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Q&A: Looking for a Round Diamond for a Platinum Halo Setting Within a $13k Budget

By Mike Fried,

Good evening!

Shopping for an engagement ring from Canada. Looking on Blue Nile and James Allen. Have done a bit of research on many sites but enjoyed all the details that you have! However, still a little lost lol. I thought I figured out the cut, color, and clarity. Then I just learnt about fluorescent and widths of tables and depth percentages ughhh!! Just looking for a nice size, quality diamon. Here is what I am looking for:

Shape: Round

Setting: Platinum ring with Halo (PLATINUM MARQUISE AND ROUND BRILLIANT DIAMOND HALO ENGAGEMENT RING)

Cut: ideal or better (**Really important as I want that quality sparkle!!)
Clarity: VS1 or VS2? (I want it to be eye clean but hard to tell when you are looking at the magnified pictures that show EVERYTHING!.
Color: D-I (This area I am lost in, was told to look for G, but have been told you cant tell the difference between G and I. But then was told don’t do I when going with platinum…help!)
Carat. Above 1 below 2.

Budget is $15,000 Canadian with the setting; So up to $13,000 for the diamond.

Thanks for your help!.

The setting you picked is beautiful, I love it. For the center stone, I’d recommend an H+ diamond that is eye-clean (SI-IF). I always search for the largest + best cut + best priced eye-clean diamond to make sure you’re getting the best bang for your buck.

I found these three diamonds that look very promising on the videos and are worth requesting the certificates for:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.31-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-6975264?a_aid=dmnd1357

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.32-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-6684987?a_aid=dmnd1357

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.30-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-6625920?a_aid=dmnd1357

IGI lab is weaker than GIA and we try to avoid them as much as possible. They inflate the color and clarity grades.

Blue Nile LD11313977
The cut on this diamond is not that impressive. The crown and pavilion angles are a bit off.

Something like this would be a better choice:
Blue Nile LD12223687
Blue Nile LD12120838

Any chance you can show me an example of a good diamond on James Allen that is closer to 1.5ct, even if it is a little over budget lol. Just want to see the price difference as I have a seen a 1.5 on her hand it looked great!

Attached are the certificates.

Thank you so much for your help.

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.
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!

Please enter your email address to receive your 25% off coupon code:

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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