I’m trying to decide on a diamond for an engagement ring. My budget is around 15k. I’m going for a round diamond with an excellent cut and the carat range between 1.6-1.7. For clarity, I’m going for something that definitely cannot be seen by the naked eye so I’m bouncing between the VS2 and VS1. As for color, I notice you mention that H is probably the maximum that’s necessary for a round diamond. Thus, I’m stuck on whether I should go for the higher carat and lower color, or lower carat and higher color. Also, is VS2 high enough clarity where the average person will not be able to see any inclusions?
Thanks for the help!
I’d be happy to make some recommendations and guide you through the process. What type of setting are you considering? Yellow gold or white gold/platinum? Will it be a solitaire or does it have sidestones/pave? This may affect the colors that I recommend for the center diamond (as we explain in our post on color).
Let me know and I’d be happy to send you some suggestions.
Thanks for getting back to me.
As for your questions, i am going for a platinum and solitaire setting although I am considering side stones as well. Maybe I can get your opinion on both?
Thanks!
…….
Sorry one more question. What are your thoughts on B2C jewels? Their prices on diamonds seem like they might be slightly better than James Allen
1) I would not recommend B2C. By all the feedback about their company, they are terrible. We tried to buy some diamonds and rings to review them when I was in NY for a couple of weeks. Their communication was so slow that we couldn’t order anything in time
2) So long as you don’t get a halo setting, you can drop to I color.
3) Here is what I recommend for you:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.72-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-179739?a_aid=dmnd1357`
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD11340497
(This BN diamond is a comparable alternative to the one we recommended before. The compnay we used is no longer in business.)
I love that first one from James Allen. That would be my recommendation. It is eye-clean, superbly cut and will look great in a ring. What do you think?
Thanks for the feedback. That top one looks good though I’ve been tempted to aim for something lower in price since I’ve seen other diamonds with similar settings but almost 1k cheaper. This is the setting I’m choosing and the max ct size appears to be 1.5; https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/platinum-2.6mm-six-prong-pave-diamond-engagement-ring-item-1200?a_aid=dmnd1357
I am also considering these diamonds as well:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.52-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-115563?a_aid=dmnd1357
Any thoughts on those?
All three of them are nice, eye-clean diamonds. I think the best overall value is the 1.64. No need to spend extra on the H color, and the price increase for the extra size is pretty slight.
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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