Q&A: Looking for Round Cut for Tension Setting

Hi, I’ve been reading your website and have found it very helpful and was really hoping you could point me towards a few options. I am interested in a diamond for an engagement ring. I would like just the loose diamond as I plan to get it tension set.

I would like a round diamond definitly over 1 carat, preferrably in the 1.2-1.4 range. I would say I am most interested in cut as I have gathered that it is very important – so as high as possible there (ideal/excellent). Color wise I don’t really mind, maybe an I/J as it is unlikely to matter too much (but I will be getting it set in white gold so idk, maybe it will matter more?). Clarity wise is where I have the most uncertainty. It seems like you advocate getting the lowest grade “naked eye-clean” stone you can. So does “naked eye-clean” mean when you look at the stone with your naked eye, it looks flawless? So even when inspecting it closely, albeit still with your naked eye, you can see no flaws? Or just like looking a it from a distance on the finger it looks good? I guess I am having some trouble understanding this part. Anyway, I obviously want a diamond with no visible flaws to the eye, but can I find that in the I1 category?

I haven’t determined a steadfast price limit at this point but I have enough for this price range. I tend to be a quirky deal shopper though… I find myself searching for killer deals and sometimes buy things that aren’t EXACTLY what I want just because they are awesome deals (I usually end up happy with the decision though), crazy i know 🙂 Anyway, any help would be much appreciated!

I am thinking I won’t use a band, only the ring with the stone. Most likely white gold, 18K.

I am just now getting back in to looking at diamonds. Yes, I would definitely still like some help.

I’ll kind of restate what I’m looking for to give you an idea again: a loose diamond (as I am going to get it tension set) around a carat. I would prefer to get something between 1.1 and 1.2 carats but would consider a diamond in the 1.01+ range if it was the right diamond. I’d prefer an excellent cut diamond but would again consider a very good cut if the price was right. For the color I was thinking in the G-H range. I am going to have it tension set so it will be very visible from the side and I am aware that the color is more apparent when viewed from the side. Also, I will be having it set in 14K white gold so a little more yellowing in the stone may show up more in this case, am I right? Also, I will not have a band to go along with it, just the engagement ring.

Clarity wise is where I have the most uncertainty. It seems like you advocate getting the lowest grade “naked eye-clean” stone you can. So does “naked eye-clean” mean when you look at the stone with your naked eye, it looks flawless? So even when inspecting it closely, albeit still with your naked eye, you can see no flaws? Or just like looking a it from a distance on the finger it looks good? I guess I am having some trouble understanding this part. Anyway, I obviously want a diamond with no visible flaws to the eye, but can I find that in the I1 category?
And since I am getting it tension set, I have heard that since the diamond will be under more pressure it should have less inclusions, have you heard this? I guess I would prefer to have slightly better than I1, maybe SI2, but again if you’re sure an I1 can look the way I’d like and still hold up to the added pressure of a tension set ring I would likely defer to you as the expert.

Here are a few that I was looking at but would love a variety of suggestions from you:

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.11-carat-h-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-189821?a_aid=dmnd1357

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.13-carat-g-color-si2-clarity-very-good-cut-sku-163811?a_aid=dmnd1357

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.10-carat-h-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-124851?a_aid=dmnd1357

Thanks so much for your time and I look forward to hearing back from you. I will hopefully be ordering something by mid-March so not to rush you but I’d love to get something on the way! Thanks again