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Q&A: Choosing a Round or Pear-Shape Diamond With a $7k – $15k Budget

By Mike Fried,

Good afternoon.

Firstly, thank you for your interesting articles. I would truly love some advice on purchasing an engagement ring.
My budget is between $7-12k for a round diamond, G-D in colour with a VS1 and up clarity.

We have some new developments… she really likes pear shaped diamonds. Would you mind suggesting one or two?

When it comes to purchasing a diamond what should I be looking for? I did notice some of the $10k diamonds are higher in carat but have a lower colour and clarity rating. I did a quick check myself and found some with D colour, VVS2 and above and some IF but around the 1.2 carat size for $10k. I’m just unsure what I should be looking for exactly to make it the best ring I could buy.

For pears, we usually search in the H+/SI+ range. I adjusted my search as per your request (at least a G in color and VS in clarity), but H color still looks colorless in most settings. Clarity grade is even less important, what matters is having an eye-clean diamond.

You should also avoid strong fluorescence and medium fluorescence in case of DEFG diamonds.

So the pear diamond doesn’t need great clarity due to its shape?

Does the length and width matter?

Having an eye-clean diamond is a must, but the clarity grade is not important. Clarity grade doesn’t tell you whether the diamond is eye-clean or not, it only tells you the size of the inclusion.

The L:W ratio is less important. Whatever look you prefer.

The most recent diamond is not a good choice for several reasons:

1) Strong fluorescence is usually a kiss of death on high color grades. It might give them a hazy/milky look.

2) Knot inclusion is never good.

3) Very prominent bow-tie.

What size carat do you think I could get for around $15,000 AUS?

For ~15k, I found the following beauty:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/pear-shaped/1.31-carat-g-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-7719384?a_aid=dmnd1357
There was nothing larger that would look good.

I bought it and she said yes!!!

That’s wonderful news, congratulations!

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