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After browsing through the wealth of information on your site, I am considering purchasing a round diamond around 0.75 CT for a channel/side stone setting (budget ~$4-5K). I am leaning toward the “super-ideal” cuts that you mention on Brian Gavin’s website, though I also see “True Heart” cuts available on jamesallen.com. Are these comparable?
The caveat is that my fiance-to-be would be much more comfortable seeing the ring setting in person and trying it on before I purchase it. What are your thoughts about selecting a setting from a local jewelry shop and having them set the diamond that I purchase online?
My last question refers to mall-type stores such as Kay and Zales. While I now understand that their pricing and selection of diamonds in inferior to several other websites you’ve reviewed, I am wondering about their lifetime diamond replacement policy. Specifically, they claim that if the diamond were to be lost, chipped, or damaged, they will replace it at no cost. This sounds like a fantastic policy for customers and might be worth the “premium” of a more expensive product. What are your thoughts about purchasing from these locations if only for the peace of mind granted by their replacement policy? Is it typically difficult to have them honor it, or are there other details that I am missing?
Thank you so much for your time and effort.
1) As much as we love JA (and its obvious we do), I would not recommend their True Hearts. Stick with the BGD.
2) You can get it set at your local jeweler, but if its zales/kay/jared, they are far inferior in quality to BGD.
3) Their ‘warranties’ are a sham. 90% of the time they find a way out of ponying up. You should insure the diamond through homeowners/renters insurance.
I love this diamond for you.
What do you think?
Thank you so much for the useful information.
That diamond would be exactly what I wanted, but my situation has changed slightly. We visited a Hannoush Jewelers, and my girlfriend really likes this ring they carry by Demarco: http://www.hannoush.com/brand-collections/demarco/white-gold-semi-mount-ring-9222.html. This puts the total cost of the setting and diamond at about $1000 over what I was planning to spend. Now I’m considering an ideal/excellent cut diamond. It also would be nice, though not necessary, if the diamond were at least 0.90 CT, bringing the total weight of the ring to at least 1 CT.
What are you opinions on these:
I welcome any other suggestions as well!
I love that 1.00 you selected. It’s a beautiful diamond and a fantastic price.
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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