Q&A: Looking for Round Diamond for Setting with Sapphire Side Stones

Thanks for the great website. There is a lot of useful information here. I guess I’ll get to the point:

I’m looking to purchase an egagement ring within 2 to 4 weeks. My budget is $3,000 to $4,000 total, and I’m thinking about this setting in yellow gold (or the six-prong version):

https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/18k-White-Gold-2-2mm-Wire-Basket-Solitaire.html

Given what that costs, I have 2500-3400 or so for the stone. I’m totally not confident in choosing a diamond, so I’m coming to you for help. After some searches, I found this stone, but I’d really appreciate some suggestions:

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/K-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1330994.asp

Thanks for your help!

Thanks so much for catching that! Looks like a good deal. Hope it is still available in a couple weeks after I have time to consult with her mother when we visit them (which my hopefully soon fiance not-so-subtly suggested I do). I’m sure I’ll be emailing you again!

So, we got back from the trip and of course my criteria are completely different! After her mom, aunt and I went ring-shopping, Mariann’s mom found some opportunities to discuss directly with Mariann and now we have this:

1. White Gold
2. Round or Square shaped stones
3. Simple setting
4. Mariann really likes sapphires (although she called them emerald’s all weekend – eventually she said “the blue ones” so we cleared that up), so I think I’m going to look for a setting with sapphire side stones.

Honestly, I’m not crazy about any of James Allen’s gemstone settings, but if I get one of theirs it will be this one:
https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-colored-sidestones/Pear-Shape-Blue-Sapphire-Ring.html

I feel like that one has nice stones, but they aren’t so over-powering of the center diamond compared to the other shapes available.

Ok, so knowing that I’m going to need a slightly better color due to going with white gold, and that I’m looking at more expensive settings – I’ve revised my budget to a total of $5,000 – $1,000ish for the setting, $4,000 or so for the stone. I look forward to your recommendation!
…….
Resending per your instructions. Hope you had a good holiday!

I sent a few emails to James Allen and they said they could go with alternating sapphires and diamonds down the sides of this ring, so I think that’s the setting I will use:

https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/ring/item_412-4121.asp

Any way, I’d appreciate suggestions on center diamonds in the $3,000 to $4,000 range.

Thanks for your help!

I’m thinking Round, but princess cut is acceptable too. That setting only takes round center stones, according to the website, so I’d like to look at those first.

I’m trying to decide between the VS1 and the SI1. In the pictures, the VS1 looks better to me, but do you think it is just the lighting? I think that seeing that arrows pattern more clearly makes it look more appealing to me, but then again we won’t be looking at this stone under magnification once I actually buy the ring, so it might be worth it to save the money.

Which one do you prefer of those two?

Do you think this would be eye clean? Excellent cut, and less expensive than the VS1. Angelia over at James Allen Recommended it.

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1346303.asp

Well, the ring is ordered. Thanks for all of your help! I’ll let you know how this all turns out!

Ring arrived today. Its even better than I expected! Thanks again!

Done –

[LINK TO REVIEW ON IVOUCH]

Thanks again for all your help!

Dan