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

Diamond Magnified 20x - Click to Enlarge

Carats: 1.23

Diamond Color: G

Diamond Clarity: VVS1

Diamond Cut: Ideal

Measurements: 6.86*6.96*4.27

Depth: 62.1%

Table: 54.5%

Crown Angle: 34.8°

Crown %: 15.8%

Pavilion Angle: 40.9°

Pavilion %: 43.1%

Diamond Polish: Ideal

Diamond Symmetry: Ideal

Diamond Fluorescence: None

Diamond Price: $10,160

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

Click here to be Brought to the Diamond on James Allen

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• Q&A: Wants Round Diamond at least 1.50 Carats with Platinum Engagement Ring Setting and Wedding Band for Under $12,000. Will it be possible? Read on! (0)
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A:  Hi. I just tried calling you, but as the voicemail answered, I noticed that you asked me to call only after 6pm. I won’t be able to because in Israel where I live, we’re (now for the time being until we change our clocks too) 6 hours ahead of you.

First of all, thanks for writing! And thanks for the kind words about the site.

I do think you can get what you’re looking for with your budget, but it depends on a few things.

1) What shape are you looking for?

2) How intricate of a setting and wedding band are you looking to get? Could you send me a link to a style you like?

3) Yes, if you use the TADJ10 coupon code, you will get 10% off the setting (not the diamond) and wedding band.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Q: Hi Ira- I didn’t know you were in Israel, but now I understand there is a time difference.

As for the shape, she’s pretty insistent on a round diamond with a platinum band.

For the band, I really like this one.

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/ring/item_58-261.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Not to ‘metal-ly’ and I think the smaller diamonds on the sides make the center diamond look bigger. I also like others that have 6 or 8 side stones.

Right now, finding the perfect center diamond is really the key.

I’ll also be available by phone in 30 minutes if you are still around.

A: Thanks for the quick reply. Just one thing – you said your budget of 10-12 included the wedding band. How plain/ornate of a band do you plan on buying? I’m trying to narrow down what my exact budget for the diamond is.

Q: I’m pretty set on this setting, which is $1640 before discount:

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/ring/item_58-261.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

For the band, I was thinking something that would be about the same price. Maybe something like this one.

http://www.jamesallen.com/wedding-and-anniversary/womens-wedding-rings/ring/item_63-263.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

A: Ok, so I’m figuring about a 9300 budget max for the center stone. Lets get started!

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1254384.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 – AGS triple zero. Only concern here is the stone has clouds. This can either mean that it’s basically clean and will have no visual affects, or it can mean it looks like frozen spit. It’s hard to tell based on the picture, so I’d recommend having JA pull the stone to give you their opinion. If it’s good, the stone is a great value.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1289817.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 – GIA triple zero. It’s an awful picture with terrible lighting. But the stone looks definitely clean to the naked eye.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1288634.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 – GIA excellent cut. Another awful picture which distorts the stone’s color, but the stone looks clean to the naked eye.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1278164.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 – GIA Excellent cut. Also eye clean.

Have a look at these suggestions and let me know what you think!

Q:  The first diamond is no longer available. I liked the other three but have the same 2 concerns with each: 1) The clarity is SI2. I understand that may not mean anything to the naked eye but just want to make sure. On the 3 diamonds you recommend, can you tell if the inclusions are near the perimeter? Also, can you tell if the inclusions are translucent? 2) The girdle size is thick for these, I’d been previously advised to look for a thin or medium girdle. Does this matter?

A: Have a look at my article about diamond clarity here:

http://www.truthaboutdiamonds.com/truth-about/diamond-clarity/

It looks like the last stone in my list was sold already as well. As far as the remaining two stones in the middle are concerned – yes, both diamonds’ inclusions are translucent and near the perimeter.

Slightly thick and thick girdles are not a problem at all. I also don’t really mind Very THick girdles. I usually just tell people to stay away from Extremely Thick girdles.

Q: Thanks so much for your help, Ira. I took a deep breath and bought the second diamond on your list (the 1.7 carat stone).

Here goes. Thanks again.

A: Congrats! PLEASE let me know what you think when it arrives!

……….

Hey. I know it’s been a while. I just wanted to follow up with you to see how you liked the ring. I’d love to hear!

Q:  Hi Ira- Got the ring last Thursday and love it. It appraised over 15K and I paid 10K for it, so I am happy.

Thanks so much for your help.

A: Hey! What great news!! I really appreciate you getting back to me and letting me know. I’m very happy you’re pleased with the ring. I was wondering if you could do me a small favor if you have the time. Do you think you might be able to leave me feedback on ivouch?

The website is still quite new – I only launched in the summer. These reviews really help me build credibility. YOu can access it here directly here:

(LINK REMOVED)

I wish you and your fiance a long life together filled with health, happiness, and love!

(You can read this users review here on ivouch.com)

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

Diamond Magnified 20x - Click to Enlarge

Carats: 1.51

Diamond Color: E

Diamond Clarity: VS2

Diamond Cut: Ideal

Measurements: 7.41*7.44*4.55

Depth: 61.4%

Table: 55.2%

Crown Angle: 34.3°

Crown %: 15.3%

Pavilion Angle: 40.9°

Pavilion %: 43.1%

Diamond Polish: Ideal

Diamond Symmetry: Ideal

Diamond Fluorescence: None

James Allen Engagement Ring

Diamond Price: $18,150

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

There’s one engagement ring style that never seems to go out of style.   It’s just as much an antique as it is a totally modern look.  And when I say this, I don’t even mean it in the way you might view something like an antique filigree style setting.  In those cases, they were in style a long time ago, and have recently come back into style.

Today’s selection, however, has never gone out of style.  To women in the 30′s, it looked modern and classic, and to women in the 2010′s it looks modern and classic.  The style to which I am referring of course is the classic design with a center solitaire stone flanked by two tapered baguettes on either side down the shank.

James Allen has a beautiful version of this classic look with their 18k White Gold Tapered Baguette Diamond Engagement Ring.

The high color on the baguettes along with the white gold will match beautifully with today’s high color (E Color) diamond.  If you want a very white and bright and fiery look, today’s combination can’t be beat.

