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Q&A: Help Finding a Round Diamond for a White Gold Halo Setting With a $5k Total Budget

By Mike Fried,

Our budget is $5000 but we found a round halo setting for a .5 carat round cut diamond that we really like for $1300. Since we like the smaller diamond size, would you recommend getting a really great diamond or getting a decently good diamond and just coming in way under budget?

Feel free to recommend both.

You don’t have to pay extra for qualities you won’t benefit from. If the halo setting is in white gold/platinum, then H+ diamond will be necessary. Clarity can be as low as SI2 as long as the diamond is eye-clean.

Where did you find the setting?

We found it at Robbins Brothers. They showed us a few diamonds as well but they were all pretty lackluster or just seemed gimmicky (large numbers of facets, IGI certification, etc).

I like the idea of getting a setting that we’ve seen in person and then having them put the diamond in it. It’s white gold by the way.

You’re right, we probably don’t need a super high grade diamond, but I do like the idea of going just a little bit better than we need since we have a lot of room in our budget to work with.

Thanks.

I understand. I’d recommend Brian Gavin for you then. He is known as one of the world’s experts when it comes to perfectly cut diamonds. BGD’s Signature diamonds are truly fantastic. They are all incredibly brilliant.

Here are two diamonds I found:
www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.518-h-vs2-round-diamond-ags-104091071014?a_aid=y

www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.520-h-vs1-round-diamond-ags-104091064032?a_aid=y

Thanks to their perfect cut, the color looks much better in them.

Check them out and let me know what you think. If you’re aiming for real quality, BGD is the way to go.

I ended up going with the second one you recommended. I had not considered Brian Gavin so your recommendation was very helpful.

Excellent news!

Thanks for the info. I think you’ll love the diamond.

Let me know how it looks when you receive it.

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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.
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