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I was wondering if you can help me find a diamond on the Blue Nile website (i would like to use Blue Nile because they have a good cash-back promotion with Discover now).
I am looking to get a princess cut diamond in the 8500-9000 range. I am confused if I should go for a H/SI1 or I/VS2 ring.
Thanks for any advice.
Even with the 5% cash back, I think you could do better on James Allen. Here’s why – I could never recommend you buy an SI1 princess cut from blue nile without being able to see the stone. Even a VS2 is risky on a princess. There’s just too great of a chance that the stone will have an eye visible inclusion. Now, on JA, I could recommend an SI1 with absolute confidence. The difference between the SI1 and VS2 will easily surpass 5%. Plus, you can use the TAD0611 coupon to get 10% off the setting which will tip the scale even more in JA’s direction.
On JA, you can find a stone like this that absolutely maximizes your value:
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1311153.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357
SI1, totally eye clean, near perfect cut, I color will look white.
Thank you very much for the advice. Yes, the diamond you selected is very nice. It does make a difference seeing the diamond. However, I was actually looking to get a little bigger diamond than that one. I tried looking for other Ideal/SI1/I diamonds but anything larger than the one you selected is out of my budget. If there is anything else you would recommend, i would appreciate it.
Thanks again for your help.
I understand. Here’s a few to consider:
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1342806.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 – borderline eye clean. You should have JA inspect the stone for you to be certain.
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1269711.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 – just out of your budget, but a perfect cut and eye clean.
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1277224.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 – pic is out of focus, so can’t tell if it’s eye clean or not. Also worthwhile to have JA inspect it
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1324798.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357 – I’m fairly certain the black inclusion is too small and faint to be visit to the naked eye.
Thanks again for your help. I am leaning towards the first and third diamond you recommend. From the pictures, they do look nice and are a good value. I have contacted them about the diamonds and am having them do an inspection for me.
Thanks again
Sounds great. Please let me know what they say!
It took JA a little bit to get back to me, but they did give me the information. I think i will go with the first diamond you recommended, unless you feel from the information I should not. Here is what they said:
“”
Thank you for your patience while waiting for the gemologist inspection of diamonds 1342806 and 1277224. Between these two diamonds; diamond 1342806 is definitely your best bet. There is a feather on the crown that you may be able to see with the unaided eye; however, it blends with the rest of the diamond. The other inclusions in this diamond blend very well and you will not be able to see them without magnification. This diamond has a mid-high I color grade and faces brighter than diamond 1277224.
Diamond 1277224 has eye visible inclusions that reflect throughout the diamond; the feather on the corner also may present durability issues. The cut on this diamond is not very good, and this is made obvious by the facets not lining up and the off center table.
“”
Thanks again
You should definitely go with their opinion. Nothing compares with a face to face inspection. Their description sounds great.
Ok I ordered it :). I told the woman on the phone about the referral part at the end of the URLs that you sent me. Hopefully you will get credit for it.
Thanks again for all your help. Without you I would have just blindly picked a diamond that probably would not have been as good quality and would be more expensive.
Thanks for looking out for me! Did they allow you to use the coupon, btw?
Yes they did 🙂
Fantastic!
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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