Q&A: Help Choosing a Round or a Princess Cut Diamond With Around $8,000 Budget

I am strongly considering purchasing an engagement ring from Blue Nile. Could you provide me with a unique discount code?

Thanks.

Thanks!

I’m looking at the following rings below. My thinking is if I go with the solitaire setting to get a bigger diamond. If I go with the pave setting then I’d go with a smaller diamond to offset the cost. My budget is $8500 and I’d like to get the most bang for my buck. Could you please let me know your thoughts?

1) Blue Nile LD08209762
Blue Nile Petite Solitaire Engagement Ring

2) Blue Nile LD06913063
Blue Nile Petite Solitaire Engagement Ring

3) Blue Nile LD07915382
Blue Nile Graduated Diamond Engagement Ring

4) Blue Nile LD06151902
Blue Nile Graduated Diamond Engagement Ring

Thanks for your time.

Thanks for your feedback!

What are you thoughts regarding settings? Would you advise to put more of the money into the actual diamond rather than getting a pricier setting?

Also, is there a noticeable difference between a 1ct diamond vs a 1.25ct diamond?

Thanks.

I’d like to get the most bang for my buck. Looking to put most of the money in the cut and weight of the diamond. I know that you can bend some with color and clarity. I’d like to get a diamond lower on the clarity scale, but make sure that its eye clean. What do you think of the following ones:

1) Blue Nile LD08626151
Blue Nile Petite Solitaire Engagement Ring

2) Blue Nile LD07663617
Blue Nile Graduated Diamond Engagement Ring

3) www.jamesallen.com/complete-ring/?a_aid=dmnd1357

4) www.jamesallen.com/complete-ring/?a_aid=dmnd1357

……

Looks like the James Allen links were incomplete. Here are the links to the diamonds:

3) www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.20-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-true-hearts-cut-sku-2568940?a_aid=dmnd1357

4) www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.02-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-true-hearts-cut-sku-2229549?a_aid=dmnd1357

Thanks for your time!

Could you find me a round diamond or two that maximizes cut/carat?

On most of these sites they offer Ideal and Signature cuts. I’ve been primarily looking at the highest cut available but have noticed I can get a larger carat diamond with the Ideal cut. Is there a big difference between Ideal and Signature cut?

Thanks.

……

Forgot to mention that my budget for the ring is $8000.

Thanks!

I’m looking at the following 2 settings:

1) Blue Nile Graduated Diamond Engagement Ring
2) Blue Nile Petite Cathedral Solitaire Engagement Ring

I want to maximize cut/carat size. I’d like to stay under $8K. Which diamonds would you suggest? I still haven’t decided between James Allen and Blue Nile.

Thanks!

Yea, I’ll definitely buy the diamond and the setting from the same place. Your website has James Allen rated a little better than Blue Nile. The overall presentation (packaging) of the diamond with James Allen is appealing, but in the end price is most important. Do you have a strong preference for James Allen over Blue Nile?

I wish I could see the complete rings!! The 1.5ct is very appealing. Should I be concerned with the color J and the symmetry only rated VG? I found this one which is the same price, but not sure if its the better buy: Blue Nile LD08476492

I’m assuming there is a noticeable size difference between the 1.2ct and the 1.5ct. If you had to chose between the 2 rings which would you go with?

Also, you mentioned that you do not pay attention to signature ideal cuts, however, I noticed under your education on cut quality that James Allen’s true hearts cut is noted as worth the extra money. So only James Allen’s signature cut is worth it?

Thanks!

Thanks for your response.

I’m leaning towards the solitaire setting. I like the 1.2ct and 1.5ct diamonds you recommended for me. Would the 1.2ct diamond work with the solitaire setting as well? I’ve seen that going just under the big carat marks can save some money. Is there another diamond (Blue Nile) you’d recommend that’s just shy of 1.5ct for a solitaire setting?

Also, would you recommend platinum over 14K white gold?

I read some info from your clarity post that JA’s TH are worth the price and that their brilliance far exceeds the others.

Thanks.

Thanks for the info. It looks like 14K WG is the way to go.

Thanks for the other diamonds you provided but they both are more expensive than the 1.5ct you presented earlier:
Blue Nile LD08403259

I was hoping you could find me another diamond or two that were just under 1.5ct and less expensive ($7300) than the diamond above.

Thanks.

Thanks for the additional diamond, however, I’m hesitant due to the strong fluorescence.

Are any of these diamonds eye clean?
1) www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.21-carat-g-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2878519?a_aid=dmnd1357

2) www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.47-carat-j-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2364157?a_aid=dmnd1357

3) Blue Nile LD08844177

If not, do you have any recommendations (SI2-SI1) that are eye clean?

Thanks.

Thanks for your response.

Leaning towards a J-Color solitaire. Let’s say when it comes time to pick out the wedding band and she chooses a diamond band, most diamond bands that I’ve seen are I-Color or better. Would that potentially be an issue next to a J-Color diamond?

Also, I want a GIA diamond. After I purchase the diamond online via either BN or JA, would you advise that I go get the diamond appraised to make sure I got what I paid for?

Thanks.

No clue what sort of wedding band she’ll choose. Everything I’ve read says J-Color is fine with a solitaire setting. I never saw anything about taking the wedding band into consideration.

What do you think of these?
1) www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.50-carat-j-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3110943?a_aid=dmnd1357

2) www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.32-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3185690?a_aid=dmnd1357

3) www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.32-carat-j-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3169087?a_aid=dmnd1357

Also, wouldn’t it make more sense to get the appraisal from someone with an unbiased opinion rather than from the retailer I bought the diamond from?

Thanks.

I went with the following diamond:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.32-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3185690?a_aid=dmnd1357

I should be receiving it next week and it’ll come with an appraisal. Should I be confident that I’ll receive what I paid for? Is the GIA certificate enough for my peace of mind?

Thanks.

I received the diamond and it’s gorgeous!! Thanks for all your help!

I used this email address during the purchase process.

Thanks again!

Attached is a picture of the ring!

Thanks again!

Thank you!!

Thanks again for all your help!!