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Q&A: Help Choosing a Round Diamond for a White Gold Filigree Ring for Under $6,000 In Total

By Mike Fried,

My boyfriend and I just got an engaged and we’re trying to buy an engagement ring. I’ve read your website “cover to cover” and I feel like I know what I’m doing now, but I’m still afraid of getting ripped off.

Here are the specs we’re looking for.

BUDGET: <6K total (diamond + setting + taxes + shipping)
BAND STYLE: Vintage (we love SKU: 17450W14 from James Allen)
STONE: Diamond
SHAPE: Round
CUT: Ideal to True Hearts
WEIGHT: .8-1.2 ct (looking for great value!)
COLOR: F-J (looking for a diamond that will look white in the setting we’ve chosen but happy to get the best price. color is the hardest thing to get a good sense of for us so far from the James Allen website)
ClARITY: so long s the inclusions aren’t visible to the naked eye we don’t care

The chat people at James Allen have helped me pick out a few options that I can send to you, but I don’t know if they get bonuses if they make sales or what. We have the benefit of living in NYC so we can narrow it down to three diamonds and then go see them in person. Should we care more about fluorescence in that case?

Here are the three recommended so far:
1) www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.90-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3409039?a_aid=dmnd1357

2) www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.91-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3192625?a_aid=dmnd1357

3) www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.03-carat-j-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3390925?a_aid=dmnd1357

She was hesitant about the last one because she was afraid it would come across as too yellow once I told her what setting I wanted. Note that these all very likely put us a bit over our budget once the setting/taxes/etc are accounted for.

A part of me just wants to pick something quick and get it over with but I’m also scared of paying more than I should. Help?

Thanks!!

For the type of setting you like, I wouldn’t go below H color is you want to have a colorless diamond. The tiny stones around it would make lower colors look noticeably yellower.

As long as you avoid the “strong” grade, fluorescence is not an issue on H and lower colors.

I love both of the H-color options you’ve been recommended. They have great specs and either of them will make a beautiful ring.

Thank you very much!

This was really helpful. We bought a ring via James Allen with your advice. I made a note during my purchase that you helped, but I want to keep you apprised of this being the email we used to purchase it.

Thanks again!

That’s great news! I’m glad I could help you decide on the ring.

Thank you for thinking about us with the email address, I appreciate it.

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. Get 30% off lab-grown diamonds during a limited time sale.
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!

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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
  • 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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