I’m looking for a diamond for my girlfriend, she hasn’t decided on a setting yet, but she wants a princess cut. I’ve been reading your blog for a while and I’m glad I did!
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).
Let me know and I’d be happy to send you some suggestions.
I am aiming for around 10K for a 1.5-2.0 carat stone. She has decided on Princess cut. We visited a Mervis location and they showed us a 1.54 carat G/VS1 diamond for about $13,500. Didn’t seem like a deal to me. I did also see this on their site and it looks like a good value. Wanted to get your thoughts:
Mervis Diamond nº1
As for the the setting, she really likes these two channel paved rings at Mervis:
Mervis Diamond nº2
Mervis Diamond nº3
And this one at Blue Nile:
Blue Nile Hand Engraved Micropavé Diamond Engagement Ring
I will be looking for something similar to these settings at other sites. If you have any suggestions on that as well, they are welcome.
Again, I appreciate your advice!
Stay away from Mervis. They are trying to screw you with illegitimate certification. That diamond you linked to is horrific; it is probably a K I1 (EGL Israel is probably the worst certificate on earth). Here is our post on EGL (Ira did a fantastic video on it as well).
I like this diamond for you:
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Very-Good-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1489772.asp
What do you think?
Thanks Mike, I hadn’t seen Ira’s video on EGL. Mervis truly looks like a scam then. I was hoping to get something under $10k. Any recommendations in that price range?
You are really stretching the quality. This is a new diamond that just popped up. I didn’t see it before:
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VVS1-Very-Good-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1398558.asp
I think that’s a real winner.
Thanks for the advice Mike! I ended up picking the one you recommended and got the setting of her choice from James Allen as well.
I did take a look at the 2.02 H/SI1 at Mervis in person and it was horrendous! They still tried to play up the value, but I wasn’t having any of it.
Thanks again for your help and I’ll let you know what she thinks!
Sounds great. Let me know how it looks when it arrives.
I wanted to thank you for all your help and suggestions. My fiancee loves the ring and I’m very glad I got your advice. James Allen posted the attached picture of the ring.
Thanks for writing and letting us know. I’m delighted that you were pleased with our help.
We wish you and your partner a life of happiness and fulfillment.
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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