1.30 Carats | Truth About Diamonds

Archive for 1.30 Carats

Jun

Q&A: Online vs. Local in Miami. $8000 Budget. Radiant vs. Princess.

Posted by: Ira Weissman | Comments (0)

Q: I’m looking for a princess cut diamond around 1.25 ct (+- .25 ct) set into a channeled band with diamonds only going halfway down on either side. Have made my mind up on clarity, color, etc. My budget is 8000. I want a combination of quality and size. I live near Miami’s diamond district and was told to look there for a good deal. I plan to go to a Jared’s or local store first so I can just look at a variety of diamonds to get an idea of what to look for. Is all this a good idea or am I still more likely to get the best deal online? Anything to look out for? Your site was highly recommended by a friend. Thanks.

Categories : Q&A

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May

Q&A: Looking for 1.20 to 1.50 Carat Princess Cut for Around $8000

Posted by: Ira Weissman | Comments (0)

Q: I have been monitoring your site for a while now and have found it very informative. I do not know the first thing when it comes to diamonds except what I have read on your site. I am looking for a center stone, princess cut diamond for around $8000. I would like it to be from a 1.25ct to a 1.50ct for that price. I have a band already picked out. below is the attached link http://www.hydeparkjewelers.com/bridal-engagement-rings/engagement-ring-collection/tacori-rings.aspx I know it is not a great picture but it is the best one I can find online. The jeweler that is selling this states that the diamonds in the channel are of G color and VS1 clarity. I have been looking into a center stone from jamesallen.com because they seem to have more resonable prices than the place I am going to buy the setting from. If at all possible I would like the diamond to be of G color and VS1 clarity. but, I am not sure if I should get the same color and clarity for the center stone. Let me know what you think. Thanks!!!

Categories : Q&A

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Apr

Best Hearts & Arrows Ideal Cut Round Brilliant Diamond for $8,000: 1.32 Carats I Color SI1 Clarity TrueHearts by James Allen

Posted by: Ira Weissman | Comments (0)

Following yesterday’s pick of the best Hearts & Arrows Ideal Cut Round Diamond for $9,000, today we present you with the best H&A Ideal Cut diamond for $8,000.

Here’s the Stats (Or Click Here for a Copy of the AGS Certificate):

Diamond Magnified 20x - Click to Enlarge

Carats: 1.32

Diamond Color: I

Diamond Clarity: SI1

Diamond Cut: Ideal

Measurements: 6.99*7.03*4.39

Depth: 62.6%

Table: 54.6%

Crown Angle: 35.6°

Crown %:

Pavilion Angle: 40.7°

Pavilion %:

Diamond Polish: Ideal

Diamond Symmetry: Ideal

Diamond Fluorescence: None

James Allen Engagement Ring

Diamond Price: $7,490

Don’t forget to use our exclusive coupon code TADJ10 with James Allen for 10% off Engagement Ring Settings!

You might mistakenly believe that solitaire style engagement rings – those rings without any diamonds on the ring other than the main center stone – are fairly straightforward and don’t vary much in style. But nothing could be further from the truth!

Within the solitaire category, there are many variations of looks. Some bands are wider, some are more narrow. Some are higher up (cathedral), some strive to be as flush with the finger as possible. Some are ornate with filigree, some are plain and polished.

Today’s engagement ring setting recommendation is a great example of how unique you can go with a solitaire setting. Today’s ring, the 18k White Gold Wide Contour Solitaire Ring Setting from James Allen, features a double contoured band that gives a sleek and unique look.

This ring, in either white gold or platinum would match wonderfully with today’s diamond.

Click here to be Brought to the Diamond on James Allen

Categories : Daily Diamond

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Jan

Best Princess Cut Diamond for $5000: 1.29 Carat I Color VS1 Clarity Ideal Cut Princess Cut Diamond

Posted by: Ira Weissman | Comments (0)

Following yesterday’s choice of the best princess cut diamond for $6000, today we move on down the line to the best princess cut diamond for $5,000.

