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Q&A: Experience Shopping for a Diamond Pendant on a $1,500 Budget

By Mike Fried, Updated June 29, 2020

Hi There!

I’m building a necklace via Blue Nile. using the following setting:

Double Bail Solitaire Pendant Setting

Which of the following diamonds would be best?

1) Blue Nile LD12738583

2) Blue Nile LD12864445

To be honest, wouldn’t recommend either of the diamonds you sent me. They have a lot of black crystals that might be noticeable in person.

I’d go with something like this:
Blue Nile LD11435214

It has an amazing cut and no imperfections.

Thanks for getting back to me. I went with the diamond you recommended. Thanks for your help!

I’m glad you liked my recommendation so much!

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. They currently run a 10% discount on selected lab-grown diamonds!
Click to Visit
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. 
Click to Visit
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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