Q&A: Choosing a Round Center for a Delicate 18k White Gold Pavé With a $2,500 Budget

Hello, I hope you can help me? I previously had a diamond set band total 0.62 cts with a round centre stone of 0.40cts. It was an H colour, very good cut and SI2 clarity and very delicate setting and band. It was purchased at goldsmiths and I loved it!! It was a delicate band and a high set diamond and I found it was very sparkly in comparison to others which I really loved about it.

However I had numerous issues with the retailer including extreme differences in the quality of the centre stone when ordering the correct size (in exchange for the ring he proposed with) the first I got had a very noticeable inclusion right in the middle, which they initially denied then when I came back saying my friend who used to work in a jewelers had confirmed it was an inclusion they agreed and ordered me a new one. Then followed by one of the diamonds on the band falling out twice in the first ring (they repaired it the first time), then I insisted after the second they order me a new ring which they did. The ring cost £2000 in the sale, reduced from £2500, on returning it for the final time they advised they had discontinued the ring and therefore had to search to get me another one. It arrived 1.5 times too big in size and a week later the exact fault, the diamond fell out the band! I eventually demanded a refund and have been unable to find another ring of similar quality and price I like as much since (a lot of what I have tried on in store is either very very expensive, or the band and setting is very chunky which I dislike).

This led me to looking online and I am totally stuck!! I have been looking at diamonds77 and was about to order from there before discovering your reviews on Blue Nile and James Allen. Being based in the U.K. I am a little worried about ordering with an American company? My first question would be have you dealt with 77diamonds and are their online gradings etc. accurate?

And secondly goldsmiths suggested the diamonds falling out of the band rarely happened and it must be due to

a) me having such a small finger therefore the edge diamond getting more impact than usual (in a size I) and

b) because I was too heavy handed for that style of ring (I work in an office and removed it for exercise, cleaning showering etc.

Do you think this would be the case or are they excusing a faulty product?

Also in looking online I have discovered cushion cut diamonds, I am not a fan of the princess cut but these appear to be more round is that the case? If I was looking for a ’rounder cushion cut’ what dimensions should I look for? And would you say these are typically less sparkly than a round cut?

Thanks so much in advance and I hope to hear back from you soon! I won’t order without your expert advice 🙂

Thanks for your reply, yes that sounds great!

I am looking for a very slim band with diamonds in, and a high set centre stone 0.5ct. I will attach the picture of the one I had. I don’t like a chunky band or when the band meets at the top of the diamond. I prefer it when the band is flat and the diamond sits on top. I would like 18k white gold please. Ideally I would rather spend around £1700 if possible but happy to go a little higher for a much better quality diamond.

Yes that’s nice!

Looks similar to what I had ?

Thanks!