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Q&A: Help Finding a Round Diamond for a Pave Setting on a $8-10k Budget

By Mike Fried,

Hi! I am looking for a ring. I am still undecided between a halo type ring or a solitaire. Budget around $8-10k.

Best regards.

Can you also tell me what shape of diamond you’re looking for? Then I’ll be happy to send you my suggestion.

I am thinking of a classic round, solitaire ring. Haven’t decided on the material or if I should include micro-pave. I am thinking around 1.0-1.5 carats, with plenty of sparkle (ideal cut).

Regarding the color and clarity, I will listen to your advice. I have read the online posts so I am aware of their significance, but my untrained eye will find it hard to make a wise choice regarding those 2 categories. I will be happy keeping my budget (including the setting) below 10k.

Thank you for the additional information.

Since you plan on using a solitaire or pave setting, I suggest searching for an I color SI stone. Here’s my suggestion of a stone with the quality I’d recommend:

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.52-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4255445?a_aid=dmnd1357

It’s very well cut, eye-clean and going to look colorless.
https://www.diamonds.pro/education/color/

Let me know what you think.

I reviewed the diamond you recommend and I feel for me it’s a little on the big side. It’s my fault, I personally was thinking of more of a 1.2-1.3ct but with a lot of sparkle.
Let me know what you think of these. Sorry for the confusion, it is completely my fault.

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.14-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-true-hearts-cut-sku-3359232?a_aid=dmnd1357

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.20-carat-i-color-vvs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3718759?a_aid=dmnd1357

The setting I was thinking of is:
18K YELLOW GOLD PETITE PAVE ENGAGEMENT RING (FLUSH FIT)

Thanks for all the help, I will be looking forward to your recommendations!

Thank you for the feedback. The issue with the VVS stone is its IGI certification. You should search for diamonds with either a GIA or AGS cert.
https://www.diamonds.pro/education/diamond-certification/#igi-certification

The other diamond is beautiful with great overall specifications. What’s the price of it? And I noticed that both stones seem to be sold. Did you already purchase them?

Oh, good catch, didn’t see that.

No, I have not, if you could recommend something similar, that would be eye clean, around 1.2-1.3ct.

And I was wondering, would the I color work well with platinum or should I strive for an H?

OK, have a look at this one:

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.30-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2029303?a_aid=dmnd1357

An I color stone is going to look colorless in a pave style platinum setting.

What do you think of the following diamond?

Blue Nile LD00000108

The stone you found on Blue Nile is very well cut but the issue with it is its strong fluorescence. It can cause a hazy look on an I+ grade.
https://www.diamonds.pro/education/fluorescence/

Have a look at this one:

Blue Nile LD09023705

Thank you! I noticed you chose a girdle labeled “faceted”, what does that mean? Another quick question: will this be eye-clean? I noticed on the report it has a couple of imperfections on the table. I wonder what you think of this one:

Blue Nile LD07815081

Faceted girdle means that there are tiny facets in it. But this is a specification that basically doesn’t influence the impression.

The last stone you picked is eye-clean. VVS grades are safe in terms of eye-cleanliness. Inclusions on such stones are hardly visible under magnification. The table of this diamond is slightly bigger than we usually recommend. But the cut seems to be fine.
So if you like it, it’s another great option.

Thanks for all the help, you made this usually stressful experience quite hassle free. I ended up picking the one you recommended.

Best regards!

That’s fantastic news!

I’m happy to hear that you found our services helpful. It was my pleasure helping you.

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.
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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!

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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
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