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Q&A: Help Finding a Marquise Cut Diamond With Around $3k Budget

By Mike Fried,

Help!

I’ve been researching engagement rings for the past month or 2 and there is just so much information out there. It’s both a blessing and a curse really. I stumbled across your website and decided why not reach out to an expert to get a solid opinion on this matter. My budget is roughly $3,000. I have several engagement rings in mind on Blue Nile and James Allen, but I’m worried that I put too much emphasis on finding a smaller diamond that has better color and clarity and therefore am paying a higher price for a diamond that sacrifices carat size.

The diamond I’m looking for would be marquise cut and set in 14K or 18K white gold. Here’s are 2 examples of settings (Blue Nile example has diamond as well):

Blue Nile Hand-Engraved Micropavé Diamond Engagement Ring
Blue Nile LD08385782

www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/vintage/14k-white-gold-embossed-diamond-engagement-ring-item-41049?a_aid=dmnd1357

Any help is greatly appreciated and I think I’ll always defer to the experts from now on when shopping jewelry!

The issue with the stone you found is that it doesn’t have a real picture. I need to see a real image to make sure that there’s no or little bow-tie.

Have a look at this stone:
Blue Nile LD08895766

or this one:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/marquise-cut/0.70-carat-h-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-2574662?a_aid=dmnd1357

They are both very well cut, eye-clean, going to look colorless and with the quality I’d recommend.
https://www.diamonds.pro/education/color/

What do you think?

Thanks for the advice.

Unfortunately I think the JA’s diamond was recently purchased by another buyer. Do you have any other recommendations for a marquise cut in the same price area as the previous recommendation?

Here’s the previous recommendation:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/marquise-cut/0.70-carat-h-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-2574662?a_aid=dmnd1357

Thank you very much for your help!

I purchased a ring from James Allen with this diamond this morning!

That’s fantastic news! It was my pleasure helping you.

Please let me know how you like the ring once it arrives.

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.
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. Save 25% on settings at Blue Nile!

Please enter your email address to receive your 25% off coupon code:

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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