Q&A: Need help because “I feel like a babe in the woods” when it comes to buying diamonds!

I was initially was planning on doing all the research and decision making myself – after all, how hard could choosing a wedding ring be, right? Several weeks of research and investigation and much frustration and uncertainty later, I think I have started to come to grips with what I am looking for; however I still feel like a babe in the woods. Your website has been extremely helpful with my solo investigations, and I would greatly appreciate your input and advice.

I am looking for a hearts-and-arrows diamond of around 1 carat and coloured in the G-I range with no visible inclusions. Budget wise, I am trying to keep everything (ie. diamond and setting) under $10,000, as being in Australia I also have to contend with import duties.

I have found the following on James Allen, and would appreciate your input.:

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1493116.asp

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1500332.asp

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1493103.asp

Many thanks

Many thanks for the quick response, and for the time spend searching.

The main reason I was looking at James Allen was there more robust and longer returns policy. As I live in Australia, I am looking at ordering a few weeks in advance in order to ensure not only that the ring is here in time, but to also give me a chance to get anything changed / fixed if there is anything wrong or anything that I am not happy with. This would mean that the return window for Brian Gavin would have expired by the time my partner has actually received the ring, and thus could be difficult if, for example, the setting wasn’t right for her. I have also read numerous good things about the security of how JA ship their rings and their after-sales support.

Also (and I know some people don’t agree) but there are several pave / channel settings on JA that I quite like. I realise that you can purchase the diamond from one company and the setting from another, but I would prefer to buy the ring as a whole. I also found that the images of the settings from BG were quite sparse and found it difficult to get a good impression of how the settings would appear.

Many thanks yet again for your time and advice. I must admit, that the choice between a higher-grade cut + smaller size vs a cut that is slightly lower and yet a larger carat has been one that has been frustrating me for a while. All of those stone look great – the virtual loupe certainly helps to reassure re. visible inclusions / defects, as knowing myself, that is all I would be able to see should the stone I eventually get have an obvious one.

I will let you know what I eventually choose.

Thanks yet again for your time and advice.

Sorry for the confusion, but I was referring to buying from JA – just choosing between the hearts and arrows with a smaller size and the ideal / excellent cut and a larger size. The one thing that concerns me is that one or two of those stones almost look like they would have defects visible to the naked eye. It’s probably just me being paranoid though, as everything is magnified to such a great degree with the virtual loupe.

One final question – do you have any experience with the various setting options that JA have. The two I was looking at are linked below. There is obviously a difference in how much of the diamond is visible, but I was wondering if there was a difference in security or other factors that would influence the choice other than just the appearance.

https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/ring/item_412-1960.asp

https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/channelset-rings/platinum-thin-channel-set-briliant-diamond-engagement-ring-11103p.html

Again, thanks for your time. It is greatly appreciated.