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Q&A: Looking for an Oval Diamond for a Yellow Gold Halo With Up to $10,000 Budget

By Mike Fried,

Hi Diamond Pros!

I am looking for an engagement ring! I am looking for an oval cut diamond in a gold halo setting with pave/side stones. It seems there isn’t much out there when it comes to ideal cut oval diamonds, but there seem to be a lot of “Very Good” cuts. Would I be sacrificing too much by buying a Very Good cut?

I have roughly an $8000-$10,000 budget.

Thank you!

As for your “ideal” issue, I need to clarify. There is no such thing as an ideal/excellent cut for oval shape diamonds. GIA only gives a cut grade to round brilliants. What you are seeing are the companies’ subjective grades. The “ideals” that they offer are their in-house brand.

We use our own parameters when we search for ovals.

This would be my recommendation:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.51-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-sku-2727654?a_aid=dmnd1357

It’s well cut, eye-clean and will be very brilliant.

What do you think?

Thanks for the reply. I admittedly know very little other than what I’ve read on the internet about diamonds so apologies if these questions seem basic!

Did a quick copy paste so I can reference the correct stats. Is H pretty much the same as D, E, or F, when it comes to the naked eye?

Also the clarity seems much lower than what I was previously looking at. Is this also something that I shouldn’t be as concerned with?

SHAPE: Oval
CARAT WEIGHT: 1.51
COLOR: H
CLARITY: SI1
POLISH: Excellent
SYMMETRY: Very Good
FLUORESCENCE: Faint
L/W/D (MM): 9.13*6.55*4.03
L/W RATIO: 1.39

Thank you for your guidance! Looking forward to finding the right rock!

You’re welcome.

It is true, that once the diamond is set, the difference in colors isn’t noticeable from anything above an H grade.

Also, the clarity grade is not important as long as the diamond is eye-clean.
https://www.diamonds.pro/education/clarity/

I was thinking something a little more along the lines of this:

Wow! Thanks! This is why you’re the pro 😉

This is also my first time consulting Diamond Pros so I’m not sure how the dialogue is supposed to work and I don’t want to take too much of your time. I’d like to see a few more recommendations – is that something that I would typically continue to work with you to do? Would it be better to submit another question via the website?

What do you think about this one?
Blue Nile LD08739492

It looks good, I like it a lot. There are no red flags in the cert.

Love the Blue Nile one but I’m getting a little short on time and James Allen has a setting I really like.

How do you feel about this one?
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.00-carat-d-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-3229892?a_aid=dmnd1357

Again. It looks great.

Thanks! Think I might be getting the hang of this 🙂

My only worry was the thick to very thick girdle.. Assuming that’s ok on an oval? Also no issues with a gold halo setting?

No worries at all. As long as you avoid extremely thick/thin girdle, it’s fine.

It will look great in a halo setting, there will be a lot of added brilliance.

I think I found the one!
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.00-carat-d-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-3168932?a_aid=dmnd1357

Hope it’s ok because I kind of already pulled the trigger haha, I also called in and made sure the James Allen folks knew how much you helped me.

Thank you again!

Thank you! That diamond is a beauty. Let me know how it looks when it arrives.

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.
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
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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!

Please enter your email address to receive your 25% off coupon code:

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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