First up – this site, and you are fantastic! It really can be quite daunting buying diamonds for the first time and this has been my bible (technically, that would make you the diamond God? 😀 ) so far!
The diamond I’m looking out for is for a solitaire engagement ring – preferably made out of white gold and my budget for the diamond is a max of 6.5K. I’ve looked up JamesAllen and found the 4 diamonds below.
I’m very sorry for not filtering out a couple of the four before sending to you but – really having a tough time deciding.
1) https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1479584.asp
What I like – clarity and colour
2) https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1505071.asp
What I like – the color, clarity and that the cut!
What I fear – the medium flourescence
3) https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1468671.asp
What I like – the size!
What I fear – is this eye clean and will there be a pale color to it?
4) https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1510996.asp
What I like – the size!
What I fear – clarity, color and why this is cheaper than option 3!
Quite honestly – I’d love to get her the biggest diamond I can afford, but I’d hate for her to have a (nosey) friend compare engagement rings to find the one I get for her is pale and dull…
Looking at the ones picked, do you think getting a color of ‘I’ and clarity ‘SI1’ will make a difference when looking at the diamond without a loupe? Alternatively – if you have any diamond recommendation – I’m all ears.
Please do help if you have some time and.. Thanks Very Much for doing this especially for us first time buyers who are trying to make the best of the little we have.
I’d be happy to make some recommendations and guide you through the process. What type of setting are you considering? Yellow gold or white gold/platinum? Will it be a solitaire or does it have sidestones/pave? This may affect the colors that I recommend for the center diamond (as we explain in our post on color).
Let me know and I’d be happy to send you some suggestions.
On the queries – I’m looking at a simple solitaire, platinum, 4 pronged ring. Please let me know if you need any other info and again Thanks very much in advance.
Honestly, going down in color is not a problem at all. I love this diamond for you:
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1511242.asp
It’s bright, eye-clean and a great size. Its bigger and cheaper than your top selection and you won’t see the difference in color/clarity at all with your eye.
Wow.. Thanks! That looks pretty gorgeous!
To check though.. how do you think it’ll face off with my 3rd choice? Reckon the SI1 may show defects to the naked eye?
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1468671.asp
I don’t like the inclusions on that SI1.
The diamond you picked is great – it fits my budget and it looks really clean! But its just got me pulling my eyes out the last few days thinking if I could up the size by just oh-so-slightly! After a few angry nights – I’ve found this:
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1496966.asp
The James Allen folks say this is completely eye-clean but could take a very quick look through as well? Do you reckon this one will have less brilliance? Please please let me know what you think!
This one is a winner.
You are the MAN! Hah.. Thanks Very Very Much for ur help. I’ve just placed the order. Will let you know how she likes it…
Sounds great. Keep me posted.
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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