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

Thank you for creating such an incredibly informative website! I am looking for an engagement diamond with the following details:

Overall: for now would be looking for the cheapest price for given parameters

Shape: Round

Color Range: F or better

Clarity: SI1 or better (nothing visible to naked eye)

Budget: up to $15k (preference would be in 12.5k range)

Carat: ideally 1.35 or better

Any advice would be a big help.

Thanks for your response–I love the Virtual Loupe tool on the James Allen website! As the decision nears, I did additional “research” through friends of my significant other and would like to amend my search:

*Now willing to spend up to $20k though ideal would be ~$18k

*Color range: anything G or better (previously had said F)

*Carat: made the first two changes to upgrade here, would now like something around 1.65+

I found ~7 diamonds on James Allen that fit this criteria, but would appreciate any advice on what you think is best! I notice that some appear brighter in the Virtual Loupe, but am unsure if this is just due to different lighting (e.g., #2 below has a better color rating than #1 but looks darker).

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS1-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1348199.asp

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-SI1-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1325147.asp

For convenience I’ve pasted my original form submissions that haven’t changed below:

Overall: for now would be looking for the cheapest price for given parameters

Shape: Round

Clarity: SI1 or better (nothing visible to naked eye)

Thanks again Ira–your advice has been a great help and I look forward to buying the diamond soon!

Thank you again for your help and I’m excited to report that I just ordered the 4th recommendation on your list below! As you well know, the engagement ring purchase can be an incredibly intimidating process, and I can’t emphasize enough how much your website and advice

helped me get through it.