Hello!
I’m in the UK and I’ve been searching for an engagement ring. My partner likes a petite ring style and I have decided on this setting from Blue Nile:
Petite Twist Diamond Engagement Ring
I’ve followed the advise on your site and have found the following diamond (and a few others that are similar):
Blue Nile LD11709674
This is the first time I have ever had to buy an engagement ring and so I thought I’d take advantage of your expert opinion on this diamond. It looks eye clean to my untrained eye, however could I find better with similar characteristics?
Additionally, will this size of diamond be sufficient in this setting, as mentioned above, my partner prefers a petite more discrete style but I am concerned that this might be too small?
For info, my budget for the whole ring is roughly £2500, or ~$3300.
Many thanks in advance.
The setting you picked is beautiful. In my opinion, a ~0.70ct diamond will work very well with it, although I’m not really able to give you any guidelines on what the “right” size is – it’s completely subjective.
Unfortunately, the diamond you selected has “Cloud” listed as the only clarity characteristic. Cloud listed on an SI stone can significantly influence the appearance of a stone in a negative way. I’d skip this diamond.
Something like this is going to look much better:
Blue Nile LD12280291
It’s gorgeously cut, absolutely eye-clean and will look colorless in a pave setting. The difference in size between this diamond and your original choice is negligible.
What do you think?
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly and many thanks for your advise! The diamond you have linked looks great although they all look pretty similar to me!
No, I don’t mind going a little smaller if the diamond is of a better quality in your opinion.
I notice this one also has cloud listed but is this not an issue on VS1 stones? Likewise I can see some very small pinprick type inclusions on the face, I assume though that this will not be noticeable by eye?
Just out of interest do you have any examples of similar stones that are between .7-.75 carat so that I can see what the difference in price might be?
Exactly so, clouds are not an issue on VS1+ diamonds. Only on stones with lower clarity grades. None of the microscopic inclusions you see on the video will be noticeable in person, the diamond is absolutely eye-clean.
Larger options would look like this:
Blue Nile LD12064332
Blue Nile LD12259861 (this one has fantastic specs, but size-wise it’s the same as the first one and it’s more expensive).
Thanks! That last diamond is very tempting, I think this is the one 🙂
Sounds great!
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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