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Q&A: Best Round Brilliant Diamond for $20K Budget

By Mike Fried,

Clarity: SI1

Q&A: Best Round Brilliant Diamond for $20K Budget

Ira, first… I really enjoyed reading your web site and all the straight, sensible advice and experience you share. It is a fantastic resource! I also went to Penn/Wharton and of course have a soft spot for fellow graduates, esp. OPIM guys (they called it DSCI in my days… I did DSCI/FNCE). Anyways, I think …


Q&A: Marquise Diamond for $3500 Budget

Q&A: Marquise Diamond for $3500 Budget

Ive been researching and shopping for diamonds for a few weeks, and have found your site very helpful and informative. Im looking for a marquise cut diamond for my fiance-to-be. Id like to stick to a budget for the stone and setting combined around $4500-5000. Im looking for a stone 1 carat or better if at all possible …


Q&A: Seeking Ideal Princess Cut Diamond for $6K Budget

Big fan of you and your site. I’ve been looking on and off for a diamond for a while now. I thought I wanted to buy her something around the 1.25 range but when I looked at one in person it was just too big for her finger. Now I think I want to find …


Q&A: Round Diamond for 10th Anniversary Gift on $7500 Budget

I really appreciate your very informative website. I am looking for an engagement ring upgrade for a 10th anniversary gift for later this month. The budget for the diamond alone is around $7500. I am looking for a round cut, eye-clean diamond, hopefully ideal cut or very close to ideal proportions. I want at least …


Q&A: Best Round Diamond for $4K Budget

Your website is incredible. This is full of amazing information and myth buster for many like me. I would love if you can help me figure out what would be best for my budget. I am looking for a ring in 4000-5000 (Max) budget for my wife. 1. The goal is to get the best …


Q&A: Thoughts on a 1.25-1.5 Princess Cut Diamond

I’m in the process of buying my first ever diamond to propose to my wonderful girlfriend. She wants a princess cut 1.25 -1.5 on a white gold/platinum pave setting. I reviewed your site and loved the advice. Based on your recommendations on color and clarity I saw the attached on James Allen. The inclusions look …


Q&A: Looking for Round 1 Carat Diamond; What is a Realistic Budget?

I’m so glad I found your site. I was hoping you could give me some advice on buying a loose stone. I’m looking for a Round 1.0 to 1.2 carat stone, H-I color, preferrably no worse than SI2 clarity (and ”eye clean”). I was looking to spend between $3500 and $4000. Is that realistic? Any help …


Q&A: Ideal Princess Cut Diamond for $17-20K Budget

Hi, I found a nice diamond on James Allen, but wanted to show it to you first. https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1383491.asp I’ve found your website to be very helpful. My budget is 17-20k. 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 …


About the author

Mike Fried Mike Fried Mike Fried has over 25 years experience in the diamond industry working with Leo Schachter Diamonds, Moshe Namdar Diamonds, and joining The Diamond Pro in 2007. He is recognized as an industry expert and has been quoted in publications such as Us, People, Page Six, The Next Web and more.

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