This is an amazing site and a great resource. I’m very happy to have found it and am glad to see that it’s been worthwhile for you as well.
I’m a graduate student currently planning on getting married in the coming year and need a ring by the middle of June. I know the type I have in mind and have seen a few things on both JA and BN that seem plausible but wanted to run them by you to see if you had any thoughts or suggestions.
I’m looking for a round diamond to go with a pave white gold wedding set and was planning on doing the whole thing for 5-6k. BN has a nice set for ~1350+ while JA has a similar one for ~1700+ so although I was hoping to get the diamond from JA it seems like going through BN might allow me to spend more on the diamond…
I’ve been reading your site and trying to find the right stone, and I’m hoping to get the largest one I can afford. I can’t seem to find the nice I1’s you can and was a little scared of some of the J-colored ones I’ve seen. So far these are in the running:
On JA there were a few I1s I hoped to get your opinion on:
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-I1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1297369.asp
Do you think the inclusions on this one are too large to be covered?
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1294639.asp
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1257642.asp
I’m leaning towards this one… It’s at the top of my price range but it seems like it’s a good deal.
Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated. If you have some stones in mind I’d love to see them.
Thanks!
I’m very happy to help, but are you just educating yourself now, or are you looking to buy now? Because if you’re only going to be buying in June, then anything you find online that’s decent now will most definitely not still be around in June.
Sorry I meant January! So I’m definitely looking to buy now. I’m hoping the wedding is in June but that’s not set yet, I guess writing that late at night got to me.
Thanks for your quick reply!
I definitely think this is your best bet:
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1294639.asp
I can’t really recommend either of those BN stones because it’s just too likely that they would not be eye clean. As for the JA stones, the 1.23 has a cut grade of “1” and not “0” and the 1.04 is just too included to be eye clean.
I did my own search and came to the same conclusion.
Btw, which is the setting you’re considering? Send me the links on JA and BN if you don’t mind.
Thanks again. I appreciate getting your opinion on the stones.
The settings were
Blue Nile Petite Pavé Diamond Ring and Band
I was also planning on hitting up some jewelry stores in the area (I live in NY) over the next week or so to see some in person. Are there any places or references you might have to you recommend? Any key words to show them that I’m not too much of a rube?
…….
Sorry for the second email but I was wondering if you had any thoughts about this time of year and the best time to buy from dealers. Do you think between Christmas and New Years might be better or worse than right after New Years (I’m thinking maybe something to do with the fiscal year and sales goals and stuff) and do you think it’s possible to get a better deal from brick and mortar stores than online? I imagine there is more variation in person but a greater chance of eating into that profit margin (which I imagine is fixed online)… I know most of your proceeds come from online purchase referral links so I’m happy to compensate you for your expertise if I end up buying off line.
You should just know that the settings on JA are much more substantial than the ones on BN. The total ct weight of the sidestones on JA is about 0.50 while it’s about 0.30 on BN. And the shank on BN is 1.5mm while on JA, it’s 2.0mm. You should see the difference in person because 1.5mm is very very thin. Most people find that 2.0mm looks much more normal.
And, btw, you can apply the TADJ10 coupon code to get 10% off the set, so that’ll help bring the price down.
…….
No real difference between pre or post new years. Their prices are very consistent year round.
As for B&M, they wouldn’t be any cheaper now. This whole time period from thxgiving until valentines day is the strong season. So it’s not like they’re about to hit a wall and not have sales anymore. People get emotional during the holidays and get the idea to propose in the next 2 months, so there’s a lot of e-ring shopping still to be had.
Thanks for all your help. One last question, I hoped to get your opinion on this diamond:
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/K-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1345391.asp
I have ordered this one:
But am wondering if I should have it changed to the bigger one. I’d like to have a 1.25 carat diamond but I’m worried that the color might be too yellow. Which would you think is a better deal?
I used your coupon code, thanks again!
Stick with the stone you bought. K will be too warm, and the difference in size is only about 0.10 mm which isn’t really noticeable.
Will do, thanks again.
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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