Click here to be Brought to the Diamond on James Allen

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A: Thanks for writing. Lets assume you get one of the simpler rings available from James Allen which will be about $300-$400 in white gold. This’ll leave us with about 4500-5500 for the diamond. Having that in mind, here’s what I found for you:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1265831.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 – Excellent Cut. Medium blue will make the J color look slightly whiter. Definitely clean to the naked eye.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1276375.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 – Excellent Cut. Eye clean. A little cheaper.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1260161.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 – AGS triple zero. Eye clean. I color.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1264666.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 – ditto

Have a look a these suggestions and let me know what you think!

Q: Thank you for the super fast response!  I notice in your list of recommendation none of them are the “True Hearts” cut from James Allen.  Is there any significant difference you can see between “True Hearts” and Ideal cuts?

Would you say color ‘J’ with medium blue look whiter than a color ‘I’ with no blue?

What do you mean when you say “AGS Triple Zero”?

One last question, how much in price and quality would it be if I use your diamond buying service to look for a diamond?

Thank you again for your help!

A: My pleasure!

Here’s my answers:

1) True hearts vs regular ideal/excellent cut – generally not enough of a visual difference to justify the extra cost.

2) J + MED *MIGHT* look as white as an I, but must likely it’ll look like a high J. It almost certainly won’t look more white than an I.

3) AGS triple zero means the stone got AGS’s (a different lab on par with GIA) highest grades for polish, symmetry, and cut. Similar to a GIA triple excellent.

4) For your budget, you probably wouldn’t save much, if anything, using my buying service and you’d lose many of the benefits working with JA (generous return period, sells e-ring also, better packaging, etc)

Did you like any of my diamond suggestions?

Q: Out of the 4, which one is your favorite?

Right now, I might be leaning towards the 3rd one but I’m not too sure because the SI2 scares me a bit.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1260161.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

When looking at the diamond picture, is it better to see more of the black star. How does that affect the look of it in person? Some diamonds shows a more gray/white star and some show a darker star. I guess I’m asking because I don’t really know what I’m looking for besides black marks.

Grey Star

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1265831.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Black Star

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1260161.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

BTW, if this helps…I’m thinking about getting this setting:

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/Bow-Tie-Engagement-Ring.html

………

I was browsing through some diamonds and wanted to get your opinion on these.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1268988.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-939538.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1160282.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1219301.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

A: If you’re nervous about the SI2, you can call JA’s customer service and ask them to inspect the stone face to face to see without doubt if it’s eye clean or not. They’re completely honest and objective – they want you to be happy and they have tons of alternatives. So they gain nothing convincing you to buy a stone you’re only going to return later.

As far as grey star vs. black star goes – it’s 100% a lighting issue. JA doesn’t own their own diamonds. They work with a number of wholesale vendors within walking distance to their office. Each vendor does their own photography in their own office. So you have like 20 different photographers photographing the various stones listed on JA, and each has his/her own slightly different technique. That’s what makes the different colors/shades in the pics. I find that the pics are really only good for showing me the orientation/size/color of the inclusions.

……

See below in red:

Bottom line, I like the first one the best. It really looks sharp.

On Fri, Jan 22, 2010 at 3:39 AM, XXXXXX XXX <XXXXXX@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Ira,

I was browsing through some diamonds and wanted to get your opinion on these.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1268988.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 – beautiful stone. nothing negative to say at all.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-939538.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 – inclusion on the right is 90% sure eye clean, but it is rather long. So I’m not 100% sure. Other than that, it’s a beauty as well.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1160282.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 - very good cut GIA. I’d pass on this one.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1219301.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 - Also a beauty but significantly smaller than the others.

Q: So far I’m down to these 4 diamonds and was hoping you can rate them from your favorite to least favorite.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1279509.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1260161.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1268988.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1265831.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Another question I want to ask you. Have you ever seen a traditional round with extra facets? I have a local diamond retailer that sells diamonds with extra facets. Does the extra facets actually make the diamond sparkle more or differently? Here’s a link to their site: E.E. Robbins “Elite” Diamonds

A: These are all really really nice. If you went with the least of these four, you’d still come away completely satisfied with your purchase. Having said that, here’s my order of preference from best to worst:

1) 1.36 J SI1 – I’m a sucker for large stones. The cut is Excellent, and the Medium blue fluorescence will whiten up the J color just a bit. All around an amazing value.

2) 1.12 H SI1 – THe picture is just so fine, it’s hard not to fall in love with this one.

3) 1.15 I SI2 – Everything’s great about this stone, except that the picture is a bit cloudy, so it’s hard to tell if the picture is just slightly out of focus, or if the diamond is cloudy. In all likelihood, it’s just the photograph.

4) 1.26 I SI2 – there’s an inclusion in the table that looks white now because light reflected off of it from the flash of the camera, but very well might be black and visible to the naked eye.

yes, I know all about extra faceted stones. I worked for Leo Schachter for 7 years. They created the “Leo Diamond” which was the first truly successful special cut diamond brand. They sell them at Kay and Jared. It’s mostly a gimmick. These stones were invented as a way to break the commoditization of diamonds.

Q: Once again, thanks for your response. Unfortunately, the 1.36 carat is already sold. I already asked JA for some data on the 1.15 carat diamond in regards to the cloudiness.

In the meantime, I looked up a few more diamonds and would like your opinion on these.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1235465.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1279511.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1160282.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

A: My pleasure.

1.25 J SI1 – no picture, so can’t really comment

1.26 J SI2 – Looks great. But if you can fit a higher color stone in your budget, I think that’s a better idea. A J color will still look white, but it’s borderline.

1.16 I SI1 – Very good cut grade. So I’d pass on this one.

Q: Thank you again for your super fast response. I guess I’m down to these last 2.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1279509.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 (waiting on JA for cloudiness check)

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1260161.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

How often does JA get new diamonds? I still have a little bit of time before purchasing so I don’t know if I should wait and see if anymore good diamonds show up. Let me know if there are any other diamonds you recommend.

A: Sounds good. I’m curious to hear what they say about cloudiness. Please let me know!

They do get new inventory fairly steadily, but in my experience helping people it’s always smart to grab a nice diamond when you find it. Just because they get new goods in doesn’t always mean they get NICE goods in.

I’ve helped numerous people who kick themselves for not buying a stone when they found it becuase it got snatched up. In general, JA customers are well educated and know what to look for. So even though JA has thousands of diamonds, there’s a large number of customers fighting over a much smaller number of really nice diamonds.

