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Q&A: “Clueless about buying an engagement ring and don’t want to break the bank”

By Mike Fried,

Clarity: SI2


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: 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: 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 1 Carat Princess Cut Diamond for ~$7K Budget

Well, I thought I knew what I was looking for in a princess cut diamond, and then I found your site and discovered that I was probably going to spend more than I had to on a diamond that would be of a quality not noticed by an untrained eye. I am looking for a …


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: Building a 3 Stone Ring on James Allen for $10K Budget

Thanks for your wonderful website. Learnt a lot from it. I’m looking for a three stone diamond ring with platinum setting with a budget of $10K. JamesAllen seems to have the option of only 0.5 carat as sidestones and it is costing ~$5K. That allows me to spend $5K on the center diamond. Any recommendations? …


Q&A: “Best Budget Diamond” for $6K Budget

Hello, Ira. Thanks for your site, it’s very good. I’m a huge web surfer and I think you’ve got great info. I have settled on the setting: https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/channelset-rings/ring/item_57-171_design.asp?module=setting I am looking for the best budget diamond. In the past I’ve always (I was married before) been told to buy a D or an E, VVS2, …


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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