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 for writing. Let see what I can come up with!
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1315828.asp – GIA Triple excellent. Eye clean
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1317605.asp
Have a look and let me know what you think!
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.
There still are some specific instances where buying B&M makes sense. Basically, there are certain times when seeing the diamond is an absolute must, and in those circumstances, B&M is a good idea – even though it’ll be more expensive. THis is primarily for the soft-sided fancy shapes which are awfully ugly 90% of the time.
If you buy from JA, then don’t forget to apply the TADJ10 coupon code. It’ll give you 10% off the setting.
Good luck, and please stay in touch and let me know how it goes. I’d love to hear your impressions after you see the stone up close!
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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