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Q&A: Looking for a .8 – .9 Ct. Cushion or Princess Cut Diamond for a $3K Budget

By Mike Fried,

Hello and thank you for all the great information on your site! I’m looking for a diamond for a setting I have already purchased and have been checking out the James Allen site. The Ring can hold a Princess or a Cushion cut, My girlfriend really likes the cushion, but I am wondering what would be the best option for my budget? I am looking for something in the $3-4K (Canadian $) range. I have some family in the US I can ship it to and visit later…

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/0.81-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-sku-998010?a_aid=dmnd1357

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.80-carat-f-color-si2-clarity-sku-1929269?a_aid=dmnd1357

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.81-carat-f-color-vs2-clarity-sku-1242820?a_aid=dmnd1357

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.91-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-sku-1855976?a_aid=dmnd1357
(not sure if this L/W ratio will work in my setting though)

Thanks for your help! 

I’m glad you find our website useful. We appreciate it. Now, let’s see how I can help you.

I looked at the diamonds you sent me and I like the last one (0.91ct cushion cut) as it’s well cut and eye-clean. However, I’m not sure if the rectangular shape works for you.

Maybe you’d be better off with something like this:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/0.80-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-sku-2032086?a_aid=dmnd1357
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.90-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-sku-2004607?a_aid=dmnd1357
They look great to me.

What do you think? 

Thank you! The cushion you sent me looks great! Would I technically be able to get a “better” princess or cushion cut with my budget?

Do you see any cushions closer to the $3K mark just so I can compare to the one you suggested. I’ll check with a goldsmith to see if I can put the longer cushion in the setting I got as well.

Thanks for the quick reply! 

I’m glad you like it.

Regarding a “better“ cushion cut, I found this one that is slightly larger: www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.92-carat-h-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-1933064?a_aid=dmnd1357.

Also, have a look at this 0.96ct one, if you look at the real measurements, it’s practically the same size as the 0.90ct one from my previous email.: www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.92-carat-h-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-1933064?a_aid=dmnd1357 (so you can see that the first diamond is really very well cut).

I’d be happy to recommend another princess cut option as well, but could you tell me what style setting you are going to use? This may affect the color (as we explain in our post on color). 

Sorry I think you misunderstood my last email. I am interested in the cushion as my girlfriend likes that shape, but If I can get a much better princess diamond for my budget I would go with princess. Is a cushion shape More, Less or Roughly the same price as a princess??

Do you see any cushion shape diamomd closer to the $3,000 mark just so I can compare to the one you suggested.

Thank you.

I just found this one… www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.90-carat-g-color-vs2-clarity-sku-1018311?a_aid=dmnd1357

What do you think?

The other one you suggested has sold, so its between the one above and this one. www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.91-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-sku-1855976?a_aid=dmnd1357

Can you let me know which one is better? I’m ready to order it.

THANK YOU! 

I like this one more: www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.91-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-sku-1855976?a_aid=dmnd1357

It’s cleaner and slightly larger than the first one.

Let me know what you decide on in the end. 

Thank you, I made the purchase under this e-mail address. 

Thanks for thinking about us.

I hope you’ll love the ring when you receive it. If you could 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!

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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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