Hi,
I’m after a 1 carat diamond to be set in a ring at a later date. At this stage I am round cut and I’d like to spend no more than $5,000 Australian dollars.
Obviously I’d like to achieve the best colour, clarity, cut etc as possible within that budget.
Are you able to assist?
I’d be happy to make some recommendations and guide you through the process. What type of setting are you considering? Yellow gold or white gold/platinum? Will it be a solitaire or does it have sidestones/pave? This may affect the colors that I recommend for the center diamond (as we explain in our post on color).
Let me know and I’d be happy to send you some suggestions.
Thanks for coming back to me.
In terms of the ring and setting etc it will be yellow gold and it will be a solitaire. I want to go for a simple, classic look. My girlfriend wants 6 claws which I’m lead to believe means round diamond only.
Your help is much appreciated.
5k would be a bit of a stretch. I have yet to find a decent Australian website or retailer. I lived there for two years and would occasionally stop into jewelers out curiosity. I was appalled at the prices.
The price is $5,697a including all taxes/duty (according to James Allen’s shipping calculator, located on the bottom right of their page).
What do you think?
I’ll check it out in the morning; I have been searching for a long time but after a while they all look the same!
I don’t want to be scratching for a sub par diamond for the sake of it.
What about other shapes? I quite like the look of Asccher cut diamonds. Do you think if we went that way we could get a nice diamond for $5k to be set in yellow gold as a solitaire?
That diamond I recommended is fantastic, it just stretches your budget a bit.
As for an Asscher cut, you can get a nice 1ct. The problem is, it will look much smaller. https://www.diamonds.pro/education/carat-weight/
While it will be 1ct, the dimensions will be significantly smaller than a round diamond. If you like a round, you are better off with a 0.90ct round than a 1ct Asscher. I’m not saying you should stick with round. But you should focus on the shape you want. Don’t switch just because you want to get over a carat.
G’day,
OK good to know.
I had a look at that diamond and is does look nice. Will the J colour look yellow once it’s set in the ring at all?
I really appreciate your help in this mate.
It is not a problem. Certainly not in a yellow gold setting.
Ok cool.
Sorry to be a pain, but do you have any suggestions for a slightly smaller round diamond that would be under the $5k mark?
We have a baby on the way so my budget is tight!
I’d recommend this diamond for you:
Its a great value buy. What do you think?
I really like that .90CT diamond.
The only question I have, and its a tad vague, given my budget do you think the round stone set as a solitaire is the best way to go? In other words, what would you do with $5k?
I obviously want it to look nice.
Choosing a shape is mainly a question of fashion and style. Technically speaking the round diamond is the best value and the most brilliant. So if you don’t have a particular preference in shape, round is the way to go.
Settings are also a question of style. Personally I like the the simple classic look of a solitaire. Again, if you aren’t sure right now, invest in the diamond and you can always upgrade the setting later.
Ok great. I have an appointment with a jeweler in Sydney tomorrow to look at a .90carat round with excellent cut, H color and I think SI1 (the Director is meeting me and has said the diamond is 100% eye clean).
The diamond is $4,650 plus taxes.
I’ll compare that diamond with the one you have sent through so I can get an idea of exactly what it is.
You’re help has been immeasurable.
I’ll let you know how I go tomorrow.
Is that diamond GIA certified? If so, its not a bad deal. But don’t fall for sketchy certificates.
Yes, GIA certified.
I can send you a copy of the certificate if you’d like to see?
Let me know
…
Sorry just further to the .90carat. It is GIA certified but I won’t get the cert until tomorrow.
I’ve been advised it is H, SI1 (100% eye clean), excellent cut, polish and symmetry, nil flourescence and is actually $4,590 plus tax.
They also have a 1.01 carat H, SI1, excellent cut, polish and symmetry, faint flourescence, GIA certified and is $6,860 plus tax.
Get me the GIA report numbers.
Here are the report numbers:
.90 carat – 1147636631
1.01 carat – 2136920169
However, I have actually gone ahead with the purchase of the first diamond you recommended. I placed the order this morning. I had a chat with the guys at James Allen and they reiterated everything you have said.
The only worry I had was that it would look yellow or have a cloudiness to it. I have looked at some comparisons and am confident the diamond won’t look yellow in the setting I have outlined and in everyday environments.
Is there anything else I should look out for now that I have taken this step?
Thanks.
Sounds great,
Please let me know how it looks when it arrives.
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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