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Hi, I’m looking for an engagement ring. I’ve read up on your site and spent some time on james allen and here’s what I’ve come up with.
Setting:
https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/tension/14k-white-gold-spiral-tension-set-engagement-ring-item-197?a_aid=dmnd1357
(14k white gold)
Diamonds: I’m looking in the $5k range, round cut. Trying to find a good value obviously but it seems like there a lot of obvious inclusions in most of them though its hard to tell if that’s mostly because of the 40x mag. Here’s the best that I’ve found:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.16-carat-j-color-si1-clarity-sku-221521?a_aid=dmnd1357
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.14-carat-j-color-vs2-clarity-very-good-cut-sku-200239?a_aid=dmnd1357
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.30-carat-j-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-224938?a_aid=dmnd1357
Everything I know about diamonds I’ve learned in the past couple days reading your articles so any help is greatly appreciated. If you have completely different recommendations, that’s great too.
Thanks!
I really like the first diamond you selected. The other two are no-nos. The middle one is poorly cut, and the second one is too cloudy.
Thanks for the help.
A couple more questions:
– that first diamond: you don’t think that occlusion near the middle will be noticeable? Do you think its worth digging more?
– in terms of the setting, I suddenly had the thought that the setting I picked out might not be optimal in showing the diamond off since there’s no metal underneath the diamond. Is that accurate? Would a more traditional setting make it sparkle more?
Thanks!
1) The diamond is eye-clean.
2) It might be slightly less optimal in terms of highlighting the diamond. But that is one aspect of the setting. The other is fashion/style. I’m not saying you shouldn’t switch, but just to consider everything.
I was all ready to pull the trigger when I found the diamond is no longer available so I’ve had to go back and start again. Here are my finds… what do you think? Is there anything else better?
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.21-carat-j-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-224932?a_aid=dmnd1357
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.11-carat-i-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-224941?a_aid=dmnd1357
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.21-carat-j-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-127578?a_aid=dmnd1357
Thanks again!
I really like the first diamond, but the other two are definite nos. Never buy an Si diamond that says ‘clarity grade based on cloud not shown’ and the the third one is not eye-clean.
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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