Q&A: Looking for Shiniest Round Brilliant Diamond for $4K Budget and Solitaire Setting

Thank you so much for the crash course diamond site here. It is a lifesaver for Googling overload of information.

I’m actually trying to decide if it’s worth it to buy a moissanite or a true diamond (I hear moissanite has better fluorescence) but need to do all my homework and cover my bases.

I am thinking of proposing within a few months (end of summer) and my budget is $4000 for both the diamond and setting. I’ve asked the girlfriend and the only concerns we have are high sparkle, shine and brilliance. I’m going to assume that a solitaire setting with a round cut diamond is best for that?

Any and all help would be appreciated!

Thank you for replying to my query. I was just musing about the thought of moissanite but for now I think I will stick with the tried and true diamond route.

The $4000 budget (both setting and stone) is a bit flexible for the right diamond of course but would really like to keep it around there. We are trying to buy an apartment she’s been very understanding about keeping on a tight budget.

Thanks so much for the suggestion Michael. Both diamonds look amazing.

The ideal cut diamond actually looks like it has more obvious inclusions (the big splotch on the left) than the excellent cut one but that may just be the picture? Should be coverable with a prong from the setting correct? The excellent cut stone looks amazing, there’s that one black spot in the middle that’s reflecting to the sides right?

For the setting I was thinking of just the simplest platinum solitaire, nothing fancy just showing off the shiny stone. How does this look pairing up with your suggestions?

https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/platinum-2mm-knife-edge-solitaire-diamond-ring-17001.html

If I could get a slightly bigger stone by going a few hundred up (since the setting is about $650) could you help with some additional suggestions?

Thank you Mike did not know that! I added both in and it looks great in the picture. Just confirming the diamond

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1490347.asp

and the setting are a good match? The research says platinum is obviously more durable so I want to double check with the expert before I pull the trigger.

https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/platinum-2mm-knife-edge-solitaire-diamond-ring-17001.html

Thanks Mike, I’ve put a temporary hold on it while I confirm 🙂

The last thing I have to question is the whole brilliance scale, apparently there are Ideal-Scope, HCA AGA and other fun jargons to describe how much light they reflect. I input some of those into a calculator and only got a “good/very good” result, but not great. Should that worry me at all?

Thanks Mike, all I worry about is how it’ll sparkle and whether the ring will look great on her. Ring size is about a 6 but she has long skinny fingers and her body type is slender / dancer. Hopefully a 2mm knife edge won’t get lost on her hand and the .80 diamond is fine too!

…….

Hi Mike sorry to bother again but any opinion on this one? I ran into it while perusing the site some more. This is such a tough choice im racking my brain for it.

First one looks like there’s a gash on the left, second has a dark inclusion right in the middle? are these better “fire and brilliance” options and eye clean you think?

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1490769.asp

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1398077.asp

Thank you Mike – I am buying the original one you recommended.

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1490347.asp

I’ll let you know how it turns out!

Now to insurance and care for the ring, is there a recommended place to insure this item? Do I need to get an appraiser from somewhere to first quote the value?