Here’s the Stats (Or Click Here for a Copy of the GIA Certificate):

Diamond Magnified 20x - Click to Enlarge

Carats: 1.29

Diamond Color: I

Diamond Clarity: VS1

Measurements: 6.34*6.13*4.17

Length/Width Ratio: 1.03

Depth: 68.0%

Table: 72%

Diamond Polish: Excellent

Diamond Symmetry: Excellent

Diamond Fluorescence: None

James Allen Engagement Ring

Diamond Price: $5,250

Don’t forget to use our exclusive coupon code TADJ10 with James Allen for 10% off Engagement Ring Settings!

James Allen also has a great selection of engagement rings to choose from to match with this diamond. A great engagement ring selection to match this princess cut diamond is James Allen’s 18k White Gold .66ct Pave Set Rounded Diamond Engagement Ring. Even though the stock picture of this ring is displayed with a round diamond, you can see what the ring looks like set with a princess cut diamond by using James Alen’s handy “recently purchased” feature. For example, you can see this ring matched with a 1.03 carat princess cut here: http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/sold/pave/1963/Pave-Ring-Setting.html

As with yesterday’s selection, the cut on today’s diamond is truly special. A total depth percentage of 68% combined with a table percentage of 72% is just about ideal for a princess cut.

Click here to be Brought to the Diamond on James Allen

Categories : Daily Diamond

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Jan

Best Princess Cut Diamond for $6000: 1.30 Carat H Color VS1 Clarity Ideal Cut GIA Certified Princess Cut Diamond

Posted by: Ira Weissman | Comments (0)

Following yesterday’s choice of the best princess cut diamond for $7000, today we move on down the line to the best princess cut diamond for $6,000.

Here’s the Stats (Or Click Here for a Copy of the GIA Certificate):

Diamond Magnified 20x - Click to Enlarge

Carats: 1.30

Diamond Color: H

Diamond Clarity: VS1

Measurements: 6.13*6.09*4.19

Length/Width Ratio: 1.01

Depth: 68.8%

Table: 70%

Diamond Polish: Excellent

Diamond Symmetry: Very Good

Diamond Fluorescence: Medium Blue

James Allen Engagement Ring

Diamond Price: $6,070

Don’t forget to use our exclusive coupon code TADJ10 with James Allen for 10% off Engagement Ring Settings!

James Allen also has a great selection of engagement rings to choose from to match with this diamond. If you like to balance the look of a princess cut with a slim engagement ring band studded with pave stone, then James Allen’s 18k White Gold .15ct Pave Set Diamond Engagement Ring might be the ring for you.

As with yesterday’s selection, the cut on today’s diamond is very nice. A total depth percentage of 68.8% combined with a table percentage of 70% is just about ideal for a princess cut. These days, it’s quite difficult to find such a well made princess cut.

Click here to be Brought to the Diamond on James Allen

Categories : Daily Diamond

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Jan

Best Princess Cut Diamond for $7000: 1.30 Carats G Color VS2 Clarity Ideal Cut Princess Cut Diamond

Posted by: Ira Weissman | Comments (0)

Following yesterday’s choice of the best princess cut diamond for $8000, today we offer you the best princess cut diamond for $7,000.

Here’s the Stats (Or Click Here for a Copy of the GIA Certificate):

Diamond Magnified 20x - Click to Enlarge

Carats: 1.30

Diamond Color: G

Diamond Clarity: VS2

Measurements: 6.08*5.93*4.28

Length/Width Ratio: 1.03

Depth: 72.2%

Table: 72%

Diamond Polish: Very Good

Diamond Symmetry: Very Good

Diamond Fluorescence: None

James Allen Engagement Ring

Diamond Price: $6,870

Don’t forget to use our exclusive coupon code TADJ10 with James Allen for 10% off Engagement Ring Settings!

James Allen also has a great selection of engagement rings to choose from to match with this diamond. A elegantly simple ring that is extremely popular is James Allen’s 2mm Comfort Fit Platinum Solitaire Diamond Ring.

As with the other daily diamond recommendations, today’s diamond is an ideal cut princess cut. The depth and table percentages are squarely in the desirable ranges.

