Q&A: Looking for a Round Diamond for a Six-Prong Platinum Engagement Ring with a $6k-$9k Budget

Hi, I’m looking to buy an engagement ring and I wanted to hear your thoughts on a few options. The diamond will be set in a tiffany style 6 prong platinum ring. The cut will be round brilliant and I want to get an excellent cut. Ideally I would like to spend 6-9,000 for the diamond alone. I would like one that is eye clean and as colorless as possible… my girlfriend liked a stone that was about 1.2 carats so I was looking in that range or a little bit smaller. I prefer a higher quality stone to a bigger stone in general.

This was my first choice.

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.10-carat-g-color-vvs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-181234?a_aid=dmnd1357

I like these also

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.01-carat-g-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-270722?a_aid=dmnd1357

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.09-carat-h-color-vvs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-247278?a_aid=dmnd1357

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.07-carat-g-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-250783?a_aid=dmnd1357

What do you think? 

 Thank you very much for your response. I agree that you get better value with the ones you suggested. I find it a little confusing to try to determine whether a VS2 is eye clean. When I look at James Allen I see many of the VS1 and VS2 diamonds with defects that are noticeable on the high magnification. How do you know if they will be eye-clean from further away?

I decided the one I liked before doesn’t sparkle enough because of the large table. I like this one a bit more but it has very good polish + symmetry instead of excellent like you had before. It is still about 500-1000 more than the ones you suggested but maybe there is a little more peace of mind?

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.10-carat-g-color-vvs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-267604?a_aid=dmnd1357