shape
carat
color
clarity

Princess Cut Diamond Ring

jwcr218

Rough_Rock
Joined
Feb 18, 2013
Messages
17
Hello All. I've been scouting the site for a while and have picked up a great deal of information. I am lucky enough to be with an amazing young woman, and now I need the amazing ring to match. Here's what I'm after:

Diamond
-Princess Cut
-AT LEAST 1 carat
-I think I'd like colorless (D-F) is it totally necessary though?
-Eye Clean (Probably SI1-SI2 or better)

Also I've read about Table and Symmetry but don't have a great grasp of their importance. What should I look for there?

As for a Setting, I'm looking for something either Halo or double Halo to enhance the look of the center diamond.

Any suggestions on a good online retailer? I've seen some who have had luck with I.D. Jewelry but I'm curious about buying something like this over the phone. I'm hesitant I suppose.

As for budget, I'm looking at spending no more than $7,000 Total.

Any suggestions or advice are more than welcome. Thank you very much in advance.
 
I don't think you should pay for D/F color. and IDJ is a really good place to get the size stone you want on a budget and they have great settings! They have this stone in stock, so I'd ask them to send you pictures and an aset:

http://www.idjewelryonline.com/diamond_details1.php?id=D00472&shape=&pricefrom=1&priceto=500000&cara

I'd suggest getting the biggest stone you can and putting it in a solitaire setting temporarily and then upgrading the setting later.

Good old gold also has some nice looking ones and you can ask them what other ones they have that aren't on their site that are within your budget:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/10273/

or since you want a halo:

this stone:

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/1.04-carat-D-color-SI2-clarity-sku-159027 or this:
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/1.21-carat-D-color-VS2-clarity-sku-99116 one more:
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/1.08-carat-F-color-SI1-clarity-sku-146384

setting:

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/engagement-rings/halo/18k-white-gold-pave-halo-and-shank-diamond-engagement-ring-princess-center-item-6817
 
Thank you both very much. I've done some looking around and I think I can budge on the diamond being colorless. My question then is this: what characteristics should I be looking for in the diamond before ordering? It seems like not all SI1 diamonds in H color are equal in terms of brilliance. Are there certain table percentages or fluorescence I should be looking for? I guess I'm wondering if it is possible to get an idea of how much sparkle a diamond has without seeing it in person. Also, is it likely that any of the vendors you have mentioned might send photos before I make a purchase decision? Sorry if this is all very basic, I just want to make sure I get this right. Thanks again.
 
Cut is what determines brilliance and sparkle, not color or clarity. I usually keep table <=73, though if there are few options push to 74/75 is also ok if it otherwise looks like it is potentially well-cut. For a 1 ct princess usually you want to be about 5.5x5.5 mm.

For James Allen, you can ask for an ASET picture and gemologist's review.

For IDJ, I don't know if they do pictures, so I stick with AGS Ideal cuts, which are already analyzed for light performance.

For Good Old Gold, I stick to diamonds that they back with a Lifetime Guarantee.
 
OK great. Thanks again for the help. Just to be clear, does that mean cut should really be my most important factor if I'm looking for a diamond to really shine? Or does size still trump all? My soon to be fiance is very petite and has skinny fingers, will a 1 ct diamond look big enough? Or should I take the money I'm saving by not going colorless and get a bigger stone? Also, is ideal cut the lowest I should go on a gia rating? Sorry for all of the sporadic questions, I am quite a novice at this. Thanks again.
 
For me ideal cut and the color are important to me For an engagment ring G-H Color and VS2 for clarity....Unless is it a really eye clean GIA certified SI1.....Just my opinion. I agree with others on setting spend your money on the stone and keep setting simple. I'm married 26 years and was grateful for my beauitufl stone I could always conjour up money for more elaborate setting later
 
A beautifully cut stone with amazing sparkle eye clean and nice color trumps huge size. Remember also not that we go into this thinking this but a GIA certified stone with 3X cut and good color and clarity can be upgraded later. At least 1 full carat of the best quality you can get. I started at 1.05 pear shape and now have 3.66 certified emerald I worked hard for it (married as I said 26 years )
 
You are putting it in a halo, so size is less important; a few tenths of a millimeter here or there is not going to make any difference in the overall look and presence of the ring. Focus on getting the best cut and a pleasing setting, that will make a difference.
 
jwcr218|1361565989|3387931 said:
I can't thank you all enough for your advice. I really like that James Allen diamond. How does this slightly larger diamond measure up? Which would you all choose?

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.270-h-vs2-princess-diamond-gia-30480529

It might be worth looking into....here's another one that's close to the size of this BGD:

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/1.47-carat-I-color-VS1-clarity-sku-53570

another one you could look into...I'd ask about that feather, but it's a beautiful stone:

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/1.27-carat-F-color-SI2-clarity-sku-189787
 
BGD one is virtual, needs to be called in, BGD halos run a bit more so that doesn't fit your $7000 budget.
 
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Top