Q&A: Help Finding an Oval Diamond For a Rose Gold Setting With a $1.8k – $2.2k Budget

Hi guys,

Thank you so much for the great resource you are! I’m so grateful for the energy you have put into making this site and explaining things as best you can in layman’s terms.

I am wanting to find an oval shape diamond with the best balance of size, cut, clarity, and color. My budget is $1,800-2,200. I will be having this mounted as a solitaire on a simple, small rose gold engagement band. The diamond will definitely be the star of the show here.

I would like to get as close to 1 ct. as possible, but I understand that 0.80 is a more realistic expectation. I also understand that real measurement should not be overshadowed by weight.

I’ve been advised to aim for VVS2 to VS2 in clarity and shoot for somewhere between F and I in color. This is where I run into issues. All of the expectations I’ve listed combine to form a diamond outside of my budget in 95% of cases.

Unless you are able to miraculously find something in my search parameters that I have not found yet, what area(s) do you think I should compromise in order to achieve the most brilliant, eye-clean diamond possible for my situation?

Do you agree that prioritizing size due to the simplicity of the band is a good idea? Does having a rose gold band give me wiggle room in the color of the diamond (e.g. warmer color)? Are my clarity parameters too strict?

Any suggestions are (more than) welcome. There are two listings on Blue Nile that seemed to be a good “value,” but until a couple of months ago, I had no clue what any of these acronyms of the “4 C’s” meant. An expert’s eye will help me feel better about my search, especially when it comes to fluorescence, symmetry, polish, depth/table %, bow-tie effect, etc.

Blue Nile LD12999937
Blue Nile LD13021874

Thanks again for taking the time to look at my questions. I really appreciate your guidance, and I hope to direct my friends to your site when the appropriate times come!

like the option you presented to me. It’s very pretty. I also understand the points you’ve made. They make sense to me.

Do you think you could find any other diamonds I could compare to? Perhaps James Allen would also have some options that are good? My hope was to have a little larger if possible, but having a good color, shape, symmetry, subtle bow tie, etc are important to me since they contribute so much to the look. If there aren’t any better eye-clean options, I can accept what I’m looking at as the largest I’ll find.

Don’t take that as disappointment, though! I am going to be excited the whole way through this process, just as I hope she will be soon. 😊

Thanks again for your help. I do agree about the actual size on top. I wish the one on Blue Nile was still available.

James Allen is showing me these diamonds:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/0.75-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-sku-7635721?a_aid=dmnd1357
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/0.76-carat-h-color-vvs1-clarity-sku-5075525?a_aid=dmnd1357

What do you think? Are they up to snuff? I was wanting something I could get in ASAP, and they obliged by getting on chat to review options. Your advice is essential to my decision, however.

I am going to purchase 7554154.

You have been extremely helpful.