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Hello,
Hope you are well. Firstly, thank you in advance, your website is extremely helpful as I am searching for my first ever diamond for my fiancé’s engagement ring. However, being a bloke that likes to research the hell out of purchases I’m increasingly finding myself in a rat hole of clarity, cut, colour, table, depth etc etc. I feel its probably in danger of sucking the joy out of the process for my fiancé ;-).
I’m currently looking at Blue Nile and have found this diamond – Blue Nile LD13322698. It’s right at the top of my price range and wondering if its a good stone. I’m looking for a nice one carat, round cut stone. Max budget for the ring all up is £6,000, ideally a bit less if I can.
Blue Nile LD13322698
Unfortunately, this diamond is not a good choice. It has strong fluorescence which is a big problem on an I color, it usually causes haziness.
I’m happy to find a better option for you, can you just tell me what style setting you want to use? I want to make sure I recommend the right color grade for it.
Thanks for coming back and the feedback. Already extremely helpful! It will be a simple solitaire with a platinum band.
Great, thank you for the info, it helped a lot.
Here’s what would look great in a PT solitaire:
Blue Nile LD13531475
It has a nice cut and will have a lot of brilliance.
Thanks. It’s a nice size, probably a bit over budget when I take the band into account but good for thought. On clarity, with a diamond that size am I right in thinking any inclusions are imperceptible to the naked eye? So VS2 really won’t look any different to something higher?
The actual clarity grade is not important, what matters is having an eye-clean diamond. Once a diamond is eye-clean, you can have an SI that’s identical to an IF. I always search in the SI-IF range and pick the best eye-clean options I find. Sometimes it’s an SI, sometimes a VS or VVS is a better choice. There is no rule.
I have shortlisted a few and wondered if you could advise or share another in the price range?
Out of the diamonds you sent me, I absolutely love these two:
Blue Nile LD13416362
Blue Nile LD13322826
They have a gorgeous cut and will have a lot of added brilliance. You did a great job finding them!
I’ll decide on one of those two tonight and take the plunge!
Thanks!
Happy to help. Let me know how you like the ring when it arrives.
It’s arrived! I love it, looks far nicer than any we saw in jewellers or from the designer we met. Hopefully my fiancee feels the same tonight!
Thanks again for the advice, much appreciated!
…
She loves it!
That’s fantastic news! Congratulations on your engagement!
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
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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