Q: Here’s the response I got from JA:

“The magnified image of our 1.15ct-I-SI2 doesn’t appear cloudy to me at all. Actually, I would consider this picture to be a great example of just how clear and nice our magnified images can be at times. Have no concern regarding the SI2 either. It is an eye-clean diamond. Great choice!. : )”

I have no experience working with them so should I just take their word for it that it’s not cloudy? You think diamond is a good buy to pair up with my setting?

Diamond – http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1279509.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Setting (platinum) – http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/Bow-Tie-Engagement-Ring.html

A: Ido have a lot of experience dealing with them and I can tell you with certainty that you can trust them. Returns cost them money, they try to avoid them at all costs. So they would never recommend a diamond to you that you would just want to return anyway.

If the diamond isn’t cloudy, then I say definitely go for it. That was the best stone left out of the group. It’ll look amazing in that setting.

Let me know if it’s still around!

Q: I would like to get your opinion on this last diamond before I make my purchase.  The rep at JA told me this diamond is eye clean.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1263262.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

My question is how reliable is a diamond certificate from IGI?  As we last spoken, the 1.15ct-I-SI2 was pretty much what I was set on and is priced $4,360.  This diamond is bigger and the color is rated much higher but it cost only $600 more.  The next diamond with the same attributes is over $6,000.

A: That’s a very nice stone. The thing with IGI is that their a bit more lenient in color and clarity. So that stone would have probably just missed getting an SI2 from GIA. But the truth is, it doesn’t matter. The inclusion is all wisps which aren’t noticeable to the naked eye. So even if technically it’s a GIA I1, it would have been in the top 5% of all GIA I1s. And it’s priced accordingly anyway.

Also, the color is most likely a G or even a high H. But again, it’s priced accordingly, so it’s fine. And the cut on the stone is very nice as well (as you can tell from the measurements and the picture itself).

I think you made a nice find.

…….

I just wanted to check up with you to see if you had made your decision yet.  I’d love to know what you went with!

Q: Sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner.  I ended up getting the 1.15 I SI2, the one you said the picture looks a bit cloudy but JA told me the diamond isn’t cloudy. I got the diamond and spent a lot of time looking at it. I don’t know if it’s the light but the diamond looks a bit cloudy and a faint of blue.  I compared it to the side diamonds and it looked cloudy and a bit blue.  Is there any where I can take the diamond to have someone look at it for free? I hope its just all in my mind.

Looking forward to your help.

A: About the blue color you see – that’s definitely not a serious thing. It’s either being reflected off of something blue in the room where you are, or it’s just the natural colored sparkle of a diamond when the light inside is refracted around. There’s no fluorescence in that stone, so any blue you see isn’t coming from anything negative in the diamond.

As far as the cloudiness is concerned – is it possible it has finger grease on it? Finger smudges can easily make a stone look cloudy.

regarding the other question of where you can get it looked at for free, it would help if I knew where you lived.

Q: Thanks again for the fast response. I live in Seattle, Washington.  I’ll get it clean today and check it out again.

A: I have a few professional contacts in Seattle, but unfortunately nobody I’m close enough with that I could ask a favor from.

Maybe you should call a few independent appraisers (not ones that work in jewelry stores) and ask them what their fees are. It might be a good idea anyway to give you peace of mind about what you bought online.

…….

What did you end up doing in the end? I’d love to hear how everything turned out!

Q: We didn’t get the ring checked out yet but we found out that the cloudyness might have been cause by the lighting we used.  We we took a look at it with natural outside light and the diamond was very clear but we plan on getting the diamond appraised anyways to give ourselves peace of mind like you said.  Right now we’re planning to get the ring shipped back to JA to get it resized…I was off by 1.25!  I didn’t know we had to pay for shipping back to JA

But in any case, I’m truly grateful for all the help you’ve given me!  Without your help, I would have spent a lot more money for a smaller diamond.  I’ve already recommended to all my friends to never buy a diamond without checking out your site!  Not only did you save me a lot of money, you’ve also taught me a lot about diamonds.  Your service was perfect!

A: My pleasure!  I’m glad to hear it all worked out in the end.  Best Wishes!

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http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Oval-Diamond-1110061.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 Thank you again for your help. I’ll probably be back to ask more!

A: Thanks for writing.  It’s 12:30am here (I’m in Israel).  We got back late from dinner out with friends.  I just wanted to drop you a note to let you know I’ll give you a proper response tomorrow morning my time.

…….

Here goes!

1) Grading cut on fancy shapes is far more complicated than rounds. Because of this, the labs don’t give cut grades to fancy shapes (with the exception being princess cuts – AGS gives a cut grade to PCs). Its not really that ovals are less brilliant than rounds, it’s more than their look is very different. Ovals and other fancies have what people call the “broken glass” look. Meaning, it’s just a big very sparkly mess when looking inside the diamond. Rounds, on the other hand, have a very symmetrical faceted look to them. There’s pattern and order in the look.

2) You’re right to be confused. It takes a lot of time and experience seeing many diamonds both through a loupe and with a naked eye to be able to tell what will be clean to the naked eye and what won’t be. Regarding the stone you referenced, it will definitely be clean to the naked eye. If you want to see sample inclusions that will be noticeable to the naked eye, see my article “diamond clarity chart” here: http://www.truthaboutdiamonds.com/diamond-clarity-chart/

Stay in touch when you have more questions!

Q: Thanks, Ira.  That really helps.  I’ll be in touch as I get closer to a decision.

…….

After some detective work, I’m closer to making a decision.  I am looking for a round diamond around 0.8-1.0 carat, excellent cut, in the G/H color range, and probably VS1/2.  I’m flexible with those parameters for the right stone.  Basically, I am looking for a nice diamond that isn’t too large, as my girlfriend is fairly active and not very “blingy”.  Ideally, I’d like the cost of the diamond to be around $4000 (US).

With that in mind, do you think a 0.8 or 0.9ish diamond would look okay in this setting?

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/ring/item_58-777.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

(I know your expertise is on the diamond side, but was curious about how it would look with those sidestones.)

Here are a few diamonds that I have found.  What do you think?

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1269456.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-861701.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 (this cut is only VG and it looks like there a few flaws in the picture)

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1112952.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 (also VG cut.  There is a dot a little below the center.  Is that a big deal?

