Hi Ira, I have been following your site for a few months now. Your advice has been so helpful. I had some more specific questions as I get closer to actually making a purchase. I think I have found the band I like the most on James Allen’s site.https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/ring/item_58-285_design.asp?module=setting So that leaves me with $3200 to play with for a diamond. My budget is not set in stone so there is definitely wiggle room. I have been most attracted to round cut stones as they look the most traditional, but am open to other cuts. Basically what I am looking for is a stone that will look best in the band, size and cut. I know my questions seem kind of vague, but these are stressful times and I want to be sure to get the right ring. Thank you so much for your assistance.
I personally think rounds are the best as well. They sparkle the most, return the most light, and have the most beautifully symmetrical look to them.
To match with that ring, you’d be fine getting a J or higher color stone. A J color stone will still look totally white to your eye when set in that ring. I’d recommend getting nothing better than an SI2. Any stone I recommend to you will be clean to the naked eye, so there’s no need to pay more for a cleaner stone if it’s not going to be any cleaner to the naked eye.
Here’s what I found:
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1266283.asp – THe stone has an “Excellent” cut grade from GIA. The SI2 looks very clean. It’s more than your budget, but did you know about the TAD0611 coupon to get 10% off the engagement ring? That’s another $180 right there if you’re going with that ring.
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1260292.asp – nice like the last one
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1194113.asp – A little closer to your budget.
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1197428.asp – This stone has Strong Blue Fluorescence. So I wouldn’t recommend you buy it until you as someone from JA to pull the stone and inspect it for you.
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1271344.asp
If you’d ask me my opinion, I’d say to go with the first choice if you can fit it into your budget. It’s noticeably the largest. Quality-wise, it will look identical to the other stones with your naked eye. It will fit that ring wonderfully.
Thanks so much for getting back to me so quickly. I really like that first stone you found. I was just wondering if any of those inculsions on the face of the stone will be visable to the naked eye, you know even when her girlfriends look at it very close (as they are bound to do).
I’m so glad you wrote me back. I went back to check the first stone I recommended to double check the picture, and it wasn’t the stone I remembered recommending. I must have had my cursor over the wrong stone when I copied the URL. I’m sorry about that. THIS is the stone I meant to recommend to you:
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1246330.asp
You can see a blown up pic here:
https://www.jamesallen.com/diampics/AB1017PIC.JPG
And yes, with this stone, even her girlfriends won’t be able to spot anything. Let me know what you think!
I noticed that stone was rated by James Allen as only being a Premium cut. I know that you typaclly recommend only Ideal and H&A cuts. Will the Premium cut make a noticable difference.
……….
So I did some digging for information today and my girlfriend said that she thinks she would prefer a princess cut stone. Would it be possible to get some recommendations for that cut. Still trying to say in the $3200 price range for the stone, but flexible for a better stone to fit the ring.
What’s important to me is what GIA says about a stone, not what JA says. The stone I like is graded Excellent in cut by GIA, some other stones, while graded Ideal by JA, are only graded “very good” by GIA. GIA’s system is much more elegant and true to life than JA’s.
I just got your other email about princess cuts. I’ll happily take a look, but a little later. Stay tuned.
Sorry to be an inconviance. I really like that round cut stone you selected, but it is for her after all.
I’m sorry for the delay. I was out all day yesterday. I actually had someone fly into Israel from the UK who I met on the website. I took him to the diamond exchange in Israel. It was a nice experience.
Anyway, I took a look for you, and one stone totally jumped out at me:
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS1-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1256376.asp
The cut on this stone is rediculously nice. The depth is at the bottom of the range of what’s still considered nice, which is very rare and basically means you’re getting a stone that looks much bigger than it is and yet still sparkles like crazy.
Let me know what you think!
I love the stone. I am ordering it now, I will let you know how it turns out when it arrives.
Thank you so very much for your help!
Great to hear! Sorry again for the delay!
I wish you and your fiance-to-be a long life together filled with health, happiness, and love.
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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