Q&A: Looking for a 1 Ct. Round Diamond With Up to $6,000 Budget Being Very Color Sensitive

Hi,

Could you tell me whether you think either of these diamonds would be eye clean, and if they are good stones in general? Which would you choose?

(1) www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.00-carat-d-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2472064?a_aid=dmnd1357

(2) www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.01-carat-d-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2033229?a_aid=dmnd1357

Thanks.

Thanks for your response and your opinion on the two I had selected. Back to the drawing board in one sense!

I have carried out a lot of research (much of it on your website!) and have a fair idea of exactly what I want. My search parameters on James Allen are as follows:

Shape – Round
Cut – Ideal or better
Lab – GIA
Polish – Excellent/V Good
Symmetry – Excellent/V Good
Table – 53-64
Depth – 58-64 (and larger than table)
Fluoresence – none/faint
Colour – D/E

Re colour – I did read on your site and elsewhere that there wasn’t much benefit in going for a lower colour. However, when I went into physical shops here, I was struck by how noticeable I found the differences in colour between the lower colour ones and the higher colours, and that really increased the priority of colour and made me set on a D/E.

That leaves carat, clarity and price, which are the three that are manipulated. Ideally I’d like a carat, but would go as low as 0.96 ct.

I’d like as low a price as possible (obviously :)), but probably round the $5,000 mark, although higher for the right diamond, up to round $6,000.

I really would like it to be eye clean under scrutiny (tho not magnified scrutiny), and don’t see any benefit in spending more for a clarity better than this, so SI2 and SI1 are perhaps where I could get lucky with an eye clean diamond,and this is where your expertise could be invaluable.

Other features I’ve preferred in my selections are where there is a strong contrast within the stone (probably described wrong, but basically where the ‘star’ shape within the stone is clearly defined and black) as I’ve read this contrast is what gives it sparkle.

In relation to the stone you selected – it is a lovely stone, and really good size, price, etc. However, to me it looks a little ‘washed out’, that is, I don’t see a ‘crispness’ when I look at it that I do see with some others, and also the colour is a little high for me – and whether its in my head or not, I fancy I can see it when comparing with lower coloured stones.

There’s quite a lot there, but hopefully it gives you a good idea of what it is I’m looking for – it would be great if you could help me.

Thanks.

Thanks, they’re very reputable shops so I’d like to think so, but it’s an excellent point and I’ll check it out asap and get back to you.

Re your parameters, that sounds great.

Thanks.

I went to three separate shops at the weekend, and could’t get a GIA low colour diamond – a lot of the stones I was shown were IGI. I’ve read up about it on your site, and see that it isn’t the most reputable of labs, so your point certainly was very valid, and would encourage me to set my sights a little wider with regards colour.

I think I’ve (with your help), pretty much got my parameters where I want them to be (I’ll recap below), but one thing which is a little more subjective, and which I could be picking up wrong, is the appearance of the diamond from the top down. I’ve been strongly preferring those which have the central ‘star’ as black and as clearly defined as possible – they look sharper, and I think I read that it is this contrast which gives sparkle. Hence my comment that I thought the diamond you showed me looked a little ‘washed out’ – from the top down, only three of the eight ‘prongs’ appeared black.

Does what I’m saying in that respect make any sense? Or have I just picked something up wrong, or placed too much emphasis on it?

Anyway, to recap on my parameters:

Shape – Round
Cut – Ideal or better
Lab – GIA
Polish – Excellent/V Good
Symmetry – Excellent/V Good
Table – 53 – 59%
Depth – 58 – 62.6% (and larger than table)
Fluorescence – none/faint

Those are the easy (and set) ones, the next four I’d like each to be as good as possible, but it’s a compromise between:
Colour – D/E/F/perhaps G
Clarity – SI2/SI1 – *Eye clean* being the important feature
Carat – Around 1, say 0.96 as low as would go
Price – Prob $5k up to $6k , but as low as possible 🙂

Again a long email for you to trawl through, sorry!

Thanks for your help, it’s greatly appreciated!

……

Further to the above, what’s your opinion of this one? I had it on my wishlist, which I was reviewing:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.98-carat-e-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2311271?a_aid=dmnd1357

I really like it. I’m going to get it I think. The email address I’m using on James Allen is the one I’m using now as well.

Thanks for your help – it’s been greatly appreciated, and I think you’ve helped me make a really good choice.