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I am looking to buy an engagement ring for my girlfriend. Like everyone else, I want the best bang for my buck.
I’m looking to spend around $3,500. However if in looking, you find a killer deal and it’s 4k, I can swing it. I want the best bang for my buck and if spending $500 gets me even more value, I’m willing to do it. I’ve been setting filters in terms of clarity, cut, etc. and frankly, it’s all Greek to me. I want the biggest diamond I can find that looks the best for 4k or less. I realize that sounds very cliché!
She is a size 4 and likes the below kind of setting. Something with some character but not too bold as her hand is quite small so it looks goofy if it’s too loud.
14K WHITE GOLD TWISTED PAVE SHANK CONTEMPORARY SOLITAIRE
I’ve been taking your advice from one of your articles and looking for eye clean SI1 or SI2 diamonds for the best deal and have been struggling greatly to find eye clean diamonds. I recently came upon this diamond and wanted your opinion.
Thank you.
I know that the whole diamond buying process can get confusing at times and I’m more than happy to help you find the best diamond for your money.
On to the diamond you sent me – it’s not bad, but the imperfections centered in the middle of the table are a concern. They are rather inconveniently located. I found two options that look slightly better to me:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.75-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3692773?a_aid=dmnd1357
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.78-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4402600?a_aid=dmnd1357
They have great specs and are much cleaner.
What do you think?
Both of the diamonds you sent across are not eye clean. Obviously, that is under very high magnification. Can any of the imperfections like on the two links you sent be seen to the naked eye?
The diamonds I sent you are eye-clean. This means that none of the imperfections will be visible to the naked eye.
How can you tell if a diamond is eye-clean? Obviously, there are blemishes on these that you can see on the website, how can you tell if you will see this in person or not?
Having some experience working with the diamonds in real life is useful, since it helps you learn how each type of the inclusion looks in person. Just by doing this job, I have looked at thousands of diamonds (and received plenty of feedback from readers), so it’s helped hone my eye.
Got it okay. What are your thoughts on these two? Am I spending unnecessary money compared to the two you sent me?
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.80-carat-i-color-vvs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4395045?a_aid=dmnd1357
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.80-carat-i-color-vvs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3706029?a_aid=dmnd1357
You’d be paying an extra for something that would look much worse. Both of them are cut way too deep and will lose a lot of their brilliance.
How can you tell if the cut is deep?
55-60% of all round diamonds receive an Excellent cut grade from GIA. So they can have the same grades but there is still a wide range within that quality.
To maximize brilliance, we like to keep the depth% close to 61.5 and never exceed 62.8. The depth% of 63 and 63.2 is too high and not only the diamonds will be less brilliant, they will also look smaller compared to well cut diamonds of the same carat weight: http://www.diamonds.pro/truth-about/diamond-carat-weight/
Thank you that is very helpful. Sorry for all the questions. Could you please compare these four for me and tell me which one is the best?
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.75-carat-i-color-vvs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3850107?a_aid=dmnd1357
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.75-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3436978?a_aid=dmnd1357
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.75-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3692773?a_aid=dmnd1357
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.75-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4393127?a_aid=dmnd1357
3850107 – we recommend avoiding IGI lab if possible: https://www.diamonds.pro/education/igi/. Their lab is less consistent and they inflate the color/clarity grades by at least one (on average).
3436978 – this diamond’s table seems a bit too big (it might make it look flat which causes worse light refraction). It’s better too keep it between 55-59%. The larger the table is, the worse the light refraction is and the diamond loses its brilliance.
3692773 – this one is very nice, I like it.
4393127 – the cut is a bit off and strong fluorescence might make it look hazy.
Awesome! That is the one I went with. Thank you!
My pleasure.
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
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