Dear Diamonds Pro,
My budget is anywhere from $13,000-$18,000.
I like the JA Platinum Cushion Outline Pave Engagement Ring:
www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/halo/platinum-cushion-outline-pave-engagement-ring-item-49998?a_aid=dmnd1357
And a diamond:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.50-carat-d-color-vvs1-clarity-sku-2602402?a_aid=dmnd1357
I found a great looking diamond at Blue Nile:
Blue Nile LD08336385
I’m not sure if going with the Blue Nile diamond is necessary given the setting that I’m looking for. Which diamond do you think is better and are there better options?
I’m also not sure which diamonds I see online would be considered eye-clean. I see inclusions when zoomed in but not sure at what point inclusions would be visible to the eye.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance for your help.
The issue with the diamond from JA is its medium fluorescence on D color. It can cause a hazy look. That’s why I don’t recommend purchasing this stone (https://www.diamonds.pro/education/fluorescence/).
The diamond from Blue Nile has great overall specifications. It’s very well cut and eye-clean.
Here’s another option from JA:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.50-carat-d-color-vs1-clarity-sku-2582542?a_aid=dmnd1357
Also, if you’re willing to go slightly down with the color, an F diamond is going to look colorless and it saves you money:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.52-carat-f-color-vs1-clarity-sku-2617496?a_aid=dmnd1357
Let me know what you decide.
Thanks for the info. Those are two great looking diamonds. No luck with BN?
Can you send me examples of diamonds that have visible inclusions on the JA website but would not be visible to the naked eye? I’m trying to understand what is borderline eye-clean.
Would most people be able to tell the difference between D,E,F colors, particularly in the setting and style I’m looking for? If not, I would consider going up in carats.
I guess my next question is if you think there’s a noticeable difference between 1.5 c vs 1.8 ct.?
My girlfriend tan/olive tone and has a 4 to 4.5 ring size. Given that I’m considering a Pave/Halo setting, would a larger carat diamond end up looking too big for my gf?
Do you have any recommendations for settings as well? I like the Pave design and the Halo design. My biggest issue with a standard Pave is that the prongs holding the diamond are often very big and noticeable. It takes away from the diamond in a way. The setting I selected with the Halo seems to have smaller prongs. My main concern with the Halo is that the ring may end up looking like a Superbowl Championship ring. Haha. I think the one I sent was a good balance.
Lastly, do you see any reason for me to buy from a brick and mortar vs online? I’m not going to Tiffany’s or anything like that but would a standard mom and pop store be able to compete with JA or BN in value and design?
Sorry for bombarding you with questions. I’m hoping to commit to a purchase over the next month or so.
Thanks!
No, most people won’t notice the difference between D/E/F color stones. They will all look colorless. That’s why I’d stick with an F color stone.
Generally speaking, you get better value online. If you decide to have a look at the options in your local stores, you should search for diamonds with either GIA or AGS certification (these are legit labs). Such cert serves as a proof that you receive what you pay for.
I believe that size is mainly the matter of a personal taste. What one thinks is small, the other thinks is too big. It depends what your partner prefers.
As for the inclusions, have a look at these diamonds:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.71-carat-e-color-si1-clarity-sku-53940?a_aid=dmnd1357
If the stone was smaller, the black inclusion could be covered by a prong of a setting. As it’s big, the inclusion will be visible.
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.52-carat-e-color-vs2-clarity-sku-2456529?a_aid=dmnd1357
The inclusions on this stone are stretching the eye-cleanliness. But I think they won’t be eye-visible.
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.50-carat-f-color-si1-clarity-sku-2374899?a_aid=dmnd1357
Since the inclusions are right on the table and quite severe, this stone is not eye-cean.
I hope it makes more sense now.
As for the settings, have a look at this one:
www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/14k-white-gold-pave-knife-edge-lotus-basket-engagement-ring-item-9305?a_aid=dmnd1357
As you mentioned, the setting you sent last time is a great option, too.
I hope I answered all your questions.
Let me know what you think.
Thanks again for your help.
See the diamond below.
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.54-carat-d-color-vs2-clarity-sku-2519339?a_aid=dmnd1357
Please let me know if you think this diamond is better or worse than the one you send me before.
