Want to buy pear shape one carat eye-clean diamond from Blue Nile. What color and clarity should it be?
What style setting (solitaire, pave/side stones/halo) and metal (yellow/white gold, platinum) do you want to use? This may affect the colors that I recommend for the center diamond (as we explain in our post on color).
As for the clarity grade, the actual grade is not that important, what matters is having an eye-clean diamond. Clarity grade only tells you the size of the inclusion. That is one factor in determining eye-cleanliness. But harshness, location and reflection matter as well: www.diamonds.pro/diamond-clarity/. You can find an SI1 (even an SI2) diamond that’s eye-clean as well as a VS2/VS1 that’s not. It always depends on a particular diamond and its inclusions. I always search for SI2+, but sometimes it happens that the best-priced eye-clean diamond has a VS or VVS grade.
Generally said, large and dark inclusions (such as crystals or large feathers) often are noticeable while twinning wisps are fine in most of the cases. Sometimes the diamonds look just perfect but the ‘clarity grade is based on clouds not shown’ note is an issue. That means that there’s a large cloud that saps the brilliance from the stone. I also recommend avoiding diamonds with knots and cavities and diamonds <1ct with clouds – they don’t have a clarity plot in the certificate so you wouldn’t know the size and location of the cloud and the diamond might end up being hazy and less brilliant.
The engagement/wedding band set that I would like to purchase is stock Pear Shaped Halo Diamond Engagement Ring in 14K White Gold and Riviera Pavé Diamond Ring in 14k White Gold (1/4) for the wedding band.
I was looking at a J color and SI2 for a one carat diamond. The price for the total was approximately $4,500. However, I need your help on the color and clarity grades. I would like to stay in this $4,500 range but can go up to $6,500 total if that is necessary to get an eye clean 1 carat diamond.
The J color would look yellow in a halo setting and in a white gold ring. Pear cut diamonds don’t refract light just as well as round diamonds and thus tend to show their true color more. I wouldn’t go below an H color if you want to ensure the colorless impression. I’m happy to recommend some nice eye-clean and colorless options, but you’d most likely end up with a more expensive (or slightly smaller) diamond. Let me know what you think.
What would cost be for eye-clean with H color?
I found this one that looks promising. It has some minor inclusions on the table, but they are light and hopefully wouldn’t be too prominent in real life.
Blue Nile LD14719740
It’s the best-priced option I found in the H+ range. If you weren’t happy with it, you can always send it back, but I really like this diamond and I think it would look great in person.
I found a diamond on the James Allen site. It is a D color VVSI for $5,510:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/pear-shaped/1.01-carat-d-color-vvs1-clarity-sku-8737026?a_aid=dmnd1357
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/pear-shaped/1.01-carat-d-color-vvs1-clarity-sku-8737026?a_aid=dmnd1357
Medium fluorescence is a big problem on G+ diamonds. It usually causes haziness. I found this one that’s beautiful and has no red flags in the certificate:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/pear-shaped/1.01-carat-e-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-10123377?a_aid=dmnd1357
FYI, I did purchase ring with Blue Nile. Thank you.
That’s great news! I’m glad you found what you were looking for.
What we love about them:
- No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. James Allen will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
- Lifetime Warranty
- Free International Shipping
- Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
- Provide insurance appraisals
- One free resizing within 60 days of purchase
- Free ring inscriptions
- Best-in-class high quality imagery of all diamonds in stock
- 24/7 Customer Service
- Best-in-class packaging
What we love about them:
- No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. Blue Nile will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
- Lifetime Warranty
- Free Shipping
- Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
- Provide insurance appraisal
- One free resizing within the first year of purchase
- High quality images of about half of their diamonds
- 24/7 Customer Service
- 100% credit towards future upgrades (must be at least double in value)
- Best in class fulfillment
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