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Q&A: Looking for a Rectangular Radiant Cut Diamond for a Solitaire Setting With a $5,000 Total Budget

By Mike Fried,

Hi,

My boyfriend and I are shopping around for my engagement ring. We met with a local diamond wholesaler yesterday but I feel I can find a better stone within our budget online. This is what I’ve been searching for online on sites such as James Allen.

Budget: 5,000 max
Type: rectangular radiant
Carat: .90+
L/W: around 1.3 (I prefer the rectangular radiant shape as opposed to the square)

Thank you in advance!

What style setting do you plan to put the diamond into? I want to make sure it doesn’t look yellow in it.

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. For setting, I’m looking for a plain, thin (under 2 mm) 14k white gold solitaire.

Great! Thank you for the details.

What do you think of this combination?
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.20-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-sku-7387350?a_aid=dmnd1357
14K WHITE GOLD 1.5MM COMFORT FIT ENGAGEMENT RING

The diamond looks amazing, is eye-clean and will have a lot of fire and brilliance. It’s an incredible option for the 1.5mm solitaire setting.

Beautiful stone! Looks like the L/W ratio is a little less than what I’m looking for. I saw a 1.3 l/w on a 1 carat and fell in love. Also, budget is 5k max with everything (stone, setting, setting fee, taxes). So I’m really working with a $4,400 stone only budget.

That is an option. Not sure if I had seen that one before.

I’ve being eyeing this one. Thoughts on comparison to the one you mention below?

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.01-carat-e-color-vs2-clarity-sku-2525354?a_aid=dmnd1357

The one you sent me is not eye-clean and is also considerably pricier than my option.

Thanks for all your help. We ended up going with the stone you recommended.

Thanks again!

That’s great news! I’m glad you liked my recommendation so much.

Let me know how it looks when you receive it.

James Allen James Allen is the leader in online diamond sales. Their imaging technology is the same as inspecting a diamond with a jeweler's loupe. They have the largest exclusive loose diamond inventory online and fantastic prices. They also have the nicest collection of lab-created diamonds online. Get 30% off lab-grown diamonds during a limited time sale.
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
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Blue Nile Blue Nile is the largest and most well-known internet jewelry seller. They have a very large exclusive online inventory. Their high-quality images are catching up to James Allens' and their prices are amazing. Save 25% on settings at Blue Nile!

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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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