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Q&A: Looking for Sparkly Bigger Diamond to Upgrade

By Mike Fried,

Hello – I am looking to upgrade the small diamond on my wedding ring. I want 1+ carat, eye clean and mega watt sparkle. Looking for a round diamond. My budget is $3,500 – $5,000. I have looked at diamonds on www.jamesallen.com, but not sure what constitutes eye clean with the magnified pictures. I want the most bang for my buck and no noticeable flaws. My ring is white gold.

Also, can you tell me what a realistic price range would be for a 1.2 carat k color, vvs1 clarity, excellent cut, excellent polish, excellently symmetry and no fluorescence? I saw a diamond recently with those specs and just curious what it would cost for something of that size and quality.

Thanks!

I’m not sure this one is the right one. I want maximum sparkle – which I know is determined by the cut. This one is only very good, not excellent.

Does eye clean mean that there are just no black or gray specks or clouds? I have a difficult time knowing by looking at the image if it will look clean to the naked eye – when I can see bubbles in the pictures.

The diamond is well cut. The VG rating is due to the crown angle I believe. This will have very nominal effect on the brilliance.

Eye clean means that the inclusions won’t be visible to the naked eye. This is a function of the harshness, location and concentration of the inclusions. Fortunately, I’ve had a lot of experience analyzing these photos.

James Allen James Allen is the leader in online diamond sales. Their imaging technology is the same as inspecting a diamond with a jeweler's loupe. They have the largest exclusive loose diamond inventory online and fantastic prices. They also have the nicest collection of lab-created diamonds online. They currently run a 10% discount on selected lab-grown diamonds!
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
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Blue Nile Blue Nile is the largest and most well-known internet jewelry seller. They have a very large exclusive online inventory. Their high-quality images are catching up to James Allens' and their prices are amazing. Right now, Blue Nile offers up to 50% savings on selected jewelry during a limited-time season sale.
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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