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Really like your website & the great information. Great job with that.
I need to buy an engagement ring. I am looking for a 1.5ct or larger round brilliant cut diamond and I hoped to stay under $9,000 but I realize that may not be possible. Based on your advice, I have been looking for I color, SI1, GIA stones with excellent cut. From looking around, many SI1 stones do not seem eye clean to me. FYI, I hope to use a setting that has with channel set diamonds so I want to make sure that the center stone color is not too far off.
Any help or suggestions you could give me would be greatly appreciated.
Firstly, I would suggest sticking with H+ for the color. With those type of settings, you want to make sure that the center diamond is brighter/whiter than the setting.
I really like this diamond for you:
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1522375.asp
It’s bright, eye-clean and a great value. The medium blue is a nice bonus (it lightens it up half a shade of color).
What do you think?
The diamond you chose for me is beautiful and I may very well end up buying that one. After working my finances, I realize that I can increase my budget to approximately $10,500 for the diamond if need be.
Here is another diamond that I have been looking at: https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1496987.asp
I know that it is an I color and you advised going H+. The setting I am going to use is James Allen 1217p in platinum:
The channel set side stones are G-H, so if I still need to go H+ please let me know. You are the expert and your advice is beyond valuable to me.
Once again, thank you very much for the help. I hope to make a decision and get this ordered as soon as I can.
You should stick with the H+. It is important not to drop below H with that setting.
Once again, thank you for your expert advice. It is very reassuring. I am getting very close to a final decision. Here are the two diamonds you recommended for me:
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1522375.asp
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1523332.asp
Forgive me for the following ignorant questions. I am able to afford the larger stone, so my question is, am I gaining much? Does the 1.51ct look significantly bigger than the 1.40ct? Is a diameter difference of 0.20mm meaningful? Is one of these stones better than the other? I know that you like some florescence in an H color diamond, the 1.40 has it but the 1.51 does not. How do they compare to one another in brilliance, fire, and being eye clean?
They are both excellent choices. It should be up to you whether you want to spend the extra. The size bump will be noticeable. I don’t know if its worth the extra money though.
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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