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Q&A: Help Finding a Round Diamond for Around $5,500 Budget

By Mike Fried,

I am looking for a solitaire 1.5-2.0 carat round cut diamond. Which one would you recommend for most value?

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

Can you give me your ballpark figure of what you’re planning to spend? Then I’ll be able to help you more.

I have 5000 USD +- 500 USD as a budget. So the budget is up to maximum 5500 USD.

I would if possible like to have a diamond that is 1.0 carat or more. I have done some more research and maybe 1.5-2.0 carat is not possible to achieve with the budget that I have.

I want a simple setting, solitaire with a round cut.

Can you give me some options please?

Thank you for the info.

This diamond looks great to me:
Blue Nile LD01443396

Just ask them to send you the GIA report.

Also, you can use this unique coupon code that gives you 100$ off of your order. [contact us for your own unique coupon code]

What do you think?

Thank you for your quick response. This diamond looks great. Is there any specific reason that you recommended a diamond at Blue Nile and not James Allen?

Would it be a better choice when it comes to value to go for a color I and clarity VS2 or S1? Are both VS2 and S1 eye clean?

I have intended to have a white gold band for the setting of the stone.

I was looking for the largest eye-clean stone within your budget and found it on BN. J color is perfectly fine for a white gold solitaire setting. It’ll still look great.

Clarity grade is not that important as long as the diamond is eye-clean. Unfortunately, most SIs and a lot of VS2s are not. It’s great when you find an eye-clean SI diamond, but it’s not a correct assumption that all of them are eye-clean.

Thank you for your assistance. Can you try to find a similar option which is 1.0 carat or between 1.0 and 1.09 carat?

If possible I would prefer to lower the cost of the diamond abit so that I have enough for the band without extending my budget. If that is not possible with the right quality I will have up my budget.

Sure. Would this one suit you better?
Blue Nile LD07799998

It’s fantastically cut.

Thank you for your assistance in my search for a diamond. It was really helpful! I ended up buying another diamond from James Allen (SKU: 2217386) and I used this email for the booking.

Thanks.

You’re welcome, it’s been a pleasure helping you.

If you can let me know how it looks when it arrives, I’d appreciate it.

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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