Here are the details:

- Is your goal cheapest price for given parameters, or best diamond for fixed budget?
No, it is not. Quality is very important.

- Shape
Princess shape.

- Desired Color Range
I, H, G

- Desired Clarity
VS2 – VVS2

- Desired Cut
Very Good – Ideal

- Desired Size
1.70 – 1.90

- Budget
8,000 – 12,000

Thank you.

A: Here are some very fine options. Each is eye clean of course, and each has a near-perfect cut:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1314714.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1280747.asp

Q: I had actually picked the first one – 1.77, so this reassures my decision. Thank you for your help. Would you recommend buying off of James Allen?

…….

Can you please provide me with your opinion of this diamond versus the other ones that you sent. It seems to be priced well:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1243862.asp

A: Most definitely I recommend them. I’ve had a ton of experience over the past year and a half since I started the site sending people to JA – I’ve never heard any complaints. Everyone’s extremely pleased with them.

As for the I VS2 you linked to, the cut isn’t QUITE as nice as the H VS1, but you know what, for that much of a difference in price, you might be better off with the one you picked! If you’re setting it in a solitaire setting, then for sure go with the I VS2. Otherwise, you might need to stick with H or better in color to match the side stones.

Q: Thank you for your help. It is very much appreciated. I am looking at this setting with a single diamond.
Selected Setting:
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/1-carat-solitaire-engagement-ring.html

Here are the 5 diamonds I have narrowed it down to:

I VS1 – $9520
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1318388.asp

I VS2 – $9780
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1243862.asp

G VS2 – $12170
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1280747.asp

H VS1 – $11050
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1314714.asp

I VS2 – $9270
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1339636.asp

I am having trouble deciding if I should spend the extra 2000-3000 dollars on the G and H. I guess I just don’t have the experience to determine the exact difference in the diamonds.
I am trying to keep the diamond at around $10000 since the setting is around $1500.
Which one would you recommend? Also do you think the setting I selected will look fine with the selected diamonds?

Thank you!

A: That ring will look fantastic with any of these stones. Since you’re setting it in a solitaire, I really think your best bet is to go with an I color. There’s almost no visual difference between an I and H face-up mounted in a ring. So $1500 is a lot of money to pay for such an extremely minor effect.

Let me know what you decide in the end!

Q: That helps me narrow it down. Now to choose which I color one i want.
When I make my final decision I will be sure to let you know.

…….

Does a “thick” girdle matter? Do you think I should not consider diamonds with thick girdles.

…….

I think I have picked this one. I am not 100% certain yet, but I am leaning towards this one. It seems to be the best value for the largest size, and overall it seems to be a clean diamond.
What do you think?
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1249096.asp

Thanks.

A: Thick is Ok. Just stay away from “extremely thick” or “extremely thin”

…….

That’s a fantastic stone with an amazing value at 1.91cts. These are very very rare, so you should snap it up before someone else does!

Q: That’s great news. I was reading information online that said you don’t want a diamond in the 1.5-2.0 range that has a “I color” since you will really notice it. I guess that is not the case?

A: nope. Complete nonsense!

Q: Excellent, I will order it as soon as I can. Thank you for all of your help.

A: My pleasure! Please stay in touch and let me know how it goes and what you think of it when it arrives!

Q: I really appreciate your help and expertise. I ordered the ring tonight. I am anxious to see what it looks like.
Is there anything I can do to put a review on your website or help you out in any way?

A: Thanks for letting me know! Lets make a deal – wait until you get the ring. If you love it, then I’ll hit you up for a review

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

Click here for an enlarged image of the diamond

Shape: Round

Cut: Excellent

Carats: 1.73

Diamond Color: H

Diamond Clarity: SI2

Measurements: 7.82*7.80*4.75

Depth: 60.9%

Table: 55%

Diamond Polish: Ecellent

Diamond Symmetry: Excellent

Diamond Fluorescence: Faint

Diamond Price: $14,750

Click here to be Brought to the Diamond on James Allen

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

Click on image to view enlarged photo.

