I am shopping around for a 1.5 carat Princess cut diamond, solitaire ring. My girlfriend was roped in by salesmen at Zales and loves the Celebration diamond they sell. I do not have the budget for a $13,000 ring, but would like to find something with an excellent cut to maximize brilliance. My budget max is $9500 but I am looking for a good deal. I have looked through diamonds at James Allen and Blue Nile. I was curious what you could find for me. Thanks in advance for your help.
Hey M. It was a pleasure speaking with you earlier. Here’s what I found for you:
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1256386.asp – I VS2 1.74 Great numbers. Clean.
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1269711.asp– H SI1 1.73 Even better numbers. SI1 is small, but dead center. Most likely eye-clean. But for this one, I’d be more comfortable if you called James Allen’s customer service and asked them to check it face to face. (JA only works with vendors in walking distance to their NY office, so they have physical access to all the stones they sell – unlike Blue Nile)
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1249092.asp– H VS2 1.70. Great make. VS2 is dead center and black. Again, most likely eye clean, but definitely worth a face-to-face check if you want to pursue further.
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1249538.asp– G SI2. Interesting option. Very nice SI2. It’s concentrated at the top in the pic in the middle.
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1269249.asp – I VS1 – Ever so slightly off-square. And table is a little large, but that’s just at asthetic issue and not a performance one.
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1224711.asp – I VS2 1.74. Great all around.
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VVS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1255226.asp – IVVS2. Great make. I dont’ necessarily recommend buying such a high clarity since a VS2 will be just as clean to your naked eye. But it is cool how you can get such a high clarity stone for such a great price with still such a great make.
That’s more than I usually send, but there really were quite a bit of options. Again, you can go down to an I color with confidence that it’s still going to look great. Have a look at these and let me know your thoughts.
Best Regards,
Ira
PS – I was at the Orange Bowl on Jan 1st 1988 when Miami wooped you guys! I grew up in Miami as a huge ‘canes fan.
I really appreciate your help. I am debating between the first one and the second to last one. Both 1.74, VS2, I but about $600 difference. The more expensive one has a better picture but I don’t want to base my decision on that. It also has a smaller table, so I am trying to decide what I like better.
I will probably order it this week. Again I appreciate your input, it helped a lot. I will make sure to go through your site to give you credit.
Also, we are Oklahoma State graduates, so we are a little happy when OU gets beat. Haha.
Thanks a lot! Please let me know if you need any more help.
Miami fans will always appreciate OSU for sending us Jimmy Johnson 🙂
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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