need advice on my 1st purchase

[funketrade]

I am planning my first diamond purchase and after a lot of research, I have narrowed down my parameters for a round stone as follows. I am prioritizing cut (going for 0 Ideal). My question is which parameter(s) can I compromise on in order to increase the size of stone, here are my parameters with related questions:

-Cut:0 ideal - could excellent still give the same fire and scintillation? Also how can a 0ideal yield a HCA score below excellent? (Maybe I am misunderstanding the HCA advisor but isnt it based on cut geometry which is rated as 0 Ideal?
-Colour : G - would H be essentially as colourless?
- Clarity : vs1or2 - would SI1 potentially be OK
At 3700$ , I am looking at around 0.7c just wondering what the best thing to compromise on to get it up around 0.8. Thanks for your help

 

[JulieN]

Is this one too expensive? http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2763510.htm

Ask if this one is eye-clean, and for an Ideal Scope picture: http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/Round-cut/0.80-carat-G-color-SI1-clarity-sku-180369

 

[funketrade]

Thanks for the reply - I checked the whiteflash link (the james allen one didn't seem to still be available). The HCA result for the whiteflash was only Very Good and the score was over 2.

The on eI thinking of is: http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/Round-cut/0.72-carat-G-color-VS2-clarity-Excellent-cut-sku-146897

It is 0.72 c and has of 1.3 and excellent' hca results - except for Spread which is VG. Should I use HCA result as basis for prefering one stone over another? I really want the best i can get for cut and will settle for a smaller stone if it means better light, fire, scintillation

 

[SMC]

I don't think you should eliminate the Whiteflash stone based on the HCA score. It's already an AGS 000 which means that it's already been rated ideal for light performance. I asked this question earlier in this thread: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/hca-score-3-2-on-ags-triple-ideal-diamond.184021/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/hca-score-3-2-on-ags-triple-ideal-diamond.184021/[/URL]

 

[JulieN]

The WF one I picked is very beautiful. On HCA it is borderline but it won't have any visible problems.

Here is a bigger one: http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/Round-cut/0.81-carat-H-color-VS2-clarity-sku-185387

 

[echomomm]

If you work with a trusted vendor, they should be able to tell you how eye-clean a particular SI1 stone is. Some are very eye-clean and others are not, but that should be something you can find out before purchase. Some people prioritize higher clarity, but for me, personally, if I cannot see it without a loupe, it is all good, and I am happy to go to an SI grade. Colour will depend on how colour sensitive you are. In a RB, H still faces up quite white in an ideally cut stone, but again, people have different levels of sensitivity. Consider what colour metal you will be setting it in, and how it might compare to the melee, if there will be any. In YG, many people can go lower in colour. You may want to visit a B&M store where you can compare GIA graded G and H stones (or maybe even I) to see where your preference lies.