Q&A: Choosing the Best Emerald Cut Diamond for $10,000 Budget

Hi, I emailed a few days ago asking for some general assistance in selecting an Emerald cut diamond. I have done some more research and viewed some option at BM stores here in NY along with an exclusive family dealer. Equiped with the knowledge and little experience I garnered, I hit the James Allen website and found some options that I think are better priced than what I had been shown. Here are the four options that I am looking at along with my comments on each. Would really appreciate your feedback on the value of the options and if I am evaluating them correctly.

1. 1.50 Carat H-VS2: https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/emerald-cut/1.50-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-sku-179018?a_aid=dmnd1357

This is your classic cut emerald. Great dimensions, great depth, clean, good price.

2. 1.71 Carat I-VS2: https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/emerald-cut/1.71-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-sku-197456?a_aid=dmnd1357

I wanted to try to compromise in one area to see how big I could go. The compromise was on color, downgrade to I. Great dimensions, bit thick. My main concern here is the color. I have seen the I next to an E and you can definitely see the difference, but the trade off is the size. Do I go bigger for a color downgrade?

3. 1.80 Carat I-VS2: https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/emerald-cut/1.80-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-sku-217337?a_aid=dmnd1357

More or less the same story as #2. Trading color for size. This one is even bigger and thus a bit more expensive, 10,380 vs 9,540. Is the extra 0.09 in carot weight worth the extra dough?

4. 1.56 Carat F-SI2: https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/emerald-cut/1.56-carat-f-color-si2-clarity-sku-214265?a_aid=dmnd1357

The next compromise was clarity for color. Like i said I viewed an E diamond next to an I diamond and I could definitely see the difference. The E diamond was smaller, but I still found myself drawn to it’s color. With that in mind I wanted to see how high I could go in the color spectrum and this required a compromise on the clarity. The proportions on this diamond are a little elongated, but it has a great depth. My concerns on the inclusions, which are not that overbearing in the high def video, I would assume that you would not see this with the naked eye. My other concern is the flourescence. I am told that this only negatively effects some diamonds and from the video this doesn’t appear to be cloudy. This is also the least expensive of the four.

Would really appreciate your feedback on my analysis and your thoughts on the four options.

Thanks so much for your invaluable guidance. 

Thank you! Very helpful. 

 One last question, I realize I am abusing your free guidance. I will definitely guide others to your valuable resource.

There is a location here in NYC that is trying to sell me a 1.5 carot for 10,500. It is a nice stone, but I am not sure that it is that much nicer than the options that I emailed you and warrants the higher price. Here are the specs:

GIA 2146780682
7.84*5.55*3.73
H
VS1
Polish E
Symmetry VG
Fluorescence N

Depth 67.2
Table 62

Is this that much of a nicer stone that I should be paying 10500 for it? Also, I am pretty sure one of the online sites has the stone listed for ~9300.

So close to pulling the trigger. Think I am leaning towards the 1.8 carot. Might as well go as big as possible.

Thanks again-