Q&A: Looking for 1+ Carat Princess Cut Diamond for $6K Budget

Hi there! Your site has given me a lot of good information on diamonds and I would like to say thanks! In addition, I was wondering if you can please look at these three diamonds and give me your advice as to which is the better product.

Here they are:

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-992484.asp

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1389585.asp

Blue Nile LD01636015

You will notice that two are from James Allen and one is from Blue Nile. In the end I don’t really care which of the two retailers I buy it from. I just want the best value for my budget. I’m looking to spend $6,000 (including shipping and fees/taxes) on a loose princess cut diamond. Size does matter (in terms of length and width) as I’m trying to find something as close to 1.20 carats. If you can please help me out that would be great!

Thanks!

Hi Ira. Thanks for your response! I was also considering that one as well. The only problem I have with it is that James Allen lists the diamond as VS1 however on the GIA report it’s VVS2. I’m a little confused as too which is the correct clarity. Also, the picture seems to make the diamond a little dull when you compare it to the other diamonds that are pictured on the web site. Does this matter? Is the reason why it’s more dull is because it’s a bad photo? Will the diamond actually look that dull once I get it? If you have an answer to any of these questions and you can help me out that would be great! Thanks again Ira!

Ok. That sounds good. Thanks again for all your help Ira!

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Hi Ira. Sorry to bother you again but I have one more question for you. I know that the diamond color is I for this particular solitiare

I’m looking at. I’m a little worried that it might look yellow or have some yellow tint when it’s in natural sunlight or when looking at

it under home lighting. Should I be worried about this? Should I look for a diamond with a better color grade?

If you can please let me know that would be great!

Hi Ira…thanks for the tips. I really appreciate it. Unfortunately those two diamonds are slightly out of my budget. I live in Canada so when i get the diamond shipped to me I will have to pay HST (13 percent tax) on it. This would substantially increase the total price on the diamond. Since my budget is roughly $6,000 including taxes/shipping I don’t think I can afford either of the two (actually it would only be the second once since the first one has now been sold).

However, I did do some more research on James Allen (following the guidelines that you outlined on your website) and I think I might have come up with a winner. I just want to get your opinion first. Here are the four diamonds I am looking at with an H color:

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1370672.asp

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1345791.asp

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1382803.asp

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1373996.asp

I do have an issue with the last one I listed. I noticed that it’s certified by IGI and not by GIA. I am a little worried about that however I wanted to get your opinion on it if you think that this is the best diamond out of the four.

In addition, I should let you know that the princess cut diamond that I am buying will be placed in setting that looks like this:

http://www.spencediamonds.com/ring-style-3974

Knowing this, would I be better off buying the original I grade diamond that you suggested? Or would I be better off with an H grade diamond?

Thanks for the advice Ira! I’m going to make my decision within the next two weeks. I’m going to have to recalculate my budget as I’ve run into some unexpected expenses today. I’ll let you know what diamond I choose.

Thanks again for all your help!

Hi Ira. I just took the plunge and purchased this diamond from James Allen:

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1376096.asp

It cost more than the one you recommended:

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1370672.asp

However, I had no choice! That one was sold out! 🙁

What do you think of the one I bought? Do you think it’s worth it?

Thanks for your response! Luckily for me I was able to cancel my order. Thanks again for your advice! I’m going to look

through the james allen site again. Hopefully I can find something.

…….

After looking through James Allen’s website I didn’t really find anything that I was happy with that fit my budget (which my absolute max is $5700) . I did see this one:

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1345791.asp

However, I’m a little concerned about the girdle since it is listed as very thin to thick. Also, the table percentage is listed at 75%. I thought that this might not be acceptable since you say that I should look for a loose diamond that’s under 75%. What do you think? Is this diamond worth purchasing? Or should I hold off until I find a better one?

Hi Ira…thanks for the advice! I just purchased this one:

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-SI1-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1389635.asp

I thought out of the three it had the best details…even though it’s an SI1 I thought that the inclusions weren’t very visible at all! On top of that it was a good price and it was the biggest looking diamond of the three. I can’t thank you enough for all your help Ira! All I need to do now is to get the design of the ring made from a local jeweler who I’ve sourced out about two months ago…and of course I have to propose to my girlfriend!

I definitely will! Thanks again Ira!

…….

hi ira! i got the ring made and it turned out really good! in the end i payed a grand total of $8500 for the diamond and the setting. the crazy thing is that it is valued at $20,000! i just proposed to her yesterday and my fiance loves the ring! thanks again for all your help! i couldn’t have done it without you!