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Q&A: Looking to Buy an Eye-Clean 1/2 Ct. Round Diamond for a White Gold Solitaire Setting

By Mike Fried,

Hi, I am looking to buy a diamond ring to propose to my girlfriend. I learnt a lot from you website. Thank you for it. After going through your reviews, I’ve decided to buy from James Allen.
I had a question regarding diamond clarity.
Are these diamonds naked eye clean?

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.50-carat-g-color-i1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-786782?a_aid=dmnd1357

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.46-carat-h-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1140491?a_aid=dmnd1357

Or should i go with I or J with VS2 clarity for similar price? 

I looked at the diamonds you sent me and I’ve got some concerns with them. The G-color diamond is well cut, but its clarity is below the quality we recommend. The feather might be visible and might even affect the integrity of the diamond. I’d ask James Allen about it, they can get it inspected by their in-house gemologists.

The H-color diamond is poorly cut and not eye-clean either.

I’d be happy to find a better alternative for you. Can you tell me what style setting (solitaire, pave/side stones/halo) and metal (yellow/white gold, platinum) do you want to use? This may affect the colors that I recommend for the center diamond (as we explain in our post on color).

Once I know this, I’ll be able to help you more. 

 Thank you for the quick response.

Setting:
I am looking for a Solitaire, 4 prong (kite setting 3 6 9 12) , 14k white gold ring. Ring size is 4.75
[If its James Allen, the ring is
www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/14k-white-gold-2mm-knife-edge-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-7115?a_aid=dmnd1357 ], I am open to other stores as well.

I am not sure about the diamond. my budget for the diamond is $700-$1000.
I want an Ideal cut, eye clean, sparkling and colorless to naked eye under most light conditions.
I saw 0.46 carat to be good compromise for size and cost. but getting biggest diamond for my budget would be great.
I would leave the Color,Clarity upto you. Not sure if J or I would look colorless enough or i should goto H.

Looking forward for your suggestions. Will place order immediately after finalizing the diamond using this e-mail address. Thanks.

Can you also look at this?
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.46-carat-g-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1970303?a_aid=dmnd1357

Thanks.

Thank you for the additional info.

For that type of the setting you’re going with, you can easily drop in color to a J and it’ll still look fantastic. There’s no need to go for higher grades.

The diamond you sent me is well cut, but I’m slightly concerned about its clarity as there is a cloud listed in the clarity plot. It might negatively affect the diamond’s brilliance.

I looked around and I have found this diamond for you:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.46-carat-j-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1953780?a_aid=dmnd1357
It is well cut, eye-clean and bright. Strong fluorescence is a bonus here, it’ll help the diamond look a tad whiter.

What do you think?

 Ordered the ring with the diamond you’ve suggested. Used this addres. Let me know if you need any info from me regarding the order. 

That’s great news!

I hope you’ll love it when you receive it. If you could let me know how it looks when it arrives, I’d appreciate it.

Thanks for thinking about us. We don’t need to know anything else.

Have a lovely day. 

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. Get 30% off lab-grown diamonds during a limited time sale.
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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