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Q&A: Choosing a Well-Cut Round or Oval Diamond for a Pave Halo Setting with a $2,000 Total Budget

By Mike Fried,

Hi, my partner and I are ring shopping at the moment, and have stumbled across JamesAllen.com. Our budget is $2000 for the ring and diamond together. I’m tossing up between traditional yellow gold and white gold.

These are the settings we like:
https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/halo/18k-white-gold-pave-halo-cabled-diamond-engagement-ring-item-17892?a_aid=dmnd1357
https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/halo/18k-white-gold-pave-halo-engagement-ring-round-center-item-17474?a_aid=dmnd1357

These are the diamonds I have narrowed it down to:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.50-carat-f-color-i1-clarity-good-cut-sku-40323?a_aid=dmnd1357
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.51-carat-j-color-si1-clarity-good-cut-sku-216404?a_aid=dmnd1357
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.53-carat-h-color-i1-clarity-very-good-cut-sku-238292?a_aid=dmnd1357

Which setting and metal type would you, personally, suggest?
And which diamond would you suggest? I don’t mind about size or unnoticeable inclusions, but I’d like a nice cut and near-colourless.

Thanks for your help. 

 Personally, I would go with white gold.But it’s usually a personal issue. If you like yellow gold, it’s a great choice as well.

Now lets talk about the diamonds. You mention that you care about a nicely cut diamond, but these diamonds are not well cut. They also have noticeable inclusions. You are better off with this diamond.

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.45-carat-g-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-239075?a_aid=dmnd1357

What do you think? 

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.45-carat-g-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-239075?a_aid=dmnd1357

Hi, you’re right, that is a much nicer diamond, much better value. I’m also considering an oval cut diamond, but on the James Allen website it does’t show the cut quality of the oval cut diamonds, any idea why this is? And any suggestions for an oval cut diamond?

These are the ones I’ve liked so far:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/0.50-carat-d-color-si1-clarity-sku-295858?a_aid=dmnd1357
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/0.56-carat-d-color-si2-clarity-sku-239639?a_aid=dmnd1357

I appreciate your help and patience, obviously I don’t have much diamond experience 🙂 

 That 0.56 is a truly beautiful diamond. Its a winner. 

Thank you very much for your help! I think I’ve made my choice 🙂 

 Sounds good. Let me know how it looks when it arrives. 

James Allen James Allen is the leader in online diamond sales. Their imaging technology is the same as inspecting a diamond with a jeweler's loupe. They have the largest exclusive loose diamond inventory online and fantastic prices. They also have the nicest collection of lab-created diamonds online.
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
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Blue Nile Blue Nile is the largest and most well-known internet jewelry seller. They have a very large exclusive online inventory. Their high-quality images are catching up to James Allens' and their prices are amazing. Save 25% on settings at Blue Nile!

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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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