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Q&A: Looking for a 2+ Ct. Round Diamond With a $20k Budget

By Mike Fried,

HI, I’m looking for a diamond ring for my wife.

First of all, thank you for all the information on your website, very educational. She likes something around 2 carat or higher, good quality, colorless, like G, and clarity around vvs1-vs1, perfect cut. platinum ring size 5.5.

Would you please make suggestions? My budget is around 20K.

Thank you very much.

Can you tell me what style of setting (solitaire, halo, pave or other) and shape of diamond you’re looking for? Different settings suit certain colors better (https://www.diamonds.pro/education/color/). Then I’ll be happy to help you with the search.

Thanks for response. Solitaire, round. I hope to get it as soon as possible.

I already looked around many on Blue Nile and James Allen and I’ll keep looking. Almost placed an order last night.

I want to know the items you recommend: why you recommend, what special value it provides if that makes sense.
Thanks.

Thank you for the information. I found these diamonds for you:
Blue Nile LD07619930

It’s very well cut and an I color stone is going to look colorless in the style of setting you like. You can read more here: https://www.diamonds.pro/education/color/.

Here’s another option from James Allen:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/2.03-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2315829?a_aid=dmnd1357&chan=x?a_aid=dmnd1357

This diamond is slightly bigger in measurements but is more expensive that’s why I prefer the one from Blue Nile.

If you find a diamond you like in particular feel free to send me a link. I’ll be happy to comment on it.

Let me know what you think.

Thanks, I’d like to see H-G color range. Also I don’t like the symmetry not excellent on the Blue Nile one.

I’d like your comment on this:
Blue Nile LD02120754

Regarding the symmetry, as long as it’s not poor it’s not an issue.

I found this H color stone for you:
Blue Nile LD06945692

The issue with the diamond you found is its strong fluorescence. It can cause a hazy look on higher colors stones. You can read more here: https://www.diamonds.pro/education/fluorescence/.

OK, I thought about the fluorescence, then there are places where it says H or lower can go with strong fluorescence, but I wasn’t convinced, that’s the exactly the reason I didn’t place the order for that, thanks for the confirmation.

I will keep looking, not convinced by the piece you showed me either… Meanwhile, can you let me know what you are looking at that I can’t, i.e. the real advantage of using your service? You are not bringing any discount value, etc, or are you? Thx

……

Can you help me to understand why this is priced higher than the one you recommended, must be some reason I didn’t get.
Blue Nile LD07921018

……

Never mind, I pasted a wrong link, this is a vvs1.

As for the strong fluorescence, it’s not a problem when you can see the stone in person and confirm that it doesn’t look hazy. This is a quality we can’t confirm via screen. Medium is fine on an H color stone.

The diamond you found has slightly too big of a table. In our experience, stones with table between 54-59% and depth 59-62.8% return light with the most brilliance.

If you find a diamond you like, feel free to send me the link.

Yes, Blue Nile loves our education and wanted to offer a coupon for our readers. Here is a unique coupon code for $100 off. [contact us for your own unique coupon code]

Can you comment on these two, and specially why the difference is so big, which one is better? Thx
Blue Nile LD07921018
Blue Nile LD07642759

……

Sorry, wrong URL.

……

These two, please.
Blue Nile LD07088678
Blue Nile LD07642759

……

Also, in terms of setting, would a classic 6 prong a better choice? Any recommendation? Not too thin i suppose? Thx

……

and one more:
Blue Nile LD07194327

Both diamonds have wonderful overall specifications. The smaller stone is slightly superior in cut but it doesn’t explain its price. It seems that the vendor of the smaller stone wants to make more money on the diamond. The 2.35 carat diamond is better value. It’s much bigger for almost the same price.

My favorite is actually the 2.32 carat diamond. It’s almost the same in measurements and it saves you money.

As for the setting, I believe that its the matter of personal taste. Go for the one that you like the most.
Blue Nile Setting Styles

Let me know what you decide.

I decided on 2.32. Thanks

That’s fantastic news! Thank you for the info.

Let me know how you like the ring once it arrives.

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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