Click here to be Brought to the Diamond on James Allen

Categories : Daily Diamond

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Dec

Best I1 Clarity Diamond for $4000: 1.40 Carat I Color Round Brilliant AGS Certified James Allen TrueHearts Hearts & Arrows Ideal Cut

Posted by: Ira Weissman | Comments (2)

Following our previous selection of the best I1 clarity diamond for $5,000, today we present you with our selection for the best I1 clarity diamond for $4000. Today’s selection is truly a rare find – an exceptional AGS Certified Hearts & Arrows ideal cut with an eye-clean I1 inclusion pattern.

Here’s the Stats (Or Click Here for a Copy of the AGS Certificate):

Diamond Magnified 20x - Click to Enlarge

Carats: 1.40

Diamond Color: I

Diamond Clarity: I1

Diamond Cut: Ideal (0)

Measurements: 7.15*7.16*4.47

Depth: 62.5%

Table: 54.3%

Diamond Polish: Ideal (0)

Diamond Symmetry: Ideal (0)

Diamond Fluorescence: None

James Allen Engagement Ring

Diamond Price: $3,910

Don’t forget to use our exclusive coupon code TADJ10 with James Allen for 10% off Engagement Ring Settings!

Diamond Magnified 20x - Click to Enlarge

James Allen also has a great selection of engagement rings to choose from to match with this diamond. Since today’s diamond is really pushing the bounds of eye-clean, it might be a good idea to match it with an engagement ring setting that offers a bit of a distraction in the way of pave diamonds. James Allen’s 18k White Gold Pave ME1 by Danhov Designer Engagement Ring setting can provide you with just that.

Today’s stone definitely pushing the bounds of what eye-clean means. While it is true that if you held today’s stone up to lamp and actively searched for the inclusions, you would find some of them – a stone like this will still be eye clean to a casual observer, even one at a distance of only a foot or so. To get a better idea of how this stone will look, take a look at the zoomed out picture above on the left. The picture is still much larger than actual size, and look how difficult it is to see the inclusions.

Click here to be Brought to the Diamond on James Allen

Categories : Daily Diamond

Comments (2)

Oct

Help finding the best Round Brilliant for $6000

Posted by: Ira Weissman | Comments (1)

Q: Hi Ira — Great website and postings on best values. I’m in the market for an engagement ring, and my budget is about $6000 (or less if I can) for a center diamond. Looking at at least a carat (6.5mm+ in diameter), eye clean, near colorless (G, H, I), and as sparkly as possible. I found several diamonds on JamesAllen that look good for about that price, but wondering if you have any guidance to offer. I found this - http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1262671.asp but also saw that you had a 1.54 carat recommendation the other day for about the same price. Could I get more carat / quality for my money than the one above? Thanks in advance of your help! Ryan

A: Hey Ryan. Thanks for the nice words about my site. James Allen’s cut grades are very rudimentary. Imagine concentric circles. If all the parameters fit within the defined limits of the inner most circle, so then the stone gets “ideal.” If one or more of the parameters falls outside of the defined limit of the innermost circle, so then it’s given a “premium” grade, etc. It’s rudimentary because it considers each parameter to be significant on its own. 10 years of GIA research has proven otherwise. GIA now knows that a 59% depth stone combined (this is just an example, and might not be correct) with a 59% table will return the most light, but a 59% table combined with a 63% table might be awful. So GIA won’t demote a stone unless the entire COMBINATION of parameters is a less good combination.

So I typically will ignore JA’s cut grade and focus solely on the GIA or AGS cut grade. They have put much more (unbiased) time and money into discovering the best cuts, and their methods are much more elegant and sophisticated.

Categories : Q&A

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Oct

Best Hearts & Arrows Ideal Cut Round Brilliant Diamond for $10,000: 1.30 Carat H Color VVS1 Clarity AGS Certified Triple Zero

Posted by: Ira Weissman | Comments (0)

Following our previous pick of the best Hearts & Arrows Ideal Cut diamond for $11,000, today we bring you the best Hearts & Arrows Ideal Cut for $10,000.

Here’s the Stats (Or Click Here for a Copy of the AGS Certificate):