Blue Nile Setting With James Allen Stone?

[valinor]

Hey guys, new user here with a few questions. I found a setting that I really like on Blue Nile, but would rather purchase the diamond from James Allen, as I feel uncomfortable buying a stone I haven't seen.

Link to setting:
http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-own-ring/petite-diamond-engagement-ring-14k-white-gold_42029?elem=title&track=product

So here are my questions:

1) Has anyone had experience with James Allen custom designs? Would that be more expensive than ordering the setting from Blue Nile?

2) I contacted Blue Nile, and they said they can sell me just the setting. About how much would it cost to have a different jeweler set a loose James Allen diamond with that setting? Would that be a better alternative than a custom design?

3) Would James Allen let me send them the setting I purchased from Blue Nile and set their diamond into that setting?

4) Am I being unreasonable here? My biggest concern with a Blue Nile diamond is that it won't be eye-clean, as I'm probably getting an SI1 diamond. If I was confident that any SI1 from Blue Nile would be eye-clean, I wouldn't have a problem ordering from them.

What do you guys think?

 

[telephone89]

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/james-allen-exclusive-engagement-ring-item-49519
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/14k-white-gold-petite-diamond-accent-engagement-ring-item-50124
Similar settings from JA.

You would be best off calling a few jewellers to find out what their price of setting a stone is. Could be inflated if you aren't buying either item from them.

You can also ask JA to customize the settings above - so its not total custom, but would be final purchase/no refunds. I don't know the exact cost of that. Again, you'd need to talk to them.

You can also ask JA if they will set the BN diamond.

No, youre not being unreasonable. But best to pick up a phone

 

[sbfairy]

I think JA would set the stone using a BN setting. I know they charge $100 to set an outside stone into one of their settings, so I imagine a similar fee would apply. I would encourage you to check out the JA settings that are similar to the BN setting you posted. BN lists the stones in the setting as SI2. The JA stones are VS2-SI1,better quality. I have a band from JA that is g/h color VS2/SI1 clarity and it is beautiful. Buying from them was easy and they upgraded my shipping at no cost to me when I needed it.