How to Maximize Your Budget: Ovals for $25K

by Olivia Landau

Welcome to The Clear Cut Classroom where we take deep dives into all things diamonds (and jewelry)! Looking for the perfect diamond but want to stay in your price range? This week we’re giving you the scoop on how to maximize a $25k budget when shopping for an oval.* Which option would you choose?

 

*Disclaimer: Diamond prices mentioned are based on date posted and are subject to change.

 

Watch the full video below: 

 

 

What kind of oval diamonds can you get for $25k? It's all about balancing the 4 C's - Cut, Clarity, Color, and Carat. 

 

For an oval cut, we recommend the diamond to be in the D-J color range, which means you might have to sacrifice a bit in clarity or carat if you want to prioritize color. 

 

For clarity, we recommend anything from VS2 and up - if you do choose an SI1 or SI2, make sure there are no visible inclusions to the naked eye! 

 

Today, we have 3 options to explore:

 

  1. Maximize for color - this 2.2ct E VS2 diamond has the second highest color, E, on the color scale, giving it that bright white look. However, the diamond is just a little over 2 carats. The VS2 clarity is great for an oval, and definitely clean to the eye of any inclusions!

  2. Something in between - this is a 2.5ct H SI1 diamond, which hits that nice carat size mark, and the H color is right in the middle of the near-colorless range - not super white, but not yellow at all. This particular SI1 clarity is very clean and should not show any inclusions. 

  3. Maximize for size - this is a 3ct J SI1 diamond, which maximizes for size while still staying within our budget and  quality recommendations. We're compromising on color, which is on the lower end of the near-colorless range. There's a bit of warmth in the stone, but if you set the diamond in a yellow gold band and platinum prongs, you won't be able to notice the color unless placed right next to a much higher colored diamond. 

 

Which option would you choose? Let me know in the comments! 

 

 *Disclaimer: Diamond prices mentioned are based on date posted and are subject to change.

 

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