Shape: Round Brilliant

Carats: 1.71

Diamond Cut: Excellent

Diamond Color: J

Diamond Clarity: SI1

Measurements: 7.70*7.74*4.67

Depth: 60.5%

Table: 59%

Diamond Polish: Excellent

Diamond Symmetry: Excellent

Diamond Fluorescence: None

Diamond Price: $12,070

Click here to be Brought to the Diamond on James Allen

Q: Ira- do you have any idea why this diamond seems to be so discounted for its color? i know the clarity is low – am i missing something???? the clarity seems to be miss categorized.

A: It’s cheap only because of its clarity. It’s not hard to believe that the SI2 lies in such a way in this stone that it’s not visible face-up. It happens all the time.

Q: Thanks for your thoughts. I was able to get the GIA report from James Allen. Is there anyway i can get it to you for your review? I just want to make sure the report lines up with your initial thoughts.

How visible do you think the cloud directly to the left of the center is by the naked eye?

Thanks.

A: I’ll contact you via email.

Q: The cert is attached.

A: Very interesting cert. Feathers are generally very clear and blend in nicely with the rest of the stone. Looking at the stone from the sides, you’ll almost certainly see something there, but from the top, I would guess that it would look like the picture (clean). Here’s what I think – for a stone like this, it might be worth it to just buy it with the mindset that you’ll just return it if you can see the inclusions yourself. It’s the kind of thing that’s very subjective. Meaning, if you ask JA to inspect it, they’re always going to err on the side of caution and tell you not to get it because they don’t like to deal with returns – they’re expensive. But from your perspective, it’s very likely that you wouldn’t see the inclusions that the gemologist at JA sees. So why not give it a shot?

Q: Thanks again for your time. The setting will be similar to this:

http://www.jamesallen.com/designer-jewelry/meno-collection-by-danhov/ring/item_294-1130.asp

This setting may eliminate seeing anything from the side. I think I might take your advice and just buy the stone.

I’ll let you know how it turns out.

Thanks again.

A: Go for it! And PLEASE let me know what you think when it arrives. I’m very curious – especially in your case.

Q: I just found this Asscher: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Premium-Cut-Asscher-Diamond-1276069.asp

The price is very appealing on this one. What do you think of the color/clarity?

I promise I won’t bother you everyday. I really appreciate your help.

A: No Good. Look at the bottom of the pic. The feather is strong and obvious.

…….

And you’re not a bother!

Q: Alright – this is the last one I will ask you to look at. If this one is no good then i will likely get the one that you initially reviewed on your website. The cert says the fluorescence is “faint”. Would that make an H diamond look a little more clear?

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Asscher-Diamond-1275911.asp

If you still think the 1.72 F SI2 is a better option i will pull the trigger on that one.

thanks.

A: Faint fluor has no effect whatsoever.

I don’t like this H SI1. spready inclusions like the ones on this stone will be visible because it’s an asscher. On a round, it would be great.

I think you should give the F SI2 a try and see what happens when it arrives.

Q: Me again. James Allen has been stalling with putting the F SI2 back on the internet so i can take another look at it before i purchase. To be honest, that diamond is a little more than i wanted to spend. I was hoping to be all in for 10K with the setting. I’d like your opinion on another diamond on JA. Its smaller and the color isn’t as good. Can you give me your opinion on the diamond below. Does it look a little yellow to you? As always, i appreciate and value your opinion.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Asscher-Diamond-1353122.asp

A: That’s a VERY nice looking stone. Don’t worry about H color – it’ll look totally white to your eye. It’s definitely a less risky choice than the SI2.

Q: Great- Before i buy this stone i wanted to show you another diamond and get your opinion as it compares to the previous one. Its the same size and clarity but an I color. It is $1500 cheaper than the H color. In your opinion – is it worth spending the extra $1500 to get the H? Will there be a noticable difference to the naked eye? I should preface the question by saying i DO NOT want a yellowish looking diamond. I’ve looked at some I color cushion cuts in person and they seem to have a yellowish tint.

H color link: http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds-search/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Asscher-Diamond-1353122.asp

I color link: http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds-search/diamonds/I-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Asscher-Diamond-1335557.asp

A: yeah, I would definitely err on the side of caution with an asscher and say you should go with the painful decision and buy the H.

I am looking to get a princess cut diamond in the 8500-9000 range. I am confused if I should go for a H/SI1 or I/VS2 ring.

Thanks for any advice.

