Please help me choose a 2.5 RB

[rb_diamond]

Hi Everyone,

I'm a first time poster; however, I've been lurking around for a while now. I'm trying to choose a 2.5-3 carat RB center stone for an ering and stay in the low 30s. I would really like something in the colorless range and eyeclean. These are the specs of the best stone that I have seen in person (GIA):

Carat Weight: 2.50
Measurements: 8.82 - 8.88 x 5.40 mm
Color: D
Clarity: SI1
Cut: Excellent
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Very Good
Fluorescence: None
Table: 58%
Depth: 61%
Crown: 33.0
Pavilion: 41.8
Culet: none

I've used the HCA tool and it was a 5. Is that awful? It looked like it sparkled to me.

The price was around $34,000 and with a discount on the setting (tiffany style shared prong in platinum) the total would be $35,500. I really would not want to go higher in price than this, and would prefer to stay lower.

Does anyone have any thoughts? I've learned so much about the importance of cut on here and to use the HCA tool and not just rely on the GIA grading; however, searches on the commonly suggested internet suppliers signature range have yielded stones that were way out of my price range.

 

[slg47]

I did a search of the PS vendors and found nothing in your specs, but then I found this one...

http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-own-diamond-ring?forceStep=DIAMONDS_STEP&builder=BYOR&pid=LD01849449

BN won't be able to verify that this is eye-clean, but this one could be a nice option and it is slightly bigger. Perhaps you can have your jeweler call in an AGS0 and compare it to the D SI1 you posted to see if you prefer the D? I think the issue is the steep pavilion/shallow crown, perhaps some experts can chime in on that.

 

[rb_diamond]

Thanks so much for your comments! My jeweler has been able to call in other stones from Blue Nile, so I'll give him a call tomorrow and see if he can get this stone in so I can compare the two.

 

[rb_diamond]

Anyone have any idea what could be wrong with this stone that it is priced so low ($23,134 at BN)? Would the strong blue fluorescence make it milky in a G? It has a HCA score of 1.9.

 

[stone-cold11]

Strong flow might have a change of being the over-blue type but not necessary all stones will exhibit that type.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1339615.asp

This looks promising if eye-clean.

 

[rb_diamond]

That does look like a nice one. I think I had read somewhere that James Allen was based out of NYC. Is it possible to travel there and view their diamonds in person?

I also noticed that the stone has an HCA score of 4. Does that matter?

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

That does look like a nice one. I think I had read somewhere that James Allen was based out of NYC. Is it possible to travel there and view their diamonds in person?

I also noticed that the stone has an HCA score of 4. Does that matter?

It would matter a lot to me. But i may be biased.

 

[stone-cold11]

Lower half size, depending on the rounding, might mitigate leakage. Idealscope image will tell more.