So i have been looking at engagement rings and i know exactly what setting she is going to get but now I have to pick a diamond (center stone). My budget is absolute limit $5500 (diamond only) and I want to get one that is at least .95cts I am looking around now though and I am curious what to give up to get more. Like for a 1ct diamond should i go with H color but vs2 clarity or should i go with si1 clarity and d color. I am really looking for what combination typically yields a best value (best looking) for color vs clarity vs. cut
how do you pick an engagement ring diamond?
- Thread starter BKLounger
- Start date
Balance is good. (D/VVS1 for example or a G/VS2). However, CUT is the most important factor, so it makes sense to start by making sure you are looking at well cut diamonds, since the cut is really what breathes life into the diamond. A poorly cut D, IF stone will look flat and lifeless.
I've read as a general rule of thumb to keep the cut around either Very good or ideal.
I am more curious like if i drop from vs1 to vs2 would i really save that much more money? or if i went with f instead of g would i really notice the difference?
Maximize sparkle....
Round diamond with an ideal cut. Color would be the next most important thing for me.
Save money on the clarity. I would avoid going below .65 carrots.
White gold saves money.
Round diamond with an ideal cut. Color would be the next most important thing for me.
Save money on the clarity. I would avoid going below .65 carrots.
White gold saves money.
that's how I know which setting to get already
she told me to pick the diamond, but like most women she likes big, shiny and flawless and after looking $5500 won't buy big shiny and flawless. I found a nice 1.09 ct on blue nile with g color, si1 and ideal cut for $4750. I still need to look at them for myself in a store but i want to have some knowledge behind me.
~ 3-10% depending on the Color.
If you compared them right next to each other in good light, you should be able to tell. It can be pretty close though depending on how good of a G or how poor of an F the stone is. A good gemologist can split out the colors into 2 or 3 additional color grades.
QFT
Cut is primary, be sure to get the traditional cut it is designed to reflect the most light, don't fall for the non traditional cuts, they exist primarily so that the gem cutter can cut around the impurities and give a bigger stone that doesn't reflect as much light.
mugs
Lifer
- Apr 29, 2003
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1. I would not get D color. F is still considered colorless, and I think it's sufficient.
2. I think you're making a mistake by making size your biggest priority. It is the least important factor in how good a diamond looks. Pick a color and clarity that is in the upper/mid-range (F color and VS1 clarity is what I went with), shoot for a very well-cut/shaped diamond, and see what carat sizes fall in your price range.
2. I think you're making a mistake by making size your biggest priority. It is the least important factor in how good a diamond looks. Pick a color and clarity that is in the upper/mid-range (F color and VS1 clarity is what I went with), shoot for a very well-cut/shaped diamond, and see what carat sizes fall in your price range.
QFT - and make sure to refer yourself to the website to save $200
(I spent the extra $200 on the stone, before anyone says anything).
dullard
Elite Member
- May 21, 2001
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Ways to get more for less:
1) Forget the mall type stores. Instant 300% price increase there. Then they advertise a massive sale of 50% off. Yes, they are 50% off, but 50% off of 300% is still 150%. They are still far higher than what you can get elsewhere without a sale.
2) Don't trust what any diamond seller says. They are worse than used car salesmen or lawyers when it comes to honesty. Look at it yourself to judge the quality.
3) Get a stone with flaws that you can see only under a microscope. Nothing is worse than a massive chunk of coal in the middle of a diamond ring. But don't spend any money to get any better than VS1/VS2. Who the heck carries around a scope with them to inspect other people's diamonds? But don't just trust the seller. Remember, they are lying to you about the quality. Look closely with the microscope to find the flaws. Then look at that area without the microscope to make certain you can't still see it. VS2 is perfect if it TRUELY is unnoticible to the naked eye. This includes staying away from diamonds that are so clouded that they look like milk. Yes, you can't see any individual flaw in that cloud, but you CAN see the net cloudy effect.
4) Stay UNDER the common sizes. Supply and Demand. Everyone wants the 1.0 carat diamond. Thus it's price will be MUCH higher than the 0.95 carat diamond you mentioned.
5) Find a diamond wholeseller. Find the person the mall stores buy their diamonds from. It isn't too difficult. Go to them with the best price you could get elsewhere. They'll beat it.
6) A little yellow is ok, unless your GF has pure white hands, she'll never tell against the backdrop of her hand. Something around H is a good start. Bring a yellow gradient paper along with you so you can REALLY know the color. Remember whatever color the seller says it is will likely be a lie.
7) This is harder to find, but get a miscut diamond, say with one extra facet. Then put the miscut part under a prong and you'll laugh all the way to the bank.
