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Q&A: “My girlfriend has champagne taste for my beer budget”

By Mike Fried,

I’m in the early process of shopping for an engagement ring and think jamesallen.com (especially with the updated site) is amazing. I’m trying to stay within a 8K total budget, but my girlfriend has champagne taste for my beer budget.

I believe I will be getting a pave setting and notice you recommend staying above H color if the setting is not a solitaire. Since my goal is to get the most fire and cut is the largest contributor to this im hoping to pull off an excelllent/ideal. The features im not 100% sure about is clarity and carat, i know the difference between a .9 and 1 ct diamond is nonexistent the naked eye but the lady has her heart set on breaking the threshold so im going to do my best to get it up to 1.0 Ct.

With all my constraints i was hoping to pull off a VS2/SI1 diamond that will meet my needs…..I don’t mind an SI1 that is eye clean and leave me enough money for the setting. Looking at the images on jamesallen its sometimes difficult to tell which SI1 would pass the eye clean test.

What do you think about the following?

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.01-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-143043?a_aid=dmnd1357

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.00-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-164294?a_aid=dmnd1357

Higher end of budget
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.01-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-173322?a_aid=dmnd1357

Under 1 Ct Mark
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.93-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-175533?a_aid=dmnd1357

Thanks for your help,

The site is a wonderful resource.

It seems like you have this diamond buying process down pat. I love the first diamond you selected. It eye-clean and a fantastic cut. You got yourself a winner.

Let me know how it looks when it arrives.

Knowing that that you think that is eye clean, gives me some comfort of what to look for. Unfortunately that diamond is already gone. However I have some time before i plan on popping the question so I will keep my eye on the site to see if similar things pop up.

Do you think its OK that i stay in the H color given that im planning on getting a pave engagement ring?

Thanks

H color is absolutely fine. Let me know when you are ready to purchase and I can help find one for you.

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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
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  • Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
  • Provide insurance appraisal
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