Archive for $15000 Budget
This diamond is an incredible find. The inclusion is right on the edge and easily ‘prongable’ (covered by a prong) so the diamond will be completely eye-clean. It is beautifully cut and the faint fluorescence is like ‘an olive in the martini.’ All in all, this is a great value.
Here are the Stats (Or Click Here for a Copy of the GIA Certificate):
Click here for an enlarged image of the diamond
Shape: Round
Cut: Excellent
Carats: 1.73
Diamond Clarity: SI2
Measurements: 7.82*7.80*4.75
Depth: 60.9%
Table: 55%
Diamond Polish: Ecellent
Diamond Symmetry: Excellent
Diamond Fluorescence: Faint
Diamond Price: $14,750
Click here to be Brought to the Diamond on James Allen
Q&A: Clueless about Diamond Shopping for Engagement Ring
Posted by: | CommentsQ: I was wondering if you could kindly help/advise me on an engagement ring for my girlfriend. She’s 3 years older than me and she’s always felt a little sensitive about it so I’m not sure on whether Princess or Round or the setting.
I’m looking for a 1.5-2ct and my budget is around 10-15k USD. I think she would pref round but I’m not sure I don’t want to screw this up like I did with the expensive bag I bought her… she’s not a high-maintenance/materialistic girl but I wanted to make her feel special and it backfired big time!
I was looking at a IF [Internally Flawless] on bluenile to be safe but after reading your site, you have a good point about the industry guilt people into overspending even if it won’t be appreciated. Eye-clean is a really strong point but does it matter in terms of the meaning to say it was IF?
Thanks for your help Ira, I hope you can get back to me with your recommendations but even so, your site has been amazingly helpful already!
I’m truly impressed with your site and yourself. I hope your site continues to grow and take off in popularity and I will lend my support 
Q&A: Round or Oval, Best Deal for a 3 Carat Diamond
Posted by: | CommentsQ: I have really enjoyed reading your site over the past few months. My boyfriend and I recently celebrated the 2-year anniversary of our relationship, and I expect that he will propose sometime in the next 6 months. I told him absolutely under no circumstances to buy a diamond in a store, or to do it at all without consulting me/letting me help pick it (since I have a very clear idea of what I want).
We live in New York. He’s Dutch, and we will move the Amsterdam in late 2011. He has a friend in the jewelry business in Amsterdam that I think he might want to go through to buy the diamond–however, I would almost rather go through someone who is not a friend so that we can really be hard bargainers without feeling bad about it.
My first question is, where does it make the most sense to buy the diamond? New York through someone you know? Amsterdam through someone he knows? Either?
My second question is this: I want a round solitaire 3 carat ring (the bigger it looks, the better). I feel silly saying this but what can I say, looking at all the stones here has ruined me. Is it possible to do this between $15-20k? If possible I would love an I color with medium (or strong blue) fluorescence. I say I and not J because if we get micropave sidestones on the band I don’t want them to look obviously whiter than the stone itself.
That said, what do you recommend? I would also be happy to consider using your brokering service if it will bring down the price–I know from your site that both James Allen and Blue Nile have a markup of 18%, and I would rather not pay that. My boyfriend may take quite a bit of convincing to buy from someone he has never met–and online!–but I’m sure the frugal Dutchman in him will see the sense of it if I show him how honest you seem to be from every interaction on this website. For now if you could just answer my initial questions, I would really appreciate it.
Thank you so much, in advance, for your time & advice!
…….
I want the diamond to be eye-clean–fine with VS2/SI1, even SI2–BUT the SI2 would have to be examined by someone who swears on bibles that you can’t see any flaws!
*Special Q&A*: Cushion Cut Diamond & Lysol Wipes
Posted by: | CommentsQ: Thanks for providing this website… It has been a wealth of useful information for me
I’m planning to get engaged early next year and have started to take a look at rings. Based on your article about Diamond Stud Earrings, I have pretty much decided to buy from James Allen, since they seem to be high quality, reliable and reasonably priced.
With that said, I’m totally open to your suggestions…
Here are my thoughts so far:
Cut:
I was thinking of going with a cushion cut, because my girlfriend doesn’t like the round cut, and the princess cut just looks a little bland to me. I like the cushion cut because it’s square-ish but seems to sparkle like a round cut. What are your thoughts on this? Would I be better with a princess cut or is a cushion cut good?
Weight:
I’d like something bigger than 1.5 karats, and smaller than 2.5 karats. Obviously that’s a huge range, but ultimately I’m looking for the best value for money. I want my girlfriend to look at the ring and have that ”wow” factor.
Color/Clarity:
This is where I get stuck. I want the diamond to be eye-clean. This is imperative. I also don’t want it to be visibly yellow to the naked eye in normal lighting. Based on my reading, I’m thinking that I need at least a VS2 and H color, but again, I want the best value for money. If it makes sense to get something better, I’m all for it.
Budget:
I’m looking to spend between $10,000 and $15,000 on the diamond itself. Obviously, the cheaper the better – but ultimately I’m looking for a purchase that will wow my girlfriend and represent outstanding value for money.
OK, so that’s all I have. If you could help me, I would REALLY appreciate it.
Thanks and regards.
Following our previous selection of the best Marquise Shape for $17,000, today we move on to the best Pear, Oval, or Marquise for $15,000. I have skipped $16,000, due to lack of any viable options.
Here’s the Stats (Or Click Here for a Copy of the GIA Certificate):
Diamond Magnified 20x - Click to Enlarge
Shape: Pear
Carats: 2.01
Diamond Clarity: VS2
Measurements: 11.04*6.85*4.15
Length/Width Ratio: 1.61
Depth: 60.6%
Table: 55%
Diamond Polish: Very Good
Diamond Symmetry: Good
Diamond Fluorescence: Medium Blue
Diamond Price: $14,530
Don’t forget to use our exclusive coupon code TAD0611 with James Allen for 10% off Engagement Ring Settings!
Click here to be Brought to the Diamond on James Allen
Following yesterday’s selection of the best princess cut diamond for $16,000, today we present you with the best princess cut diamond for $15,000.
Here’s the Stats (Or Click Here for a Copy of the GIA Certificate):
Diamond Magnified 20x - Click to Enlarge
Carats: 2.13
Diamond Clarity: SI1
Measurements: 7.45*7.08*5.23
Length/Width Ratio: 1.05
Depth: 73.9%
Table: 71%
Diamond Polish: Very Good
Diamond Symmetry: Very Good
Diamond Price: $15,430
Don’t forget to use our exclusive coupon code TAD0611 with James Allen for 10% off Engagement Ring Settings!
Click here to be Brought to the Diamond on James Allen
Q: Hi Ira, I’ve been trolling your site for *months* while I have tried to surreptitiously find out what style setting, cut of stone (and other attributes) my girlfriend of six years would like on an engagement ring. I think I’ve finally managed to narrow it down to an emerald cut diamond on a baguette-tapered platinum setting. I’m looking to get max bang for buck with the stone and have always been intrigued by your eye-clean SI’s and near colorless with a hint of fluorescence picks… …So can you help me find the best rock that’s eye-clean, sparkles in natural light, no visible inclusions and offers value? I feel terribly guilty asking someone on the Internet to help me find a stone… But I’ve read so many other email exchanges that today I finally bit the bullet Looking forward to hearing from you! Thanks
