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Q&A: Help Finding a Round Diamond for Around C$4k – $5k Budget

By Michael Fried,

Hi, I’m very new to this. I’ve read all I can but to be honest I’m lost. I only have $3,000-$4,000 CAD budgeted for a ring, and the below link is the best I can come up with. Am I wasting money on things that I ultimately won’t be able to discern?

Preference: round diamond, pave setting.

Blue Nile LD12544082

Unfortunately, the diamond you selected is not a good choice for the following reasons:

1) It’s not eye-clean.

2) It’s not very well cut.

3) Medium yellow fluorescence is big NO-NO. It shows off a hideous urine yellow hue to the diamond + the diamond has ZERO resale value. No jeweler/wholesaler will ever buy that back from a consumer.

4) J color is too low for a pave setting. I’d go with at least an I to ensure colorless impression. J looks colorless only in a solitaire where there are no additional diamonds in the band.

Would you like me to suggest a better option?

What diamond would you recommend?

I found this diamond that looks very promising, it has a beautiful cut and is eye-clean. I’d just recommend you ask Blue Nile if they can have it inspected by a gemologist and confirm that the “cloud” in the clarity notes is not an issue:

Blue Nile LD11809475

Also, you can use this $100 coupon code: [contact us for your own unique coupon code]. According to Blue Nile, this is the best coupon they are offering right now. I hope it helps.

Thank you for your help. I’ll talk to them and look into this one 🙂

They’ve confirmed the diamond is eye-clean. I’m going to proceed with that diamond in a pave setting.

That’s great news!

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. For a limited time Save 25% during James Allen Holiday 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. Blue Nile have generously offered our readers an exclusive one-time use coupon. (Click Here to save $100 off $1000 purchase)

Please enter your email address to receive your personal one-time use unique 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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