I am now open to switching to a lab stone only because I can’t find anything in my budget. I found 8198334 and have reserved it at JA. What are your thoughts on this stone?
Your size and budget increases with each post. It started with a ~$10k budget. Then it was $12.5k. Then LD11240179 was $17401. With a $5k trade-in credit at BN, your out of pocket expense ballooned from $5k to $12.5k.
Now your out of pocket budget expense has almost tripled to $14k because there’s no trade-in credit at JA. I really dislike budget creep. It’s too easy to get carried away with “just a little more.” I originally suggested a lab diamond because I thought it was a way to get a 1.5ct diamond for the same $5k out of pocket expense and let you keep your original 1ct F.
8198334 is a nice diamond, but instead of jumping to 2.5ct, how about staying at 2ct? With the 2.02 E VS1 below, you’d have a 2ct diamond plus your original 1ct diamond for less out of pocket than you’d have paid for LD11240179.
Shape,Carat,Color,Clarity,Cut,Price (USD),Affiliate Link
Round,2.02,E,VS1,Excellent,9720,https://www.diamondscreener.com/ja/loose-diamonds/round-cut/2.02-carat-e-color-vs1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-8679643
