Anonymous Reader
Hello Sebastian,
I been studying a lot about the ring I want to make and wanted to get a few input/guidelines from you guys about the best value for the money for the diamond.
The idea of the design preliminary will be to buy a handmade diamond similar to a Cartier 1895 ring Channel or a solitaire diamond such as Lucida Tiffany.
Right now the objective of the diamond I’m looking after, as usual, is an excellent LIGHTNING AND SPARKLING EFFECT. The BUDGET for a ROUND DIAMOND is around 4.500 AND 5.200 USD.
The specifications I’m looking after (I will love to hear from your expertise if they are correct) based on the type of ring:
* Cut: Ideal or higher
* Color: Between H and F
* Clarity: Above VS2 and up to VVS2
* Carat: Between 0.85 and 1.00
* Polish: Excellent
* Symmetry: Excellent
* Besides Cut, aim to get an HCA score below 2
– Depth: 59.5-62%
– Table: 55-58%
– Crown angle: 34-35°
– Pavilion angle: 40.6-40.9°
The issue I’m having is how to decide between the different diamonds between this range and under my budget. I’m trying to learn how to decide Ideal Scope pictures for Spades & Hearts but I’m having a tough time doing it. So the advice from you guys, is:
- First, does the above specifications make sense thinking about the type or ring and budget tht I’m looking after?
- Second, based on a set of rings which I narrowed down on James Allen, which 3 ones would you recommend me to filter and ask for an Ideal Scope report?
Thanks in advance!
Your Diamond Teacher |
| Thank you for your inquiry. I am happy to help. In order to help narrow down your selection, I would just look at VS2. A VS2 clarity will definitely be eye-clean.
And is more affordable. I would also narrow down your selection by choosing not to have strong or medium fluorescence. In addition, I would further add GIA and AGS as your only labs to weed out IGI graded diamonds. Once you have these options, I would choose a diamond that has a crown angle closest to 34.5 and a pavilion angle closest to 40.75. Pick the three diamonds that look the best to you and ask for Idealscope images. If you don’t get enough results with just VS2, then add VS1. I hope this helps! |
| Anonymous Reader
Hello again Sebastian and thanks for your recommendations. I worked on the guidelines you gave me however on James Allen they don’t have ideal scopes on the “Ideal” cut rings…or at least I have been asking for several ones without any luck.
Therefore, could you give me your opinion on this selection of rings, that meet your criteria and “looks reasonable at my eyes…”
Once again thanks!…any of these ones meet your criteria and eagle eye for sparkling, fire and scintillation??
0.80 CARAT G-VS2 EXCELLENT CUT ROUND DIAMOND
0.81 CARAT G-VS1 EXCELLENT CUT ROUND DIAMOND
0.84 CARAT G-VS1 EXCELLENT CUT ROUND DIAMOND
0.82 CARAT E-VS2 EXCELLENT CUT ROUND DIAMOND
These last two are “true hearts category”
0.83 CARAT H-SI1 TRUE HEARTS IDEAL DIAMOND
0.80 CARAT D-VS2 TRUE HEARTS IDEAL DIAMOND
Your Diamond Teacher |
| All the diamonds you selected are an excellent choice. If I lined all these diamonds up in front of you, in person, you would not be able to tell the difference between them.
With that being said, you still need to choose one. You can do it based on price and/or which one you instinctively like the best and/or drill down and get really specific with the proportions/ angles. If I would to choose, I would select the below:
0.84 CARAT G-VS1 EXCELLENT CUT ROUND DIAMOND You don’t need the Idealscope image. The diamond will provide all the sparkle and brilliance you want a diamond to have. As for the two True Hearts diamonds, one of them is not available anymore, that is diamond sku 4628158
0.80 CARAT D-VS2 TRUE HEARTSTM IDEAL DIAMOND As for the below, I say you should go for the higher color and clarity grade with sku 4758945.
0.83 CARAT H-SI1 TRUE HEARTS IDEAL DIAMOND I hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any additional questions! |
| Anonymous Reader
Sebastian once again thank for your help!
I have one final question 😊…might be a bit specific let me know if you can help me… The ring will be similar to the one of the photos below, with a pave of 8 round diamonds each side.
Since the ring will be handmade, I need a set of small pave diamonds.
Is there any focus or specification I should be concern about this small pave diamonds? (color, carat, quality?), The ring would be about ~2.4mm width and the ring size between 4-5(I’m still figuring the exact size…:). Moreover, I believe that the first pave stones of the pave are a bit bigger than the smaller ones…this is getting complicated. What do you suggest?
Your Diamond Teacher |
| Side diamonds of that size are called melee. And in most rings, they are either F-G, G-H, or H-I in color and VS2, SI1, SI2 in clarity. Just be sure they are full cut melee, meaning the most facets, so they can provide the most sparkle.
As for the clarity and color, they are so small that you can certainly get the lower clarity grade and color to save money. I hope this helps! |
| Anonymous Reader
Sebastian one last question…before submitting the order…! Unfortunately the one you recommend me was sold….so, If you will have to choose among These 3 diamonds. I have this one on hold, the only that makes me doubt is that it’s si1:
0.83 CARAT H-SI1 TRUE HEARTS IDEAL DIAMOND
This one:
0.83 CARAT G-VVS1 EXCELLENT CUT ROUND DIAMOND
Finally, will you pay ~2.000USD more for this one?
0.94 CARAT I-VS1 TRUE HEARTS IDEAL DIAMOND
Thanks one more time Sebastian!
Your Diamond Teacher |
| No problem! Happy to help!
I would choose the below diamond. It is a “high” I color, meaning it is closer to an H color than a J color. It will be noticeably larger than the other two diamonds, as well. And the proportions/angles are excellent.
0.94 CARAT I-VS1 TRUE HEARTS IDEAL DIAMOND The below diamond, sku 4333906 is labeled as “not available”.
0.83 CARAT H-SI1 TRUE HEARTS IDEAL DIAMOND Diamond sku 4937687 is an excellent diamond. And you can proceed with the below, if you prefer to save a bit of money over the 0.94ct.
0.83 CARAT G-VVS1 EXCELLENT CUT ROUND DIAMOND |