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Shopping for round diamond, solitaire. Thinking +/- 2 carats, but flexible. Looking to keep in neighborhood of $20,000. Looking for advice as to getting the biggest wow factor at that price. Thanks.
For a simple solitaire setting (no additional diamonds in the band), I’d recommend a J-color center stone. This way you can maximize size and still have a beautiful and colorless diamond.
Something like this would look amazing:
Blue Nile LD13322656
The diamonds are fantastically cut and will have a lot of brilliance and fire. They have no visible inclusions.
So I guess you’re saying if I’m going to spend 18k, say, then I’m better off putting the money into a larger stone rather than a 2 carat with better color or clarity?
The diamonds I recommended would be colorless and eye-clean. So there’s no need to spend money on a higher color grade (unless your partner is extremely color sensitive or you plan on having a diamond wedding band as well) or higher clarity grade (once the diamond is eye-clean, it’s simply eye-clean regardless of the actual grade. So even with a higher grade, it wouldn’t get any “cleaner” than that). So yes, you can save some money or get a larger diamond. It’s up to you (and I’m of course more than happy to recommend any grades you want, it’s important that you feel comfortable with the purchase).
Thanks that answers my question! And I assume that’s still true even if we are going with a white gold or platinum setting?
So I believe I am going to go ahead and order the 2.35ct one.
Great! Yes, J colored round diamond looks colorless in a solitaire setting of any kind – white gold, platinum, yellow gold or rose gold.
Enjoy your new diamond!
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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