Q&A: “I would be foolish to not ask for the help you so kindly offer…”

First of all, thank you for your website, it is a fantastic resource. I’ve been doing research on my own, including reading the articles on your site, but I would be foolish to not ask for the help you so kindly offer.

So with that, here is my situation: I’m searching for the best round diamond within a price range of ~3-4K. The ring will be white gold, and she doesn’t want a huge diamond, so I’ve been focusing my search in the range of 0.72 – 0.82ct. I want a stone that will give a great sparkle and just generally look amazing, and as such I’ve been keep cut as a priority and trying to balance clarity and carat.

one option: 0.75-F-SI1-3480

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1386388.asp

better colour, slightly larger: 0.77-E-SI1-3550

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1386393.asp

worse colour, better cut: 0.78-G-SI1-3840

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1380143.asp

larger, slightly more expensive: 0.81-F-SL2-3870 (not sure why it’s SI2, I can’t see anything too bad)

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1360525.asp

smaller, better clarity: 0.73-E-VS2-3820

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1386311.asp

If you have any recommendation or think I should direct my search in a different direction I would greatly appreciate your advice.

Thank you very much for your quick reply. I feel a bit silly for having missed the fluorescence issue, but quite glad I e-mailed you!

I’ll throw two more possibilities out there, and then just make up my mind. I’m guessing I’d never be able to tell the difference between these stones. The Virtual Loupe is cool, but lends itself to endless staring at the diamonds in ways which one never would in real life.

So the one you recommended yesterday was here:

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1380143.asp

and here are two others:

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1379655.asp

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1355302.asp

Do you feel that any of these is a good value?

Thanks so much for your quick reply, I’m going to take your advice!

Your help has been of great value, and is very much appreciated.

I’m a little late in replying here, but I wanted to let you know that the ring arrived, and it look fantastic. More important than my opinion was that of the woman who accepted it! She loves it, and I thank you once again for your help, it was greatly appreciated.

I wish you all the best.