We are reader-supported. Buying through any red colored link on our site may earn us commissions. Learn More.

Q&A: Help Choosing a Round Diamond For a White Gold Infinity Setting With a $3,500 Budget

By Mike Fried,

Greetings. Thanks for all the information and insight you provide with your website. I’m in the market for a diamond engagement ring. Unfortunately, my GF is VERY picky and she only likes one ring from Brilliant Earth. I found what I had seen several people mention online, the same diamond on both JamesAllen.com and Brilliant Earth, same GIA certificate. JA has it listed for $3780 and BE has it for $4430.

I’m thinking about ordering the setting from BE but since they don’t sell settings only I have to put the cheaper 6mm stone I can get from them which is $300. 6mm is the size as I plan to buy a .8 carat diamond which is what is in my budget. I’m looking at Ideal cut, G color, IF, faint fluorescence at .8 carats. That would save me $350 but I would still have a stone for some accessory.

My questions.
1. Is it recommended to get the stone and the setting from different sources

2. Based on how BE has such inflated prices, I’m tempted to think their settings are probably of a lower quality compared to settings from say JA of similar price. Are settings from BE of quality and comparable to settings from other sources like JA or BN?

3. I’ve seen some jewelry stores can build a custom make ring. Is this recommended? Is there a particular vendor you recommend for a custom built setting?

Sorry for the long-winded request. Have a great weekend!

1) It’s possible, but there might be an issue with warranty.

2) Unfortunately, we don’t know what quality BE’s settings are.

3) If you want a setting that you can’t find anywhere else, it’s always an option. Can you send me the setting you found on BE that your GF liked?

Thanks for your response and valuable insight. She’s starting to like some of the settings from James Allen. Given the fact that custom making a setting would take close to 10 weeks for what jewelers have told me, we prefer to stick with JA settings, or whoever I get the diamond from.

Based on research from your website I’m thinking about getting a bigger diamond with lesser specs. I’m not interested in paying for anything that would require trained eye or a loupe.

A few more questions…

1. Will a J color diamond look white to the naked eye on a white gold setting? I’m specifically looking at diamonds with medium blue fluorescence as per your website.

2. Will the inclusions in the diamonds below be visible to the naked eye or will they look less sparkly?

3. Is it accurate to say that cut is the more important than color and clarity?

4. What other sites do you recommend besides James Allen and Blue Nile?

Here are a few diamonds that caught my attention.
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.03-carat-j-color-i1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2652805?a_aid=dmnd1357

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.01-carat-j-color-i1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2309626?a_aid=dmnd1357

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.01-carat-i-color-i1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2366758?a_aid=dmnd1357

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.03-carat-j-color-i1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1872819?a_aid=dmnd1357

If there’s a particular diamond(s) that you think would offer a better value than the ones above, please feel free to recommend. I want a good looking 1 carat diamond without paying for anything not visible.

If I purchase from JA or any of the sites you recommend I will certainly use this email 😉

Thanks again.

1) What style setting (solitaire, pave/side stones, halo) will the setting be? J+ color would look great in a solitaire only.

2) Unfortunately, none of the diamonds you sent me is eye-clean. The inclusions are far too big and will be visible to the naked eye.

3) Yes. The cut is the most important aspect.

4) Here are the places we recommend: www.diamonds.pro/education/best-place-buy-engagement-ring/.

Thanks again for your help and patience guiding me in this process.

This is the setting I’m buying her.
www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/14k-white-gold-infinity-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-53313?a_aid=dmnd1357

So far, here’s the criteria I’m using to find a diamond at jamesallen.com. Most of the criteria I’ve learned from your website in order of importance.

– ~$3K (plus or minus a few hundred)
– Round
– Ideal Cut
– Eye Clean (I really need help here!) VS2?
– 1 Ct (if necessary, down to .9 ct to stay in price)
– J+ Color
– Lab: GIA
– Excellent Polish and Symmetry
– Depth max 62.6%
– Table 54 – 59%
– Medium Blue Fluorescence (for G – J color)
– Holloway Cut Adviser

1. The J+ color stone would look white with the setting linked above, correct?

2. Am I missing something in the criteria above?

3. Am I wasting money in any single criteria above? Can I be more lenient in any of them without losing value?

4. How can I tell if a diamond is eye clean?

5. Is it possible to find a 1 Ct diamond with desirable specs for around $3K? Do I need to get less carats or spend more money?

6. Can you please make some diamond recommendations from JA?

7. I found this diamond with good specs but not sure if the medium yellow fluorescence is desirable and not sure if it would be considered eye clean. Your thoughts?

Sorry again for my long message.

Thanks!

Thanks for the details.

1) Yes. The J color will look perfect in the solitaire setting.

2,3) Your parameters are great. Except using the HCA tool, I agree with everything (only avoid medium fluorescence for G color diamonds).
(https://www.diamonds.pro/education/holloway-cut-adviser/)

4) Making sure the diamond is eye-clean quite a difficult for someone without the experience. But I’ll help you with that.

5) A diamond around 0.90ct would cost ~3k.
Blue Nile LD08864955

But for anything larger than that, you would have to go higher in price.

6) The diamond above is the best I found. On JA, the cheapest one is around 3,200:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.91-carat-j-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3157497?a_aid=dmnd1357

7) Yellow fluorescence isn’t good. It would give the diamond a urine yellow tone. Always stick with blue only.

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
Arrow down
Arrow up
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
Arrow down
Arrow up

Still afraid of getting ripped off?

Before you buy a diamond, get personal buying advice from industry veterans. We'll help you get the best diamond for the money.

Ask your diamond purchase question here

  • Hidden
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

DISCLAIMER: We don't use your email for marketing. Period.

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

Here is your coupon code: GFDSF3GF