Excellent articles and advice.
I may need some help after all. I am looking for a 3 carat oval diamond.
Do you have any guidance on this please?
What style setting (solitaire, pave/side stones, halo) and metal (yellow gold, white gold, platinum) are you planning to get?
And what is your ballpark budget for the diamond?
Great! I look forward to working with you too! My fiancé is a lady who knows what she wants and I am sure someone who likes to strike a balance between quality and value.
Ring specs: solitaire setting in platinum – with four diamonds on each side of band with 3 carat oval diamond as the main stone.
As for budget – I am keeping an open mind – I am looking for a great sparkling stone with a small as possible bow-tie but perfect cut with ideal table/length ratios etc etc.
If you could provide me with a range of prices and diamonds to compare that would be great!
Thanks for the details!
I found these two settings for the start:
www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/side-stones/18k-white-gold-050ct-prong-set-round-shaped-diamond-engagement-ring-item-2419?a_aid=dmnd1357
The cost of the diamond itself would be somewhere around $40k:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/3.01-carat-g-color-vs2-clarity-sku-3026468?a_aid=dmnd1357
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/3.01-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-sku-2627344?a_aid=dmnd1357
I also found this other option that costs less:
Blue Nile LD09021672
I didn’t find a setting on their website, but you could theoretically have it custom made somewhere else.
Let me know what you think.
Thank you for the suggestions. Would you also please address the following when making recommendations?
Your opinion/translation/evaluation of quality of diamond. Also let’s look at something closer to $25k ish?
What is a reasonable quality 3 carat diamond? In terms of 3C and bow tie effect on ovals?
What are some other factories to consider?
Any comparative notes between multiple suggestions for diamonds?
Again, thank you so much for the time in helping me make a great choice for partner.
The color should be H+ for an oval in a PT setting.
Clarity can be SI1+, but it’s very important to make sure the inclusions aren’t significant as it’s a big rock.
It’s also important to keep the depth below 74%.
If you want to keep the price around 25k, we should be looking at a significantly smaller diamond. I found this 2.50ct in that category:
Blue Nile LD08984376
Could you also provide me with your opinion/evaluation of the diamond you’ve also narrowed down please? What did you really like about it from both the stats and visual inspection?
Your expert opinion matters 🙂
Also what is the best price range for a 3 carat or as close as possible to it within a 5% range?
Thanks!
I was looking for the best oval within 25k. H+ is important and a minimal bow tie is crucial. The cut on that diamond is great, the color isn’t high, so you’re not paying a premium and it’s eye-clean.
A decent price for a 3ct would be around 37-40k.
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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