Thank you again for having this site and service and for all of your help.  It is indispensable.

A: I dont know if you noticed it, but JA has this great feature where you can see real pics of actual rings they made with the various settings. Here’s the setting you chose with 0.95ct stone:

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/sold/settings-with-sidestones/1300/Engagement-Rings-Side-Stones.html

I think it looks quite nice!

See below for my take on each stone.

I think the first two are the best, and the 2nd one in my opinion stands out. It’s the largest between the two. And it’s only negligibly smaller than the full 90 pointers. The difference in size wont’ be noticeable to the naked eye.

Glad I could be of help! Please let me know what you go with when you’re ready to buy!

Best Wishes,

Ira

Mike Danilovich wrote:

Hi Ira,

After some detective work, I’m closer to making a decision. I am looking for a round diamond around 0.8-1.0 carat, excellent cut, in the G/H color range, and probably VS1/2. I’m flexible with those parameters for the right stone. Basically, I am looking for a nice diamond that isn’t too large, as my girlfriend is fairly active and not very “blingy”. Ideally, I’d like the cost of the diamond to be around $4000 (US).

With that in mind, do you think a 0.8 or 0.9ish diamond would look okay in this setting?

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/ring/item_58-777.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

(I know your expertise is on the diamond side, but was curious about how it would look with those sidestones.)

Here are a few diamonds that I have found. What do you think?

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1269456.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 -Tiny speck on table, but not visible to the eye at all.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-861701.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 (this cut is only VG and it looks like there a few flaws in the picture) – With such nice EX cuts available, I wouldn’t recommend going with a VG.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1112952.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 (also VG cut. There is a dot a little below the center. Is that a big deal?) – Ditto. Also, I think that dot you’re talking about isn’t an inclusion, but rather a dark spot in the reflections.

Q: Thanks for the quick response!  Based on your recommendation, I think I’ll go with the 1st one.

Just to confirm, if I get to the diamond on the James Allen site from the link on the URL I reference below, you will get credit on the sale, right?  I want to make sure you are rewarded for your help.

Thanks again for your quick assistance, Ira.

A: That’s right! Thanks for looking out for me!

Let me know how it goes.

……

I was just curious – did you make the purchase yet? I’ve been having some problems lately with JA’s sales tracking system, so I wasn’t sure if either you hadn’t made the purchase yet, or if the sale didn’t track properly.

If you did make the purchase, would you mind telling me your order number?

Q: Actually, I think I was beat to it, as the diamond is no longer available.  That will teach me to think before making a big purchase!

So, back to the drawing board.  Here are some possibilities.  What do you recommend?

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1269089.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 (There are some white specks here and there.  Will these be noticeable?)

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1254290.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 (nothing too noticeable, but not a good picture…)

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1242617.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 (Will that dot in the middle be a problem?)

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1264194.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

A: Each of those stones is beautiful. It’s really up to you in terms of how much you want to spend. If you put those four on a table, they would be indistinguishable one from the other without any measuring tools. None of the specks you saw in the pics will be anything remotely close to eye visible.

Let me konw what you go with!

Q: I ended up going with the 0.86 carat diamond.  Let me know if you need the order number for your records.  (Also, it will appear with the name ***** ******.  Top secret, you know)

I’ll touch base with you once I receive the ring.  In the meantime, thanks again for all of your help and information.

A: Thanks for the update! If you could send me your order # that would be fantastic!

……

Actually, I think the sale tracked correct! So no need to send the order#.  I was just curious, though – what setting did you decide to go with in the end?

Q:  Just in case, the order# is *****

I went with this setting:

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/ring/item_58-777.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

I was also considering a similar one:

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/ring/item_58-169.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

but it seemed too chunky. But what do I know?

A: I’m sure it’s going to be a stunning ring!  Please let me konw what you think when it arrives.

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A: I’m so sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner. My mother and in-laws are both visiting us now in Israel and life has been a little crazy.

Would you mind telling me your budget? This would help me greatly. This way I can tell you the best Princess and Round you can get for your budget and then it will be a lot easier to decide between the two.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Q: Thanks for getting back to me, and Happy Chanukkah-my family just visited for the holiday as well so I know what it’s like! I’d prefer to spend at or below 20k. However, if there is something that dazzles the senses I might be able to manage 23-25k. Also, I know I said a 2 carat was optimum, but after reading your stories/advice-I am thinking maybe I should go bigger, and not waste the money on top shelf 4c’s, just so its “eye-clear” etc.(except Cut- I think the cut has to be near ideal/excellent to get the brillance-fire, right?).  Also, if your broker/commission service would produce a better price, and be mutually beneficial, that may be of interest-please advise. I was hoping to give it on Jan 15. I am in Las Vegas. Well, I reallly appreciate your help!

A: I think your revised priorities are right on track.  I would recommend you get an H or I color stone with SI2 clarity that I will verify to be eye-clean.  As you mentioned, you should definitely stick to ideal/excellent cut grades.

It seems like you can get a stone in this quality range clearly under $20K at 2.5cts.  That’s a significant and noticeable bump from 2cts.  If you wanted to get a full 3 cts, that would probably be around $25,000.

If I find a stone for you here in Israel, I could probably also get it set in something very basic for you to propose with, unless you already know exactly what she wants, in which case it might be better if you get it set yourself.

If you compare these prices with what you find on James Allen right now, you’ll see it’s basically the same.  Let me find a few actual stones and give you real prices, and then it will be much easier to compare.  I’m almost always able to beat the prices online, it’s just a matter of finding the right stone.

If I can’t beat the prices, then I’ll definitely let you know and help you pick the best stone online.

……

I wasn’t able to find a lot today, but I did manage to spot a very nice 2.51 I SI1 GIA certified Excellent Cut VG/VG Pol/Sym.  Your price on the stone would be 18,222.

That’s a good example of how I can be cheaper than the stores online.  Let me know if you’d like me to pursue this one further.  I can get you a scan of the certificate tomorrow and possibly even a photo of the diamond.

Q: Ira, thanks, a good start. I’m in meetings all day, but will get back to you this evening.

……

That’s a good range on carat size, 2.5 to 2.75, no need to go to 3. Yeah, I think ideal/excellent cut is a must. What’s the chance of finding a G/H and VS1/2 in my carat/price range. I know that’s mighty wishful, but it might happen. Let me know what you come up with. Talk to you soon.

