Hi,
I’m looking for an engagement ring. I’ve done a little bit of research, and I would like to buy a diamond with these characteristics:
Round 0.70 ct. diamond
Color: I
Clarity: VVS1
Cut: Very Good
My budget for the diamond is set under the $2,000. For now, I think my best option would be Blue Nile.
I’m open to any guidance you could provide me since I’m a first-time shopper. Thank you so much.
I’d be happy to make some recommendations for you, but I need a little more info.
What style setting (solitaire, pave/side stones/halo) and metal (yellow/white gold, platinum) do you want to use? This may affect the colors that I recommend for the center diamond (as we explain in our post on color).
In general, for a round brilliant I wouldn’t settle for anything less than an EX (Ideal) cut as the cut is what makes the diamond brilliant and beautiful.
Thank you for your help and prompt response. The style setting I’m looking for is: solitaire, white gold 18k. I want something traditional.
Please let me know is you need anything else from my side.
Great, thank you for the info.
I looked around and I like this combination for you:
Blue Nile Classic Four Prong Engagement Ring
(I’d recommend 14k white gold. It’s cheaper and more durable than 18k.)
Blue Nile LD08351775
It’s fantastically cut and will be very brilliant in that setting.
If you want, you can use this unique coupon code that gives you $50 off of your order: [contact us for your own unique coupon code]
What do you think?
Thanks for your advice.
The diamond looks great but I was expecting something a little bit bigger (0.70. ct.). What do you think about these diamonds? The $2,000 I told you about was just for the diamond.
Thanks for the coupon.
Those diamonds are cut too deep and will lose a lot of their brilliance. I wouldn’t go with the “Very good” cut, I’d stick with “Excellent/Ideal”. The difference in size between those two diamonds you found and the one I sent you won’t be perceptible, but the difference in brilliance will.
I’d go with something like this:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.70-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2274146?a_aid=dmnd1357
It’s beautifully cut.
Thoughts?
Once again, thanks for your help. The diamond you sent me is great, but I’m not so convinced with an S1. I was checking your blog and saw that you’d recommended a J-colored diamond to customers with a similar budget than mine. Is there too much difference between an “I” and a “J”? If not, and based on your recommendations, I found these diamonds on Blue Nile:
Blue Nile LD08279678
Blue Nile LD08463662
Blue Nile LD08211392
Blue Nile LD08432648
I would rather buy from Blue Nile since they have a wider selection of settings. Thanks again for being so patient.
Sure, let’s focus on a nice J-color diamond. I’ve just picked out an I before, because it was your original choice in the first email you sent me.
I’m not a huge fan of the diamonds you selected, I’d focus on something better cut. This one has great specs:
Blue Nile LD08432363
Thoughts?
Thank you. I liked that diamond very much.
Well, I think it’s the moment of truth. Your two recommendations are without a doubt the best options so far. Now, that you know what I like, if you had to choose between these two diamonds, which one would you buy?
Blue Nile LD08432363
Blue Nile LD08351775
Blue Nile Classic Four Prong Engagement Ring
Thanks so much for your help.
I’d go with the J one. It’s larger, cheaper and will look exactly the same as the I-color one.
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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