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Hi,
I’m shopping for an engagement ring for my girlfriend, and have decided that the online approach is best. My girlfriend would like a petite three-stone ring in 14k yellow gold with pear side-stones and an oval center diamond (natural).
I’m looking to get a diamond in the 1.3-1.5 carat range, hopefully under $8,000. I have so far found that I color and SI1 are where I’d like to end up for color and clarity. I would love to get a professional’s opinion before picking a diamond!
As far as a pave setting goes (regardless of the color of the metal), I’d go with an H color at the lowest. The smaller diamonds might make a color difference. SI+ is always the clarity range I search in, but since most SI diamonds are not eye-clean, I often end up recommending a VS or VVS diamond simply because there was nothing lower that would look good. It depends.
I found the following options:
Blue Nile LD12650609
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.20-carat-f-color-vs1-clarity-sku-9085745?a_aid=dmnd1357
I didn’t find anything significantly larger/better for ~$7.5k. These two diamonds are well cut and have a nice oval shape. They are eye-clean and have a very subtle bow-tie. Either of them would look amazing in a pave setting.
Those are beautiful diamonds, though a bit smaller than I had hoped. Would there be more value if I increased to $8,000?
I’ve also picked out a few that I thought might be good candidates, would love to get your opinion.
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.50-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-sku-9155574?a_aid=dmnd1357
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.31-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-sku-9045524?a_aid=dmnd1357
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.30-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-sku-8506957?a_aid=dmnd1357
Unfortunately, the I-color ones wouldn’t work. There would be a yellowish hue compared to the pear stones and the color of the metal.
Blue Nile LD14023599
This one is not eye-clean. It has deep feathers that would be noticeable in real life and might end up reflecting light differently.
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.31-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-sku-9045524?a_aid=dmnd1357
This one doesn’t look bad, but has a large cloud at the bottom. This might be a problem as the cloud might sap the brilliance from that particular spot and cause worse light refraction. You can ask JA if they can run this diamond by their gemologists and see how much an issue it would be.
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.30-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-sku-8506957?a_aid=dmnd1357
This one has a prominent bow-tie.
I’ve contacted JA about the 9045524.
Are there any other diamonds you would recommend? Interested to see if its possible to get in the 1.3-1.5 carat range, even if slightly over budget.
I found this one that looked lovely:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.29-carat-f-color-vs2-clarity-sku-8378912?a_aid=dmnd1357
Thanks! I’m going to purchase the 8378912 from JA today!
Thanks much for your help.
I’m glad I could help!
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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