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Hi Team,
I was hoping to buy the wife a “decent” 0.9-1ct diamond with little/no color for not more than $3,000. My wife wants a two-tone white/yellow 14k gold ring.
What do you think of this diamond?
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.96-carat-h-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-10740047?a_aid=dmnd1357
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.96-carat-h-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-10740047?a_aid=dmnd1357 – This diamond is deeply cut too. We don’t recommend SI diamonds with clouds mentioned in the first place – such diamonds might look cloudy.
I found this alternative: www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.84-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-10652010?a_aid=dmnd1357.
Really appreciate your help! On the diamond I was hoping to get .90ct or larger H or less in color (preferably G) for under $3,000. I know it’s a tall order.
…
We have found her set!
14K White Gold Twisted Vine Engagement Ring
This engagement ring has a matching “wrap around” style band that we are going to purchase in yellow gold for the two tone she is looking for!
Ok… so we need a good diamond. I would like to get her a .95ct or bigger as colorless as possible (at least H or less) for as close to $3,000 as you can get me on James Allen. I know it’s probably a tough request. So if you could give me a couple choices that would be great!
The ring you’ve chosen is absolutely lovely. It’s one of my favorite designs on JA, I’m really excited about you getting it! H color will be enough (even an I color would still be ok and look colorless), there’s no need to go for higher grades as it would look identical.
Unfortunately, I didn’t find any decent 0.95ct diamonds for $3k. The largest recommendable options I found were these two stones:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.80-carat-f-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-10153305?a_aid=dmnd1357
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.84-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-10652010?a_aid=dmnd1357
They have a beautiful cut and would be very bright and brilliant in real life. Size-wise, they would be unrecognizable from 0.9+cts.
Could you make a recommendation for the least expensive diamond in the .90 to .97ct range that will be decent? I know it will be north of $3k. Just want to minimize the damage.
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Also, if you think an I color will look colorless then we can entertain that if it gets us larger than .95 and closer to $3k!
I’ve also heard that in the slightly colored ranges, fluorescence can make the diamond appear more colorless to the eye!
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What do you think of this diamond?
Sure, fluorescence can help slightly, but I wouldn’t focus solely on diamonds with fluorescence.
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.91-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-10773097?a_aid=dmnd1357
This diamond has a Cloud listed as the first clarity note. This means that the cloud is the most prominent inclusion, the clarity setter and would sap brilliance from the stone. I recommend avoiding SI diamonds <1ct with clouds – they don’t have a clarity plot in the certificate so you wouldn’t know the size and location of the cloud and the diamond might end up being hazy and less brilliant.
This is the largest eye-clean and well cut option I found in the I+ SI+ range: www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.90-carat-i-color-vvs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-10728623?a_aid=dmnd1357
It’s a beautiful stone with fantastic specs.
So between your .84 recommendation and your .90 recommendation I’ve gained .12mm in diameter and also $1,000 in cost. So I don’t think the value is there. Visually, it would be awfully hard to see a difference in size. I think we are headed for that .84 stone you previously recommended!
Thank you so much for your time!
I agree with you that the added .12mm is not worth the huge premium. The diamonds would look pretty much the same. I know you were trying to reach the 1ct mark, but if it helps, nobody usually knows what a 1ct diamond is supposed to look like.
First and foremost, people will notice the brilliance and how the diamond looks in the ring. You have a beautiful setting and together with the 0.84ct, it will be a gorgeous combo.
I’m very sure the ring is going to turn heads left and right.
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.
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- 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
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- 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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