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Hi team,
I’m looking to buy an engagement ring for my girlfriend and would like your advice.
This is the setting my girlfriend wants:
Heirloom Petite Milgrain Engagement Ring
I would like to fit it with an oval-shaped diamond ideally in the 0.8-1 carat region, with a budget (diamond only) of £3,000/$3,900.
I’d like to know whether it’d be worth reconsidering my shape choice in light of the fact that the Astor Ideal cut is not available for oval diamonds: is a ‘very good’ cut oval going to look considerably worse than an Astor ideal round diamond? If not, could you please provide a selection of oval diamonds fitting the above characteristics and with an optimal mix of colour, clarity and carat?
Many thanks
Keep in mind that the Astor mark is completely subjective. GIA doesn’t give cut grades to fancy shapes, only to rounds. We use our own parameters to maximize brilliance.
I like these diamonds for you:
Blue Nile LD11177298
They are well cut, eye-clean and have a minimal bow-tie.
I really like both of the diamonds, but the second one is too much out of budget. I think I might go with the first one you suggested.
Out of curiosity, would you be able to suggest also a next-best alternative, in terms of overall quality, if we were to lower the price with respect to the H-VS2 one?
I didn’t find anything worth mentioning closer to the 3k mark, so here’s something slightly below that:
Blue Nile LD10034359
Thanks for your advice. I’ve gone and bought the 0.82ct one.
Many thanks.
Sounds great! Let me know how you like it when you receive it.
A quick note to let you know that both my fiancée and I loved the diamond once we saw it in person.
Thanks again for your help!
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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