!!! Im with you there. but i think is question isnt exactly what the title leads you to believe

I know but a girl can dream right?! Sorry OP I'm sleep depreived!

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

Re: If you have $30K budget, what kind of diamond will you g

this would also be in the mix for me
http://www.doverjewelry.com/engagement-rings/all-engagement-rings/product/11275-tiffany-co-legacy-2-34cts-diamond-platinum-engagement-ring

Yes yes yes!

 

[Dancing Fire]

Re: If you have $30K budget, what kind of diamond will you g

the biggest well cut RB eye clean G SI1 that i can find.

 

[m-2-b]

Re: If you have $30K budget, what kind of diamond will you g

Something like this and get a simple solitaire setting:
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/2.220-g-si1-round-diamond-ags-104063219026

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: If you have $30K budget, what kind of diamond will you g

A 2 ct,. G-H VS1-VS2, ideal cut round or an August Vintage Round.

The sales person was terribly, terribly wrong about VVS clarity causing a diamond to sparkle more than a lower clarity stone!

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2645108.htm

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9483/ (but larger and a lower color, and this is what I am actually working on!)

 

[maccers]

Re: If you have $30K budget, what kind of diamond will you g

I'd find the largest H to J coloured transitional that 30K would buy.

 

[madelise]

Re: If you have $30K budget, what kind of diamond will you g

I wouldn't deal with that jeweler again, if I were you. I don't like it when people tell me what I want to do with my money, esp when it's false! Lower clarity does not get dirtier than higher clarity. She cray. LARGER diamonds will seemingly get dirtier, though, since the facets are larger and you can see them better. You'll be able to spot your finger prints easier on a larger diamond than a smaller diamond.



I already played this game last summer, and I went with a 10.1 mm M VVS OEC. If I could have gotten a larger stone by going with a lower clarity, I would have. The VVS grading was not something I cared for at all. I would have been happier to get 10.5 mm if I went down to a SI1 grading. But a "safe" clarity to have is a VS2. That is eye clean. You don't need VVS. No one can "see" the difference between a VS and a VVS… but they CAN see the size difference, or color difference.


ETA: for MRB, I'd get this: http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/d...2.126-i-vs1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104061006024, and put the $3k towards an amazing setting.

ETA2: actually, I change my mind. This: http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/d...2.104-i-vs2-round-diamond-ags-bl-104063639022 and that gives you $7K to put towards whatever dream setting you can dream up of

 

[Dreamer_D]

Re: If you have $30K budget, what kind of diamond will you g

LOL!

She is wrong on many counts.

All else being equal, it is probably easier to sell a diamond in the G-H VS1-VS2 range. But are you really buying a diamond based onresale value? If so, let us talk some sense into you.

Regarding clarity and sparkle. She is flat out wrong. It is very rare for clarity to affect optics/sparkle negatively. You need to be getting into the SI2 range or worse and even then only with some types of inclusions. The concerns you have about structural integrity and clarity are also only a concern with SI2-I1 level, and even then truly unsound diamonds are rare. If they make it off the dop when they are cut, they are pretty sound. If a cutter decides to cut a diamond to GIA Ex or AGS0 grades, you can bet he/she feels pretty good about the structural soundness. Evaluate clarity on a stone by stone basis. But don't worry about it too much. If you are conered, stick with VS2 clarity or better and you are fine.

Cut quality determines sparkle. Full stop.

I would not spend $30k on a diamond, so asking me what I would do is not all that helpful. But if I were looking for a 2ct stone in an MRB I would personally look for a nice BIG H-I color with an nice honest prongable inclusion on the periphery. This is an opinion about clarity I have come to after many years. If I can't see it, I don't care about it. And I don't really give a fig about color anymore.

 

[astar11]

Re: If you have $30K budget, what kind of diamond will you g

Thank you all for your kind response. I learned a lot from all of your responses. Its fun ! .

I wouldn't listen too much to the saleslady. Clarity is important, of course, but it's not as black and white as she said. There are different kind of inclusions, and the key is to find a diamond that is eye-clean (which means you cannot see the inclusions, they are hidden away in places that are hard to find, and can be covered up when set), and one in which the inclusions do not present a risk to the structural integrity of the stone (so no surface-reaching inclusions, etc). When looking at stones, you have to look at the diamond plot to see what inclusions there are, where they are located, etc. If you do this extra work, you could score a beautiful diamond with safe and inconspicuous inclusions for a better price.

Personally, if I had a $30K budget and wanted to get an ideal cut diamond, I would go... maybe G color, VS1-2 clarity. I would definitely not pay for the extra high VVS clarity.

How do you find "where the inclusions" are located if its just based on aset image, and cert image? and how exactly you know about the danger on the structural of the diamond?

 

[astar11]

Re: If you have $30K budget, what kind of diamond will you g

LOL!

She is wrong on many counts.

All else being equal, it is probably easier to sell a diamond in the G-H VS1-VS2 range. But are you really buying a diamond based onresale value? If so, let us talk some sense into you.

Regarding clarity and sparkle. She is flat out wrong. It is very rare for clarity to affect optics/sparkle negatively. You need to be getting into the SI2 range or worse and even then only with some types of inclusions. The concerns you have about structural integrity and clarity are also only a concern with SI2-I1 level, and even then truly unsound diamonds are rare. If they make it off the dop when they are cut, they are pretty sound. If a cutter decides to cut a diamond to GIA Ex or AGS0 grades, you can bet he/she feels pretty good about the structural soundness. Evaluate clarity on a stone by stone basis. But don't worry about it too much. If you are conered, stick with VS2 clarity or better and you are fine.

Cut quality determines sparkle. Full stop.

I would not spend $30k on a diamond, so asking me what I would do is not all that helpful. But if I were looking for a 2ct stone in an MRB I would personally look for a nice BIG H-I color with an nice honest prongable inclusion on the periphery. This is an opinion about clarity I have come to after many years. If I can't see it, I don't care about it. And I don't really give a fig about color anymore.

So how much will you be willing to spend on 2 carat diamond?