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Hello, Thanks for the offer to help people research diamonds. I am in the early stages of engagement ring shopping… The overall budget I would like to keep around $9k to $10k (estimating $3k for the ring/setting and $6k or $7k for the center stone). She wants a cushion cut with a single halo. I am only considering lab grown diamonds to steer clear of any possibility of blood diamonds, and to save a little cash. Suggestions?
Honestly, I think lab created diamonds are a waste of money. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think you should be investing in diamonds, nor will I try to rave about how amazing they are. The creator of this site (my partner) wrote a great article about this: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ira-weissman/7-reasons-why-you-shouldn_b_1720870.html
The problem with lab created diamonds is they are way too expensive. Keep in mind that they don’t have legitimate certification (GIA/AGS). At best they have IGI certificates which inflate the color/clarity grades by one (average). So the prices are almost even with that of natural diamonds (I have never seen one that was more than 5% cheaper than a comparable natural diamond).
While we don’t think diamonds are a good investment, you shouldn’t ignore the value entirely. If a natural diamond loses 50% of the value when you buy it, a lab made diamond loses 90%. So it makes no sense to buy them given the fact they are the same price.
Have a look at this diamond:
It’s very well cut, eye-clean and going to look colorless in a halo setting.
Let me know what you think.
Thanks for the email. I’ve been shopping around all week… at local jewelers and online, and I sort of adjusted what I’m looking for. For the center stone I am looking at around $5000 price, cushion cut, eye-clean, with as much brilliance and fire as possible, that looks as large as possible (length x width dimensions). So far the one from Blue Nile below seems to be the best value. What do you think, I can see the clouding slightly on the magnified picture, but it should be eye clean unmagnified right? I am also looking at a few others. Please let me know your opinion on what you think would be best based on the specifics I mentioned earlier. Also, I read online that for cushion cut diamonds an “excellent” table and depth percentage would be between 61 and 67, and that a table percentage on the low end means more fire (while on the high end means more brilliance)… is that accurate? Thanks!
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD11467969
…
The inclusions on the last one I sent you makes me skeptical about the stone…. what do you think about the one below? This stone from Blue Nile seems to be a really good deal.
To be honest, I’m also slightly concerned about the inclusions on the 1.21 diamond and I wanted to send you the exact same diamond you sent afterwards as my suggestion.
This diamond is very well cut, eye-clean and it’s going to look colorless. I strongly recommend the 1.10 carat diamond over the other.
Let me know what you decide.
Cool, I just ordered the 1.10 one last night with this same email address.
As far as I know, they don’t offer any discounts on their diamonds.
Let me know how you like the stone once it arrives.
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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