Hi Joe, thanks for all your help. It really is a life-saver.
I’m looking for around a 2 carat oval diamond. I’m willing to go as low as J colour (but higher if possible) and SI1 – but need it to be eye-clean/not really bad inclusions to the naked eye. Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated. Max budget is $13,000 and James Allen would be preferable but not a deal breaker!
Hi Joe,
If you’re fine with some warmth in a J, I like the cut and clarity of the 2.02 J VS2 below. The 2.01 I SI1 goes up a bit in color and should be eye-clean with the white twinning wisps. However, it doesn’t have the table orientation that I like in the J. So that’s the trade-off with color that I see in JA’s current options, see if either of these catch your eye. I also included SI2 in my search, but didn’t see any that I liked.
Shape,Carat,Color,Clarity,Cut,Price (USD),Affiliate Link
Oval,2.02,J,VS2,-,12160,https://www.diamondscreener.com/ja/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/2.02-carat-j-color-vs2-clarity-sku-8301695
Oval,2.01,I,SI1,-,12800,https://www.diamondscreener.com/ja/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/2.01-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-sku-7896077
This diamond has very strong blue fluorescence. It’s way overgraded for color because of it (https://acagemlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/CowingOvergrading.pdf). A real E does not show that much color. Very strong fluorescence also increases the chance of it being hazy under UV light. That’s why it’s cheaper.
Ok thanks Joe. I actually hit a bit of a stumbling block as I’m ordering the diamond to the UK, and didn’t realise James Allen didn’t include import duties to their prices until after shipping..which added another 20% to the total taking the 2 great diamonds you found out of my price bracket! Very annoying!
Anyway, I’m going to maybe go back to the drawing board and potentially buy the diamond loose and get it set in the UK to lower the price. Do you think there would be a chance of finding a nice 2ct oval for under $12,000 (ideally I colour now and eye clean)
Could I ask what your thoughts are on this diamond? – https://www.bluenile.com/uk/diamond-details/LD12991366
Thanks for all your help, it’s really really much appreciated!
This diamond is cloudy. If you enter your specs on Blue Nile, you’ll see that very few ovals meet this criteria, even before you start to further limit based on depth, table, L/W ratio, and fluorescence. You’re at the bottom of the price range, so you’ll find diamonds with worse clarity or color.
You might be tempted to compromise on the depth/table/L/W ratio to hit the 2ct mark. But keep in mind that a 2ct oval should be close to 10mm long. If you have a 2ct diamond that’s too deep or has a shorter L/W ratio, it won’t have the full spread. You’d be better off expanding your options and saving money with a well-cut, lower carat weight diamond with the same spread as a poorly cut 2ct diamond. See my oval guide https://www.diamondscreener.com/education/how-to-choose-an-oval-diamond-based-on-its-proportions/
The option below might be an alternative that won’t be cloudy. It does have a few small black crystals around 12 o’clock that can’t be hidden under a prong, but it’s the best I saw for cut.
Shape,Carat,Color,Clarity,Cut,Price (USD),Affiliate Link
Oval,2.02,J,VS2,-,12577,https://www.diamondscreener.com/bn/LD12192055
Thanks Joe, it’s much appreciated, great guide btw. Yes I think you’re right about expanding the options. I’m not fussed about the weight of the diamond at all, more the size (my partner is keen for the largest size possible) so ideally anything 10mm and over (but keeping within the depth/table/L/W ratio).
Happy to compromise on clarity and go down to an SI2 as well. Would large black inclusions on a larger stone be much more visibly noticeable, to the lay person. I know obviously to a well trained eye such as yourself and when magnified x20, but I haven’t seen too many large stones in person so have no idea how bad they’d actually be, if that makes sense.
My partner is keen on this stone (currently reserved) and I wonder if the inclusion will be as noticeable because of the bow tie effect? – https://www.bluenile.com/uk/diamond-details/LD13306428
It also has an etch channel toward the cutlet, but not found much useful info on this really.
Thanks again.
Thanks, Joe.
These are both great finds! I really like both and I’m torn between them if I’m being honest, but I’m considering going for the I just because of the colour. I could flip a coin though because I like them both, so that’s great . Thanks again.
Out of interest, what do you think of this diamond: https://www.bluenile.com/uk/diamond-details/LD13127130?refTab=DIAMONDS&track=viewDiamondDetails&action=sameTab
I assume because of it’s price and colour it must be a pretty bad cut/dimensions?