Q&A: Choosing a .75 Ct. Round Diamond for a Pave Setting with $3500 Budget

First off, this website is great – so glad I found it. And I’m thrilled that you provide advice! I’ve asked around a bit, and went to a store earlier today (I’m in Chicago). I found a ring that I really liked, but I wasn’t crazy about the stone, and I thought it was convenient that the ring + diamond matched my budget exactly…

I’m working with a $3000 – $3500 budget. The biggest issue I’m having is the band. She’s been sending me pictures, and she’s all over the map with what she likes. The most consistent buzz words have been “flashy” and “chunky”, but I also know she really likes infinity bands. She likes platinum better than white gold, and chunky over infinity bands, but would want a platinum infinity band over a chunky white gold one. It seems like pave has been the closest thing to what she’s looking for.

The ring I saw in the store today was 18k white gold, pave (two rows of tiny diamonds), four pronged, and 7.6mm thick. I’ve been looking online for a couple of hours and I haven’t seen anything remotely like it. I found a platinum infinity band I really liked on Blue Nile (Blue Nile Infinity Twist Micropavé Diamond Engagement Ring), but I’m uncomfortable buying a stone that I can’t see – and your article articulated that concern perfectly for me. And I couldn’t find any infinity bands on James Allen.

I know we definitely want a round cut stone. Carat is most important to her, but with my budget I figured to shoot for the .75 range. I definitely don’t want any visible inclusions. I was leaning towards getting something with a better cut and a less impressive color, but the more I look the more confused I get.

Hopefully I’ve given you enough information to get started, but feel free to get in touch if you have any other questions for me. Again, I really love the web site, and I very much appreciate the advice! 

This is awesome – thank you so much! The inclusions are right there on the edge, so hopefully the setting can minimize or hide those.

And thanks for the article. It solidified what I’ve been thinking about this process the whole time: it’s more about doing what society tells you to do. I’d much rather pour that money into paying down our mortgage or saving for our future children than having a gaudy fashion accessory. Fortunately, she agrees with me, so I’m going to go with the 14K gold band.

Again, thank you so much for your help! I pulled the trigger on this combo, so I should be getting it early next week, and hoping popping the question in the next few weeks! 

Got the ring the other day and it looks great! The sparkle is something else – glad you recommended I go with the better cut. And I can’t see the inclusions at all. I’m going to give it to her next weekend, and I think she will love it. Thanks so much for your help – I really appreciate it!