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Q&A: Looking for a 3 Ct. Diamond for a Yellow Gold Solitaire Setting with a $30k Budget

By Mike Fried,

Looking for a 3 ct diamond for my wife.
Looking for the best eye clean one for under $30,000.00.
Desire Round, H, VS1 -VS2 in Excellent cuts
What do I need to drop in level without sacrificing eye appeal?
Thank you so much for finding a way to cut through the retail nightmare.
Let me know if I am being realistic. 

I’d be happy to make some recommendations and guide you through the process. What type of setting are you considering? Yellow gold or white gold/platinum? Will it be a solitaire or does it have sidestones/pave? This may affect the colors that I recommend for the center diamond (as we explain in our post on color). 

Solitary setting in yellow gold
Probably on broad band she wears. 

What do you think of these?

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/3.21-carat-k-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-5698170?a_aid=dmnd1357
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD11517421

(This is a comparable recommendation to the previous one that we made from a company that no longer exists.)

Thank you for responding to my inquiry with these samples.
I am surprised by how good the color grade J & K look.
The Cuts look splendid.
The Clarity is the issue I have, but I know what guidelines I gave you.
Both show inclusions clearly from the top, just off-center.
One did say eye ‘clear’, and I am looking at enlargments…but
Where would I have to go to get similar stones with better grade Calrity?
Thanks again for your assistance. 

 Both of those diamonds are 100% eye-clean. You can ask the respective companies to confirm that. I would certainly not recommend going higher in clarity:

https://www.diamonds.pro/education/clarity/

As for the color, this is perfect for a yellow gold setting: https://www.diamonds.pro/education/color/

Also, keep in mind that the images are magnified 25X. 

Thanks for the wonderful articles.
Your sound advise is a rare gift.

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What we love about them:
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