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Q&A: Choosing a Square Cushion Cut Diamond for a Halo Setting With Up to $5,000 Budget

By Mike Fried, Updated May 28, 2019

I need help looking for a cushion cut diamond on James Allen that is below $5000.

I want to maximize the carat size but having trouble determining eye clean diamonds.

What style setting (solitaire, pave/side stone, halo) and metal (yellow/white gold, platinum) are you looking to put it in? And do you like more squarish or rectangular cushions?

I went ahead and purchased the following square cushion diamond with a white gold halo from James Allen. My goal was to find a diamond with good brilliance.

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.05-carat-h-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-6686600?a_aid=dmnd1357

I would still like your opinion on it.

That’s a gorgeous diamond! It’s a bit deeper than I would like (I like keeping the depth below 68% to get the most of the brilliance) but it should be fine anyways. You’ll see when you receive it. But I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Thanks!

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. They currently run a 10% discount on selected lab-grown diamonds!
Click to Visit
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. Right now, Blue Nile offers up to 50% savings on selected jewelry during a limited-time season sale.
Click to Visit
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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