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Thank you so much for bringing the truth about diamonds to the masses. My budget is $2000. I would like the color range to be in near colorless and clarity to be at your desecration for my budget. I would like the caret to be around .50 through .75. I know that’s a big jump but I just don’t know how to get the most brilliance and sparkle out of a diamond. I am shopping at James Allen and have a credit program through them. I would like the most bang for my buck and would appreciate any input. Thank you so much.
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 the help, I am getting a 14 caret white gold solitaire setting from james allen.
I love this diamond for you:
Its bright, eye-clean and a great value. It will look fantastic in a solitaire. What do you think?
It looks great, do you think the lower color grade will be a issue?
We regularly recommend J color for solitaire settings and rarely get complaints (and then its always 2ct+ diamonds where you should be more careful). It should be perfectly fine.
Should it appraise for double. I spent 2300 at james Allen and they appraised it for 3200.
It should appraise for more, that is ‘high cash retail value.’ It gives you the option to insure it either at the higher cost (higher premium, but higher return if you ever lose it) or the invoice cost.
Should I be concerned if it does not appraise for at least double the invoice?
I’m confused. Yes, some appraisals inflate the price (for the reason I mentioned), but where did you get this idea that it needs to be double? If the appraisal is positive and inline with the deal you thought you were getting, that should be enough. I have never heard that the appraisal should be double.
I know it sounds wierd but there is a lot of jewelry stores here that say in their advertisements that their jewelry will appraise for double. Giving me the impression that if a ring does not appraise for double that the quality might not be there. I love the ring I got from james Allen and I really appreciate you guys helping me pick it out. I just didnt know a lot about appraisals and their purposes. Thank you again for being there to help guys like me.
Ok, that is just some salesman bs. As I pointed out, appraisal value doesn’t actually mean anything. The important thing is how much you’d get if you tried to sell it. I’m sure you will do better (percentage wise) on that JA diamond than your typical retailer. I can’t speak specifically as I don’t know which jewelers you are referring to.
Best of luck and I’m glad you like the ring.
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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