Q&A: Looking for Eye-Clean Round Cut for $4500 Budget

First, I would just like to say thanks for all of the great information on your website. I appreciate that you believe in educating the consumer and giving people the ability to get the most for their money.

I have read through most of your info and I agree with not spending extra money on differences not discernible with the naked eye. I also have decided to go with James Allen or Brian Gavin for my engagement ring. I have sorted through a lot of diamonds on James Allen. The problem I have is not being able to tell if an inclusion is “eye clean” or not. I do understand the concept of “prongable” inclusions but I again do not have the experience to tell if one really is.

I am hoping you would be kind enough to give me a few recommendations to help me focus my search. I am looking to spend about $5000 total in my engagement ring. I might go a bit above that amount if a really good diamond was worth it. I have pretty much decided on this setting in white gold:

https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/14k-white-gold-twisted-pave-shank-contemporary-solitaire-11192w14.html

That leaves me about $4000 to purchase a stone. I am leaning toward a round cut but I am curious as to your opinion on the setting. Do you think a round cut is optimal for that setting? Would a different cut allow me to get a better deal or larger carat size?

I noticed a couple of stones that looked pretty good to me to give you a starting point. Chances are you will find a downside to them which helps me learn what to look for. My understanding based on my search is that a $4000 budget will put me in the .75-1 carat range depending on color, clarity, cut, etc.

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1551732.asp
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1474386.asp

I also looked at a lot of stones on Brian Gavin. The main issue I had with them is that most of the stones don’t seem to have actual images available. So it’s tough for me to know what I am getting in terms of flaws. Any help you can provide is very much appreciated! Thanks again!

Thanks for the help.

Couple more quick questions:

That diamond you like has a very small inclusion between 7 and 8 oclock. Is that a prongable location or is it too small to even be seen by the naked eye? Also it talks about a faint fluorescence. Is that noticeable or bad?

I was looking at some other prices for slightly larger stones. Closer to the 1 carat range. I was still toying with the idea of going a bit above 5000 total for a 1 carat stone. What are your thoughts on these:

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1493139.asp
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1540454.asp

Are they any good? They are both I color. Is the original .80 carat stone a better value? Thanks for the advice!!

Also, what do you think about this diamond. Thanks again for all the help

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1546831.asp

So. Sorry to keep emailing you about this. However I have spent a lot of time over the weekend reviewing even more stones. I am just a bit undecided about staying at the .80 carat range or jumping up a bit to the .90 carat range. If I were to stay at .80 or so I have narrowed it down to these 3 stones:

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1551732.asp
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1545848.asp
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VVS1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1463777.asp

Do you think the I and J color are not going to work in the pave setting I have picked out?

https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/14k-white-gold-twisted-pave-shank-contemporary-solitaire-11192w14.html
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1545854.asp
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1526382.asp

I have considered jumping up to the .90 carat range. If so, these 3 stand out to me.

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS1-Very-Good-Cut-Round-Diamond-1549697.asp
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1545854.asp
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1526382.asp

The really big question for me is what color grade is the line at for my setting. H? I or J?

Thanks again for all the help!!

Sorry to bother you yet again. I have decided to go with a diamond in the .90-1.0 carat range, hopefully for around $4500. I am looking for VS2 or better, although if an SL1 was eye clean that would work too. I think all the way down to I or J in color. And a Very Good or better cut. The new wbsite of James Allen actually makes this more difficult. Can you give me a few recommendations with these specs or tell me if you think those specifications are too low and will have a poor look. This is still my desired setting:

https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/14k-white-gold-twisted-pave-shank-contemporary-solitaire-11192w14.html

Thanks so much for your help!

Okay, cool!! Thanks again for all the help! Two last questions. First regarding the setting I chose; do you think that setting covers up some of the diamond and loses some of the effect of a great stone? Would a claw setting be better?

Second, I like that first one you picked out. Is that inclusion near the edge eye visible? If so, is it “prongable”?