A: I just checked for you and while I don’t have any specific stones now that I’m seeing, I have a feel for the price range, and it’s going to be way out of your budget.  An excellent cut H VS2 2.50 carat stone is going to be around 30,000.

But I honestly don’t believe there’s any added benefit to going that high in clarity.  If I find you an eye-clean SI2, it’s going to look exactly the same to your eye, but feel a lot different to your wallet.

……

Actually, I just saw a 2.62 H VS2 triple excellent for 28750.  It’s still significantly over your budget, but I did want to let you know about it anyway.

……

So here’s what I accomplished today. The I SI1 from yesterday is no good. IT has a black inclusion in the center that’s eye-visible.

I found two new stones today. Attached are their certs.

One is a 2.52 I IS1, and one is a 2.62 I SI2. Both triple excellent GIA. Both gorgeous stones with very nice translucent/whiteish inclusions that are totally eye clean. They both look totally white face-up. They are two killer stones. I also managed to get a picture of them both. But honestly, they’re both so nice and eye clean, that you can’t really tell them apart in the picture.

The price for the SI1 is 20,000 even. The price for the SI2 is 18500.

Cert of 2.52ct Stone

2.52ct & 2.62ct Diamonds

Cert of 2.62ct Stone

2.62ct & 2.52ct Diamonds

Q:Hi Ira, understood. 28k to 30k is too far over budget. Let’s just aim for the best that’s out there around my budget. 20k I liked the stone you mentioned, just wanted to see if there was some room to go up 1 step in clarity etc. Oh, what is” triple ” excellent?

A: Triple Excellent means that GIA gave the diamond the highest grade possible for Polish, Symmetry, and Cut.   Basically, it means the cut on the diamond is as good as it can be.  It’s top quality.

Q: Great work. I will view them today and get back to you. Going into meeting right now. Thanks Ira!

…..

Both those stones look amazing. You probably hear this alot, but, I am trusting your judgment-you have the best knowledge and experience. You certainly impressed me and I am grateful for your insight and help. To me, they look like near twins. Although, the 2.52 I SI1 appears just a hair brighter/clearer/H&A-ish. So, I guess that is the front runner to me.

One is drawn to the larger 2.62, but doesn’t the picture and lighting (or diamond itself) seem slightly less bright/clear/fire in comparison?

What do you think? Is there a difference between the two?

Is it worth going to an H color?

For what its worth, Bluenile had some 2.55 GIA Ideal H SI2 for 18-21k. However, as you pointed out, not all inclusions/color are what they say on paper and requires a trained eye to inspect it (i.e., the first one you spotted-w/ black marks).

Also, at some point, I will need to know how the whole payment-shipping will be accomplished. I will probably have it first set in a simple setting to propose. If the stone happens to be in Israel already, a setting with your contact may be easiest, especially with my desired timeline. Thanks!

A:  One thing I forgot to mention – the two stones were switched between the two pictures The stone on the right in both pictures was simply facing the camera more directly, that’s why you were able to see the H&A patterns easier. I actually think you should go for the 2.62. There’s one more stone that a vendor here in the bourse is returning from Hong Kong that is due to arrive today. I want to examine that stone first, and then we should make a decision. I very much appreciate your trust, and I want to make sure we get the best stone for you for the money.

Getting a simple setting shouldn’t be a problem, either. There might be one small issue with it, though. I’ll get back to that in a second.

The way it works when I broker stones for people in Israel is the customer wires money to my friend’s company. You can take a look at their site. www.fancydiamonds.net. Maybe while you’re there, see if anything they have looks interesting to you. They specialize in fancy color diamonds. (ie. this stone http://www.fancydiamonds.net/view_diamonds/3483.htm is 3.19 carats fancy yellow cushion cut for just under $20k) Since only official members of the Israel diamond bourse can buy and sell, they handle my transactions for me (and take a fee, of course). I’ll send you the wiring instructions when you’re ready.

The issue is that it’s very hard to get wholesale trading companies to agree to allow a return. All transactions in the bourse are final once the traditional “mazal u’vracha” (hebrew for “luck and blessing”) has been said and a handshake given. So asking a vendor to allow a return for up to a week or two is usually like pulling teeth. Getting it is difficult but usually not a problem, but it’s generally not more than a week or two. So having the stone set will simply take another day or two out of that window for you. I’ll leave that decision up to you.

So I’ll get back to you as soon as I’ve seen the new stone. Let me know if you have any more questions.

Q: Great Ira, I look forward to seeing what the Hong Kong stone is like.  Also, for clarity, which is the 2.62 diamond in the pics, they both look so much alike in size.

A: The HK stone won’t arrive until Sunday as it turns out. Do you have time to wait?

Q: No problem, Sundays fine.

A: Great. I’ll get back to you then.  Enjoy your long weekend!

Q: Hi Ira, any word yet?

A: Sorry about the delay. The company claims it had issues with Israeli customs when it was shipped back from HK. Give me tomorrow – if they don’t deliver, then its clear they’re playing games. I’ll give you an answer either way tomorrow.

…….

Ok, got some good info for you today.

The 2.51 we spoke about is finally in. The good news is that this SI1 is cheaper than the other one. This one’s 18,700 vs. 20,000 for the other one. The bad news is that the SI1 is a small black spot in the center of the stone. With a jewelers loupe you see it right away, but with the naked eye, you don’t see it right away. It’s the kind of thing where if you held the stone up to the light and looked at it very closely, you’d be able to spot it after 10 seconds or so. So you’ll have to decide for yourself whether this will bother you (and your fiance) or not. My wife’s diamond has a similar spot, and she never noticed it.

I also found for you a 2.31 I SI1. This one also has a great price, but also has a blackish inclusion in the center. But this one is even more faint than the other (and likewise harder to see). This one costs $16,500. That’s a really great price.

I also found a 2.28 H SI1. Price on this one is 19,200. The SI1 on this stone is perfect. The only downside to this stone is that it’s a VG cut, but face up it really looks beautiful. It’s very very hard to notice any real difference in sparkle.

The certs and pics of the stones are attached. The 2.51 is in both of the pics.

