Find your diamond
Find your jewelry
shape
carat
color
clarity

James Allen vs. Blue Nile: Which diamond should I choose?

N

neallyboy

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 6, 2013
Messages
2
Hello everyone!

I am new here so please forgive if I am posting in the wrong forum.

I am in the middle of choosing between two e-rings, one from Blue Nile the other from James Allen. I would like your opinion as to which I should choose.

James Allen:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1522297.asp

0.43 Carat F-SI1 Hearts & Arrows Ideal Cut Round Diamond
Shape: Round
Carat Weight: 0.43
Cut: Hearts & Arrows Ideal
Color: F
Clarity: SI1
Certificate: GIA
Depth: 61.5%
Table: 57.0%
Crown Angle: 34.0
Pavilion Angle: 40.8
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Girdle: Medium - Slightly Thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 4.82*4.84*2.97

Setting: http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/channelset-rings/14k-white-gold-thin-channel-set-round-shaped-diamond-engagement-ring-11103w14.html

Blue Nile
http://www.bluenile.com/ca/diamond-search?filter_id=0&pt=sig#diamonds_pid=LD02417794

0.42-Carat Blue Nile Signature Round Diamond
Shape: Round
Carat Weight: 0.42
Cut: Signature Ideal
Color: F
Clarity: SI1
Certificate: GIA
Depth: 61.0%
Table: 56.0%
Crown Angle: 34.0
Pavilion Angle: 40.6
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Girdle: Medium
Culet: None
Fluorescence: Faint Blue
Measurements: 4.84 x 4.82 x 2.95 mm

Setting: http://www.bluenile.com/ca/diamond-engagement-ring-white-gold_19829

Thank in advance.
 
Re: James Allen vs. Blue Nile: Which diamond should I choose

let me ask you, what is your entire budget for the e ring?


because if you are on a tight budget i would recommend contacting ID Jewelry. Ive heard on here they were wonders with a tight budget. And i saw first hand recently on this thread.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/need-help-halo-hesitation.183593/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/need-help-halo-hesitation.183593/[/URL]

Read though it, but basically the guy contacted them. told them his budget and he needed the biggest pricescope quality center stone and what kind of setting he wanted and they did a fabulous job.... also, i dont think you need that high of clarity for a diamond that size. I or so would be just perfect.
 
Re: James Allen vs. Blue Nile: Which diamond should I choose

I should have posted that, thanks for reminding me.

I want to keep it at a low $2000ish.
 
 
 
Re: James Allen vs. Blue Nile: Which diamond should I choose

Based on the numbers alone, both stones appear to be good choices. Have you requested an idealscope from JA? BN won't be able to offer you anymore information than you already posted and for that reason I would choose to work with JA.

If you were trying to stretch your budget and get the largest possible center stone, I would suggest dropping in color. Many, and I may even say most people can't detect the subtle color differences once the stone is mounted until the H/I range, and only then when the stone is viewed through the pavilion (side) view of the diamond. The cost difference between an F and even a G can be quite large. At this ct weight I think that you would be fine dropping to an H without sacrificing any real visual difference. Now, if you are extremely color sensitive then or a truly colorless stone is important to you, then by all means stick to an F, but as I said if you are trying to stretch the budget then this would be a good area to start. Fluorecense is cool too and slightly discounted by vendors. BGD has a line dedicated to fluor which is very popular. It also helps lower colored stones appear a bit whiter in an environment that provides UV lighting such as outside. I probably wouldn't drop any lower in clarity unless you found a very good SI2 and the stone had been inspected by a GG to determine that it was eye clean. It's more difficult but they can be found.
 
Re: James Allen vs. Blue Nile: Which diamond should I choose

It isn't a very attractive photo of the stone, but I'd like to see an ideal scope image of this one. The crown angle is a tad shallower than most PSers prefer (but GIA rounds their numbers so it could be closer to 34) but it has great face up spread and should be a very bright stone. .08HCA
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1521850.asp

This one looks great, if you are interested put it on hold asap. It faces up much larger than your intial choices, but it's an I color which at this weight should still face up very white.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1546748.asp


http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1536465.asp

these inclusions are iffy, I'm not sure that they would be prongable, but you could ask a GG to evaluate it. Nice cut though
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1545844.asp

pave settings
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/14k-white-gold-thin-french-cut-pave-set-diamond-engagement-ring-17158w14.html
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/18k-White-Gold-Double-Claw-Prong-Pave-Set-Diamond-Engagement-Ring.html
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/-18k-White-Gold-Pave-Set-Diamond-Engagement-Ring-17155w14.html
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/14k-white-gold-pave-halo-diamond-engagement-ring-17305w14.html
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Jewelry Blog
PriceScope-Concierge-Ad
Find prime cuts.
Top