Oval Diamond Engagement Ring With Halo

*Note: ODBA no longer recommends EnchantedDiamonds.com

Q:

Hi Liz,

Love your site. I’ve learned a lot, and it’s been incredibly helpful so far. So thank you, in advance.

I’m looking to buy an oval diamond engagement ring with halo setting. After having talked to my girlfriend, I know she wants a rose gold setting. I’ve picked out a few settings to go with that basically look like:

http://www.adiamor.com/Engagement-Rings/Halo/French-Cut-Halo-Setting-for-Oval/RoseGold/1677

or

https://enchanteddiamonds.com/rings/view/HL49-4R-O

But now I need to find a good diamond. All in, I’m looking to spend $9-$10k, which leaves me with $8k+ to spend on a diamond. The carat weight would probably be somewhere between 1.3-1.6. I’ve identified the following diamonds from your site as possible candidates and would love your thoughts:

1.51 Ct. I-VS1 Diamond: https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/O151-1AGC4T

– Seems like a nice diamond, although I’m concerned if it’s eye clean enough and avoids the bad oval dark cross

1.53 Ct. F-VVS1 Diamond: https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/O153-8RKRH8

– This by all accounts is a great diamond, but it has the “Very Strong Blue Flourescence”. How much should I be concerned with that?

1.50 CT H- VS2 Diamond: http://www.zoara.com/diamonds/p_oval_excellent_cut_h_vs2#p=5019957

There’s a collection of Crystals on that diamond that concerns me.

1.51 Ct J- VVS1 Diamond: http://www.zoara.com/diamonds/p_oval_excellent_cut_j_vvs1#p=5011117

Again, seems like a clean diamond, but here the color is the problem.

Given that I’m going with a halo setting in rose gold, where should I spend my money? How will the rose gold affect color my color decision? Are there other diamonds that you might recommend?

Thanks,

William

A:

Hello William,

Thank you for the kind words. I’m glad that ODBA has been helpful for you. Did you find your oval diamonds by using The Diamond Genie?

As you are choosing a rose gold setting, you can go lower in color grade since a diamond ‘absorbs’ the surrounding metal color. Enchanted Diamonds handpicks the surrounding melee diamonds in your setting to match your center stone, so you can conceivably go as low in color grade as you want. However, I would recommend looking at ‘J’ or above as that is a happy medium.

I recommend this diamond for you:

1.55ct H SI1 for $7,480.00: https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/O155-L3CN94

This oval has lovely length/width dimensions of 1.34 which is preferred. The SI1 grade making inclusions are tiny scattered white/translucent crystals followed by scattered small feathers. As an SI1, this diamond is eye-clean. If you review the 360 HD video, you’ll see the very minor white crystal inclusions under the table facet at around the 10 o’clock position. Other than that, the rest of the inclusions are under the kite and star facets which are not easy to locate without magnification. The cut on this oval is exceptional, with nice bright white light reflection and good dark contrast.

This 1.55ct measures 8.94 x 6.65 x 4.16mm, which faces up nice and big with girdle medium-slighly thick. I like the fact that this diamond has strong blue fluorescence, as it will only boost the natural ‘H’ color to more of an F/G. Overall, this is an excellent example of an ideal cut oval shaped diamond that is eye-clean and under your $8K budget, and a great large carat weight. Best bang for your buck. 🙂

Your other diamonds:

1.51ct I VS1 for $8,080.00: https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/O151-1AGC4T

I’m not keen on the way the facets are aligned and proportioned in this oval. The light performance and brilliance isn’t as good as it could be.

The 1.53ct F VVS1 for $7,710.00: https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/O153-8RKRH8

Again, the facets on this oval aren’t my favorite. If they could provide a 360 HD magnified video for me (or ASET for light performance) I would be able to give more of an evaluation. However, by just going on the static picture, I’m not taken away by the way the facets are reflecting light.

The 1.50ct H VS2 for $8,936.00: http://www.zoara.com/diamonds/p_oval_excellent_cut_h_vs2#p=5019957

I actually like this diamond a lot, despite the fact that there are some tiny dark crystals under the table facet. They will be almost impossible to see without magnification however. The facet symmetry and proportions are very nice on this one. The length/width is 1.42, so a bit lengthier, with dimensions being 6.29×8.96mm. This would be my 2nd favorite for you.

The 1.51ct J VVS1 for $7,512.00: http://www.zoara.com/diamonds/p_oval_excellent_cut_j_vvs1#p=5011117

is also very nice. I wouldn’t say the ‘J’ color is an issue here, as the light performance and white light reflection is very good.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Kind Regards,

Liz

Q:

Liz,

Thanks so much for your quick and thorough reply. I did indeed use The Diamond Genie. I believe it gave me (among some others) the two diamonds you liked most on that list, and then I might have changed the settings and found the diamonds you didn’t like as much — go figure.

Unfortunately, I didn’t move fast enough and the 1.55ct H SI1 and 1.51ct J VVS1 are both gone.

Out of curiosity — how does this work for you? Do you get affiliate fees from the sites you work with?

Thanks!

William

A:

Hello William,

Yes, I do make a commission if a diamond is sold through ODBA. That is how I am able to maintain ODBA full-time and offer complimentary advice and diamond recommendations (we all have to make a living!). However, my primary focus is to steer readers’s towards high quality diamonds whether or not a vendor has them in their inventory or not (but with 5 different vendors and nearly 80,000 loose diamonds to choose from, I never have an issue with finding a suitable diamond for someone. Diamond inventories move super fast!). I hope this answers your question. 🙂

I did another search and recommend this gorgeous 1.70ct J VVS1 for $7,510.00: https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/O170-TT9R86

This is the best of all the deals we’ve seen thus far. It’s a large 1.70ct that measures 9.35 x 6.72mm. It’s a ‘J’ color but has medium blue fluorescence, which helps to cancel out any warmth. As a VVS1 it’s super clean. I’d like to see the GIA cert before giving final acceptance, but overall this looks like it could be the one! 🙂

Let me know if you have any questions!

Kind Regards,

Liz

Q:

William’s gorgeous 1.70ct J VVS1 from Enchanted Diamonds

Liz,

Again, thanks so much for taking your time with me on this. I promise you it’s so greatly appreciated and I will DEFINITELY strongly suggest your site to everyone in the future.

I’ve attached the report for the 1.7ct J VVS1. I think my girlfriend could live with it being a little “warmer” especially since I’ll be matching it again rose gold, as long as we still think it will sparkle.

Does it live up to your expectations?

Thanks,

William

A:

Hey William

It’s perfect. I see no issues with the GIA report. I saw a smudge on the table facet in the 360 HD video, but now I can confirm that it’s just debris (diamonds attract grease/dust very easily). No worries,..this one looks great!

Please do keep in touch and let me know how it all turns out. 🙂 It’s been a pleasure.

All the best,

Liz

And A Few Weeks Later…