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Q&A: Choosing a Cushion Cut Diamond for a Halo Ring With $4,000 Budget

By Mike Fried,

Hello!

I’m shopping for an engagement ring, and I know she wants a cushion cut halo style ring. The way she describes it, is that she wants the ring to be a perfect circle, with the halo ‘sitting’ on top of the ring. She doesn’t like that at the top of the rings, where the diamond would be set, that the metal will arc up into an apex which the diamond/halo rests on.
My question is: Do these exist? Because I can’t seem to find any online.

If you have any recommendations, I’d be delighted!

Thanks so much for you incredible website and information, this has made the process a lot less intimidating than I imagined!

The setting your girlfriend wants is a unique one. Frankly, I have yet to encounter anything like that. You’d probably need to have it custom made.

Get in touch with the customer service of the following companies and ask them whether what she wants is doable:
James Allen
Blue Nile
Brian Gavin Diamonds
We have great experiences with them and receive fantastic feedback on them from our readers.

Then I’m happy to make some specific diamond recommendations for you.

Unfortunately, I color is too low for cushion cut halo ring. Cushion cuts tend to show their color more and that’s why I wouldn’t go lower than an H if you want to have the colorless impression.

I’m happy to recommend some better options, is ~$4k your ballpark budget for the center stone?

Good call! I watched that in a video right before I read this email, about the color. Thanks!

Yes I’d love some options! I can go no higher than $4.5k, but I’d like to stay closer to $4k. Thanks so much!

They’re absolutely gorgeous! I love all of these.

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.01-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-sku-6815987?a_aid=dmnd1357
this is one is my favorite.

I decided to go with the one I linked before. Thank you so much for you help!!

I’m glad you liked my recommendation so much, it was an excellent option.

I just got the diamond in hand today! I absolutely love it!

Thank you kindly!

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!

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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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