Q&A: Princess Cut for $20K Budget

I was looking to get a nice princess cut solitaire engagement ring in the next month or so. I have about $20,000 to spend on the diamond and I found one at a local diamond wholesale jeweler in Dallas. They are asking $15,500 for the diamond, which seems like a good price. My only concerns are the I color, and the cloud in the center. Should I spend a little more for a better color or clarity? I would be ok coming down in size a little if the sparkle would be noticeably better.

Thanks for the reply and yes I could use some help selecting the perfect diamond. I have a 2.02 carat H SI1 ideal princess cut diamond placed on hold at James Allen. My reference number for it is JA118750. I would like to select the princess cut that will sparkle the most in that price range.

Thanks for your help!

Thanks, here is one other I was considering for a little less $.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/1.64-carat-e-color-vs1-clarity-sku-197300?a_aid=dmnd1357

Thank you. Is there another diamond at james Allen around that price you would recommend for me. I am setting up their gemologist to look at the first stone I sent you but they said I can select 2 others for inspection also.

The gemologist already looked at 3 before I got your rec’s. This is his report below, I am not considering the 2.06 carat anymore. Do you think the almost $2000 difference is worth spending for the 1.70 diamond vs the 1.73? I had these on hold so you may not had seen them when you looked yesterday.

I am happy to tell you that the gemologist found the 1.70 carat-G-VS1 (diamond 207663; $14,990) to have an excellent amount brilliance (white light return) with a great amount of fire and sparkle that is very well mixed throughout the diamond. It faces up completely “eye clean” and is also a beautiful white color. The 1.73 carat-G-SI1 (diamond 201163; $13,090) is also a very beautiful diamond, offering a very good amount of brilliance and a great amount of fire and sparkle. Even though this is an SI1 clarity, the inclusions do blend well and the diamond faces up “eye clean.” It too is a nice white color. The 2.06 carat-H-SI1 (diamond 202842; $17,210) has very good brilliance, with a balanced amount of fire and sparkle that is symmetrical, however, it is the weakest performer of the three. The feather on the edge of the diamond is eye visible, so it will not face up “eye clean”. It is also the least white of the three, but it is still a nice white color.