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Please help me select a princess cut diamond for an engagement ring. I’m looking for a 3 stone ring (2 small side stones, and the larger center stone) and my budget for the center piece is $6000 – $6500. I’m looking for something between 1 – 1.2 carats. What specs do you recommend?
Check these out:
I really like that first diamond. It’s bright, eye-clean and a great value. What do you think?
WOW! Those are great finds. I have all three diamonds on hold (one I had selected myself yesterday before your email) and the two you selected for me.
I have attached the GIA certs for the original, (G-1.20 carat) PLUS for the two you recommended for me in your email to me.
All diamonds are priced within $200 of each other, so the value between the three diamonds is not under consideration.
The center stone will be going into a thin channel cut setting (.26 carats, with G-H diamonds)
https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/channel-set/14k-white-gold-thin-channel-set-round-shaped-diamond-engagement-ring-item-19?a_aid=dmnd1357
Please tell me which of the three to pick for the diamond that will have the most brilliance and look the largest while still remaining eye clean.
I would be beyond appreciative if you would make this selection for me.
Lastly, if you’ve got time I just have a general question. I went and selected a 1.2 carat diamond on my own that measures 5.84×5.75×4.18
How is it possible that the 1.13 and 1.15 diamonds you selected have larger dimensions (6.00×5.76×4.15 & 5.93×5.77×4.19) but a lower carat size? Just curious!
Thank you so much!
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The reason the 1.13 has a bigger face is because the 1.20 is cut more deeply. That means that a) it won’t be as brilliant and b) it will look smaller. We explain in our diamond size article how dimensions matter more than weight.
Honestly, I would recommend the 1.13 as the best diamond. The 1.20 is not a pretty looking diamond based on the certificate (I would be absolutely shocked if that were eye-clean).
Thank you ! You’ve just helped me purchase my engagement ring. I have no idea how you found the two diamonds you did, but you saved me a lot of stress and heart burn.
This is the SI2:
James Allen:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/1.20-carat-g-color-si2-clarity-sku-183848?a_aid=dmnd1357
Not nearly as clean as the ones you found.
I will be getting the 1.13.
Thank you again!
Let me know how it looks when it arrives.
Will do. Just waiting for the gemologist report to come back from JA before I purchase the diamonds.
…….
Hi Michael – is there anything wrong with the cut of the G-VS1 that you picked out for me in the links below? It’s already been ordered but the local jeweler I was working with is telling me that the diamond dimensions are so large because the diamond is shallow and it will not be bright and perform well. Is this true ?
Their shop had a 1.2 F VS2 that had slightly smaller LxW dimensions and EX/EX Polish/Symmetry that they are insisting will perform better. Please advise.
I will bet anything that you can’t find any source in the world, that isn’t trying to sell you a diamond, who will say that a 72.1% diamond is too shallow. This local jeweler is completely without morals if they are trying to say that. My idea of a well cut princess cut is 68-75% (69-73 would be ideal). Many other sites would say it needs to be more shallow. How deep was the diamond they were showing you?
If that were the case, I would have just recommended one of the other diamonds out of the three we were looking at. I couldn’t care less which diamond you took (it doesn’t matter to me).
Thanks Mike. They wanted me to return it and switch to their stone ( they would price match the James Allen one). It has a depth of 84. And was EGL. I read the 68-75 recommendation on the website so that set off immediate alarm bells but wanted to double check.
Wow. Its hearing that type of sales garbage that makes me happy about what Ira and I do. It’s sickening to see how little character and integrity so many people in the jewelry business have.
The diamond is beautiful. Thank you for your help. I ended up keeping the stone and getting a setting from a local jeweler.
Thanks for writing and letting us know. I’m delighted that you were pleased with our help.
We wish you and your partner a life of happiness and fulfillment.
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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