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Q&A: Help Finding a 1.00 Ct. Cushion Cut Diamond with Around $3,000 Budget

By Mike Fried, Updated March 24, 2021

Hi I’m looking for help purchasing a cushion cut diamond for an engagement ring. I would like to buy it from James Allen.

I’m looking for it to be around 1 carat and square. Are there any diamonds you can recommend me that are around $3,000 or lower? I would like the diamond to be at least SI1 and color H or above.

It might be stretching your budget a little, but I found this beautiful 1ct H VS1:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.01-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-sku-8599743?a_aid=dmnd1357
It was the first eye-clean option I found. It’s beautifully cut and would be very brilliant in real life.

It looks beautiful. I like it a lot. Are there any others you recommend or do you think this is the best one?

…

Never mind. I ordered the one you recommended to me. It looks to good to pass up.

Thank you so much!

That one was a fantastic choice, other options I found were much pricier. I’m glad you liked it so much (so did I!).

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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