Hi there,
First off I wanted to say I appreciate your site and work you guys do.
Currently, I am looking for an engagement ring for my girlfriend. I have gone to a handful of jewelers in my area and have come away slightly less enthused about the price vs quality that I am looking for. I have started looking online on Blue Nile and James Allen for my ring due to the price and potential quality. However, I am no gemologist and have reservations about how to go about this online.
First off do you recommend the online ring buying option? If so is there any guidance you can give to me personally? My lady wants a solitaire cut round diamond in a white gold setting. The only jewel being the diamond. Simple I thought but there are so many options within this still!
Anyways I would appreciate any advice and help you can give!
Yes, we love the idea of buying online. It’s usually safer and less expensive than buying in a store: https://www.diamonds.pro/education/buy-diamonds-online/
I’m happy to recommend some diamonds to you, do you have a ballpark budget for the purchase?
Thanks for your prompt response. So my budget for the entire ring is 5 grand max Canadian dollars which is a little less than 4 grand American I guess… so we can say 4 grand American. Fortunately, the band and setting are very simple that my girlfriend wants and most are between 300-500 dollars. I would prefer for the size to be .8 c and above if possible. Does that help at all?
It does, thank you!
Have a look at these options:
Blue Nile LD10871928
They are fantastically cut and either of them will be very brilliant. J color looks perfectly colorless in a white gold solitaire setting.
I chose Blue Nile as they have offices in Canda and thus it might be easier to buy from them.
What do you think?
Those diamonds look lovely. I think I would be leaning towards the 0.8ct as the .1 size difference probably wouldn’t matter a whole lot compared to the price difference of nearly two grand.
What are your thoughts on that? Would a .9 c diamond look significantly better than a .8? Also with the J colour would you be able to notice much of a difference to say an H colouring? Obviously, both cuts are ‘ideal’ and aren’t huge diamonds so I would think the colouring wouldn’t matter a huge amount?
Also, just a question and I am sure you have answered it before and I guess it is my paranoia acting up but how will I know that the diamond I receive is in fact the diamond I ordered?
Thanks so much!
Agreed. The difference in size would be noticeable only if you put the two of them side by side. In real life, nobody knows what a 0.8 and a 0.9ct diamond is supposed to look like.
Color-wise, J color looks colorless in a solitaire setting as there are no additional diamonds that would make a color difference. I wouldn’t recommend a diamond that would look yellowish when it shouldn’t.
As for your last question, both diamonds I sent you are inscribed so you can always inspect the GIA number with a loupe or under a microscope and make sure it matches the one in the cert
Awesome, yeah that diamond looks great but would it be ok to look at one or two with a higher color grade just to compare?
Absolutely. Here you go:
Blue Nile LD10393822
They have fantastic specs. Especially the I VVS2 is superbly cut, it will be incredibly brilliant.
Very nice, now the only thing would be a lack of 360 degree viewing… is that ever a potential cause for concern?
What are your thoughts on this diamond as well?
Not at all. They are VVS and will be eye-clean. Looking at the cut parameters, they will look amazing.
The one you sent me is cut a bit too deep and might lose some of its brilliance. I wouldn’t recommend it.
Ok awesome, so in terms of those two diamonds you sent you would recommend the I VVS2 one even though the other has a higher value in terms of colour (H)?
Color-wise, they are going to look identical. You can’t go wrong with either of them.
Ok awesome. Obviously, the price tag on the “I” is a little better if the color is going to be essentially the same. So that one would be your ‘pick’ thus far due to cut parameters and the overall specs?
Yes, the I one is the surefire winner. It’s perfect.
Ok perfect because I bought it on the weekend haha.
That’s great news!
Thanks for the advice!
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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