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Hello
I am trying to find an engagement ring to buy – my fiance has left the choice to me! I would like to stay around £2000 (or lower of course!) and have seen that the best prices are for SI diamonds, but I am worried I wouldn’t be able to choose one online that has non-visible inclusions.
If you have time to help it would be much appreciated!
I’d be happy to make some recommendations for you, but I need a little more info.
What shape diamond are you looking for?
What style setting (solitaire, pave/side stones/halo) and metal (yellow/white gold, platinum) do you want to use? This may affect the colors that I recommend for the center diamond (as we explain in our post on color).
I think I am going for a round diamond as I have heard they sparkle more due to the shape.
I am going for white gold setting – and I am swinging towards a solitaire setting too.
Ideally, I would like the biggest diamond I can that doesn’t have any obvious flaws. I should correct my budget to £1500 for the diamond, and then the rest will be spent on the setting.
Great, thank you for the info.
You’re right about round diamonds, they are the most brilliant of all diamond shapes.
For a simple solitaire setting, I’d recommend an eye-clean J-color center stone. This one looks great to me:
Blue Nile LD08013881
It’s beautifully cut and will be very brilliant.
What do you think?
We may put some extra money towards the ring, could you possibly recommend the best value 0.7ct diamond, please? Still the same – white gold, bezel solitaire.
Sure thing:
Blue Nile LD11408973
Thanks! I see that diamond is SI1 – in your opinion will it be eye-clear when at normal magnification? My partner was concerned about the colour of both diamonds – why do you recommend J for white gold? Presumably, you can only see the colour when it is next to another diamond and not when just by itself? Sorry for all the questions! We are diamond beginners!
That’s exactly why J color is ok, there are no additional diamonds to make a color difference. Based on our experiences, expertise and most importantly, on the feedback we receive from our readers, J looks perfectly colorless when set as a solitaire.
The most recent diamond is eye-clean, there is just one tiny inclusion on the table and one on the edge, neither of them will be visible to the naked eye.
Thank you for your advice. Sadly the diamond you recommended has been sold! It went quick! Could you possibly recommend another with the same specs and I will snap it up quickly!
…
I found this diamond that I thought looked very nice and have temporarily reserved it (so I didn’t lose this one too!) – would you be able to take a look and let me know whether it is a good one to go ahead with, please?
Unfortunately, the one you sent me is not a good choice, it’s cut too deep.
Here’s a better one:
Blue Nile LD11386455
It’s gorgeous and will have a lot of added brilliance.
Thanks very much – I have placed an order for this new diamond!
That’s fantastic news! You got yourself a beautiful diamond.
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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