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Q&A: Looking for the Largest Round or Princess Cut Diamond for a Solitaire With $10-13k Budget

By Mike Fried,

Hello Diamond Pro, would you be able to give me some advice and let me know if it is realistic to find a round brilliant diamond 1.5-2 carats, SI1-VS1 clarity (or higher), G/H color (or higher), triple EX cut with medium-strong blue fluorescence for $10,000-$13,000?

If not, what price range would I be looking at?

I am also open to princess cut diamonds with the same qualities. Except going closer to 2 carats and up due to the possible size differences when comparing to rounds. Would I be able to find a princess cut diamond like this for around $10,000?

Thank you so much for your time!

I wouldn’t recommend a strong fluorescence at all and a medium only for an H color if you don’t want to end up with a milky/hazy appearance of the diamond.

What do you think of these diamonds?
Blue Nile LD07789515

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.50-carat-h-color-vvs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2362130?a_aid=dmnd1357

Both would look amazing.

If you want to get the largest diamond possible, stay with the round cut.

Thank you so much for getting back to me!

The James Allen diamond looks really good, but would I be able to get a larger carat within my price range, whether it is round or princess cut?

I thought you wanted G/H diamonds?

From the four you sent me, the first two look the best (also are the best value).

What style setting (solitaire, pave/side stones, halo) and metal (yellow gold, white gold, platinum) are you planning on putting the diamond in?

G/H is ideally what I would want, but it doesn’t seem like I would be able to get all the specs I’m looking for within my price range. The setting I want is this one:
www.ebay.com/itm/Damiani-Princess-Cut-Diamond-Platiunm-Solitaire-Ring

For a solitaire setting, the I color is absolutely perfect. There is no reason to pay for a higher grade. Then I’d stick with the two I mentioned in my previous message.

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.
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Blue Nile Blue Nile is the largest and most well-known internet jewelry seller. They have a very large exclusive online inventory. Their high-quality images are catching up to James Allens' and their prices are amazing. Save 25% on settings at Blue Nile!

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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
  • 24/7 Customer Service
  • 100% credit towards future upgrades (must be at least double in value)
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