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Q&A: Looking for the Best Value Diamond for a Solitaire With $9000 Budget

By Mike Fried,

I’m looking for the best price, clarity and color for 9000.00 max! A round solitaire.

I looked around and I love this diamond for you:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.50-carat-j-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2285138?a_aid=dmnd1357

It’s the best one I could find in that range. It’s fantastically cut and will be very brilliant. Medium fluorescence is a bonus here, it’ll help the diamond look a bit whiter.

What do you think?

That’s very helpful… My fiance bought a diamond that’s the same size SI1… K and with a trade in allowance of 3000, he still spent 8900.00 the setting does have approx .5 diamonds in a channel set… I have 30 days to return… After researching I just don’t think this is a good value! It was purchased from diamonds direct!

Does that diamond come with a certificate?

Yes it does!

What kind of certificate?

GIA.

OK.

Still, K color is too low for a channel setting. I color is what we recommend at the lowest to make sure there are no warmish tones in it.

The cut on this diamond is stunning:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.40-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2286912?a_aid=dmnd1357

Thoughts?

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. They currently run a 10% discount on selected lab-grown diamonds!
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. Right now, Blue Nile offers up to 50% savings on selected jewelry during a limited-time season sale.
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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