Problems picking a diamond for a ring...

[cowman]

So... I have a very special someone that I would like to give the best I can possibly afford. She definitely would like a diamond with LOTS of "fire" and that seems to be the most important attribute for her. I just don't want to get ripped off.

Currently, I am looking in the $7,000 - 15,000 range.

At the top point of my range, I have found the following:

1.51 carat Round Brilliant diamond
Color: G
Clarity: VVS2
Cut: Excellent (GIA)

Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None

The table is 57% and the height?!? is 61.1%, it has a thin - medium girdle and no cutlet.

When I saw this diamond, it was in a white gold setting and the diamond looked crystal clear. Unfortunately, I felt that it lacked some of the "fire" the my girlfriend would like.



The next step down for me would be to buy a smaller diamond from a VERY reputable company. circa $12,000 in a platinum setting

Carat weight: 1.02
Color Grade: H
Clarity: VVS2 (I think)
Cut Grade: Excellent (GIA)

This diamond looked great to my eye and had all of the "fire" that I could ever imagine.

Those are all of the details I have on this diamond, but would I be paying too much of a premium for the "Tiffany" name.




Those are the two major contendors right now, but I am open to suggestions and any opinions.


I'm also considering buying a similarly rated 1 carat diamond round the $7,000-8,000 range and having some extra cash for the honeymoon ;) .

[Mervyn L. Cohn ASA]

Cut is accepted as the primary factor in the "Sparkle of a Diamond" The CUT GRADES of the major gem labs have not made understanding the problem any easier, but rather seem to have confounded it.

Merv Cohn ASA

[Yosef]

You seem to be wanting a very well cut diamond, GIA-EX-EX-EX. I would suggest therefor you get an AGS Ideal cut diamond instead. It will run you more or less the same amount of money.

Also VVS2 is really not required. VS2 is more then clean enough, even SI1 is sufficient. If your goal is a nice clean, top white diamond then spend your money on higher G+ color which is worth it in my opinion, rather then higher VS2+ clarity.

Just my 2c. Best of luck.

[cowman]

I guess that I definitely want to get the Excellent/ideal cut grades, because that will provide the maximum "fire".

So a ring like so should work:
Ex, Ex, Ex (Id, Id, Id)
- G color
- VS2 clarity

I'm sure I can find a 1.25 or so round diamond for a very reasonable price with those specs.

Anything I should be careful to avoid? Any way that I can make sure I'm getting a clear top?