Q&A: Selecting a Round Brilliant 1.25-1.5 Carats for $6-7K Budget

Wow! Your website is amazing, and it is such a blessing to find. I really respect and appreciate your desire to use your knowledge for the benefit of others.

I am looking for a round brilliant around 1.25ct to 1.50ct. My budget is $6,000 to $7,000 for the center diamond.

I think your advice regarding clarity, color, etc. makes a great deal of sense. I am looking for the best value given my parameters.

I am planning to set it in cushion shaped halo, if that matters.

Thank you so very much for your help with this. It truly is an amazing gift you give people.

Thanks for the quick response.

There should be a picture of the setting below.

To clarify, it is a cushion shaped halo, which the manufacturer says can hold a round diamond. My girlfriend and I like the halo setting and round stone, but we both like how a cushion shaped halo looks with the round stone. Rather than round stone, round halo. Does this make sense? Do you think this is a bad idea?

Thanks again for your help. You site and service are almost to good to be true.

I am a former attorney who now works with low income public schools, so I am a huge fan of using private knowledge base for public good.

Sure thing. Thanks

…….

This is from the jeweler:

The color and clarity of the diamonds are G-I color and VS2-SI1 clarity.

Depending on the color of the center diamond we can have them change to what

we need. (I believe the highest color would be E-F and the lowest is I-J.)

Thanks so much. This is amazingly helpful.

To be honest, as I look at them I am really not sure I know enough to be able to distinguish. To my naive eye:

-the SI1 appears a bit brighter and like it has more facets

-the 1.32 ct SI2 appears brighter than the 1.36ct

-the 1.36 ct SI2 carrot seems like it reflects darker colors in the facets.

Caveats:

-I have no clue if the different appearance is caused by the diamond or the camera.

-I have no clue of any of this would be visible to the naked eye.

At this point my thinking is as follows:

1) I am well within my budget, so if there is any naked-eye quality increase with the SI1, then I am inclined to get it.

2) If there is no naked-eye noticeable difference the three, then I would choose the largest and cheapest, the 1.36ct SI2.

What do you think? Any thoughts about which you would choose if it were you?

Thank you once again.

Gotcha. That makes sense.

And, just to check, the SI2 should be eye-clean?

Great. Thanks!

…….

Proposed today! (She said yes.) Thank you so much for your help.

She loves the ring. Says it is more beautiful than she could have ever expected.

Also, I am going to come in under budget. And, she said she is really proud I budgeted for the ring and came in under it.

I can’t thank you enough for all your help. It has been a true blessing.