Q&A: Looking for 1.5 Ct. Oval Cut for Solitaire Setting

Great website, thank you for putting together this resource! I am finally looking to purchase an engagement ring for my girlfriend of 3 years and propose at the beginning of February on a trip to Miami.!

The diamond will be on a solitaire setting, on white gold, size 6 ring finger. Onto the diamond itself. Planning on ordering from James Allen since they have the virtual loupe of course.

Budget: $9000 max for the diamond itself. Slightly over OK.
Cut: Oval diamond, needs to more rectangular profile vs. square, but most ovals are.
Carat: Shooting for 1.5 carats. Is this too big of a diamond for size 6 ring finger, and relatively small hangs? I don’t want it to look obnoxious, just elegant.
Color: As you recommend something of this shape/ setting H minimum. After that it’s all the same I think.
Clarity: This is where I need help. Like you suggest anything under VS2 may or may not be eye clean. Since I don’t have a real life comparison vs virtual loupe, this one is hard. The interesting part is in my budget, carat, color there are a lot of SI1 and SI2 that might be an awesome value. It’s hard to find A VS2 in H or above color, in 1.5 carat range. So this is where I could use your expertise!!

Something like this comes to mind, but in reality I don’t know what it will look like in real life!!

www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Oval-Diamond-1546654.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

And again that carat size is ideal, but if you think it will look tacky size wise on a size 6 ring, im OK with a smaller carat.

Thank you for your help and the resource!!!

Thank you for the response.

You are right, the one I suggested isn’t very eye clean. Is this the nature of the oval diamonds, that anything under vs2 isn’t going to look eye clean?

Onto the suggestions,

The first unfortunately is out of my price range:
www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Oval-Diamond-1546611.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

The second, I like:
www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS1-Very-Good-Cut-Oval-Diamond-1544842.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

It is very similar to this one, but this one is cheaper, a higher clarity, but the color seems off

www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VVS2-Good-Cut-Oval-Diamond-1549040.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

If it seems that there are no good eye clean SI1, or SI2 on James Allen diamonds is it worth ordering a similar spec’d one on blue nile in VS2 or above sight unseen, such as:

Blue Nile LD03063522

Or is the H color vs F going to look poor?

Thanks a bunch!

After a more exhaustive search I think I narrowed my search down to a radiant. I was wondering what your opinion of it was, they are asking 10.6k for it. I have it it on hold hence no price.

Only thing that worries me is the cert is from 2003.

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.62-carat-g-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-40146?a_aid=dmnd1357

Thanks for the quick reply. Narrowing it down, I was set on the diamond below. Then this oval came back up of course. It’s perfect to me, except the color is an I. What do you think of the I color? Huge issue vs H min recommendation? I read your websites article, and side by side I think color would so, but alone?

The price is a lot more in my budget, which is why I like it. Plus I think the GF likes oval better.

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.60-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-sku-178124?a_aid=dmnd1357

Thank you again!

Thanks you convinced me on it. It’s worth the risk, because other than the color, is exactly perfect. I have them quoting me the setting today, but I’m essentially buying it.