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Q&A: Looking for a Round or Oval Diamond for a Platinum Three-Stone Setting With a £5,000 Total Budget

By Mike Fried,

Good afternoon.

I’m looking to buy an engagement ring and I’m struggling to choose a diamond. My budget is around £4,000 GBP for the whole ring. I know I want the setting to be in platinum, with pave or side stones. The diamond shape ideally would be round, but I would change the shape if I liked the diamond. Obviously the largest diamond in my budget, but I’m concerned about picking a discoloured one which would be noticeable against the platinum setting, or having any visible inclusions.

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.71-carat-g-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2399244?a_aid=dmnd1357

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.71-carat-g-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2399244?a_aid=dmnd1357
I’m not a huge fan of this diamond. The inclusion is quite large and pitch black and might be noticeable in person. Also, the diamond is not very well cut, it has a 32.5° crown angle which is a bit low. It’s better to stay around 34°.

For a pave/side stone setting, you can also go with a lower color grade (H or even an I) and still have a colorless impression.

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.73-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-7159214?a_aid=dmnd1357
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.80-carat-i-color-vvs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-7964101?a_aid=dmnd1357
These two are gorgeously cut and will have a lot of added brilliance and fire.

Those 2 diamonds you selected are not longer available. Please could you offer another couple?

Platinum Three Stone Round And Pave Set Diamond Engagement Ring
Here is a link to the setting I like.

Both lovely diamonds. With the colouring, how obvious would the colour be? I’ve never actually held and inspected a diamond. It’s looks really obvious in the pictures but I know they’re magnified.

We don’t base the color choice on the pictures on the website as the videos are not really made for that (especially the lightning in the room where the video was recorded).

Most people find the I color absolutely colorless in a three-stone setting. H color would be a safe choice in case the wearer was extremely color sensitive. So it’s up to you.

How about an oval diamond? I like both round and oval. Basically I want as big and as nice a diamond as I can afford. I’ve been looking at cheaper settings for the ring, in order to get a nicer diamond. I think and over all price for the whole ring at £4,500-£5,000.

Sure, I’m happy to recommend any diamonds you want. But in case of ovals, you need to stick to an H+ color, they don’t refract light just as well as round diamonds and thus tend to show their true color more.

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/0.80-carat-g-color-vvs1-clarity-sku-8094043?a_aid=dmnd1357

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/0.90-carat-f-color-vs1-clarity-sku-8340424?a_aid=dmnd1357

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/0.90-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-sku-8266656?a_aid=dmnd1357
These options I found have a great cut and a nice oval shape. They also have a subtle bow-tie and no visible imperfections.

Thank you very much.

I am going to go for the 3rd or 4th option. However, is there much of a different between excellent polish and symmetry and very good?

Not at all, those two grades are basically the same. We recommend avoiding Good and Fair grades, but Excellent and Very good are absolutely fine.

Thank you very much. I have ordered one of the diamond you recommended.

That’s great news! I’m glad I could help you.

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!

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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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