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Hello! I am looking at buying a diamond in the next couple of months here, and am quite interested in doing so online because I can save so much.
I would like something right around 2 carats (plus or minus 0.2 carats or so, but preferably close to 2), with Very Good or better cut (I am not as sure here, as Excellent seems important but I also think there would be plenty of Very Good cuts that look great), I or better color, and SI2 (if eye-clean) or better clarity.
Any and all advice is appreciated!
I’d be happy to make some recommendations for you, but I need a little more info.
What shape diamond are you looking for?
What style setting (solitaire, pave/side stones/halo) and metal (yellow/white gold, platinum) do you want to use? This may affect the colors that I recommend for the center diamond (as we explain in our post on color).
Can you give me your ballpark figure of what you’re planning to spend? Then I’ll be able to help you more.
Definitely round, and a white gold pave or micro pave setting (I like the large end of the micro pave and the small end of the pave).
I am looking to spend no more than 20k if the diamond is really exceptional, but would like to be closer to 15k if we can find a good value.
From the brief amount of time I have spent looking, BN seems less expensive than James Allen. Is there a reason for this/should I be as confident buying from BN as I would JA?
I agree on the color approach. As for BN vs. JA, we don’t recommend one company over the other, it always depends on where we find the best value.
I also looked around and found these:
Blue Nile LD08986254
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/2.00-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4568384?a_aid=dmnd1357
They are well cut, eye-clean and both of them will be very brilliant.
What do you think?
Thank you! Wow, those are all gorgeous, I don’t know how you found those so quickly and at such good prices! What would you say are the effects of the different cut guidelines you guys use? Are they meant to maximize certain aspects or identify value where others generally don’t? And how would you go about picking from those two diamonds you sent?
The way we approach diamond buying is to separate the two categories; Negative characteristics to avoid and positive characteristics to focus on. The trick is to get closer to the line (without crossing it) on color and clarity. This drops the price dramatically and so long as don’t cross the line, has zero impact on the look of the diamond. This allows you to focus on a better cut diamond, a larger diamond or to just save money.
Both two are excellent choices. Is there a setting you like from either vendor? It’s always easier to buy both the setting and the loose diamond from the same vendor. They’ll set it for you and you’ll receive a complete ring.
That makes sense. Thank you for finding these for me. I’m not proposing until July, and I would like to do so within the return window in case she would like to make any changes after seeing it! So I will probably be actually buying towards the end of June, but I will definitely contact you and make sure you get the commission for the diamond I buy!
That makes sense. Talk to you later then.
Have a great Sunday!
I’m getting closer to when I plan to propose. Would I be able to get your help in finding some exceptional diamonds again? Just let me know, thank you!
New diamonds coming right up:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.92-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4956633?a_aid=dmnd1357
Blue Nile LD10223303
I just pulled the trigger on the James Allen you sent me in the most recent email. Thank you so much for all of your help.
That’s great news! It’s been 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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