Q: I, like the rest of the people on your website, am about to pull the trigger on an engagement ring. Your website is full of useful tidbits to help even the most inexperienced diamond buyer and the help you provide is very much appreciated.
Here is my question for you: I am pretty set on this setting and have been for a while:
I am specifically looking for guidance on the center stone. My price range for the diamond and ring is around $4,200 (give or take). So a center stone around $2,100 would be ideal (about .71 carat). I originally was looking for G-H diamonds in the VS1 and VS2 range. After reading many different articles on your website, I am also considering a SI1 stone. I would like it to be eye clean and don’t mind if a prong could mask some of the imperfections. I believe I should be looking in the G-H range due to the side-stones being an F-G quality. The diamonds below have a good cut; in your opinion is the very good cut worth the extra money?
What do you think about these stones? Or do you have any other suggestions? Should I request pictures of the other diamonds JA has listed, but no actual image?
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Good-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1533680.asp
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Good-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1407699.asp
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Good-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1534222.asp
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VVS2-Good-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1294214.asp
I see the ratio on this last diamond, should that be a concern? Would the rectangular shape be really noticeable vs. the square side diamonds? I am sure that is the reason it is cheaper than the others even though it is larger.
I don’t think I can find any stones on JA that are within the cut parameters (and within my price range) of the princess cut you specified in your article. Should I pay attention to one aspect more than the others?
Thanks for your time and suggestions.
A: The cuts are terrible on those diamonds. Are you able to stretch your budget a couple hundred bucks more?
Q: Thanks for the email back and sorry I couldn’t respond earlier. I have been really busy and now am back full-heartily in the search. With your help, hopefully I can pick out a center stone this week.
I have read your profile before and noticed that you were responding to other readers as well. It is nice to meet you. I don’t think I can stretch a couple hundred bucks more, but maybe $100 or so. Should I be looking at a smaller diamond for the qualities I want?
Is there a very noticeable difference between “very good” cut and “good” cut? Should I only be looking at very good cut and ideal cut diamonds?
What about something like this?
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Very-Good-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1424193.asp
This one doesn’t have a very clear picture though.
or this?
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1531889.asp
Will the inclusions on this second one be eye visible? The top right and the bottom left both look very noticeable and it doesn’t look like a prong would cover them both up.
Let me know if you have any other suggestions or comments about the cut.
A: The difference in cuts on PCs isn’t a big deal. Those aren’t industry ratings (as opposed to round diamonds where GIA gives a cut grade). You just have to look for a diamond with the right proportions:
Depth: 68-75%
Table: 70-75%
L:W ratio: Less than 1.05
No extremely thin girdles.
That H VS1 is great. Don’t worry about the photo so much. The most important thing you use the photos for are inclusions. I really like that H VS1.
Q: Thanks for the email back Mike. That H VS1 looks good to me as well.
…….
Many thanks Mike. I just purchased the diamond you recommended. I will let you know how it turns out.
Thanks again for the emails back and forth it helped tremendously.
A: Sounds great. Please let me know how it looks when it arrives.
Q: Thanks for your help Mike. The ring came in today and everything looks good. I was hoping for the diamond to be a little bigger, but I was comparing it to some .50ct diamonds at the store and didn’t know how much bigger it would look. I think the ring would look better with a larger diamond, but that is what fit my budget and taste.
A: Thanks for writing and letting us know. Sorry to hear you are disappointed in the size but I’m delighted that you were pleased with our help. Do you think you can do us a quick favor and write us a small review on www.ivouch.com? If you could, we would be extremely grateful.
We wish you and your partner a life of happiness and fulfillment.
Q. Will do Mike. Thanks again.
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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