We are reader-supported. Buying through any red colored link on our site may earn us commissions. Learn More.
Hi guys – first off thanks for the website, I’ve learnt a lot since visiting.
I’m in Australia and after 3 diamonds for an engagement ring and was hoping perhaps you can help find me the right stones. My plan is to buy the stones online from Blue Nile (read they’re good for sending overseas).
My design would be a brilliant middle stone (~0.5 carat) flanked by a matching pair of teardrops/pears on the sides (~0.25 carat each). I’m thinking all (thin) bezelled in a 14/18K white gold setting.
My budget is ~3K (US$) for the 3 stones. If you could help me find the right stones I (and my hopefully future wife) would be eternally grateful.
You are right, Blue Nile has the best track record with our Australian readers.
I love this round diamond for you:
Blue Nile LD11750418
As well as these two pears:
Blue Nile LD11473308
Blue Nile LD11473309
These are the best priced eye-clean options I found. They will make a beautiful ring.
What do you think?
I like the pears you recommend – they’re gorgeous. Nicely shaped (though I tend to prefer the slightly more elongated ones, shape is definitely most important) and no bowtie that I can make out. But don’t you think they’re a bit of an overkill as they’re IF and maybe therefore unnecessarily expensive?
What do you think of this guy:
Blue Nile LD11715524 – looks eye clean to me and decent cut? It’s $150 cheaper so worth it. Would faint fluoro be an issue if the matching diamond on the other side doesn’t have it?
Then the brilliant you recommend – that looks nice too with the 2 quite obvious inclusion sites (that I can make out) near the edge – those would be either covered by the bezel or invisible through the table am I correct?
I’m a little concerned though that it may be cut a little deep? From your Q&A pages it seems the best table and depth% are ~56-57% and 60-61%, respectively, with anything over 62% considered ‘too deep’, impacting sparkle?
Also, would that medium fluorescence be an issue?
How about these:
Blue Nile LD10921055
Blue Nile LD11646211
Do you think I should focus on a good centre piece and be less demanding on the pears?
I know I said my budget is $3K but of course I wouldn’t mind if I can get away with $2.5K.
I know that the IF grade seems a bit too much, but it’s not that uncommon to find diamonds with high clarity grades in the ~0.25ct range (and them being cheaper than other options with lower grades). Also, the way I approached it was that I wanted to make sure that the two of them would match in all the important aspects like L:W ratio, real measurements, depth and table %, fluorescence, bow tie… The IF clarity grades are accidental, I searched in the SI+ range and simply picked the best priced eye-clean options (having all the aforementioned aspects in mind).
The pear shape you sent me is very nice, but it has faint fluorescence which might be an issue. I went through tens of different pear shaped diamonds while looking for the best matching pair for you and of course, found some nice one with faint fluorescence, but eventually, the pair I sent you came out as the best one (price-wise). Pairing fancy shapes is not so easy as pairing two round diamonds.
Regarding the center stone I sent you, it’s perfectly eye-clean and the depth% of 62.4 is not at all an issue. “Too deep” are diamonds with depth% over 62.6 and higher. Medium fluorescence is fine on H and lower colors, it can even help them look a bit whiter.
The three diamonds you sent me are all excellent options! You can’t go wrong with any of them.
Great, thanks.
I think I’ll go with the pears you recommended and Blue Nile LD10921055 as the centre piece.
Fact is I’m a little intimidated by this purchase as I don’t often spend these amounts – I can spend days fiddling over my decision as I want it to be as close to perfect as I have influence over.
Therefore, as the expert who has seen and compared thousands of stones – could you please have a second look at that diamond and give me your professional verdict?
I understand, there is a lot of money in the game.
Blue Nile LD10921055 – this diamond has fantastic cut parameters. The depth % of 61.7 is very close to what we consider ideal and the 56% table will cause perfect light refraction. There are no red flags in the certificate and the diamond is a completely eye-clean VS1. It truly is a beauty.
Well, I bit the bullet and ordered 3x diamonds today!
Would you like me to let you know my thoughts when arrived? Or even share a pic after the stones have been set?
That’s great news!
I would love to know how you like them when they arrive, please do send me your feedback (and photos). I want to be sure that we’ve found what you were looking for.
Will do!
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
Still afraid of getting ripped off?
Before you buy a diamond, get personal buying advice from industry veterans. We'll help you get the best diamond for the money.
Ask your diamond purchase question here
DISCLAIMER: We don't use your email for marketing. Period.