A: Even with the 5% cash back, I think you could do better on James Allen. Here’s why – I could never recommend you buy an SI1 princess cut from blue nile without being able to see the stone. Even a VS2 is risky on a princess. There’s just too great of a chance that the stone will have an eye visible inclusion. Now, on JA, I could recommend an SI1 with absolute confidence. The difference between the SI1 and VS2 will easily surpass 5%. Plus, you can use the TAD0611 coupon to get 10% off the setting which will tip the scale even more in JA’s direction.

On JA, you can find a stone like this that absolutely maximizes your value:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1311153.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

SI1, totally eye clean, near perfect cut, I color will look white.

Q: Thank you very much for the advice. Yes, the diamond you selected is very nice. It does make a difference seeing the diamond. However, I was actually looking to get a little bigger diamond than that one. I tried looking for other Ideal/SI1/I diamonds but anything larger than the one you selected is out of my budget. If there is anything else you would recommend, i would appreciate it.

Thanks again for your help.

A: I understand. Here’s a few to consider:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1342806.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 – borderline eye clean. You should have JA inspect the stone for you to be certain.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1269711.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 – just out of your budget, but a perfect cut and eye clean.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1277224.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 – pic is out of focus, so can’t tell if it’s eye clean or not. Also worthwhile to have JA inspect it

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1324798.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 – I’m fairly certain the black inclusion is too small and faint to be visit to the naked eye.

Q: Thanks again for your help. I am leaning towards the first and third diamond you recommend. From the pictures, they do look nice and are a good value. I have contacted them about the diamonds and am having them do an inspection for me.

Thanks again

A: Sounds great. Please let me know what they say!

Q: It took JA a little bit to get back to me, but they did give me the information. I think i will go with the first diamond you recommended, unless you feel from the information I should not. Here is what they said:

“”

Thank you for your patience while waiting for the gemologist inspection of diamonds 1342806 and 1277224. Between these two diamonds; diamond 1342806 is definitely your best bet. There is a feather on the crown that you may be able to see with the unaided eye; however, it blends with the rest of the diamond. The other inclusions in this diamond blend very well and you will not be able to see them without magnification. This diamond has a mid-high I color grade and faces brighter than diamond 1277224.

Diamond 1277224 has eye visible inclusions that reflect throughout the diamond; the feather on the corner also may present durability issues. The cut on this diamond is not very good, and this is made obvious by the facets not lining up and the off center table.

“”

Thanks again

A: You should definitely go with their opinion. Nothing compares with a face to face inspection. Their description sounds great.

Q: Ok I ordered it . I told the woman on the phone about the referral part at the end of the URLs that you sent me. Hopefully you will get credit for it.

Thanks again for all your help. Without you I would have just blindly picked a diamond that probably would not have been as good quality and would be more expensive.

A: Thanks for looking out for me! Did they allow you to use the coupon, btw?

Q: Yes they did

A: Fantastic!

Following yesterday’s selection of the Best Round Brilliant Diamond for $10,000, today we present you with the best Round Brilliant Diamond for $9,000.

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

Diamond Magnified 20x - Click to Enlarge

Shape: Round Brilliant

Carats: 1.60

Diamond Cut: Excellent

Diamond Color: I

Diamond Clarity: SI2

Measurements: 7.50*7.53*4.62

Depth: 61.5%

Table: 58%

Diamond Polish: Excellent

Diamond Symmetry: Excellent

Diamond Fluorescence: None

Diamond Price: $8,590

Don’t forget to use our exclusive coupon code TAD0611 with James Allen for 10% off Engagement Ring Settings!

Click here to be Brought to the Diamond on James Allen

Today I decided to get back in the daily diamond game right at a very popular price point – the best round brilliant diamond for $10,000.  Today’s stone looks like a great find.  The inclusions in the center are going to be invisible to the naked eye and the orangy inclusion on the side (at about 5 o’clock in the picture) can be covered by the prong on the ring.  An I color diamond is still going to look white to your eye as well, and the Excellent cut grade is going to ensure a very brilliant stone, so this stone really offers fantastic value.

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

Diamond Magnified 20x - Click to Enlarge

Shape: Round Brilliant

Carats: 1.63

Diamond Cut: Excellent

Diamond Color: I

Diamond Clarity: SI1

Measurements: 7.58*7.66*4.63

Depth: 60.8%

Table: 56%

Diamond Polish: Excellent

Diamond Symmetry: Very Good

Diamond Fluorescence: None

Diamond Price: $9,860

Don’t forget to use our exclusive coupon code TAD0611 with James Allen for 10% off Engagement Ring Settings!

