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Hi there, I’m having some trouble picking out a cushion cut diamond with a budget around $4000 (but some flexibility). She only cares that it is as radiant as possible, I don’t think she truly has a preference for the “chunky” or “crushed glass” styles, although the “chunky” ones do seem to be more radiant to my untrained eye.
It will be in an 18K gold halo setting. I’m thinking something in this range (as an aside, I don’t see why the price difference between these two is nearly double):
https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/halo/18k-white-gold-0.39ct-diamond-halo-pave-engagement-ring-item-18313?a_aid=dmnd1357
https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/halo/18k-white-gold-pave-halo-and-shank-diamond-engagement-ring-cushion-center-item-17428?a_aid=dmnd1357
I can’t tell whether the ones that look good to my eye online are any good, so any recommendation would be very helpful. Here are a couple I looked at:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.90-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-sku-36730?a_aid=dmnd1357
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.91-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-sku-146080?a_aid=dmnd1357
It seems like you have this diamond buying process down pat. I love both diamonds you selected. I would go with the H VS2 as its a slightly better cut (depth% and squareish).
Let me know how it looks when it arrives.
Thanks! Good to know I’m doing okay at picking these things. One thing that jumps out between those two to me is that the H VS2 looks to have four black triangles visible when viewed from the top. Is this something that I should look for (if I’m targeting radiance/brilliance)? Or is it just an effect of how the photo was taken? I don’t necessarily see that in the previous cushion cut diamonds that Ira has recommended in the archives.
The second question I had is about the settings. Do you know why the price difference between the two I linked is so large (essentially double)? It seems that one only has a few more tiny diamonds on the band, but they’re otherwise very similar.
1) Its just the picture.
2) The reason is the diamonds. The more expensive one has almost double the weight in pave diamonds. Diamond prices increase exponentially so those side stones are far more expensive. That explains the price disparity.
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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)
- Best in class fulfillment
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