I have learned a lot about diamonds from the site! Thank you.
I am looking for an engagement ring, but really want to focus on the diamond itself.
I have learned recently that there exists a trend to buy a higher quality diamond, and then a simpler ring and band, and then choose a design that she likes together after the fact. Is this something that would be worth it? If so…
I am looking for visually clean diamond as well as the best cut possible. Depending on the strategy I choose and what is available, my budget would be around $3-5k, with my upper limit buying a ring with stone.
Any guidance on my next steps would be much appreciated!
If you are not sure what style she would like, you can, of course, put it into a very simple and cheap ring first with an H+ diamond that would look good in any style.
What diamond shape are you interested in?
Thank you.
I am looking for a circular diamond and a simple prong or Tiffany style setting, but not too high (heeding caution from your guide)! I think that is the most classic timeless style, correct?
Yes. It’s the classic look. You are right.
I found this ring for you to look at:
Blue Nile LD08150323
Blue Nile Petite Nouveau Six-Prong Solitaire Engagement Ring
The diamond is very well cut and will look very bright and brilliant. According to the clarity plot in the certificate, it has no significant inclusions. Let me know what you think.
Also, Blue Nile likes the education we provide on our website and gave us one-use coupon codes for $100 off. You can as well use it for your purchase. Here is one for you: [contact us for your own unique coupon code]
Thanks, that does seem like a very nice stone.
Is the pictured stone the physical one I would be purchasing? I would like to buy from a site where I can see the actual inclusions before purchase for my records. I have heard horror stories from not being able to ID the stone during cleanings, etc.
Also, my girlfriends hands are exactly very big so I am not as concerned with how big the stone is – how much less weight would a higher quality color be?
Again, thanks!
Contact BN and ask them to send you the actual diamond photo. The one you see on their website is only a sample.
I wouldn’t aim for a higher color. The difference won’t be that significant and you’ll end up paying the same for a smaller diamond.
https://www.diamonds.pro/education/color/
Thanks for the tip. I see on the site you recommend nothing higher than H for a white gold / platinum setting.
I have requested a photo from blue Nile. It seems like a very good price point.
What about the below diamonds? I am trying to identify the differences. They all seem well cut with similar carat weight, but pricier. Is there a reason?
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.91-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2409400?a_aid=dmnd1357
I am searching by
H-J
Ideal to true hearts cut
VS2-VVS2 clarity
<$4k
Some have very visible inclusions but others more ambiguous. This weekend we will check out a jeweler for incognito recon to see how big a stone can get before looking clunky – she doesn’t have very large hands. ~ 1 carat might be pushing too big, but it might be just right.
The H color diamond you sent me has a strong fluorescence which usually causes that the diamond looks like with a hazy/milky hue. Moreover, it’s too deep. Ideally, the depth should be close to 61% and never exceed 62.6% (62.8%). Not only will the diamond be less brilliant, it will look smaller: http://www.diamonds.pro/truth-about/diamond-carat-weight/.
The J VS1 on JA looks great. But it’s smaller than the one on BN and the cost is higher.
Blue Nile did respond this past Thursday with a photo, shortly after stating it was no longer available.
I am just wrapping up a weekend getaway with my girlfriend in Tucson. By coincidence the biggest global gem festival is there!
So I did learn some details. She does in fact like diamonds set in the ring itself, so I think the pave setting is what I should be going for.
However, I don’t want to lose the overall quality of the center diamond by spending for a lot of diamonds in the ring setting. Is there a happy medium within my budget?
You won’t lose anything by going with a pave setting. You could go for a very decent pave (french pave) and it will help the center stone “shine” even more.
I’m sorry to hear that the diamond is no longer available. When is your trip?
We just had a weekend visit in Tucson, Arizona. There is a global gem show there so I was able to learn some more about her tastes. I guess it is the largest in the world! Many rough cut, cut, and already set rubies sapphires emeralds and more. Very cool to see.
In terms of pave vs. channel setting, I happen to like channel a bit more. The diamonds seem more secure without losing the brilliance. Is that true?
