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Q&A: Sometimes People Just Want a Little Affirmation

By Mike Fried,

I first wanted to say that I love your site and have been using it a lot to help educate myself while looking for a diamond to propose with. I am sold on buying from James Allen and I think I have narrowed it down to two diamonds but would like your opinion on them as well as any other diamond suggests you may have. The two diamonds on James Allen I have picked out are….

Item#: https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1326118.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357
Item#: https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1275961.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

I would like to have the bigger diamond but the picture almost looks discolored. Maybe you could let me know if that is the actual diamond that is discolored or if its just the lighting in the picture.

My criteria on any other diamonds you may suggest are as follows.

Budget: Nothing higher than $1,200 for just the diamond.
Must be at a minimum of 54ct.
Must be Ideal cut or True Hearts (if that is as good as an Ideal… not sure on that)
Nothing lower than a J on color
Would prefer a VS2 or higher but I am open to your expertise

I can’t thank you enough for your help.

I took another look for you, and indeed the J VS2 is the nicest option out there for you now.

Don’t forget to use the TAD0611 copuon, btw, to get 10% off the setting you choose.


Thank you for looking into this for me.  I ended up finding another one that I really liked last night and went ahead and bought it.  I’ve been looking for about a month now and I just had to be done.  If you want to take a look its:

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1326591.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Either way, thanks again for all your help!


Sounds great!  Let me know what you think when it arrives!

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. Get 30% off lab-grown diamonds during a limited time sale.
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!

Please enter your email address to receive your 25% off coupon code:

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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