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Q&A: Seeking Best Princess Cut Diamond for $3K Budget

By Mike Fried,

I greatly appreciate the info that you have provided on your website. Had I not found your site, I probably would have purchase an engagement ring site unseen. James Allen’s virtual loupe adds a ton of value, but I still need you help ensuring that I am getting the most bang for my buck. My ”buck” is around $3500 including the ring which I estimate for a 2mm white gold ring is around $500(although if I could save some money on the diamond, I wouldn’t mind upgrading to that French Cut Pave Diamond ring on James Allen’s site. Do you like this ring?). This puts me roughly in the 1ct, color I, VS2-SL1 range for a princess cut stone. She has a size 6 ring finger. How do you recommend I proceed from here? You help would be greatly appreciated.

Here’s what I like in your budget for the diamond:
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1350492.asp
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1343915.asp – no pick yet, but those stone has a very large spread for its size.

And yes, I do like the French cut ring very much!

Thanks Ira,
Using the loupe on the first of the two diamonds, there appears to be some inclusions in the middle of the stone. Would they be visible to the naked eye?

They’re so small, they wouldn’t be visible to your naked eye. The diamond in reality is only a 5.3mm square – that’s about half a centimeter on each side! Imagine how small that black dot is in real life.

James Allen James Allen is the leader in online diamond sales. Their imaging technology is the same as inspecting a diamond with a jeweler's loupe. They have the largest exclusive loose diamond inventory online and fantastic prices. They also have the nicest collection of lab-created diamonds online.
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
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Blue Nile Blue Nile is the largest and most well-known internet jewelry seller. They have a very large exclusive online inventory. Their high-quality images are catching up to James Allens' and their prices are amazing. Save 25% on settings at Blue Nile!

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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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