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Q&A: Looking for a Round Diamond for a White Gold Pavé/Channel Setting With Up to $10k

By Mike Fried,

Can you help me find the best diamond on James Allen for the best value using your criteria for eye perfect color and clarity? I’m looking for a 1-1.5 carat weight.

Thanks.

Can you tell me what style of setting (solitaire, halo, pave or other), metal (platinum/white or yellow gold) and shape of diamond you’re looking for? Different settings suit certain colors better: https://www.diamonds.pro/education/color/.

One last question before I start the search, what’s your approximate budget?

For the setting, I’m looking for diamonds on the side like pave or channel but tapers and gradually gets smaller towards the center round cut diamond. I’m looking for it to be in white gold. My budget is $10k.

Thank you for the information. Have a look at these settings:
www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/channel-set/14k-white-gold-bypass-channel-engagement-ring-item-52606?a_aid=dmnd1357

www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/14k-white-gold-pave-taper-milgrain-engagement-ring-item-55428?a_aid=dmnd1357

or if you’re willing to look at a different site, here’s one I found on BN:
Blue Nile Petite Milgrain Diamond Engagement Ring

And here’s a diamond I found for you:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.39-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2273735?a_aid=dmnd1357

It’s very well cut, eye-clean and going to look colorless in the style of setting you like.

What do you think?

Those settings are along the lines I’m looking for. The diamond also looks really good. I’ve been looking a little bit too. What do you think about this one?
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.20-carat-h-color-if-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1025822?a_aid=dmnd1357

It’s an H color IF 1.2 excellent. Which has better value?

I’m happy that you like my suggestions.

The diamond you found is beautiful. It has great overall specs. At the same time, they will both look colorless, eye-clean but the I color stone will be bigger. That’s why I think that the 1.39 carat stone is better value for your buck.

Your website also highly rates brian gavin diamonds. How do they compare to James Allen and are there any you can recommend from Gavin?

If an extraordinary brilliance is what you’re looking for then I I’d suggest Brian Gavin Signature Hearts and Arrows. That’s exactly what they focus on and you can be sure that you’ll receive the best of diamonds. Not only do these conform to the strictest of cut parameters, but Brian himself selects them for optimal brilliance. Brian Gavin is known as one of the worlds experts when it comes to perfectly cut diamonds. If you want to spend extra on their cut, it’s a great way to go. Here is a great choice from BGD:
www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.123-i-vs2-round-diamond-ags-104091064004?a_aid=y

Let me know what you decide.

hat is it about brian gavin’s cut that makes it a step above compared to another like james allen? Are there objective measures? Also what is the strictest diamond report/grading system?

They hand-pick diamonds and cut them with the best care for the most brilliance. There is a wide spectrum where a diamond is cut for the best light performance possible. Brian Gavin takes this spectrum and narrows it to the top quality. The difference between a well-cut diamond (such an Excellent GIA or Idea AGS) and BGD’s Signature cut is minimal on the paper for someone who isn’t an expert, but huge in person when you view it.

GIA and AGS are the most accurate labs. The difference isn’t that big these days.

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. They currently run a 10% discount on selected lab-grown diamonds!
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. Right now, Blue Nile offers up to 50% savings on selected jewelry during a limited-time season sale.
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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