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Hi,
I’m looking for engagement ring options for my girlfriend. I know all the details she wants – oval diamond in a yellow gold solitaire setting with yellow gold prongs.
Ive been researching a lot, and feel that I can do a decent job of picking a stone that is good value/quality, but I would be interested to hear your opinion on the direction Ive been headed.
I have a brick and mortar store that’s going to contact me this week with price options of rings and stones we had looked at in person. I originally wanted to look around online to have an idea of what would be a reasonable price coming from them. Since researching more, I’ve found that it will be virtually impossible for them to match the price on something online, at James Allen for instance.
I know one thing about oval shapes on James Allen is that they don’t have a cut quality filter that I could see. That was one thing I was hoping you could help with.
For carat I was hoping for .8 – 1 range.
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/0.90-carat-g-color-vs1-clarity-sku-9303221?a_aid=dmnd1357
For price I was hoping for $5k-$6k for the whole ring.
If I could save on that price for a nice looking stone between .8 and 1, then awesome! But I really love her so if it had to be more I don’t mind. Just want her to be happy 🙂
Oval diamonds don’t receive cut grade from the GIA. So there’s no such thing as an Excellent cut (if you see a cut grade to any fancy shape, it’s just a mark of that jeweler (diamond company) and it’s completely subjective). We use our own very strict parameters to find oval diamonds with most brilliance. https://www.diamonds.pro/education/oval-cut/
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/0.90-carat-g-color-vs1-clarity-sku-9303221?a_aid=dmnd1357
This diamond you found is beautiful. Great find!
I also found these two:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/0.80-carat-f-color-vs1-clarity-sku-8052880?a_aid=dmnd1357
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/0.80-carat-g-color-if-clarity-sku-9267362?a_aid=dmnd1357
They have a nice oval shape, minimal bow-tie and either of them would be very bright and brilliant in real life.
Am I doing about as good as I can for price/quality with that .9?
Thoughts on this other one?
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/0.90-carat-g-color-vs1-clarity-sku-9062294?a_aid=dmnd1357
I know in the store we were looking at .9’s and 1’s. The two .8’s that you linked look great! Not sure how noticeable the size difference would be in person with a .8.
…
I’ve kept looking and found some more .9’s.
It’s hard for me to say which imperfections would be noticeable in the final setting so maybe you could offer some advice there as well?
This first one has the lighter marks in the middle, right?
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/0.91-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-sku-9240500?a_aid=dmnd1357
This second one has the dark line closer to the edge. Wondering if the claw would hide that?
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/0.90-carat-e-color-si1-clarity-sku-8893740?a_aid=dmnd1357
The difference between a 0.8ct and a 0.9ct is usually negligible. It always depends on how each diamond is cut (carat weight is not the same as the actual size of a diamond, that’s why I always recommend checking real measurements as well).
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/0.90-carat-e-color-si1-clarity-sku-8893740?a_aid=dmnd1357
I would definitely skip this one. It has a very strong bow-tie, it’s not eye-clean, and medium fluorescence might make it look hazy in daylight. For G+ diamonds, only none or faint fluorescence is acceptable.
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/0.91-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-sku-9240500?a_aid=dmnd1357
The same bow-tie issue.
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/0.90-carat-g-color-vs1-clarity-sku-9062294?a_aid=dmnd1357
This one is very nice, I like it a lot. It’s up to you if you want to get an elongated oval (like the 9303221) or rounder one, like this one. It’s totally an aesthetic choice.
Thanks so much! I will be pulling the trigger on it soon!
I’m glad I could help you.
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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