Click here to be Brought to the Diamond on James Allen

Your site is excellent!! Plan on doing an online diamond purchase (Blue Nile or James Allen). Not huge $$$, but I am totally obsessed with finding some value out there! And its seems your the guy. So here’s an easy one:

Total budget 9k (USD) for the stone (keeps me around 10k all in)

Parameters: Round. Thats it.

After reading every article you’ve written, I’m cutting you loose. Find me a stone summon all your creative powers and make my future wife smile!

As per your writings, color can be low, clarity is hit or miss, carats don’t tell the whole tale. So I don’t want to curtail you. Take some chances, I implore you. Looking for a hidden gem that might escape a less discerning eye. I’m not a stickler for ”grades” and I don’t care what its assessed value is,and don’t mind a singular large flaw that makes an otherwise unaffordable diamond within reach. Just hoping to find a stone that has ”bang for the buck”

(and if you have anything offline available I’d pay the 10% gladly if you made it an offer I can’t refuse, though I understand my purchase price isn’t heavy enough to have you sorting through the whole of Israel)

Thanks for in advance for anything you can do,

A: Thanks for the kind words! If I get any more emails like yours its going to inflate my ego too much

I took a look for you, and this stone stood out:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1310583.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

It’s got an excellent cut. It’s got medium blue fluorescence which should temper the J color just enough so it looks completely white. The only issue I have is that the picture is terrible, so I can’t say for certain if the stone is eye clean. In all likelihood it is, but I can’t guarantee it. To get that guarantee, you should contact JA and have them take a look at it.

What do you think?

Q: I contacted JA.  we’ll see how they respond.   But your selection is right up my alley.   Thanks and I’ll be sure to follow up.

A: Sounds great.  I look forward to hearing from you!

Q: They said it was eye clean, I’m gonna give it a shot.  Thanks for your help. I’ll follow up upon delivery.

A: Great! I look forward to your response.

Q: Ira,

Just received the diamond you suggested….

I am utterly satisfied. First off, the diamond pops nicely. In the daylight the thing just makes noise. So it was very well cut, and the light loved it. Secondly, the 1.7 was bigger than I initially thought given my budget.

Which leads me to my Aha! moment when buying round diamonds, thanks to you. The color of a round diamond MUST be sacrificed by value-hunters. When mixed with medium fluorescence, my J/SI1 diamond, to my eye, looks like ice. I mean – its perfect. Its got a white/black/ice blue/ sparkle thing going on that is just mesmerizing. I just took it to a jewelry store to compare it to some F’s and G’s side by side, and really you couldn’t realistically say either one had any yellow in it at all. I know I am biased, but I would strongly recommend not paying up for color in a round. Take a leap of faith and slide down the color scale and up the size scale.

The stone I got cost 8.5K and has the look of a much more $$$$ diamond. She’s gonna be happy with it. Good work my man…

A: That’s great to hear!  Congratulations!

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

Diamond Magnified 20x - Click to Enlarge

Carats: 1.74

Diamond Color: I

Diamond Clarity: VS2

Measurements: 6.75*7.04*4.75

Length/Width Ratio: 1.04

Depth: 70.4%

Table: 71%

Diamond Polish: Very Good

Diamond Symmetry: Good

Diamond Fluorescence: None

Diamond Price: $9,120

Don’t forget to use our exclusive coupon code TAD0611 with James Allen for 10% off Engagement Ring Settings!

Click here to be Brought to the Diamond on James Allen

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

Diamond Magnified 20x - Click to Enlarge

Carats: 1.82

Diamond Color: I

Diamond Clarity: VS1

Measurements: 6.67*6.61*4.79

Length/Width Ratio: 1.01

Depth: 72.5%

Table: 71%

Diamond Polish: Excellent

Diamond Symmetry: Excellent

Diamond Fluorescence: None

Diamond Price: $10,030

Don’t forget to use our exclusive coupon code TAD0611 with James Allen for 10% off Engagement Ring Settings!

Click here to be Brought to the Diamond on James Allen