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Q&A: Help Choosing a .9 Ct. Round Diamond for a Solitaire With a $4,500 Budget

By Mike Fried,

I’m looking to put together a diamond engagement ring from James Allen or Blue Nile. I’d like a .90 carat and above, round ring, ideal cut, with at least G color or better? Clarity I can’t really tell what it will look like to the naked eye.

Do you have any suggestions/recommendations? Also I’m not sure if white gold or platinum setting matters. I just know it should be a simple solitaire. Any recommendations would be appreciated, thanks!!

Can you also tell me what your approximate budget is? Then I’ll be happy to help you with the search.

If you decide to purchase from BN, here’s a unique coupon code that gives you $50 off: [contact us for your own unique coupon code]

Thank you. I’ve decided to go with James Allen instead of BN because of the return policy, and the ability to view the actual diamond up close. They also emailed me a promo code for $100 off. I’ve done a few searches on there and would like my diamond budget to be $4000, and the ring budget about $500.

OK, thank you for the information.

Have a look at this G color stone:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.91-carat-g-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2783924?a_aid=dmnd1357

It’s very well cut, eye-clean and it has great overall specifications.

What do you think?

Hi, that one looked nice but it wasn’t available.

I’m sorry to hear that the stone was gone so quickly. Here’s another option I found for you:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.93-carat-g-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2663703?a_aid=dmnd1357

What do you think?

That one is really nice..I was wondering if you could find some similar in the $3000- $3500 range?

Here’s a diamond with quality I’d recommend and within this budget:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.80-carat-g-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2698123?a_aid=dmnd1357

Let me know what you decide.

Actually, I liked the other one better, but that’s gone now too… Sorry. I can stay in the 3500-4000$ range.

I’m just waiting for the price of the ring itself to drop. Is white gold a bad option in comparison to platinum? I’m looking at the 2mm comfort fit solitaire (6 prong). The price of the platinum one went up quite a bit though since I first looked.

As for the metal, we recommend WG over PT. The reason is the huge disparity in upfront costs. As our article says, the WG has to be dipped every few years and the platinum needs to be polished as well because it scratches. So ultimately, platinum costs you more in the beginning and doesn’t end up saving you any money in the long run.

This way you can also spend more money on the diamond. Anything I find now will be gone in a couple of days. So if you’re ready to purchase and if you want to stick with the budget you first mentioned, I’d be happy to send you another suggestion.

Ok thanks for the advice, I’ll look at WG. Ok, I think I’m ready to purchase…

This is the best option from JA I found at the moment. Just the crystal on the table is slightly stretching. Can you contact them directly and ask if the stone is eye-clean? It seems that the diamond is in New York and that they can inspect it.
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.86-carat-g-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2156420?a_aid=dmnd1357

If they confirm that it’s eye-clean, it’s a great way to go.

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!

Please enter your email address to receive your 25% off coupon code:

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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