The higher up the carat weight goes, the rarer it becomes to find a high-quality diamond. An eye-clean, sparkling white, 2 carat diamond that has been cut to perfection is not easy to come by, but with a comprehensive knowledge of the 4C’s and some expert guidance, you can confidently shop for the 2-carat diamond of your dreams.
Using the Four C’s to Buy a 2 Carat Diamond
A thorough knowledge of the Four C’s is essential, regardless of the carat weight you are buying. As you move into the upper carat weights for engagement jewelry (2.00ct and above) there is a shift in grade requirements. Larger diamonds can be less forgiving when it comes to inclusions and color presence.
Even so, it is possible to find flexibility in some areas and suit the diamond to your budget. Paying above and beyond for the top-quality grades will translate into large price hikes with little optical trade-off.
Cut
Cut quality determines the light performance of the diamond and this translates into fire, brilliance and scintillation. Without a fantastic cut, even a diamond with top clarity and color specs will appear dull and lack lustre.
The GIA and AGS both give accurate and consistent cut grades. I would recommend only considering top tier diamonds that receive an ‘Excellent’ (GIA) or a 0 (AGS Ideal) cut grade.
I would also advise going beyond this. Though reliable, the AGS and GIA cut grades encompass diamonds which ‘just’ make the grade. There can be a significant difference between the light performance of two diamonds with Excellent cut grades. Super-ideal cut diamonds are round brilliant stones that have been cut and polished to exacting standards. These incredibly rare diamonds give a stunning light performance and perfect optical symmetry.
For the best of the best, take a look at the A CUT ABOVE® super-ideal cut diamonds by Whiteflash. As well as being some of the best performing diamonds on the market, Whiteflash also provide advanced light performance reports and HD Video so you can see exactly how the diamond is working and where your money is going. If you need a fancy shaped diamond try Blue Nile and for colored diamonds head to Leibish and Co.
Color
Some cuts conceal color more effectively than others. For example, brilliant cuts mask color more deftly than step cuts. This make step cuts fantastic for fancy colored diamonds as they give a wonderful intensity, but it means a higher color grade is necessary for colorless diamonds.
For a brilliant cut, 2.00ct diamond, I would suggest an H-I in color. For step cuts, a G would be more suitable.
Remember that color is subjective and that the color of the setting will also alter the appearance of color. Warmer settings such as rose and yellow gold will help enhance the white of a diamond.
Clarity
Eye-clean is key for 2.00ct diamonds. The larger the diamond, the more obvious inclusions will appear. Again, brilliant cuts are better at concealing inclusions, and settings can be used to hide inclusions that sit around the edge of a diamond.
High-res imaging and 360 videos are a must when analysing clarity. Giving a detailed view of a diamond, they will help you determine whether or not there are any unsightly or problematic inclusions.
Using this technology will also help you make the most of your budget. This G-SI1 round brilliant on James Allen is “eye-clean” and an “excellent cut”. By contrast, this G-VS2 round brilliant has several problematic inclusions, some of which are in the table of the diamond. Both diamonds are an excellent cut grade.