1) Forget the mall type stores. Instant 300% price increase there. Then they advertise a massive sale of 50% off. Yes, they are 50% off, but 50% off of 300% is still 150%. They are still far higher than what you can get elsewhere without a sale.
2) Don't trust what any diamond seller says. They are worse than used car salesmen or lawyers when it comes to honesty. Look at it yourself to judge the quality.
3) Get a stone with flaws that you can see only under a microscope. Nothing is worse than a massive chunk of coal in the middle of a diamond ring. But don't spend any money to get any better than VS1/VS2. Who the heck carries around a scope with them to inspect other people's diamonds? But don't just trust the seller. Remember, they are lying to you about the quality. Look closely with the microscope to find the flaws. Then look at that area without the microscope to make certain you can't still see it. VS2 is perfect if it TRUELY is unnoticible to the naked eye. This includes staying away from diamonds that are so clouded that they look like milk. Yes, you can't see any individual flaw in that cloud, but you CAN see the net cloudy effect.
4) Stay UNDER the common sizes. Supply and Demand. Everyone wants the 1.0 carat diamond. Thus it's price will be MUCH higher than the 0.95 carat diamond you mentioned.
5) Find a diamond wholeseller. Find the person the mall stores buy their diamonds from. It isn't too difficult. Go to them with the best price you could get elsewhere. They'll beat it.
6) A little yellow is ok, unless your GF has pure white hands, she'll never tell against the backdrop of her hand. Something around H is a good start. Bring a yellow gradient paper along with you so you can REALLY know the color. Remember whatever color the seller says it is will likely be a lie.
7) This is harder to find, but get a miscut diamond, say with one extra facet. Then put the miscut part under a prong and you'll laugh all the way to the bank.
They always say it took 4C to buy a diamond:
Color, Carat, Cut and Clarity.
For me, there is a fifth: Cash.
Anyway, you wouldn't go wrong with F (color) and VS2 (Clarity). I have a very good cut (I forget what it is), as for carat, it wasn't that big. probably around .75. For me, if it looks too big on her hand, it looks awful.
Color, Carat, Cut and Clarity.
For me, there is a fifth: Cash.
Anyway, you wouldn't go wrong with F (color) and VS2 (Clarity). I have a very good cut (I forget what it is), as for carat, it wasn't that big. probably around .75. For me, if it looks too big on her hand, it looks awful.
geecee
Platinum Member
- Jan 14, 2003
- 2,383
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Generally, SI1 is considered below engagement ring grade. VS2 is traditionally as low as you would go, but hey, we're not all made of money. Of the four C's, if you're on a budget, clarity is what you would sacrifice first, because that is easily the least visible C to the naked eye. A lower clarity rating will hurt future resale value, but that's about it (unless your future fiance works in a lab and is really going to put it under a high power or electron microscopeOriginally posted by: BKLounger
that's how I know which setting to get already
she told me to pick the diamond, but like most women she likes big, shiny and flawless and after looking $5500 won't buy big shiny and flawless. I found a nice 1.09 ct on blue nile with g color, si1 and ideal cut for $4750. I still need to look at them for myself in a store but i want to have some knowledge behind me.
). As others have mentioned here, Cut is really the most important, without a good cut, the diamond will simply not sparkle and will look lifeless. Next I'd consider color or carat based on what you think your SO will want more. I can tell you that color is actually quite noticeable when two grades apart (i.e. D vs F, or E vs. G). Carat is less noticeable (in a round diamond) unless you're talking about a difference of a 0.25 carat or more, as much of the diamonds mass is below the surface. The setting may also influence how large the diamond appears to be. Bear in mind that sometimes, certain price premiums may come into play as you approach each carat increment that drives the price up substantially, so you might want to consider buying a carat size slightly less than the next increment to save a little money (i.e. buying a diamond .90-.99 carats instead of 1, 1.75-1.99 instead of 2, etc.) if any of those are similar quality and available.Good luck!
edit: got rid of some redundancy.
edit2: Learn how to read a GIA report and what it means. These two sites look fairly helpful:
Here
and
Here
If everyone's lying to your face, how do you actually go bargain hunting for miscut diamonds?
And what if you live near a big city like NY or Los Angeles where there's a lot of dealers downtown, is that worth a shot?
dullard
Elite Member
- May 21, 2001
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Well, mine was easy to spot, but it may have been a fluke. I was at a diamond wholeseller, who had their diamonds sorted by cut, clarity, color, and cost. That is, each diamond in the pouch was the same price, same cut, same clarity, and same color. The only difference was size. One was much larger than the rest and I asked why. The seller picked it up and looked at it, one more facet on the side where you really couldn't see it without a microscope. I compared it to the rest in the pile and it was just as sparkly and just as good in the other qualities. So I bought it.
I don't know if you could repeat that experience.
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