In my opinion, the 2.31 is the best deal out of any of these. The stone has Medium blue fluorescence which actually makes the I look a tiny bit whiter. There’s no discernable difference in color between the I with the Medium Fluorescence and the 2.28 H Color. From 12 inches away, the stone is eye clean. I just think you’re getting more for your money vs. the other four stones we’ve discussed. Even though it’s 20 points lighter than the 2.51, it’s only 0.09mm smaller in diameter. That difference in size isn’t even perceptible to the naked eye, so it really looks like a full 2.5 ct stone.

I look forward to hearing from you!

2.51ct & 2.28ct Diamonds

Cert of 2.28ct Diamond

2.51ct & 2.31ct Diamonds

Cert of 2.51ct Diamond

Cert of 2.31ct

Q: My finace will not care if a jeweler notices a small inclusion under a loup, but I definitely want it to be eye-clean. She WILL be showing it off-not b/c a snobby girl, just one that puts a lot of attention and pride in her jewelry. If looking with naked eye she can see inclusions/black outs-i want to pass on those diamonds. Thus, I’m a little hesitant about the 2.51.

The 2.31 seems like a good choice, especially b/c you favor it too. Again, I assume that b/c the black inclusion is faint and smaller than the 2.51, this will not be noticeable to the naked eye. I also like the price.

The prior emailed 2.62 is a very impressive stone also, and without the black out inclusions, this has got to be in the running too.

I do have a couple follow up questions:
1.Does the blue flour. give any milky tone to the stone in the 2.31?
2.you and i were impressed by the prior 2 diamonds(2.5/2.62), especially the white inclusions/cleanliness and triple excellent cut. So, how does 2.31 compare? Why go with the 2.31 over the 2.62?

Thanks for all your help; I think we are near a decision.

A: About the fluorescence: there’s absolutely no milkiness/cloudiness in that stone.  Med fluorescence on an I color will never be milky.  I actually recommend specifically seeking out this combination in my article about Fluorescence (http://www.truthaboutdiamonds.com/truth-about/diamond-fluorescence/ – see the “bottom line recommendation”)

It’s true the 2.62 is a great stone, but i’m not sure it’s worth $2000 more.  The cut (which is most important) is just as nice on the 2.31.  The color on the 2.31 is slightly better due to the fluorescence.  And both are clean to the naked eye.  And remember, the 2.31 is an SI1 whereas the 2.62 is an SI2.  So the cheaper price is really significantly cheaper.  If both were SI2s, then you could understand the price difference would be related to the size.  If the underlying price level were the same, then the 2.31 should be about the same price as the 2.62 because it’s an SI1 and the 2.62 is an SI2, but it’s still $2000 cheaper.  It’s just a significantly better value.

There’s one more issue.  The vendor that owns the 2.62 is a very rigid company. They have the largest inventory in the Israel market for large excellent cut GIA certified stones.  Their business model is that they ask high prices and wait for the right customer.  That’s why the prices last week were just OK.   But it might also be an issue with them to guarantee a certain amount of time to allow you to return the stone.  Since all transactions in the Israel diamond bourse are final wholesale transactions between dealers, we need to request a special exception in your case to allow you to return the stone.  I can’t take the risk of owning the stone myself.

The owner of the 2.31 is just a regular company looking to move their merchandise at a price they’re comfortable with.  They like to turn their inventory as fast as possible (unlike the owner of the 2.62 who is much more patient).  So it wont’ be a problem getting them to agree to a return period.

Let me know what you’d like to do!  The quicker you decide, the better the odds they won’t be sold to someone else.

Q: Your advice is sound and good. Let’s go with the 2.31 SI 1 . I need to know exactly how to pay for the diamond. Totals,wiring instr. etc. Do they accept any VISA or all in cash.

When Can you have it here? I leave January 14th, and need my guys here to set it in a ring first.

Many thanks! I am confident the ring will be great!

A: I think that’s the best choice.  You can pay by credit card via google checkout or paypal, but we’d have to add on about 5% to cover the expenses.  The best option is to send a wire transfer.  See the attached file for instructions.

If you send the wire today (tomorrow for you – Wednesday), then we’ll have it on Thursday and ship it then.  In that case, you’ll have it on Friday.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Q: Thanks for the wire instructions. Becuase of my timeline, I cannot spare the week long delay of bank procedures in order to wire the full amount. So, I will wire half, and pay the rest through credit card paypal. Does this cover everything:
($8,250) wire, ($8,250) paypal; 5% CC fee ($412.50).

A: That should work fine.  Can you get the wire out today so we can arrange the shipment tomorrow?  The diamond bourse is closed on Friday (not because it’s 1/1 – it’s closed every Friday), so the next available day to ship would be Sunday (it’s opened Sunday – Thursday.  Sunday is a regular work day in Israel).

I emailed Yossi Polnauer, CEO of Leibish Fancy Diamonds, requesting him to send you an invoice for 8662.50.  He just got back to me quickly that he prefers Google Checkout.  It works the same way.  Let me know if it’s a problem.

Q: Should get it done, in the works! If it doesn’t go out till Sun. that should be enough time too.

……

Sent full payment to Yossi today 1/2 by wire, 1/2 by Google. I gave him my shipping address too. Your help was immense. Thank you! I’ll check back with you soon.

…..

The diamond arrived today! Looks great. Taking it to get set& will let you know how it goes!

A: Great to hear! I knew you’d love it. I’d love to hear how the ring turns out.

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A: I think you can definitely go with the G SI1 (all else being equal) and you would be hard pressed to notice the difference. 
As far as the prices are concerned, I think you can do much better.  Take a look at the following stone from James Allen:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1272207.asp

It’s totally eye clean.  It’s GIA Excellent cut grade.  G SI1.  The price in the USA is $2,030 USD.  If you use James Allen’s currency calculator, the total price for the stone including shipping, customs, etc is 1570 GBP. That’s a very significant savings over the price you received.

let me know what you think.

Q: Ira, thanks for getting back to me so quickly. This looks great – and much cheaper. 

The issue I have is I’d like to try and get the ring made for Xmas….and I live, obviously, in the UK…

My girlfriend has a very specific design in mind – do you set rings as well….? It is…

an 0.8 carat diamond, round, Colour as close to DEF as possible.
an 18k gold ring (if you would recommend; I have heard anything above 18k can be soft enough so that you risk losing the diamond….?)
also to have two small (but visible!) yellow sapphires either side of the diamond. This is important.
And the ring size is “J”, and not too “thick” on the metal, just enough to give a secure setting.