Based off of what I’ve been looking for online, the below setting is what I like best. I’m not a huge fan of the prong sizes but I’m hoping it won’t be too noticeable.
www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/halo/platinum-cushion-outline-pave-engagement-ring-item-49998?a_aid=dmnd1357
I forgot to mention that I was looking for Platinum because my GF has very sensitive skin and is prone to skin allergies.
The pairing above looks great and is a lot less than my initial budget. If I wanted to get closer to $15K, do you think you can find me better options?
Lastly, are most of your recommendations for JA or BN?
……
Please let me know what you think of this diamond.
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.72-carat-d-color-vs1-clarity-sku-2277376?a_aid=dmnd1357
……
Last email tonight, I promise. ?
Let me know what you think about this one from BN.
Blue Nile LD08079170
If your girlfriend is allergic, then platinum setting should be the right way to go.
As for the diamonds, the ones you found are all beautiful with great overall specs. If you like the more rectangular shape, too they are great options.
The reason I keep searching on JA is that you like the setting from their site. It’s easier to purchase both from one company. But as you mentioned, we’ve had great experiences with JA and BN. Most of our suggestion are from either JA or BN.
Here’s another great option if you want to spend the extra buck.
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.70-carat-f-color-vs1-clarity-sku-2456328?a_aid=dmnd1357
Keep me posted.
Would this diamond be eye-clean? Should I be concerned about the very thick girdle?
As for the girdle, it’s is an issue that has little to no impact on the visual appearance of the diamond. You should avoid the extremely thick/thin ones, otherwise you are fine.
And yes, this diamond is eye-clean. Do you like this stone?
I do like the stone but I’m thinking about going a little bit bigger.
See the diamond below.
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.90-carat-e-color-vs2-clarity-sku-2659417?a_aid=dmnd1357
What do you think? Can you find a diamond around 1.8-1.9 ct.?
Thanks!
The stone you found has great overall specifications. If you don’t mind spending the extra buck, go for it.
Or if you’re willing to go slightly down with the color, this G color diamond is a perfect option, too:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/2.00-carat-g-color-vs2-clarity-sku-2633298?a_aid=dmnd1357
It’s slightly bigger and going to look colorless.
Let me know what you decide.
I really like this 2 ct. diamond. I’m a bit concerned about the color and I stumbled upon a website called Brian Gavin. Are you familiar with them? They are pushing a super ideal cut. Is there a big difference between what JA offers and what Brian Gavin offers? Will most people even notice a difference between the two? I want to get my GF a ting she will love but I’m also a practical person. I’m not someone who cares about getting a brand name ring from Tiffany’s when the quality is similar at places like JA.
I’m leaning toward the one you just recommended but now I may have to reconsider the setting. The setting I initially wanted doesn’t fit a 2 ct. diamond so I’ve been searching for a good setting. Do you have any places you recommend for settings? I’ve exhausted all the JA settings.
I apologize for all the questions and uncertainty. I appreciate your patience.
If an extraordinary brilliance is what you’re looking for then I’d suggest Brian Gavin Signature Hearts and Arrows. That’s exactly what they focus on and you can be sure that you’ll receive the best of diamonds. Not only do these conform to the strictest of cut parameters, but Brian himself selects them for optimal brilliance. Brian Gavin is known as one of the worlds experts when it comes to perfectly cut diamonds. If you want to spend extra on their cut, it’s a great way to go. Here is a great option from their site:
www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.536-h-vs2-cushion-diamond-ags-104092782003?a_aid=y
As for the color, H or G color GIA/AGS certified stones are going to look colorless. https://www.diamonds.pro/education/color/
As for the settings, you can also check the collection on Brian Gavin or Since 1910.
Let me know what you think.
I’m likely going with the Brian Gavin diamond.
Do you know if Brian Gavin accepts negotiations?
I’m not sure if he offers any discounts at the moment. I suggest contacting them directly. They will be able to answer your questions regarding orders, shipping, payment options and possible discounts.
Keep me posted.
I purchased the diamond from Brian Gavin today. The order was processes with this email address.
I mentioned your name to the Brian Gavin team.
Thanks for all your help and patience!
That’s fantastic news!
Thank you for sending me the email address you used for the purchase. It was my pleasure helping you.
Let me know how you like the diamond once it arrives.
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
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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