Q&A: Looking for 1-1.5Ct. Round Brilliant Diamond for Solitaire Setting

First, thank you so much for the tremendous website. I feel like I learned more from your site in the hour or so I’ve read the tips and Q&As posted here than I have in the many more hours perusing jewelers and other sites out on the web!

I’m in the market for an engagement ring for my girlfriend. I’d like to get a round diamond and based on what I’ve read on your site so far, here are the parameters I’d like to look at:

Shape: Round

Weight: 1-1.15ct or so

Cut: Ideal/Excellent

Color: No lower than I

Clarity: Eye clean

I am flexible in terms of budget. I am willing to spend for a nice stone, but not for things that can’t be noticed by anyone other than an expert or someone with a loupe.

Honest to goodness it is hard for me to tell whether or not the stones on James Allen are eye clean which is why I am afraid of picking out the SI1’s and SI2’s. In searching however, this stone caught my eye:

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VVS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1516410.asp

VVS2 seemed unnecessary to me but this seems to be a good value. Is there anything detracting from this stone that would cause the price to be lower?

Any other diamonds on James Allen catching your eye on there given my parameters?

Again, thank you so much for your site and for your offer of help! It is much appreciated!

Hi Mike! Thanks for the reply.

I’m definitely looking at a solitare – she prefers classic jewelry. Metal-wise on the setting I am going with platinum. She has a shorter, wider finger so based on what I’ve pictured in my mind and read on the net about her hand type, I think I’m going with the flat tab setting on James Allen (#11050P).

I am also flexible on size – I really don’t mind if the stone is .98ct or 1ct. As long as it is in the ballpark it is fine by me – the quality of the stone is more important to me than the size.

Thanks again for the help!

Very nice find – that one is definitely eye clean!

I was taking a look at a few SI1’s this weekend and found this one. Is it eye clean? If so, does it represent a better value than the VS2? I can’t find the inclusions myself but I’m not very good at it…

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1520644.asp

I think I am down to either the one above or the one you suggested – just want to know if it is worth spending the extra $800 or so on the VS2 to guarantee a clean diamond. Thanks again!

Thank you so much for the help Michael! I have your suggested stone now on hold with JA in addition to this one and am asking for their opinion as well:

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1516274.asp

Any thoughts? I can see the two small gray lines on black towards the “north” part of the table (only with the loupe), and I do see one small gray marking on one of the white portions going “southeast” from the center of the diamond. That last one is visible without the loupe… do you think in normal wear that it will be visible? Thanks!

Thank you again Michael – after hearing back from the James Allen folks this morning, I went with the diamond you originally suggested. Though their gemologist mentioned that the SI1 was eye-clean, it was not nearly as brilliant as the VS2 you pointed me towards.

I could have just saved myself the headache and went ahead with that diamond in the first place, but where is the fun in that! I definitely could not have done this without your help. Thank you and I’ll let you know how she likes it when I propose in Hawaii next month!