Q&A: Choosing a Diamond for a Platinum or White Gold Solitaire Engagement Ring with a $10k-$15k Budget

Thank you for the education articles on your website. They have been really helpful so far!

I would like to ask your advice on a diamond/engagement ring as I am indecisive and looking for something that will be “perfect” for my girlfriend. I have looked around online at blue nile and james allen a bit and have been to the usual retail stores.

I have a rough budget of $10K – $15K, and I am looking for a solitaire diamond on white gold or platinum. Do you have any suggestions – either specifically or generally on where to start?

She doesn’t know I saw this, but she saved this on her computer labeled “beautiful ring”:
Blue Nile Petite Nouveau Six-Prong Solitaire Engagement Ring & 2.01 ct. H SI2 Ideal Cut Diamond

One complication is that I don’t know her ring size and she doesn’t have any rings that I can find. I am about to call her mother as a last resort. Do you have any suggestions on how to find her ring size without giving anything away? 

 Thank you for getting back in touch with me. I had read the article comparing james allen to blue nile but not the one in the link above. I would also be concerned about purchasing from bluenile.

I am looking for your recommendations on both diamonds and vendor. The blue nile link was just an example of a round solitaire diamond ring I saw my girlfriend looking at. 

The cut does look nice on that one – how do you tell if it’s bright?

I think I want to look for a diamond around 1.5 ct… here’s why: I had to take my girlfriend to get her finger sized at a local store and so I also asked her opinion on the size of some diamonds (1ct, 1.5ct, 2ct). Her feedback was that she wanted something relatively subtle and that she would prefer no larger than 1.5. Does that make me lucky? 🙂

Here is what I have found, do you have any thoughts or other recommendations? It doesn’t have to be at the top of my budget.
This: https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.50-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-271010?a_aid=dmnd1357

and this: https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.60-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-58673?a_aid=dmnd1357

also was looking at these two but they have slight inclusions on the center that I am worried might be visible to the naked eye:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.54-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-271928?a_aid=dmnd1357

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.56-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-258958?a_aid=dmnd1357

Thanks! 

The 1.50 that I liked is no longer available. Did you think that the 1.56 would still be eye-clean? The inclusions look very close to the surface to me.

I also noticed one in the true hearts category:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.53-carat-i-color-vvs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-164439?a_aid=dmnd1357
Is this one as amazing as it appears? 

Thank you, I really appreciate the advice!