Q&A: Looking for 1 Carat Princess Cut Diamond for ~$7K Budget

Well, I thought I knew what I was looking for in a princess cut diamond, and then I found your site and discovered that I was probably going to spend more than I had to on a diamond that would be of a quality not noticed by an untrained eye.

I am looking for a princess cut diamond, at least 1 carat in size. My budget for the stone is $6500 USD on the high end, and a total budget of $7000 before taxes. I suppose I’m looking for the best diamond/setting combination within that price point. I am leaning towards James Allen, due to being able to closely inspect the stones, plus the 3D visuals of their settings.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Hi guys, thanks for the reply.

I was quite surprised to see a stone so large that fit into my criteria (1.23 I VS1)! Unfortunately, that one is no longer available so I wasn’t able to determine the price point. Do you have another recommendation(s) along those lines? I like that you picked Ideal cut stones as well. Based on looking in retail stores, my personal preference are the better cuts as to me it provides the most ‘sparkle’.

Looking forward to your reply.

Hi guys,

I really like the second option, the I VS2 ideal cut. I think I’ve found my diamond! I must admit it took me some time to believe that an I color diamond can still look ‘white’. As I said in my original message to you, I was looking at higher color ranges and even higher clarity. However those stones were well over twice the price of this one, 20 points smaller, and honestly, they were all starting to look the same to me. Thank you for all of the valuable information on your site, and for your recommendations.

My ring arrived earlier this week. It has exceeded my expectations. Even though it’s an I color, with the mount it looks completely colorless and absolutely sparkles in daylight. My girlfriend (now finance) loves it! Thank your for your help, and also for your website, it really cuts through all of the marketing out there and helps people like me make an informed decision.