Hi there. Hope you can help. I am looking to ‘upgrade’ my wife’s original engagement ring as when we first met, I could only afford a half carat diamond. Now, some 12 years later, I would like her to have something a little larger.
My budget is around 10 thousand Australian dollars, and I know she would like a round cut stone. She would not be concerned with having the best quality ‘on paper’, the look, colour and of course size, would be more important.
Any advice and recommendations would be most appreciated.
I’d be happy to make some recommendations and guide you through the process. What type of setting are you considering? Yellow gold or white gold/platinum? Will it be a solitaire or does it have sidestones/pave? This may affect the colors that I recommend for the center diamond (as we explain in our post on color).
Let me know and I’d be happy to send you some suggestions.
Thanks for getting back to me. I am looking at either white gold or platinum, solitaire, very simple setting.
Thanks, I appreciate your advice.
I would recommend one of these:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.26-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-219592?a_aid=dmnd1357
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.31-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-231141?a_aid=dmnd1357
They are bright, eye-clean and great values. I would ask JA to have their gemologist inspect the 1.31 to make sure the fluorescence doesn’t cause haziness.
What do you think?
Thanks for this. Ideally, she would like a 1.5ct as her friend has the same!
…
Knowing she wants something slightly larger, I have looked at the following James Allen diamonds:
Item#: 240349
Item#: 58658
Item#: 209256
Item#: 240456
What do you think – are there other clean ones I should consider?
Thanks!
Both of the 1.49ct diamonds should be avoided (one is a terrible cut, the other isn’t eye-clean). I prefer this one over the other:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.51-carat-i-color-si2-clarity-sku-240456?a_aid=dmnd1357
What do you think?
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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