Q&A: Looking for Round, Cushion, or Oval-Shaped Diamond for $2K Budget

I am looking for a round, cushion, or oval shape diamond under $2000. As far as clarity is concerned, anything ”eye-clean” is fine. Of course, I would like the biggest diamond, I don’t like the faint yellow tint. I read on your website that a medium fluorescent can help a lower color diamond look better, but I’m still hesitant because I want a diamond that sparkles. I was looking at these but if you have any suggestions, they would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/K-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1172193.asp

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/K-SI1-Premium-Cut-Oval-Diamond-1190166.asp

A K color will look slightly yellow. Especially in an Oval or Cushion. I think your best bet would be a round, since you’ll be able to go to a J color and still get a white stone. Something like this:
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1346304.asp

Thanks for getting back to me so soon! I was doing a little more research and found some more. Could you please take a look at them? I know some of them are still K colors, but it seems really white in the pictures…

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/K-VS1-Premium-Cut-Oval-Diamond-1194827.asp

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/K-SI1-Premium-Cut-Oval-Diamond-1331068.asp

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI2-Premium-Cut-Oval-Diamond-1133126.asp

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1360101.asp

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1360110.asp

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1281068.asp

I really appreciate you doing this for me. I’m trying to help my dad pick out a diamond for my mom for their 20 year anniversary, so it means a lot.

You can’t judge color from these pictures. I’ve seen D colors that look yellow and K colors that look white. That’s all a product of photography, not reality. Trust me, You shouldn’t buy anyhting lower than an I color fancy shape or J color round.

The G color Oval and Cushions you linked to are not so nice. The cut on the Oval is far too stubby and the inclusions on the cushion cut look like they’d be eye visible. Of the two rounds, I like this one better:
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1360110.asp

Thanks for the advice! I know I’m asking you to look over a lot, but do you mind looking over these? I think I’m going to get something between $2000 and $2500 now. Also, do cushion and oval shaped diamonds sparkle almost as much as round diamonds?

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Oval-Diamond-892146.asp

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Oval-Diamond-892501.asp

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1195498.asp

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Oval-Diamond-1200431.asp

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Oval-Diamond-1220001.asp

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Oval-Diamond-1099097.asp

Sorry for the delay! I wasn’t able to respond due to the Jewish Sabbath followed by the holiday of Purim (which is the celebration recounted in the biblical Book of Esther).

Ovals and Cushions do not sparkle as much as rounds. no other shape does.

I actually don’t like any of the Ovals you linked to. The only one that wasn’t very stubby had a big black inclusion in the center. The cushion you linked to was very nice, though.

Sorry it took me so long to respond – I had spring break this week.

I found this round one at a really good price, but there is no picture. It is a I1, but the picture on the GIA report shows inclusions only on the edge of the diamond. I sent a request for pictures, but what do you think?

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-I1-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1362008.asp

Pic is up. That’s a great stone!! Just make sure they put a prong over the inclusion and it will hardly be noticeable!

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Q&A: Looking for Round, Cushion, or Oval-Shaped Diamond for $2K Budget

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