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Q&A: Choosing a Round Diamond For a White Gold Pave Setting on a $7,000 Total Budget

By Mike Fried,

Looking for a diamond for an engagement ring. Have used some of your criteria to pick out a few but would be interested in some advice.

Can you tell me what style of setting (solitaire, halo, pave or other), metal (platinum/white or yellow gold) and shape of diamond you’re looking for? Also, what’s your approximate budget? Then I’ll be happy to send you my suggestion.

We’ve been looking at the James Allen site and have picked the “Trudy” setting by Jeff Cooper in white gold.

Would like to keep the total budget around $7k or less.

Based on the suggestions from your site, have been looking at diamonds in the I and J color, VS1 to SI1 clarity and ideal/excellent cut.

A lot of the SI1 clarity diamonds have some pretty noticeable inclusions that have pushed me up the scale a little. A couple I’ve found that look pretty good are below. Let me know if your thoughts or if you can find more bang for the buck. All are on James Allen site:

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.97-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2846873?a_aid=dmnd1357

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.99-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3425981?a_aid=dmnd1357

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.90-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3424680?a_aid=dmnd1357

Thanks!

Thank you for the information.

Since you plan to use a pave style of setting, I wouldn’t go lower than for an I+ color grade. The inclusions on the table of the 0.99 carat are slightly stretching. That’s why I like this one the most:

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.97-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2846873?a_aid=dmnd1357

I checked and didn’t find a better option at the moment. So if you like it, go for it.

Let me know what you decide.

Thank you, that is the one that I like best as well out of everything I have looked at.

Fantastic!

Hate to be backtracking here but we were looking at diamonds one last time this weekend and were thinking we might try to trim up the budget a little.

We were looking at maybe trying to trim ~$1000 off if we could. In doing this we were looking at diamonds in the $4000 range.

I found one that looked pretty good on James Allen site. It is SKU: 3452763. This being a .90, same color and better clarity than the other diamond (2846873) we had decided on, seemed to be as good or better deal at almost $1000 less.

If there are other more desirable stones in the $4000 range please feel free to forward those my way and/or give me your opinion.

Thanks.

OK, the stone you found is beautiful with great overall specs. I found another great option, it’s slightly less expensive and almost the same measurements:

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.90-carat-i-color-vvs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2629608?a_aid=dmnd1357

Whichever you like more, go for it.

Thank you for the advice on the 2629608 stone. I ended up ordering the ring last night with that stone as there wasn’t enough difference in it and the one I had sent you for the price diff.

For the record and to your websites point. I did some local shopping and a diamond of the exact same size, same color, and slightly lower cut (VS1) was quoted to me for $6200 and that was discounted from $7600 asking price. Quite a difference from $3930.

Have a great day!

That’s fantastic news!

I’m pleased to hear that you found our services helpful. Right, the price difference is huge.

It was my pleasure helping you. And I’m curious to hear how you like the stone once it arrives.

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.
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  • Provide insurance appraisals
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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)
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