Good morning,
I’m currently looking for a loose diamond to have set on a 10 mm wide yellow gold band that I am having casted. I have the diamond specs I’m looking for but could use some help finding the best value. Please contact me when you have the time to discuss.
Thanks.
If you tell me what style of setting (solitaire, halo, pave or other) and shape of a diamond you’re looking for, I’ll be happy to help you with the search. Different settings suit certain colors better. One last question, what’s your approximate budget?
I have attached a picture of the CAD design band that is currently being casted but it is a 10 mm wide 18k yellow gold band. The setting will be a 6 prong in white gold.
As for the diamond specifications, I would like a GIA certified round, 1.2 ct. or higher at or under $4500.00 if possible. I have been looking mostly at JamesAllen.com and at stones in the K and up color, VS2 and up, and triple excellent cut. I’d like to find the best value that allows me to gain diamond size while still being clear to the eye and taking advantage of the yellow band to possibly stay in the K-J color range. I have also been looking at the diamond widths since the band is wide in attempt to find something that might be around 7 mm or wider plus the setting so that it looks fairly proportional. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns and thanks for your time.
Thank you for sending the picture.
I found this diamond for you:
Blue Nile LD07683478
It’s very well cut and a J color stone is going to look colorless in the setting (https://www.diamonds.pro/education/color/). I wouldn’t go lower with the color as you plan to use white gold prongs.
Strong fluorescence on a J color stone is usually fine so I think that this diamond will be perfect. If you want to go for a 7 mm diamond, you’d have to increase your budget.
Let me know what you think.
That is a nice stone and I will take it into consideration! Would I be able to drop in grade of clarity while still remaining clear to the eye and be able to increase in weight? I would consider increasing my budget for the right diamond if I could find something closer to the 7 mm size. Unless visually there will be very little difference in noticeable size once set on the band between a 1.17 and a 1.25 or so?
Here’s a bigger diamond slightly above your budget:
Blue Nile LD07202824
If you want to go closer to a 7 mm stone, this would be an option:
Blue Nile LD07500838
As you can see, it’s almost $1000 more. I included SI stones into my search but this was the first eye-clean almost 7 mm stone I found for you.
Thanks, I have for the most part been looking at James Allen for a loose diamond. Is there any downside to using Blue Nile?
I was also searching on JA but I found bigger diamonds with great overall specs on Blue Nile for you. That’s why I chose stones from their site.
We’ve had great experiences with both the companies. And as you can get a bigger stone from Blue Nile now, I’d stick with them.
Good afternoon, I should be looking to purchase a diamond by the end of this month. I see the original stone you recommended is still available at Blue Nile. Has there been any similar spec. stones available? I found these two below but not sure if visually there would be a noticeable difference once set between the 1.17 you have found and these.
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.23-carat-j-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2054273?a_aid=dmnd1357
The issue with the 1.23 carat stone is the clarity grade. If you open the cert is says “Clarity grade is based on clouds that are not shown.” It means that there’s a big cloud that significantly influences the appearance in a negative way.
We usually don’t recommend purchasing stones with VG cut. I checked the details and this cut seems to be fine. The only issue is the inclusion right on the table. I’m afraid that it will be eye-visible.
I noticed that both the stones from Blue Nile seem to be gone. I suggest contacting me once you’re ready to purchase. Then I’ll be happy to search for a new stone for you.
Thanks, I’d like to purchase one this week if possible. What are your thoughts on these two?
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.24-carat-j-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1817993?a_aid=dmnd1357
I’m afraid that the black inclusion right on the table of the 1.24 carat stone is going to be eye-visible. But the 1.20 carat stone has great overall specifications.
If you like it, go for it.
Do you have any recommendations on a equal quality stone to that of the 1.2 at a lower cost? Similar to the 1.17 you had previously found for 4300? Would there be a noticeable visual size difference between the 1.2 range and 1.17 once set? Thanks for all your help!
If you look at the measurements of the stone, there’s basically no difference in size. So in this case, the difference is not going to be noticeable and the 1.17 carat stone is significantly less expensive.
I didn’t find a better bigger stone on JA but here’s one more suggestion from BN:
Blue Nile LD08059600
This stone is slightly bigger in measurements.
Let me know what you decide.
How can I be sure the 1.2 from BN is “eye clean”? With JA you can see the actual diamond in question. With the clarity being slightly less than the 1.2 from JA, VS1 vs. VS2. I’m inclined to save the money if its clear. Will the flourescence difference be noticeable?
If you open the cert, the clarity plot shows you where the inclusions are located. It’s fine on this diamond.
Strong fluorescence on J and lower colors can help the diamond to look slightly brighter. But the difference is not big.
Thanks for all your help! I went with SKU: 2408322 from JA.
That’s fantastic news! It was my pleasure helping you.
Let me know how you like the ring once it arrives.
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
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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