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Q&A: Help Finding a Round Diamond for a White Gold Tapered Pavé With Around $10k Budget

By Mike Fried,

Looking for a round diamond for an engagement ring. Looking to spend around $10,000 US.

1.2+ Carat
D-F Color
Eye clean

The diamonds I’ve looked at locally here in San Diego have not been that great for the money. Any help would be great. Definitely a little unsure about buying online. Hopefully you can steer me in the right direction.

I’d be happy to make some recommendations for you, but I need a little more info.

What style setting (solitaire, pave/side stones/halo) and metal (yellow/white gold, platinum) do you want to use? This may affect the colors that I recommend for the center diamond (as we explain in our post on color).

Great, thank you for the info.

I love this diamond for you:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.35-carat-g-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3063560?a_aid=dmnd1357

It’s fantastically cut, eye-clean and will be very brilliant. There’s no visual difference between an F and a G color. This diamond will look beautiful in the setting you picked.

What do you think?

That looks great. As long as you think it will be eye clean I like it. Maybe one of the prongs can cover outside inclusion. I don’t know if this one would be any better but it’s just something I saw:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.25-carat-g-color-vs1-clarity-true-hearts-cut-sku-2299777?a_aid=dmnd1357

What do you think? I definitely like the size and price of the one you found, just looking for one that’s going to pop. But I trust your decision.

I’m glad you like it.

The one you found has great specs, but we’re not huge fans of the “True hearts” collection. The diamonds are usually way too expensive with no additional bonus. You can see that it’s smaller, yet pricier than my diamond.

I just wanted to say thank you for all your help. I did end up purchasing the diamond that you recommended. I also used the same email address so hopefully you get credit for it. I really hope that the diamond will be beautiful. It’s a little nerve-racking to purchase something like that online but with your advice I hope it will be perfect.

Thanks again!

Thank you for letting me know! You got yourself a beautiful diamond.

It’s been a pleasure helping you. I hope you love it when you receive it. If you could let me know how it looks when it arrives, I’d appreciate it.

I know it’s been a while but I just wanted to say thank you.

You nailed that diamond! It is perfect!

Thank you for helping me pick out an awesome diamond and saving me some serious money in the process. I hope you get your commission because you deserve it. Without your help I would’ve spent more money on features that I didn’t need to. Thanks again.

I’m very happy to hear that! Thank you so much for the wonderful feedback!

I wish you and your partner a life of happiness and fulfillment.

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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