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Hey! I’m getting close to buying a ring for my soon to be fiancé and am looking for some diamond help. So far, I’ve got the following:
Ring: 14k gold
14K YELLOW GOLD PAVE ROPE ENGAGEMENT RING
Shape: Cushion
Carat: around 1.2
Budget for diamond: up to $8k
I’ve enjoyed my experience with James Allen so far – they actually have a physical location I can see diamonds in person if I tell them ahead of time the ones I’m looking at.
I’d appreciate any help in finding 2 or 3 diamonds that would work well in that setting.
For cushions, it’s great to keep the depth under 68% and the table shouldn’t exceed 70%. Cushions don’t have their own official cut scale given by GIA. Some companies use their own internal grades, but we don’t put any stock in those. We just use our own guidelines and strict parameters to find the best stones possible. Therefore, I wouldn’t pay attention to the cut grades you see at all.
Most cushions are modified, they have usually the ‘crushed-ice’ look (even though you may find some with the ‘chunky’ look as well). The other type of cushions are cushion brilliant diamonds which have the ‘chunky’ look. They are quite rare to find, therefore, if you want to focus on this type, you’d most probably get a smaller diamond or pay more for the same carat size. You usually can’t see the difference between cushion antique or modified cuts and neither of them is more brilliant than the other type (https://www.diamonds.pro/education/cushion-cut/).
Bear in mind the lower the depth is, the larger the diamond usually appears to the eye (and also is usually more brilliant as the light can refract better). So even though you may get a diamond with smaller carat weight, a diamond with lower depth % can have the same measurements as some heavier stones.
As for the color, I would recommend sticking with H+ color with none, faint or medium fluorescence (medium and strong fluorescence on D-G colored diamonds usually cause a hazy/milky look in daylight – https://www.diamonds.pro/education/fluorescence/). Clarity-wise, we search for eye-clean SI2+ diamonds. Sometimes you can find a perfect SI diamond, sometimes the first eye-clean option is a VS stone (https://www.diamonds.pro/education/clarity/).
Here are my recommendations:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.20-carat-f-color-vs1-clarity-sku-7698088?a_aid=dmnd1357
They’re well-cut, eye-clean and brilliant.
Thank you for the great suggestions and the quick response!
I really liked the third link you sent and went through with the order from James Allen for that diamond!
Again, I appreciate your help and expertise in this important and complex purchase!
That’s wonderful news! It was my pleasure helping you!
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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