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Q&A: Help Choosing a Round Diamond for a Solitaire With $3,500 Budget

By Mike Fried,

Hello, was online shopping for an engagement ring and thinking of buying one on Blue Nile. Don’t know if I will buy tonight or wait it out a couple more days. Any promo codes you might have for build your own ring? I don’t know how long you take to respond but if let’s say I do buy and then you response with promo code do you think they’ll give me a credit? Just in case I do purchase before you respond to the message.

Hi there,

Here is the code for $100 off of a purchase over 1k: [contact us for your own unique coupon code]. According to BN, this is the best coupon they are offering right now. I hope it helps.

Let me know if you need any help with the search. I’d be more than happy to help.

Thanks so much for the code. Let me ask, I have a budget of $3,500 and found a diamond that is .90ct ideal cut. H color. and an SI1 for $3000. Would u say that’s a good deal? Setting price not included. Or is it better to go for a 1ct good or very good. J color SI2. Or what do u recommend?

What style setting (solitaire, pave/side stones, halo) and metal (yellow gold, white gold, platinum) are you using? It can have a slight effect on the diamond’s color: https://www.diamonds.pro/education/color/.

Also, feel free to send me the diamond you found and i will check it for you.

Blue Nile sold that diamond but I guess I’m looking for something like stated. Setting will be white gold and it shall be a round solitaire.

We recommend getting I/J round diamonds for a solitaire setting in white gold/platinum (https://www.diamonds.pro/education/color/), but if you want to stick with your requirements, then here is a diamond for you:
Blue Nile LD08083498

Sorry for the late response. And thanks again for all the info. I see you recommend I/J round diamonds, so I’m assuming those are a bit cheaper than what I asked or was thinking about? Or why do you recommend those, do they have a better look or is “H” round diamond a better diamond?

Yes, they are less expensive. I recommended them because there is no reason to pay for higher color when you’re placing the stone into a solitaire setting. There are no additional diamonds in the band that would make the center stone look yellowish.

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. They currently run a 10% discount on selected lab-grown diamonds!
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. Right now, Blue Nile offers up to 50% savings on selected jewelry during a limited-time season sale.
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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