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Q&A: Looking for Round Cut for $1500-2000 Budget

By Mike Fried, Updated October 24, 2017

I’m currently shopping for a diamond for a band I’ve picked out, but it’s getting a bit overwhelming. It just seems like there is always that better diamond, or always one more step up. After a while you’ve got to say enough is enough! Haha..

My price range is between $1500-$2,000, but I’m trying to keep it as low as possible because the band is a bit more then I would like it to be. I’ve been looking at around .70 carat diamonds on James Allen, and it’s so difficult to pick. Do you have any suggestions? Is color more important, or cut, or clarity? I had a jeweler show me a diamond today and it was so yellow.. I don’t want that. Here’s what I was looking at

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.70-carat-k-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-178453?a_aid=dmnd1357

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.70-carat-j-color-vs2-clarity-very-good-cut-sku-163701?a_aid=dmnd1357

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.

I’ve attached an image of the setting I like. It’s by Carro 74.

Thanks!

platinum sidestone ring

I would go with the J color then.

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!
Click to Visit
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.
Click to Visit
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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