Q&A: Looking for a Round Diamond for a White Gold Halo or Pave Setting With a $16k Budget

The setting is 100% a matter of personal taste and style. I’ll leave that one to you.

Here’s how we would proceed:

1) James Allen – Since James Allen use G/H diamond accents for most of their settings, I’d recommend at least an I+color (for a pave) or H+ color (for a halo) center stone to make sure there wouldn’t be any yellowness.

2) Blue Nile – Blue Nile use I and H color diamond accents so you can get away with slightly lower grades: J for a pave and I+ for a halo.

3) Brian Gavin – With them, you can for sure choose a lower color as those diamonds will always be absolutely gorgeous. Because of their absolutely perfect cut, the color isn’t noticeable. I’d recommend a J color for their pave settings and an I color for a halo. BGD diamonds are incomparable to others, they are incredibly brilliant. Brian is one of the world’s experts when it comes to perfectly cut diamonds. He even uses the same parameters for cutting for the smaller stones in settings which nobody else usually does. That gives you the absolute brilliance in every part of the ring.

Now, on to the diamonds. I found the following options that I thought would be fantastic choices for you:
Blue Nile LD14666918
Blue Nile LD13726635

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/2.01-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-10026877?a_aid=dmnd1357
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.80-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-9815046?a_aid=dmnd1357

www.briangavindiamonds.com/1.538-J-VS2-Round-Diamond-AGS-C-104109608012?a_aid=y
www.briangavindiamonds.com/1.370-I-VS2-Round-Diamond-AGS-C-104108826131?a_aid=y
They are beautifully cut and all of them would be very bright and brilliant in real life.

If you need the diamond to be 2ct minimum, let’s stick to that. Although there’s really no noticeable difference between a 1.9 and a 2ct stone (keep in mind that the 2ct is the weight of the diamond, it’s not an indicator of its size).

The color grades I’ve recommended would look colorless in the settings I recommended them for. The color recommendations are based on our expertise, experiences and most importantly, the feedback we receive from our readers. I’m of course, more than happy to find diamonds with high grades if that would put you more at ease, but they would naturally end up being pricier (or smaller).

No worries. You know what you want and there’s nothing wrong with it.

I know from experience that J color looks colorless in a solitaire setting, but if it makes you feel nervous, we can aim for higher grades. It’s important for me that you feel confident and comfortable with the purchase.

I found some more 2ct options:
Blue Nile LD13928659
Blue Nile LD14601444
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/2.07-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-8521394?a_aid=dmnd1357

That’s fantastic news! That diamond was an excellent choice.