Hi, I was wondering if you’d be able to give me some advice on buying a diamond for an engagement ring.
Budget: £4500-6000
Size: 1-1.4ca or thereabouts.
Shape: round
I’m based in the UK and Sweden. Ideally delivery would be to Sweden but either works. I don’t really know which currency is best to buy in but could do either.
My partner is interested in a single diamond set in a minimal setting and plain ring so my budget doesn’t need to cover much more than the diamond itself. She has a good eye! From your own, and other’s, advice it seems that cut shouldn’t be compromised on.
Many thanks in advance for your help!
I’d recommend going with Blue Nile. The delivery to both said countries. I suggest you contact their customer service directly and discuss the terms of delivery with them.
As for the center diamond, here’s something that is going to look amazing in a simple solitaire setting:
Blue Nile LD10889665
It’s gorgeously cut and will be very bright and brilliant.
What do you think?
Thanks for your recommendation. Is colour grade J ok? How likely is she to be able to see that it’s off-white?
I wouldn’t recommend diamonds that would look yellowish when they shouldn’t. J color looks perfectly colorless in a solitaire setting. Unless she’s extremely color sensitive, I wouldn’t worry about it. Medium fluorescence is also a slight bonus there, it’ll help the diamond look a tad whiter.
Thanks again for your advice. Think I had the colour scale the wrong way around – thought D was the most yellow but realise now J should be absolutely fine. She’s got normal colour sensitivity I think. If I wanted to bring the price down to around £5000, could you recommend something? As an aside, what’s the relevance of girdle thickness?
I’m glad you’ve got it figured out now.
Girdle has little to no impact on the visual appearance. Unless it’s extremely thin/thick, you’re fine.
I liked the second suggestion you gave above (1.13ca, J, VVS1) and am considering going for that one but wondered whether I could go up in size a little if I sacrificed on clarity eg to VS1? Could push the budget a few £100s to get 1.2 or more also.
This is the first eye-clean option I found in the 1.2ct range:
Blue Nile LD10681825
It has great specs. What do you think? Does it look like something you’d consider?
Yes that looks like a good option. I think the size is right and eye-clean is what I’m after (assuming that means you can’t see inclusions and it looks pretty much colourless?). The only slight concern I have is the J colour rating but given it’s going on a gold band and your assurances that it is pretty much colourless I think I’ll bite the bullet! Can always return it…
I’m glad you like it. Yes, there shouldn’t be any visible inclusions and the color is also not at all an issue. And, as you say, you can always return it if you weren’t happy with it. I really like that diamond and I think it’s going to make a beautiful ring.
Thanks again!
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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