And also to stay within budget, what combination would you recommend?
The diamonds in a channel setting are slightly more secure, it’s true. But I’d pick the style that you like the most without worrying about it. If you buy a quality product (and companies we recommend have really good quality), diamonds falling off shouldn’t be happening.
For either pave or channel setting, you should keep the color on I and higher. Do you prefer Blue Nile or JA’s settings?
I prefer the JA settings at the moment, unless the price on Blue Nile warrants the request for a still photo.
Does either site have a sale somewhere around now?
JA has 25% off settings, and BN has only a discount on selected jewelry. But not for the rings you are interested in.
What do you think about this combination?
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.80-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2423253?a_aid=dmnd1357
I do like the setting. It seems simple and timeless for design.
The stone looks like there are a lot of visual inclusions. Would they be visible to the naked eye?
No, they will now. They all are too small to be visible to the naked eye.
My comments about the inclusions were for the diamond itself.
Also, for depth isn’t it supposed to be closer to 61%?
Regardless the diamond you sent has been sold on JA.
……
What do you think about this? It looks like blue Nile also has an option for 360 viewing now!
I commented on the diamond’s inclusions as well. They wouldn’t be visible at all.
As for the depth, it should ideally be around 61%, but as long as you stay under 62.6% (62.8%), it’s not a big deal. They diamond will still look amazing. You have to check all the cut specifications. Not only the depth matters.
I don’t like the BN option. The table is way too big. The larger the table, the less light refracts through it (sparkles). “Perfect” light refraction usually occurs with tables around 55-57%. The larger a table is, the larger the diamond looks (that is the biggest facet on the top, so it makes the face appear larger). I like the 58-59% as it’s a good balance between appearance of size and brilliance.
Here is an alternative:
Blue Nile LD08084321
It’s a bit shallower diamond, but the proportions are amazing and it will have a lot of fire and brilliance. Ask them for the actual photo. But according to the clarity plot in the cert, it looks very promising.
I have requested a photo of the BN diamond.
What do you think about these?
My search is:
I-G
VS2+
Table 55-60
Depth 45-62
None to faint fluorescence
……
And also, when increasing price with the same search parameters, the carat weight doesn’t increase by much.
How different is this diamond from the below diamonds?
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.92-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2428173?a_aid=dmnd1357
To be perfectly honest, I don’t like the 60% table on a few of those diamonds. The larger the table, the less light refracts through it (sparkles). “Perfect” light refraction usually occurs with tables around 55-57%. The larger a table is, the larger the diamond looks (that is the biggest facet on the top, so it makes the face appear larger). I like the 58-59% as its a good balance between appearance of size and brilliance.
The only eye-clean option from the four stones you sent me was the 2493474, but the table is too big.
Thanks. I will start considering table size to be around 58. What about this stone? Do you see any on JA that look like good options?
That diamond looks great. I also found this other option that costs less and is beautiful and well:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.90-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-2460452?a_aid=dmnd1357
That diamond does look beautiful. Is the AGS as reputable as GIA?
And also BN has responded with a picture, however, it is not high resolution enough to see any detail.
Yes. GIA and AGS are the only labs we recommend.
That’s too bad that BN doesn’t have any better photo. In that case, I’d go with the one from JA. It’s only ~$100 more.
I think it is time to pull the trigger. I like the one AGS diamond you have pointed out:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.90-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-2460452?a_aid=dmnd1357&chan=an?a_aid=dmnd1357
but also found something with a higher quality color and clarity, but only 0.02 carats less. Is that a good deal?
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.88-carat-h-color-vvs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2351248?a_aid=dmnd1357
Unfortunately, it isn’t. It’s way too deep. As I told you before, the max. depth should be around 62.6% (62.8%)
I ended up purchasing the JA diamond you had originally recommended
Instead of channel I ended up going with pave. I hope the pave setting is still ok with the stone.
www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/14k-white-gold-petite-pave-engagement-ring-flush-fit-item-56252?a_aid=dmnd1357
Great! The pave setting is perfect for the I color diamond as well. No problem there.
Let me know how it looks when you receive it.
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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