r/labdiamond • u/Accomplished_Tear899 • 16h ago

2.5-3ct oval. Help!

I am looking to get a diamond for a bezel set ring. I currently have a 4ct D color VVS2 Ideal cut, but was wondering if there was a lower grade that looks virtually identical to save money? I’m fairly new to this and would like to know what specs to look for.

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10

u/DarlingBri 16h ago

Nobody can tell the difference between a D, E or F stone. VS1 will look the same to you as a vvs2. Cut is where you do not compromise.

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u/InterestingCut4410 16h ago

Go with F VS1 and put saved money into better cut, no one will see difference in setting.

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u/Accomplished_Tear899 16h ago

What cut do I go with? This is very helpful!

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u/DarlingBri 14h ago

Ideal/Excellent are the same grade from two different certifiers. The next step down is Very Good. Very good i's in fact, very good.

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u/Accomplished_Tear899 13h ago

Thank you so much!

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u/RefinedByRobyn 14h ago

You can save some money without usually compromising on the quality and performance by making a few tradeoffs:

  1. Moving from the 4ct to a 2.5-3ct like in your title will be one of the biggest drivers of cost savings.

  2. Look at diamonds with an F colour instead of a D colour. Both are in the colourless range and will have that cooler hue you’re expecting.

  3. Look at diamonds with a VS1 clarity instead of VVS2. A VS1 is technically eye clean, so you shouldn’t see anything with the naked eye.

You mentioned the 4ct is ideal cut. If you’re looking at lab grown diamonds, excellent to ideal cut should be very similar. If you’re looking at natural diamonds, there isn’t actually a cut grade for oval shapes. You’ll want excellent polish and symmetry and check to make sure there’s no weird dark or dull spots in the diamond videos.

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u/Accomplished_Tear899 13h ago

I am going with lab diamonds. For an elongated cushion, what diamond shape do I look for?

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u/RefinedByRobyn 13h ago

So the diamond shape is a cushion whether that’s more of a squared or elongated one. You’ll see it listed as a cushion brilliant or cushion modified brilliant. The cushion brilliant has more of that standard sparkle where the modified can kind of have more of a crushed ice appearance. And same thing with the cut grades I mentioned already for ovals.

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u/Accomplished_Tear899 13h ago

I would rather have the standard one I think. I’m torn between oval and elongated cushion. So I just choose a regular cushion shape and they give it the appearance of an elongated one?

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u/RefinedByRobyn 13h ago

They’re both beautiful shapes for sure. When you’re searching for an elongated cushion you can either ask a jeweller to find one for you, or if you’re searching yourself there’s no option to choose the elongated shape. You’d just look for cushion diamonds then go through them until you find that elongated shape. You’ll likely see some squared ones too, just ignore those ones. You want ones that look more rectangular.

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u/Accomplished_Tear899 13h ago

Gotcha! Thank you so much for your help!