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Q&A: Looking for Best Deal on “Chunky Cushion” Cut Diamond for $1K Budget

By Mike Fried,

Hi Ira..Before i begin, i would like to say that if it wasn’t for your blog, i would not have found James Allen.

(I was super impressed with BlueNile initially and i decided to read up on reviews..Thats how i found your site :))

Ok here’s my story My boyfriend gave me a budget of USD$1,000 (Singapore $1,250.

Budget has to include the Singapore 7% Tax.

To choose my own Center Diamond picked this out for myself..

He will only allows me see the center diamond and i will only see it set in a ring on the day he proposes to me.

(He is getting the setting custom-ed designed and made for me with the stone i choose-with his money, of course heehee)

I followed your advice and went to James Allen searching for it.

My 4Cs priority

1.Cut

2.Carat

3.Colour- Colourless range preferably

4.Clarity-As long its eye clean.

Shape-CHUNKY Cushion (I do NOT want a round cut diamond because ”It is not me”..

I was seriously considering Princess but i realized that its SMALL for the carat weight. Size matters :).

Hence the decision of Cushion cut. Chunky Only. No crushed ice crappers.)

Fluorescence-None

(Its a colorless Diamond)

Carat weight-0.45-0.50

(I’m not getting a wedding band.

My engagement ring will also be my wedding band therefore a more ”everyday wear” carat weight..

however i strangely still want the BIGGEST 0.5)

Here’s the best i found however its over budget of SGD$30. (After calculating tax)

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1318823.asp

Is there anything equally as pretty AND Chunky AND Big for less? (Willing to go down colour and carat grade if difference is negligible.)

I put the diamond on hold and i will buy it latest on the 26th of May 2011..Its going for USD $960 before tax.

I really feel that this Diamond is truly the best based on the budget given to me (Not willing to spend more than this).

I would really like your opinion..if something equal in terms of beauty for less, i’m open to it 🙂

Thanks for writing and all the wonderful things you said about my site! I *LOVE* the stone you picked. The only other interesting option I saw was this:

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1280940.asp

It’s noticeably larger than the one you selected, and the color is better. It’s a bit more expensive, so you’ll have to decide!

let me know what you decide to go with!

Your suggestion is great too! esp the fact that it is noticeably bigger. and

yes, its actually still REMOTELY-comfortably within my budget 🙂

Just two questions.

Is there any REALLY ground shattering difference between a D and an F colour

to the naked eye?

2. Which of those two do you think will give a better “light performance” in

terms of Brilliance, Sparkle scintillation and Fire?

I feel that the 0.49 F SI1 “looks shinier” as the facets look more Crisp and

i can see the contrast more.

However you’re the expert 🙂

I think your best move would be to contact James Allen and request from them a face to face comparison between those two stones. D to F isn’t such a noticeable difference. But in terms of brilliance, there’s no way to know by the pics and numbers alone.

I’m getting the diamond tomorrow! (Thursday) 😀

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1318823.asp

I just love how amazingly clean it is for an SI1..i feel like i’m getting VS quality (Face up, crazy clean..i dunno about the girdle and pavillion..Should not be a concern as my guy is getting it set in a ring..Plus diamonds have no see-through effect) and paying a SI price!

I have no idea why i’m drawn to the STAR shaped facet formation in the middle of the diamond..It makes a cushion cut..SO PRETTY!

It screams “I’m no crushed ice..look! I have/am a star!”

I promise after its delivered, i will send you pictures 🙂

Don’t be disheartened its not the one you picked out for me..

Techically, you actually did..

1. Because if it wasn’t for you and your blog i wouldn’t have known about James Allen..

2.I wouldn’t have found THIS if i hadn’t listened to your advice to prioritize clarity last..i got a better color and slightly bigger stone 🙂

Oooh! So excited! 😀

Bytheway Ira, how to i ensure you get a small commission from James Allen?

You deserve it from this purchase of mine 🙂

Thanks so much for this email! I’m very appreciative! And I very much appreciate your concern for my commission. If you wouldn’t mind, just clicking on this link before you buy:

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1318823.asp

That should make sure it works. Also, if you could email me your order number when your finished, that will enable me to check to make sure it worked.

THanks again, and please stay in touch and let me know what you think when it arrives!

Hi Ira!!!!!

As promised i will show you how the ring buying went.

I apologize i took very long to get back to you because my ring was completed only TODAY.

I attached a Microsoft Word Document i made just for you.

Tons of pictures! 😀

My boyfriend saved so much money thanks to your website and we paid so much less than we could have for something

so beautiful. You truly deserve the small commission 😀

Enjoy!

Hope to hear from you soon and your honest thoughts 🙂

[Contents of Attached Document:]

Hey Ira! Finally get to send you pictures..

Its my first hand review of buying loose diamonds off JA..should anyone be interested to do what my boyfriend and I did. All credits to you, though 😀

Alrighty, The Ring Journey Begins

 

The Box Arrived on June 3rd 2011

The Contents of da box.

Ring Box..very pretty.

Me Cert 🙂

The Loose Diamond (held together In Temporary Tension Setting)

Another View 🙂

I Have relatively small hands so 0.49cts looks kinda huge on me 😀

Wearing it with the Temporary Tension Setting JA kindly provided J

Forgive my sister’s hand (and her ugly thumbnail) and the mess at the background :p

I Got my ring (Setting/Casing) customed made at this local jewellery workshop.

My boyfriend agreed to get me this design. This is a picture of the jewelry workshop’s showroom sample.

18K White Gold with Diamond Micro Pavé..

Micro pave diamonds are G Coloured, VS Clarity.

Carat weight of supporting diamonds 0.16carats.

Therefore my engagement ring will have one center diamond which is 0.49 carats + 0.16 carats=0.65 carat total weight *Spaaarkkllly….:D

Lets look at the completed and finished product, shall we? 🙂

We have not collected the ring yet.. its still sitting in the showroom waiting patiently for my boyfriend to come :p photos are provided by the manager who nicely agreed to take pics and send em to me earlier 😀

Mine and His completed today June 23rd 2011 (twenty days after receiving the diamond from JA and 17 days after sending it to the workshop/showroom)..IT’S READY! 😀

My 100% Hand Made ring with a proud JamesAllen Diamond 😀

My boyfriend is happy he got to save tons of cash on this beautiful ring for me as well 🙂

Unfortunately, he hasn’t proposed to me…I have no idea when he is going to collect it as we just got the call it was completed today 🙂

Thank you very much IRA!

Lots of love and gratitude,

xxxx

Wow, this was such an amazing presentation! Thanks so much for putting this together for me!! The ring looks AMAZING!! I hope you wear it for many many many years in perfect health and happiness!

DO you think you could do me a small favor? If you could leave me a short review on ivouch, I would be extremely grateful. Here’s a direct link if you have the time:

xxxxx

Thanks! And congratulations!!

Ok review published! 😀 [LINK TO REVIEW ON IVOUCH]

Oh my God, xxxx This is INSANE!!! Thank you SO MUCH!!

😀

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:
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  • 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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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
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  • 100% credit towards future upgrades (must be at least double in value)
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