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Q&A: B-Day Present for Myself for $2K Budget

By Mike Fried, Updated October 24, 2017

I love your site – it’s very refreshing to have someone say what really does and doesn’t matter when buying diamonds.

I am looking to get the best value diamond I can as a birthday present for myself. I have up to $2000 to spend, and I’m more focussed on cut than colour (I don’t mind the warmer, lower colour grades), and don’t mind lower clarity, as long as it is eye clean with nothing major visible in the table, and is sparkly. I would really like something 0.75 ct or larger, but I’m not sure if that’s possible with my budget. I plan to put it in a bezel set palladium ring.

Can you recommend something?

I would recommend something like this for you:

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.70-carat-j-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-179690?a_aid=dmnd1357

It’s bright, eye-clean and will look fantastic in that setting. What do you think?

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!
Click to Visit
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.
Click to Visit
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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