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Q&A: Choosing a 1.5 Ct. Round Diamond for Under $10k Budget

By Mike Fried,

As everybody else I am looking for the perfectly shining diamond.

I am looking for something up to or around 1.50 ct. Would you manage to tell me, generally speaking, in which price range should a top quality diamond should be?

I am looking at GIA 6235124611 – 1.50, F, VS2 XXX. Do you think that would give me what I am looking for?

Thank you and best regards.

The diamond you are looking for has absolutely perfect specs. The only thing is the inclusions on the table. Have you seen it in person?

In my opinion, there is no reason to go that high in color.
https://www.diamonds.pro/education/color/

I wouldn’t go higher than G/H. Look at this option:
https://goto.bluenile.com/c/1323400/504049/8660?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bluenile.com%2Fdiamond-details%2FLD08295609

Many thanks for you email. I will let you know where it ends up.

I have not seen the particular diamond in person, however i have gotten a picture (attached). I am a little skeptic myself, especially after seeing the picture, but the seller guarantee me it is 100% eye clean… Should I rather try to find a clean table or is this quite normal?

Another thing makes me a bit skeptic is the result which turns out by using the HCA tool. 2.0 is not bad, but it is not excellent either – only very good. I am not sure in what way the HCA tool is a trustworthy instrument for explaining the shine/brilliance?

When it comes to color I bought a G a few years ago (1.32 ct – XXX – VS2 – G – GIA 1189028679) but never became 100% satisfied to that stone. Maybe not the G color being the reason for it but it was not as shiny as other diamonds i have been seeing around on ladyfingers… 😉

That inclusion is very visible. That’s not a good stone.

The HCA is a good tool, but you shouldn’t rely on it entirely.
https://www.diamonds.pro/education/holloway-cut-adviser/

The G diamond you bought before looks fantastic. I’m not sure what was the problem why you didn’t like the look of it.

Thank you for your review. Interesting indeed.

Do you manage to tell me which one you would have chosen/the difference (except of the 0.01 ct) between the

GIA 7246869944 – 1.51-F-VS2-ex ex ex; and
GIA 1243722635 – 1.50-F-VS2-ex ex ex

I don’t like the cut on the first one. It’s pretty shallow and the table is way too big. The larger the table, the less light refracts through it (sparkles). “Perfect” light refraction usually occurs with tables around 55-57%. The larger a table is, the larger the diamond looks (that is the biggest facet on the top, so it makes the face appear larger). I like the 58-59% as it’s a good balance between appearance of size and brilliance.

The second one looks better. The table is still higher than I would recommend, but it’s definitely a better choice. How much is it?

I also found this one:
Blue Nile LD08184236

Many thanks for your email. I always learn something more from you.

I think I will leave these two, priced around USD 14.500.

The one you found is not 3x ex… Not too big fan…

But maybe I am a fan of this one for around 10k:
GIA 2185044489

The polish and symmetry don’t have to be Ex. As long as the grades aren’t poor/fair, it’s completely fine.
https://www.diamonds.pro/education/polish/
https://www.diamonds.pro/education/symmetry/

The diamond you sent to me last has a lot of inclusions clustered together right in the middle of the table. Have you seen it in person?

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What we love about them:
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