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Hi,
I am looking for a loose round excellent cut J colored SI1-SI2 stone between 1.0 and 1.2 carats. My first question is what type of price range does this put me in? My second question is how to tell if a stone will be prongable or not? I’ve checked out James Allen and have a few stones in mind. Any examples you could provide would be greatly appreciated. I live in NYC and am also open to suggestions of any jewelers you might know. I might be willing to come up in carat weight if the price is right.
Thanks in advance!
I’d be happy to make some recommendations and guide you through the process. What type of setting are you considering? Yellow gold or white gold/platinum? Will it be a solitaire or does it have sidestones/pave? This may affect the colors that I recommend for the center diamond (as we explain in our post on color).
Let me know and I’d be happy to send you some suggestions.
I am planning on a solitaire in either white gold or platinum.
I like this one for you:
This is also a good option:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.00-carat-J-color-VS2-clarity-Excellent-cut-sku-199017?a_aid=dmnd1357
What do you think?
…
Sorry for not answering your question about the diamond district. I would never recommend going into the diamond district. My sister was looking for a pair of diamond studs. When I was back visiting NYC, I went with her to the diamond district so she can try on different sizes (obviously I got her the diamonds somewhere else). I used it as an opportunity to secret shop the district. I didn’t let them know I was a diamond professional.
I was appalled at the slimy shenanigans dealers tried to pull. One guy tried to sell diamonds that he artificially treated AFTER getting a GIA certificate (which renders the diamond worthless). One dealer insisted he was showing us GIA certified diamonds. He finally showed me the certs; they didn’t match up to the diamond at all. Another tried selling me a diamond that was cracked.
Basically it is chock full of sharks and you would be that one bleeding swimming who can’t get out of water. going to the Diamond District is being penny wise and pound foolish. You are trying to get a deal that will save you a couple of percent. But you are taking a huge risk that you are going to get royally screwed. I just don’t see the point.
I think the 1.05 represents that best value for the money. My only concern is the small inclusion on the table. I understand that the pictures on the website are at a high level of magnification. In your opinion, is this something I should be concerned about, or will it be hardly noticeable once set?
I do not think that would be noticeable.
So I am still going through stones. I am looking for a round I or J colored SI1 to VS2, excellent cut, 1.2 to 1.25 carats. My budget is $6500. I have a little wiggle room in the budget if the stone is right. My main concern is that I am going for a platinum solitaire setting and am concerned about a J colored stone that may appear too yellow.
Any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated.
My recommendation would be this one:
We generally recommend J+ for solitaires and its incredibly rare for someone to say they didn’t like the color.
Thanks.
What do you think about this one?
My budget is now $7000 and I would like to shoot between 1.25 and 1.30 carats.
Thanks!
That one looks good to me. Let me know how it looks when it arrives.
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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