Q&A: Help Finding a 2.00 Ct. Round Diamond for a White Gold or Platinum Solitaire Setting With a $12k Total Budget

Hi guys,

I’m in the final stages of looking for a loose diamond for a solitaire engagement ring. I’ve narrowed it down to the following:
Shape: Round
Cut: Ideal
Clarity: VS2 or higher (this is just based on my viewing Blue Nile and other photos where the stones just look awful and the GIA certs are terrible too to my eyes). If you guys truly believe that there are SI1 or SI2 stones that would wow her as much as a VS2 or higher, please let me know)
Color: J or higher
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None to Faint (Prefer none)
Certificate: GIA ONLY

While I plan on proposing with the solitaire in a 6-prong setting, we will likely be putting this into a very classic setting with a couple round or princess stones to each side. So hopefully the color is not wildly different from the center stone.

If possible, I’d like to stay around $10k or under, but don’t want to go over $12k. Originally I had wanted to stay around $8k, but that doesn’t seem possible for what I am looking for.

I’ve got about 20 stones I’ve found on Blue Nile that are in the running. James Allen didn’t appear to have anything that beat the Blue Nile ones. I haven’t really had a chance to look on sites other than these.

I would appreciate any help you can provide.

I am looking for around a 2 carat, round.

Thanks. I would really prefer it to be 1.80 carats minimum. I’m willing to go a little over $12k. I have found several diamonds on both James Allen and Blue Nile that are in the running. I don’t have time before I leave for work this morning to send you all the links, but if you stick the following into the James Allen search engine, you should see the same ones I do.

Shape: Round
Color: I to D
Clarity: SI2 and higher
Origin: All
Cut: Ideal to True Hearts
Carat: 1.8 to 2.1
Price: $200 to $12,400
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: Faint to None
Lab: GIA

If you wouldn’t mind taking a look at these and comparing them to the stone you list below, I’d appreciate that. I can give you the links to the Blue Nile ones I was looking at later this evening.

Thanks again!

Ok, I think what I really need is your professional opinion on the two stones you’ve recommended. Given that there is only a 0.09 carat difference between the diamonds, do you believe there is any convincing reason to pay the extra $2k to get the slightly bigger, better clarity stone? My gut is saying no, but I’d value your opinion, especially since I plan to propose with the solitaire, but then have it re-set into a nicer setting that my girlfriend and I can pick together shortly thereafter. The setting will likely be a couple side stones or channel set with a few stones, if that helps.

Thank you.

……

Thanks again. I spoke with my soon to be fiancée and she showed me a couple more pictures of what she would like. It looks like I really need to be at the 2 Ct or a little over mark. So if you have suggestions, even sacrificing clarity to stay in the $10k – $12k range, I’d appreciate it. I can send some links of stones I am considering tomorrow. Sorry for so much turmoil. I just want to get it right for the woman of my dreams. 😊

Here are the ones I was considering:

James Allen
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/2.03-carat-i-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2764133?a_aid=dmnd1357

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/2.02-carat-i-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1117261?a_aid=dmnd1357

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/2.03-carat-i-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2446026?a_aid=dmnd1357

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/2.01-carat-f-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1784310?a_aid=dmnd1357

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/2.01-carat-h-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2768906?a_aid=dmnd1357

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/2.01-carat-i-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2287447?a_aid=dmnd1357

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/2.14-carat-i-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3075695?a_aid=dmnd1357

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/2.00-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2632374?a_aid=dmnd1357

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/2.09-carat-i-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2743808?a_aid=dmnd1357

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/2.01-carat-i-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3057075?a_aid=dmnd1357

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/2.01-carat-i-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2619327?a_aid=dmnd1357

Blue Nile
Blue Nile LD08333577
Blue Nile LD07544866
Blue Nile LD08136229
Blue Nile LD08983457
Blue Nile LD08136199
Blue Nile LD08092571
Blue Nile LD08831045
Blue Nile LD08948660

Thanks.

……

Also, this is the solitaire setting she loves. Any idea where to get this? I’ve not seen any with that hollow where the prongs come out of the band. Or is that perhaps just a reflection of the stone?

Thanks again. Sorry, I was talking about the dark part in that picture, directly under the stone, where it looked to me to be like a channel was cut out, but I guess it’s just the reflection of the stone and setting. Apologies for my confusion.

I’ve requested pictures of the three stones you linked to, but the first one is no longer available when I click the link.

In your opinion, how much more should I increase my budget in order to get an eye clean 2.0+ ct.?

I’ve been using this site to compare sizes of the stones you’ve suggested and I’m having a hard time deciding if just sticking with the 1.71 or 1.8 ct. you recommended is a better choice than continuing to hunt for a 2 ct. stone that may break the bank.
www.diamdb.com/compare/1.71ct-round-7.65×7.61×4.75-vs-1.8ct-round-7.79×7.75×4.89/

I know that she’ll never be comparing these stones side by side, I just don’t want her to be disappointed since “size and sparkle” are really her careabouts, as I would assume is pretty normal.

Thank you again for your patience with me!

……

I’m still waiting to see if Blue Nile will send me pictures of the ones you pointed out. Their response when I asked for them didn’t give me much hope that they had anything of high resolution. While we wait, can you tell me what was wrong with this one?
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/2.00-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2632374?a_aid=dmnd1357

Clearly my eyes are not seeing what I should be seeing, since even the cert looked pretty clean other than a few spots on the edges.

Thanks.

Gotcha. Thank you. Do you know how often they update their inventory on James Allen? I had wanted to propose by the end of next week, but it looks like that won’t be doable since even the two diamonds you have suggested wouldn’t be here in time.

……

Thanks for your help. I ended up purchasing from a local jeweler I’ve done business with in the past since I couldn’t find what I wanted online. Have a good day and thanks again!