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Q&A: Choosing a 2.70 Ct. Cushion Cut Diamond With Around $30k Budget

By Mike Fried,

Hi there! I’m considering buying a stone from Blue Nile and would love a coupon code if you have it.

I’m happy to send you this unique coupon code that gives you $100 off of your order: [contact us for your own unique coupon code]

Let me know if you need any help with the search.

Awesome, thanks!

Budget is $30K. For center I’m thinking of getting about a 2.7 carat or larger‎ diamond, cushion cut, F color, VS1 clarity, very good symmetry.

I’ve found a couple online but am by no means an expert!

‎If you know of any deals that would be great 🙂

Thank you for the information. I suggest going slightly down with the color grade. An H color stone is going to look colorless and this way I can find a quality 2.70 carat stone for less than 30K. Have a look at this diamond:
Blue Nile LD07249442

It’s very well cut and perfect for any style of setting.

Here’s one more bigger stone:
Blue Nile LD07770326

Let me know what you think.

That all makes sense except the value add for me will be to find a diamond with the specifications I mentioned below.

I’ve already done exhaustive searches on Blue Nile and James Allen. The value add for me would be to find the “diamond in the rough”.

There aren’t really any silver bullets that will help you find a better diamond for cheaper. At the end of the day, diamonds are commodities to an extent and any smart vendor will price their diamonds properly.

The only other trick up our sleeve is to look for an eye-clean diamond with a lower clarity grade. There is no point in focusing on a VS1+ diamond. Once a diamond is eye-clean, its eye-clean. True its far less likely to find an eye-clean diamond of lower clarity, but who cares so long as the one you end up with is. Check out our video on the clarity page: https://www.diamonds.pro/education/clarity/.

Sticking with your characteristics ensures that you will not find the proverbial “diamond in the rough.”

Here is a perfect example:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/2.72-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-sku-2389213?a_aid=dmnd1357

This diamond is well cut and the same color as the other diamonds I recommended and it is eye-clean as well. So without changing any characteristic that is visible to the eye, you save almost $2,000.

What do you think?

Understood. Think I’m OK then, appreciate you having looked into.

My pleasure helping you.

Let me know what you decide.

James Allen James Allen is the leader in online diamond sales. Their imaging technology is the same as inspecting a diamond with a jeweler's loupe. They have the largest exclusive loose diamond inventory online and fantastic prices. They also have the nicest collection of lab-created diamonds online.
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
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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 catching up to James Allens' and their prices are amazing. Save 25% on settings at Blue Nile!

Please enter your email address to receive your 25% off coupon code:

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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