Q&A: Choosing a 1 Ct. Round Brilliant for a White Gold Solitaire Setting with a $5k-6k Budget

Hello! So, this is my story. The bf and I have been openly talking about getting engaged, and recently, his dad has gotten very sick and we’re pulling in our plans. We’ve been researching about diamonds, talking about the type of ring I want, I think it’s only fair if he’s going to spend that amount of money, it at least has to be something I’d like. I’m currently on work assignment in South East Asia, and won’t be able to research or window shop together, at least in the ‘brick & mortal’ shops. This is, our 1st time, and frankly, very skeptical about purchasing jewellery/gem online, until we found your website and got educated 🙂 Truth to be told, the choices I see here in S.E.A shops are quite limited, and inventory are usually in top ranges, this does not allow me to be flexible with the budget given.
Example:
1) 1.00 ct, Color I, SI2, Excellent Cut, priced in $6380 range (round diamond only).
2) 0.92 ct, color G, SI1, Excellent cut, priced in $6100 range (round diamond only)

I am seeking your expert opinion. Here’s what I’m looking:
Carat: 1.00 ct preferably, but am willing to go from 0.90+ range, or higher than 1.00ct
Shape: Round / Solitaire
Cut: Very Good / Ideal (whichever that look brilliant/sparkles more)
Budget: $5000. Willing to go max at $6000 (including ring setting).

I’m willing to sacrifice some clarity and color for a larger stone, but definitely want something that is eye-clean, and look brilliant (if compare to more expensive ones with higher clarity/color) something that is hard to distinguish once it’s set.

Ring setting, still contemplating between 18k white gold or 18k yellow gold. I aware that if it’s yellow gold, we can go lower on the color range. Can you help suggest few round diamonds, for white and yellow gold, please?

1) https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/platinum-etched-profile-solitaire-item-9205?a_aid=dmnd1357
2) https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/side-stones/-18k-white-gold-tapered-baguette-diamond-engagement-ring-item-1468?a_aid=dmnd1357

if all goes well, we hope to secure the ring & diamond within this week, hopefully delivery will be in time for our civil ceremony on 15th Nov.

Looking forward to hear from you. 

Thanks for the reply! I am ecstatic that you replied. Pardon the exclamation, very excited, I’ve been reading and researching from TAD, JA website and few others for the last month and the information is quite overwhelming.

Back to your question.
1) Are the diamonds you saw GIA certified? Yes, they are.

2) Also, where would you have it shipped? To California.

After much discussion with my fiance, we decided to take our purchase online, it’ll be easier to reference something we both agree upon vs B&M shops. I’m trying to stick to max. $5500 budget, leaving $1000 – $1200 for the ring setting.
My fiance suggested this 0.92ct, H, VS1, Ex ($5550) as there’s no major inclusion stated on the GIA cert, but with that price, I probably could find something slightly lower, in the 1ct range, and I can compensate lower clarity (VS2 / SI1) and color (I, or the very least, J).

Here’s my top 8 (out of 30). What do you think? Just want to be sure that I’m on the right path, hopefully. Like others before me, anything eye-clean and better brilliancy, am game.

1) 0.91 Carat I-VS2 Excellent ($4500)
– seems a lil cloudy on the top (12 o’clock), but I guess this should be eye-clean?

2) 0.95 Carat I-VS2 Excellent ($5120)

3) 1.00 Carat I-SI1 Excellent ($5310)

4) 1.01 Carat I-SI1 Excellent ($4860)
– crystal in the middle, seems to be sticking out like sore thumb, but you reckon it’s eye-clean?

5) 1.02 Carat J-VS2 Excellent Cut Round Diamond ($5210)
– looks eye-clean, not sure if color J justifies for the VS2 clarity. Thoughts?

6) 1.02 Carat J-VS2 Excellent ($4810)
– presence of fluorescence affects price ?

7) 1.03 Carat J-SI1 Excellent ($5030)
– feather near girdle, something I should avoid?

8) 1.04 Carat J-SI1 Excellent ($4740)

Thanks for the recommendation! I’m going ahead with the purchase, after checking with JA’s gemologist before I finalize my purchase. Thank you so much!