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Hi, my girlfriends dream engagement ring is a cushion cut canary diamond in white gold or platinum with a halo of white diamonds. She absolutely hates yellow gold so it is not an option, even as a basket unless it is not visible at all. I was hoping you could recommend me a diamond or possibly an entire ring. I’m looking to spend around $10,000, with a maximum of around $12000. I’d really like a vivid yellow diamond of about 1 ct but understand if this is not practical. Please let me know what you think.
You won’t be able to get a vivid diamond. Have you actually seen them in person? I think you can use a nice intense cut diamond and that would be perfect.
I have not seen them in person, only in pictures with vivid and intense diamonds side by side. What type of price range would I need to be in to afford a vivid? I’ve found some in the 13k range like this:
Blue Nile LD04043758
Are diamonds like this from bluenile a decent price? I may be able to stretch my budget to accommodate something like the above.
A) BN is a terrible option in general (https://www.diamonds.pro/reviews/blue-nile/) and there flaws are magnified when it comes to colored diamonds (not having actual diamond experts inspect it and not having proper photos is crazy).
B) That diamond is 30% over the budget you gave me.
This is what I would recommend for you:
Its obviously way out of budget. If you are looking for a good option of a different shape, this would be great for you:
https://www.leibish.com/yellow-diamond/103ct-fancy-vivid-yellow-princess-si1-103022-17177#a_aid=y
What do you think?
Thanks for all the information; I didn’t realize Blue Nile was such a bad option. I assumed that the GIA clarity rating alone would be enough to receive a decent diamond and did not realize that there could still be terribly visible inclusions. I hope I don’t sound like I’m questioning your knowledge at all. I really am just trying to learn and find the best option for me.
I think to purchase in my budget I will be stuck between a vivid princess cut or a intense cushion cut. My girlfriend has told me many times how she loves cushion cuts with a halo of diamonds around them. I think that a princess may look a bit funny with a halo when compared to a cushion. What is your take? Do you think I am better off with a vivid princess or intense cushion? I hate to settle but she will be more than happy just to get a yellow diamond in general.
Is it safe to buy diamonds from leibish/james allen by just viewing their pictures? I have never taken an interest in diamonds until now and don’t exactly trust myself to tell if the diamonds are good or not by a picture yet.
I really appreciate all the information so far.
We regularly recommend diamonds from both companies and have fantastic reviews from readers. We also secret shopped both of them and loved the experience.
I think you are better off with a cushion cut. I think you should speak to the jewelry department from whichever site you go with and ask about the yellow basket to enhance the color. My good friend has a yellow diamond halo ring. She also abhors yellow gold, yet there is a basket for the diamond.
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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