Please help me spend some money!! 1.56 ct round

[Springfield23]

Hi!
I have been lurking/learning for a while and am finally replacing my engagement ring. Long store short, the first setting had bad prongs so I’m starting from scratch and replacing the full ring.

I have found a diamond locally that really interests me, but I’m no jeweler. I have a very keen eye for impurities. I picked out the size range/CCCC that I’m desiring. I compared those stats all of the online retailers I could find (JA, BN, RC, WF etc) and it feels like a great buy. Like everyone, trying to get the biggest bang for my buck.

I can’t get a fancier photo of the diamond but these are the readily available GIA stats. They’re asking $10,100 for the stone and $1,200 for the setting. Jeweler was adamant that the diamond was not high risk of chipping.

Is this a good value? Warnings/lessons/ suggestions are highly welcomed!

The setting is gold with a .2ct pear shaped stone on either side of the center.

 

[Springfield23]

Side view

 

[Kim N]

I'm a little wary of "Additional clouds are not shown" in an SI2. I'm also uncertain it's a great value. I found these two on JA.

1.56 Carat round diamond

This 1.56 carat round diamond I color si1 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

1.51 Carat round diamond

This 1.51 carat round diamond I color si1 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

 

[Kaycee2018]

Polish and symmetry are only VG. Coupled with the SI2 clarity grade and “additional clouds not shown” comment, I’d keep looking.

 

[RunningwithScissors]

Everyone's different, but I personally wouldn't buy an SI2 in a modern, D-Z color stone (possibly I would in an antique or a fancy color), especially for my engagement ring, which to me, is my most important jewelry piece, and also rings get knocked/bumped a lot more than necklaces or studs.

 

[lulu_ma]

I found a diamond that you might may want to consider. It's 1 step down in color, 1 step up in clarity but it's got the pretty much the same face up as the stone you posted. Also, it's a superideal backed with the WF upgrade program...Oh and it's cheaper, too!

Diamond | 1.492 ct J SI1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4473432

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 1.492 carat J color SI1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4473432

www.whiteflash.com

 

[RetroQT]

I found a diamond that you might may want to consider. It's 1 step down in color, 1 step up in clarity but it's got the pretty much the same face up as the stone you posted. Also, it's a superideal backed with the WF upgrade program...Oh and it's cheaper, too!

Diamond | 1.492 ct J SI1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4473432

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 1.492 carat J color SI1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4473432

www.whiteflash.com

Ohhhh and hitting that sweet spot of .08 of a carat under 1.5 so you save a lot for it not being over 1.5!

 

[Springfield23]

I'm a little wary of "Additional clouds are not shown" in an SI2. I'm also uncertain it's a great value. I found these two on JA.

1.56 Carat round diamond

This 1.56 carat round diamond I color si1 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

1.51 Carat round diamond

This 1.51 carat round diamond I color si1 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

This is very helpful, thank you! I couldn’t see the spots visibly and could hardly with the magnifier but it did make me weary.

Is it worth the buck to go for higher clarity and then which C would be better to give up?

 

[Springfield23]

I found a diamond that you might may want to consider. It's 1 step down in color, 1 step up in clarity but it's got the pretty much the same face up as the stone you posted. Also, it's a superideal backed with the WF upgrade program...Oh and it's cheaper, too!

Diamond | 1.492 ct J SI1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4473432

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 1.492 carat J color SI1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4473432

www.whiteflash.com

Oh I didn’t realize there was an upgrade option on their 3 categories. I missed that perk!

If I were to spend more on the diamond, where should I focus?

I was trying to go as high in each C but diamond width being close to 7.2-7.4 was my goal. So that left me with G-J, SI2-VS, around the $10k mark

 

[Springfield23]

Ohhhh and hitting that sweet spot of .08 of a carat under 1.5 so you save a lot for it not being over 1.5!

Oh thank you!! It is stunning.

 

[lulu_ma]

Oh I didn’t realize there was an upgrade option on their 3 categories. I missed that perk!

If I were to spend more on the diamond, where should I focus?

I was trying to go as high in each C but diamond width being close to 7.2-7.4 was my goal. So that left me with G-J, SI2-VS, around the $10k mark

I would try to stay at a min of SI1. If you can get into a super ideal cut, I would consider J color. The superior cut will give you edge to edge brightness.

There is a great thread that compares a GIA XXX I color with a Whiteflash AGS K color. Let me see if I can link it.

 

[Springfield23]

I would try to stay at a min of SI1. If you can get into a super ideal cut, I would consider J color. The superior cut will give you edge to edge brightness.

There is a great thread that compares a GIA XXX I color with a Whiteflash AGS K color. Let me see if I can link it.

Just wanted to say thanks for your help and suggestions on a stone. I ended up buying the diamond you found and it is a stunner!! Now to get it set.

 

[lulu_ma]

Just wanted to say thanks for your help and suggestions on a stone. I ended up buying the diamond you found and it is a stunner!! Now to get it set.

Yay! Thanks for the update. Can't wait to see how you set it!