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What would you recommend for an engagement ring with a budget of $4000? She would like a round shaped diamond and has a small finger size of 3.75. She would like 0.90-1.00 carats. Can you help me?
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.
Thanks for getting back to me. She was interested in white gold, a solitaire with no sidestones. She has very small hands.
Here is what she likes:
14K white gold, solitaire, 4 prong setting:
I would recommend these for you:
What do you think?
We found, on the James Allen website, diamonds of .90 carats for less than $4000 that were at least a VS2 clarity and in H or I color. The .90 stone that you sent is only a J and SI1, plus it appears to have a bad scratch-like flaw. The other one is a little over my budget. What do you suggest?
The diamond I recommended is eye-clean. Keep in mind that the image is very magnified. The fantastic new imagery on JA is kind of a double edged sword. As for color, we are very confident recommending J. https://www.diamonds.pro/education/color/
That is my opinion, and I’m happy to recommend diamonds of higher quality if you prefer. However, you seemed to miss one point. Cut is the most important aspect. You should be sticking with an Excellent cut. On rare occasions you will find a decent cut VG, but its difficult to search for. If you add cut into the filter, the cheapest diamond in the parameters you listed is $4,300.
Thank you so much, Mike. That really helps, and this “diamond color” link was very clear on what you stated. I think 177858 is the one for us!
Sounds great. Keep me posted.
Well, we went ahead and purchased the ring you recommended to us. It arrived and we were very happy with it. To be sure, we took it to a local reputable jeweler to have it appraised. The appraisal came back quite favorable. In fact, we seem to have made a wonderful purchase and have saved thousands of dollars.
Thank you so very much!
Thanks for writing and letting us know. I’m delighted that you were pleased with our help.
We wish you and your partner a life of happiness and fulfillment.
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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