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Q&A: Replacing a Round Diamond With Up to $15,000 Budget

By Mike Fried,

Hi diamond pro! I recently chipped my .93 round diamond engagement ring, luckily it was insured. The stone was inherited so I’m doing research for the first time. The dimensions of the stone made it appear closer to a 1ct diamond as it had a really shallow depth (?). So I’m in the market for a new round brilliant diamond, I’ve been told I can get whatever diamond I want as long as I stay within the approved replacement cost of 20k CAD so roughly 15k USD. I’m looking at maybe bumping up my weight. My chipped diamond is .93, D, VS1 so I don’t want to sacrifice too much quality for the bigger weights. I’ve found this one locally:
http://heinrichsjewellery.com/diamond?diamond_id=300579

What do you think? From what I’ve read on your website it seems to be a very good diamond…

I’m sorry for the delay. I noticed that the diamond you send me is no longer on the website. Have you already purchased it?

I’m curious what you think about this diamond…?
Blue Nile LD08144900

I’m trying to maximize size, this is about the most I have to spend. Don’t want to go below H and VS1, excellent cut.

That’s a great choice. I like that diamond. It’s shallower than most of the other options, but still in the proper range that gives you the size and keeps the brilliance. Great choice.

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Thank you so much! Unfortunately that diamond sold 🙁

What do you think of this one?
Blue Nile LD08063911

Is a faint fluorescent okay with an I color diamond? I’ve increased my budget slightly and dropped clarity and color to maximize size. I think the above SI2 looks like it would be eye clean and has really good proportions…

Thanks again!

I’m sorry to hear that.

The feather on the diamond is massive! A prong might cover a part of it, but not the whole thing. Also, I’m not sure how much it could affect the integrity.

I found this alternative:
Blue Nile LD08222440

Ask BN for the certificate and the actual photo.

Thanks! I’ll ask them. I always assumed if no certificate was showing then there wasn’t one!

I also like the cut of this one:
Blue Nile LD08118541

What do you think?

Not on sites like BN. They don’t sell uncertified diamonds. They’re having some trouble with loading certificates right now. But they are working on fixing it.

The diamond you found is also an excellent choice.

I still haven’t made my purchase yet! Could I get your opinion on a couple more diamonds?

I am looking at:
Blue Nile LD08147150
Blue Nile LD07199962

And the one I showed you before. This one I’m just not sure I want to drop to an I color.
Blue Nile LD08118541

Thanks so much!

Wow. All of them are just perfect! What style setting (solitaire, pave/side stones/halo) and metal (yellow/white gold, platinum) are you using? I just want to make sure there is a reason to avoid the I color diamond.

Just a solitaire, white gold. That’s what I’m trying to decide is if I should stick to H or drop to I, it’s only like .4mm of a difference.

Also… Should I be worried about the comments on the 1.57 Ct? Comments: Additional clouds, pinpoints and surface graining are not shown.

I’m wondering if that will have any effect?

Thanks again!

You can easily drop the color to “I” then. No problem there.

The comments are not a problem at all. The inclusions that can affect the durability, look or something on the diamond are mentioned in the clarity plot. These comments are just additional inclusions that have no negative effect whatsoever.

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