Q&A: Finding a New Diamond for a Gold Solitaire Setting Engagement Ring Under $5,000

 Thank you, thank, thank you, for providing this information on your site.

I’m looking for a diamond “late” engagement ring that will most likely go in a solitaire gold setting. I’m letting my wife pick the setting after I present her with the diamond. I need to keep the entire purchase as close to $5,000 as possible.

Like many here, she is more into into the “bling” factor of the stone than any intrinsic value. So I need to purchase a round cut diamond that looks good to the eye and is a fair value. This ring is close to 20 years overdue (my original cheap engagement ring didn’t quite meet expectations!) so it does need to be nice…but with two kids on their way to college, it will not be extravagant.

Looking at the eye-clean information has been quite helpful. But, I’m starting to see flaws on everything now and am starting to have a hard time telling reality from my imagination. Would you have any recommendations from this list?

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/?CaratFrom=0.70&CaratTo=10.00&Color=H,J,I&Clarity=VS2,SI1&PriceFrom=400&PriceTo=999000&Sort=Carat%20asc,%20DefaultOrder?a_aid=dmnd1357

Or perhaps recommend another or different values for the 4Cs? 

 Thanks. That diamond is a bit over my budget, but the size is right. 🙂

The hesitation on my part is that I can see what appears to be flaw, or scratch, on the surface. It’s about 11 o’clock on the outer facet when the diamond if facing you. You can see it move with the diamond when it rotates.

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Attached is a screen shot indicating the smudge that has me concerned on this one. If it’s eye-clean, should I be seeing that?

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Here’s one that may be suitable?
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.90-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-sku-236224?a_aid=dmnd1357

It doesn’t have the obvious feather like the other one, but one is indicated on the GIA cert.

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Actually, you may want to look at this link instead: https://www.jamesallen.com//wishList//?Display=Compare&ViewsOptions=Images&DiamondIDs=234662,236224,227429&JewelIDs=?a_aid=dmnd1357

It has the diamond you recommended, one I found, and one recommended by a salesperson (chat) at James Allen. Since it appears I can get the diamond & setting for close to my original $5,000 budget, the $4,200-ish for the diamond is not as big of a deal as I originally thought. 🙂

Thanks again for your insights and help.

 Thanks again for the advice Mike. The gemologist at James Allen looked at the two diamonds and both were deemed unfit.

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“The gemologist has informed me that both of these diamonds have visible inclusions. Diamond 236224 is slightly larger and has great light performance, but since you just said you want eye clean diamonds, is appears that this isn’t a diamond I’d recommend. Diamond 227429’s color is comparable and it ranks as your second strongest performer.
I’ve gotten approval to have two more diamonds inspected for you, and I’ll be happy to help you during your search if you like. I would recommend that we pick one VS2 and SI1 diamond to move forward with. As a VS2, we’ll know in advance that it’ll be eye clean, and we can submit a seemingly clean SI1 in hopes of finding a great value.”

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While I’m waiting to hear back from the consultant at JA, I figured I’d try another search on my own. I came up with this one: https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.81-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-very-good-cut-sku-177867?a_aid=dmnd1357

Any thoughts?