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I’m trying to decide if I’m going to flex the budget to get from the .9-1 ct to 1.2 carat range. With all the great information on your site, I’ve been able to find some good value around 1 carat (wish there were more Gavin Blue diamonds available between .9 – 1.0 for comparison).
Setting is going to be a white gold petite pave, no halo, so I believe your suggestion would be I or better for color. I don’t mind inclusions assuming eye clean and they don’t affect good quality light reflection.
Going up from the 6.4-6.5mm widths to 6.8-6.9 has shown a pretty sizeable price jump, but the following 1.25 from James seems to stand out as a low price – any clues as to why? Also pasting in some other diamonds that I’m considering for your opinion. Thanks!
Finally – the price seems low on this one – am I seeing an issue with scratches or something on the table?
The problem with the JA diamonds is that they are IGI certified. That’s not a good lab as they inflate color and clarity grades so you wouldn’t be getting an I color but probably a J, potentially a K. https://www.diamonds.pro/education/igi/
As for the three BG diamonds, I love them all. Brian Gavin has stunning stones and he makes sure that every piece that he sells has nothing but a perfect cut, even in the smallest details. That’s why there isn’t that many options on their site.
Thank you for the super fast response. I really like the Brian Gavin stones also. Now with his petite pave setting, do you think a J color from his Blue line will work? Being able to bump down to that color seems like a good savings opportunity if it won’t stand out.
Thanks to the perfect cut they have, it’s no problem to go a bit lower in color. So even that there are some pave diamonds in the setting, the J should look amazing in it.
If you want, ask their customer service as well, just to make sure. But I’ve even seen a J color in a halo setting of theirs and you wouldn’t guess it was a J grade.
‘m moving up in size again. Can you take a look at the below option from Brian Gavin Blue and see what you think? I’ve asked them to confirm the J color in their petite pave setting will work.
Let me know if you see any other options on Blue Nile or JA that I could consider along side this one. Now thinking 1.4+ ct with priority on cut quality and staying under $11,000
That diamond looks amazing! Have you reserved it?
I also found these two options on JA, but they are smaller in actual measurements:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.40-carat-i-color-vvs1-clarity-true-hearts-cut-sku-6054159?a_aid=dmnd1357
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.50-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-true-hearts-cut-sku-5476145?a_aid=dmnd1357
And also, BGD makes sure that every little detail is cut perfectly which is what makes them stand out.
I did go ahead with the BGD last night. Thanks again for your help!
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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