Q&A: Searching for Diamond that “Looks Amazing to the Naked Eye” for $3-3.5K Budget

Hello – thank you for putting together such a helpful site. I have learned a lot in just about an hour of browsing.

I decided to take you up on your offer of assistance in selecting a diamond. I am budgeting between $3,000 – $3,500 for a round cut diamond. I want something in the neighborhood of .8 – .9 carats that looks amazing to the naked eye. Not having a microscope in the house – I am not too concerned with any well hidden flaws. I won’t select any other characteristics because I have almost no idea what I am talking about other than what I have read on various sites.

Thanks for any suggestions to help me find a great diamond within my budget – or less would be great too.

Thanks Ira – I really appreciate the suggestions.

Just to get a better sense of what we are talking about – I visited a prominent local jeweler this afternoon. There prices were certainly more expensive and when I showed the salesperson the certificate of the first diamond you recommended there was a definite sense that I had committed a very unpleasant act. Do you think there is ever a reason to buy from a brick and mortar store or are they just unable to compete on price for what is essentially the exact same product?

From everything I saw today – your suggestions are right on the mark. I could barely tell the difference in color and clarity ratings and the only obvious difference I could tell were in the size. I am almost certainly going to buy online and hopefully I can get the funds together before your recommendations are already sold.

Thanks again.