Also, these prices I gave below are for 0.8 carat diamonds (I made a mistake in my email - honest!). Sorry about that.

To let you know – I am looking to spend the £3000 or so I’ve saved….so if there is a difference in diamond quality that’s “detectable”…I would be happy to spend my full budget.

The problem is my timeframe….I’d be interested, definitely, in buying from you if this is possible.

Hope to hear from you shortly!

A: I checked again for 0.80s, and still I found a great G SI1 for about 2050 GBP delivered.

There’s two options for me to help you.  I sent an inquiry to James Allen to see if they can manage to get a ring like this one:

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-colored-sidestones/Blue-Sapphire-Ring.html or
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-colored-sidestones/Pear-Shape-Blue-Sapphire-Ring.html

But with yellow sapphires instead.  Hopefully, they’ll be able to get me an answer soon.  If they can, then I think the best thing to do is just order from them.  They wont have a problem getting the ring to you by Christmas.

If they can’t, then I can do everything for you here in Israel.   I can have a ring made exactly as you want it and find the perfect stone at a great price (possibly even better than JA).  

Lets see what the people at JA say.

…….

Great news. I just got word back very quickly from my contact at JA.  They can replace blue sapphires with yellow ones for the same price as the blues.  

So here’s what i recommend:

Go to this page:

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-colored-sidestones/?whitegold=1

and pick the style you like best.

For the diamond, I looked through a bunch of them, and found this to be my favorite.  GIA triple excellent.  Totally eye clean.  

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1261691.asp

YOu can use coupon code TADJ10 to get 10% off the setting.  So total in USD is 2780 + about 900.  Putting 3680 into the currency converter leaves you with a final price of 2806 GBP total delivered.

Order this one over the phone and ask for Jim.  he’s the one who approved the yellow sapphire.  He’s also the boss (Jim is short for James Allen Shultz).   You can call now.  They have late phone hours.

I’m off to bed now. It’s 12:30am here in Israel. Let me konw how it goes!

Q: Ira – thanks so much for this.

The setting with the round stones seems like the ideal ring…and much less than I’d pay in London…

Just have a few more questions:

you seem quite keen for me to go with an SI1 grade diamond! I have had advice that for lighter colours it’s better to go with VS – can you explain? 

Also…I am a little apprehensive about buying a ring on line (although the ring you’ve showed me sounds great)…are there any pitfalls? How do you know for sure what you’re getting…?

Another concern is sourcing of diamonds – is there any way of knowing if the dimaonds for sale are “ethically” sourced…what does that mean to you?

A: I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to respond to this last night, I know you’re working on a tight schedule!

About the advice you received: My philosophy is that if a stone is eye-clean, it doesn’t need to be any cleaner. If you can’t see the inclusions on your SI1, then why should you pay more for a VS2? This is how all the diamond experts that I know feel (if they were to be buying a diamond themselves for their wives). As far as needed a higher clarity for a higher color stone – that’s a complete misunderstanding. Color and clarity are two completely separate descriptors of diamond qualities. There’s no reason to correlate the two at all. I actually wrote an article on this subject. YOu can find it here:

http://www.truthaboutdiamonds.com/2009/07/20/best-color-and-clarity-combination/

As far as buy online is concerned – the real truth is that it’s a complete win-win situation. It’s cheaper. It’s easier. No haggling. No pushy salespeople. Customer service is amazing. If there’s a problem, you have 30 days to return the ring for a full refund. (Actually, in JA’s case you have more than 30 days since they extended their holiday return period to Jan 15th.) Since starting this website in the summer, I’ve helped over 50 people buy their engagement rings from James Allen. Every single one has been completely pleased with the experience.

Since conflict diamonds and non-conflict diamonds are scientifically indistinguishable from one another, there’s no TRUE way to know with absolute certainty that they have none. That’s the honest answer, and it applies to ANY store selling diamonds. But, there are certain methods the industry has put into place such as the Kimberly Process, that have greatly reduced the trade of conflict diamonds. I know JA only deals with companies with great long term reputations who are fully Kimberly Process compliant. They have a guarantee on their website that all of their diamonds are conflict free.

……

I’d love to hear what you decide in the end – your situation was very unique, so it piqued my interest!  (I’m also proud of myself re: the yellow sapphires )

Q: I decided to go ahead with the yellow sapphires ring on Friday after some chatting with Jim. Thanks for your help with it. That’s the easy bit! I’ll let you know how the rest goes in a couple of weeks…!

A: Great news! I’m so happy I was able to help! Please stay in touch. I’d love to hear how the ring looks when it arrives.

Also, if you use facebook, check out the new “page” I set up for the website: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Truth-About-Diamonds/111878377578?ref=ts

I plan on setting up a monthly giveaway sometime soon for people who participate (post experiences, proposal ideas, etc). It won’t be a 5 ct diamond, but it will be something significant (stud earrings, a simple stud pendant, etc).

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

Diamond Magnified 20x - Click to Enlarge

Carats: 1.54

Diamond Color: J

Diamond Clarity: I1

Diamond Cut: Excellent

Measurements: 7.35*7.41*4.54

Depth: 61.5%

Table: 59%

Diamond Polish: Excellent

Diamond Symmetry: Excellent

Diamond Fluorescence: None

James Allen Engagement Ring

Diamond Price: $4,840

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.  If you’re someone who’s turned off by overly gaudy engagement ring settings with endless small pave melee diamonds, then you’d probably like this setting from James Allen: White Gold Cross Prong Diamond Solitaire Ring.  This setting has proven to be one of the most popular among readers of Truth About Diamonds whom I’ve helped buy an engagement ring on James Allen.

As with some of the other I1 daily diamond selections, today’s stone probably isn’t technically eye-clean. But placing the engagement ring setting prong over the base of the inclusion will greatly help to obscure it.  Also, you must keep in mind the actual size of the diamond.  Draw a circle on a piece of paper that is about 7.5mm in diameter.  That’s a bit larger than this diamond.  The zoomed out version of the photo on the left is still significantly larger than the actual size, and look how difficult it is to see the inclusion?  At a casual glance, you would never notice the inclusion.

Click here to be Brought to the Diamond on James Allen

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http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/ring/item_58-1908.asp

The sidestones are color G-H. Is it necessary for the main stone to be better or equal color to the sidestones? For example, must I buy at least an H or G color stone? Or would an I or J suffice?

