best rock shape for the money

What sort of shape would get me the most for my money?... Like size wise. I have $5,000 to spend on the rock itself. It seems like rounds tend to be more per carat.

[Mervyn L. Cohn ASA]

Originally Posted by bhs1

What sort of shape would get me the most for my money?... Like size wise. I have $5,000 to spend on the rock itself. It seems like rounds tend to be more per carat.

Rounds being the optimum cut to produce the greatest amount of light return puts them in a category of highest demand, ne highest prices. When looking for a diamond first choose criteria that you can be happy with. You have the four to choose from: in order of importance and why

1. Cut, this determines the way the finished stone handles the light entering the top and returns it to the viewer.

2. Color, The darker, denser colors tend to mask the brilliance

3. Clarity, unless you go way down the scale below SI, No one including an expert will be aware of it from two feet away.

4. Carat, this is a weight and not a size, but some diamonds are cut for weight and not for maximum beauty (this is where you have to watch out)
I suggest that you find a stone with an eCS close to 1.000, you can determine the eCS using the FREE calculator on the e-praise site.