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Q&A: $5K Budget for 1 Ct. Round Cut

By Mike Fried,

I am currently looking for a diamond ring for my gf. My budget is around $5k including the six-prong solitaire ring set. I like the round brilliant diamond. carat is more or less 1.0 carat. I am checking James Allen as you recommended. here is the link that i’m looking at https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.00-carat-g-color-vs1-clarity-sku-181212?a_aid=dmnd1357. It’s a bit more than my budget. would you be able to help me get the best diamond with the lowest price possible?

thank you and really appreciate your help.

I think we need to switch around your priorities a bit. You should be focusing less on color/clarity and more on cut. This is the diamond I would recommend for you:

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.03-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-183788?a_aid=dmnd1357

This is far superior to the G VS1. You won’t notice the drop in color or clarity (its eye-clean and still white), but you will notice the improvement in cut. Not only will it sparkle more but, since the G VS1 is cut so deeply, the I SI1 will look much larger.

Here are the articles if you want to get the technical details:

https://www.diamonds.pro/education/carat-weight/

https://www.diamonds.pro/education/clarity/

https://www.diamonds.pro/education/color/

https://www.diamonds.pro/education/cuts/

Thank you very much for helping me choosing the right diamond. I’ve been reading your website quite extensively. It’s very educational and helpful.

About the diamond you recommended, I saw there are some feather-like marks in the zoomed-in picture as well as on the certificate. Do you think those can be noticed with the naked eyes? Would you mind sending me a couple more diamonds in the price range of around $5k and 1 carat, so that I have a few options? My gf’s expectation is that the diamond is 1 carat and shiny. I don’t want to fail on that.

Thank you and I appreciate your inputs.

The diamond is absolutely eye-clean. I don’t like making any alternative recommendations if I think it will put you towards a lesser option. If there is a particular reason to offer an alternative, I would (and I would know what to ‘improve’ on).

James Allen James Allen is the leader in online diamond sales. Their imaging technology is the same as inspecting a diamond with a jeweler's loupe. They have the largest exclusive loose diamond inventory online and fantastic prices. They also have the nicest collection of lab-created diamonds online. They currently run a 10% discount on selected lab-grown diamonds!
What we love about them:
  • No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. James Allen will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
  • Lifetime Warranty
  • Free International Shipping
  • Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
  • Provide insurance appraisals
  • One free resizing within 60 days of purchase
  • Free ring inscriptions
  • Best-in-class high quality imagery of all diamonds in stock
  • 24/7 Customer Service
  • Best-in-class packaging
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Blue Nile Blue Nile is the largest and most well-known internet jewelry seller. They have a very large exclusive online inventory. Their high-quality images are catching up to James Allens' and their prices are amazing. Right now, Blue Nile offers up to 50% savings on selected jewelry during a limited-time season sale.
What we love about them:
  • No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. Blue Nile will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
  • Lifetime Warranty
  • Free Shipping
  • Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
  • Provide insurance appraisal
  • One free resizing within the first year of purchase
  • High quality images of about half of their diamonds
  • 24/7 Customer Service
  • 100% credit towards future upgrades (must be at least double in value)
  • Best in class fulfillment
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