This was the best diamond i could find so far.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI2-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1251654.asp

I would like the diamond to be “eye clean” and for it to look good on the setting i chose above. Please provide any pointers or recommendations regarding the ring and diamond choice above. The ring size is 6.75. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Your webiste has been very informative and helpful. Is there a better diamond for my price range?

A: Ok, Peter.  I’m back home now.  Here’s what I think:

I checked the ring, and since the sidestones are significant in size, and not tiny one-pointers, the color is significant.  So, no, I don’t think you should go down to I or J.  If you had picked a pave style ring, I would say you could go down, but these stones will show the difference in color.

So I think your best bet is an H color.  It’s either the same as the side stones, or one grade lower, which is not noticeable when the diamonds are face up.  Whenever you match diamonds for sets, you can always have a grade or even a grade and a half differential in color and the set will still match.

I think you actually made a great choice.  I looked for H colors with either SI2 or I1 clarity, and I didn’t find anything better than the G you found.  I especially like the really spready make on your pick.  It’s also really clean for an SI2.  The inclusion is all on the side.

There’s only one stone that MIGHT be a better choice.  There’s a 1.51 H I1 but there’s no picture.  Here’s the link:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-I1-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1200260.asp

Unfortunately, there’s no picture.  But if you want, I can contact JA customer service for you to request they take a picture.  It might take a few days, but it’s probably worth the wait because if it turns out to be a nice I1, you’d be getting a much bigger stone.

Q: Thanks for the prompt reply.  I would actually consider the 1.51 ring if there was a picture of it.  I attempted to make the request on the online form at James Allen website.  I’m not 100% set on the ring choice yet.  It’s the one that first popped out at me when looking at rings online.  I would consider a half-pave set if it would compliment a larger/better stone (ex. I or J color).

I plan on buying a ring within the next couple of weeks, so I do have time to wait for the photo on the 1.51 carat ring.  I am also going to try different ring settings and stone combinations.  I’m sure i’ll email you back when I narrow down my final stones for a second opinion.  Thanks for the help.

One quick question.  Would you recommend white gold or platinum for the ring?  My idea was to use the extra money towards the stone and just go with 18k white gold.

A: Hey Peter.  The honest truth is, my experience is very focused on loose diamonds.  I never worked in retail or general jewelry.  It was hard-core diamond wholesale trade.  So I can’t really answer your question about plat vs. gold.  From my perspective, it’s always about getting a bigger diamond, so I would say save your money on the ring and use it for a bigger rock.  For me, the ring is just a vessel to display the diamond.  But perhaps I’m biased that way because my experience is all about the diamond.

But it terms of utility, I really don’t know which one to recommend.  I don’t know if one upkeeps better than the other, etc.

Please let me know what the pictures like on that stone.  I can tell you with a fair amount of certainty if the stone will be eye-clean or not.

Best Regards!  And congratulations!

Q: Hello Ira,

So it seems that the inclusions on the 1.5 carat I1 diamond are visible to naked eye per James Allen representative. Her message is below.  So now I’m kinda thinking of these two diamonds for this setting:

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/ring/item_58-1908.asp

diamond#1:

1.23 G SI2 $5380

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI2-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1251654.asp

OR

diamond #2

1.20 G SI2 $5460

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1259614.asp

The second one is triple excellent, but not sure it’s worth the extra money.  It also has laser inscription registry. Not sure if that is good or bad if the stone is laser inscribed with serial #. The second stone may have a cleaner looking GIA report, fewer inclusions, but not sure if that makes a difference (ie. if it will be cleaner looking to the naked eye)

What do you think?  My alternative is to go for a different setting (so i can get largest stone I can find for my $5000 budget). Then I could consider I and J color stones.  Not sure what to do at this point.

A: I just looked at the two diamonds (and no, I didn’t drink that much  The cheaper stone, in my opinion, is definitely the better stone.  Firstly, it’s bigger (6.99 vs 6.84) and second, it’s going to look bigger than that because it has a 60% table.  It still has an excellent cut grade, so it’s going to be just as nice as the other one.  With the other stone, you’re just paying a premium for a pretty looking certificate (triple excellent).  Polish and Symmetry Good or better all looks the same to everybody (yours truly included) except for gemologists with microscopes.

I say to go for it, unless you find a setting you like with really small side stones as you mentioned.  Then I’d be happy to help you find a bigger I or J color.

Q: I agree with your assessment that the 1.23 carat stone was better.  I was ready to purchase it, but wanted them to pull the stone and examine it before i ordered it to make sure there were no visible inclusions. (should i not have done that?)  They pulled the stone and informed me via the online chat feature that it had no visible inclusions.

I go ahead and try to order it online. “Diamond unavailable” it says. I can’t believe it! Next, I contact the chat customer service to see if maybe by pulling the diamond for inspection, they might have removed it from the online inventory.  They said they would check and call me back…still no answer. Bad news, looks like someone purchased the stone or maybe the person inspecting it decided to keep it for himself.  Who knows?  Feel a little bummed out.

But I know the inventory changes daily.  Perhaps I’ll check back later today to see if there is something similar. Or maybe pick a different ring setting and go for a larger stone.  Thanks for all your help.  If I do find another stone, i’ll email you for second opinion.  Can’t believe i missed out on this stone by minutes… weird that someone would be in the market for the same specifications i’m looking for…

Update:
I checked back after several hours and found the diamond I wanted was listed as available.  So i purchased it right away.  Thank you very much for your assistance. The ring should be here by next Wednesday.  Hopefully it’s all good, but they do have a 30day return policy.  Biggest online purchase to date… Thanks again!

A: Hey Peter.  I’m really happy you ended up getting the diamond in the end! Best Wishes!

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

Diamond Image Magnified 20x - Click to Enlarge

Diamond Color: H

Diamond Clarity: I1

Carats: 0.82

Measurements: 5.96*5.99*3.72

Diamond Cut: Excellent

Diamond Polish: Excellent

Diamond Symmetry: Excellent

Diamond Fluorescence: None

Depth: 62.3%

Table: 57%

Diamond Price:: $1,900

As always, today’s daily diamond recommendation is completely clean to the naked eye.   It will look exactly the same to your eye as a flawless diamond would!

Click Here to be Brought to the Diamond on JamesAllen.com

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