Hey Joe,
I love your website! For analytical people like me and the other users on your website, it brings some clarity and helpful analysis to the diamond shopping process. I just started the diamond shopping process here in Colorado and I stopped by a couple brick and mortar locations this past weekend. I’ve been looking through your website these past couple weeks before going to these stores which made me feel much more confident and better educated than the service/education I got at the stores.
My girlfriend wants a 18k yellow gold solitaire ring with a round diamond setting. My budget is $14k – $17k (including the setting) with a little bit of wiggle room. Ideally I want to be around 1.75 – 2 carats on the diamond. I don’t think she really cares if its lab grown or mined but I think i’m leaning more towards mined. Based on all of this I wanted to get your opinion on the two diamonds below that I found via your cost-efficiency frontier. When I went in person to look at diamonds my eyes had a tough time noticing any visible imperfections to the naked eye around the VS2- S1 range and I know on your education tab for round diamonds you mention clarity is the least important. Based on your education tab and what i’ve read elsewhere I also have read that with a gold setting, that color isn’t as important compared to if the setting was white gold or platinum setting. Therefore my main priorities are cut and carat as you mentioned in your education tab.
With all this being said, what are your thoughts on the below two diamonds. Or i’m open to any other recommendations you have both on mined or lab grown diamonds.
Thanks in advance for all your help!
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.91-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-8630330?a_aid=55f8cd4e21a11
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.90-carat-g-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-7741730?a_aid=55f8cd4e21a11
Thanks! I’ve been working on some new analyses; I just published a new one about color. I think you could consider I color with yellow gold. That opens up something like the 1.8 I VVS2 below. It’s a nice I that has comparable color to the 1.91 H VS2 (turn both to side view and flip back and forth). Even though it’s 1.8ct, it has the same 7.8mm diameter as the 1.91 H VS2, so you can save $1210 for a comparable diamond.
Otherwise, you can hit 2ct for the price of the 1.90 G SI1. I think the 2ct H SI1 is a better SI1 than the G. I’d rather have 2ct than one color grade.
The latter two options are lab diamonds, but you said you were leaning towards natural.
Shape,Carat,Color,Clarity,Cut,Price (USD),Affiliate Link
Round,1.8,I,VVS2,Excellent,12490,https://www.diamondscreener.com/ja/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.80-carat-i-color-vvs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-8890333
Round,2,H,SI1,Excellent,15230,https://www.diamondscreener.com/ja/loose-diamonds/round-cut/2.00-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-9464458
Round,1.81,D,VVS2,Excellent,7870,https://www.diamondscreener.com/ja/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.81-carat-d-color-vvs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-9534486
Round,2.17,D,VS1,Excellent,9920,https://www.diamondscreener.com/ja/loose-diamonds/round-cut/2.17-carat-d-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-8789039
The 1.90 I VVS2 is graded by IGI (generally trades at a discount to GIA) and shows more color saturation (lower I). Interestingly, the 1.8 I VVS2 just lowered in price to $11930. I’d also consider the option below at 1.8ct if you’re OK with IGI. Again, slightly better color saturation than the 1.9 I VVS2 and the same diameter.
I can’t predict how lab vs. natural will evolve. I do think lab diamond prices will continue to fall as production increases and becomes more efficient. If the market bifurcates in terms of price, then I don’t think lab diamonds will tip over to the majority. Engagement rings are complicated; it’s not just the rock that matters, it’s the price signal it sends.
If both natural and lab are a sunk cost AND the origin doesn’t matter, then I would prefer the sunk cost to be as small as possible. Upgrading from a ~2ct natural is going to be a significant expense.
Shape,Carat,Color,Clarity,Cut,Price (USD),Affiliate Link
Round,1.8,I,VS1,Excellent,11530,https://www.diamondscreener.com/ja/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.80-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-9436002
Hey Joe,
I’m back with another question. The 1.80 carat you recommended is still available but i found this other 1.80 carat diamond on your cost efficiency curve that is a little more expensive but seems to have better arrows then the cheaper 1.80 carat. In your opinion do you think its worth spending the extra $1310 for this diamond? Thanks for the help/advice!
Sorry, your comment got stuck in moderation. I’ll respond in your new question.
Hey Joe, thanks for the reply and the recommendations. When I went back to your cost efficiency frontier and lowered color down to H and I, I see these skus right on your frontier. The second one looks pretty comparable to the 1.8, I VVS2 you recommended but I’m guessing its cheaper because the diameter is smaller even though the carat is the same?
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.91-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-8630330?a_aid=55f8cd4e21a11
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.90-carat-i-color-vvs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-8784750?a_aid=55f8cd4e21a11
Regarding the mined vs lab grown debate, I don’t think my girlfriend really cares but I’m not 100% sure. My thought process behind it is that I get her a 2+ carat diamond like the 2.17 you recommended, whats the likelihood of her wanting to upgrade in the future. I feel like 2.17 is already a big diamond on her hand (size 6 ring) and at a point I feel like if we were to upgrade to 2.5 or 3 in the future it becomes “gaudy” to have a massive diamond like that, but maybe thats just me. Therefore under that reasoning does the claim/argument that “lab created” diamonds don’t hold their value compared to mined matter if I’m assuming we don’t upgrade? Thats kind of what I’ve been thinking about. But I also get the narrative that mined diamonds are created from earth and hold a value that they were created naturally over time and are easier to upgrade and trade in. But it is hard to justify the price difference if both are technically real diamonds with similar makeup/chemistry.
In the next 5-10 years do you think we see a shift and a larger percentage of lab diamonds are purchased over mined? Or do you think mined will always dominate the marketplace?
Thanks again for all your help/advice. If you couldn’t already tell i’m definitely a “paralysis by analysis” type so your website/guidance is greatly appreciated!