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Q&A: Choosing a 1 Ct. Round Diamond for a White Gold Solitaire Setting with for Around $5k Budget

By Mike Fried,

Great website, hope I read it carefully enough!

Just found this stone and wonder if you think it´s a good deal:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.00-carat-j-color-vvs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-246400?a_aid=dmnd1357

My budget is around 5000 $, it will be a classic 6-prong solitaire setting in white gold.

Other options:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.06-carat-j-color-vvs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-135175?a_aid=dmnd1357
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.01-carat-j-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-148118?a_aid=dmnd1357

My alternative is to stick to 0.7-0.8 carat and get a true hearts diamond like this one:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.73-carat-h-color-vvs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-107842?a_aid=dmnd1357

Thanks for your thoughts! 

 

I love the diamonds you selected but you can easily save money:

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.01-carat-j-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-276232?a_aid=dmnd1357

What do you think of this one? 

 

Looks like a great choice, this could be the one!
I actually can´t find any inclusions… compared with other diamonds, where those are easy to locate.
Could you point out what makes this a VS2?

One more question : Which alternative in the 0.7-0.8 carat range would you pick for me, in the 2500-3500 $ range?

THANKS. 

 

You won’t see anything on it. The inclusions are two small concentrated clouds under the crown. If they were in the middle of the diamond you’d see a grey area. But you won’t see it on that diamond.
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.80-carat-j-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-275711?a_aid=dmnd1357

 

Very cool, I´ll give that a thought.

Just to be safe: I assume that the inclusions I see on the 0.8 carat diamond will most probably be covered by the prongs, is that correct?

All in all, the 1 carat stone seems to be cleaner. Do you maybe have a second option in the 3000 $ area?

I think we´re getting very close, thanks SO much for your help! 

 The diamond would likely be eye-clean even if it weren’t covered by a prong. Keep in mind that the images are magnified 25X. There is nothing in the $3,000 range that will look any better than the 0.80ct I recommended. You’d just be spending extra money for a nicer paper. 

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