J.R. Dunn has this Verragio Round Diamond Halo Engagement ring (the setting only, not including a center diamond) for $5,300. Is it worth that? Can you get a better deal at my go-to place, James Allen?
(Yes I seem to be a James Allen fan boy. But I’m not, per se. I’m a fan of the best diamond deals I can find, especially for people who request a price compare. James Allen simply wins out, due to their incredibly efficient, transparent business model.)
This price comparison is part of a larger tree of price comparisons of stunning white gold engagement rings that I like.
We’ll look at the setting price only, at first. The one from J.R. Dunn and then another one (also a Verragio) from James Allen.
Then we’ll compare prices after adding a center diamond.
This is a beautiful setting. You have to visit it live online right now to see some more shots of it. The filigrees are exquisite.
It has a split-shank design with diamonds flowing down each shank, a diamond halo, and two smaller diamonds on either side of the center part of the design, almost like a 3-stone ring.
A non-designer but similar style setting just for reference: $2,720
The Verragio from J.R. Dunn is a lot more expensive than a random, similar, but non-designer setting. To see what I mean, see this non-designer but similar style James Allen setting for $2,980.
(This is not the one I’ll compare to. The comparison setting for this article will also be a Verragio setting, at James Allen. But I’m showing you the non-designer setting so you can see the difference in price and the difference in appearance between a Verragio and the non-designer setting.)
The Verragio is a more beautiful and more intricate design, I think there’s little doubt for most people. On the other hand, the non-designer setting from James Allen pictured above is also quite intricate and beautiful.
It has 0.57 total carats counting the two side diamonds and the pave diamonds going down either shank. (This total does not count a center diamond, which of course you’d add separately after choosing it, also at James Allen. But we’re just comparing the settings for now.)
A 2nd non-designer setting for further comparison in price:
This one is $3,820, getting closer in price to the Verragio from J.R. Dunn. It’s also intricate and beautiful. But I think anyone would agree, not as fine a ring as the Verragio.
It has a split shank like the Verragio. It also has a halo like the Verragio. But it doesn’t have two stones like the Verragio that are like a 3-stone design. (As does the first non-designer ring from James Allen, above.)
The total carat weight of the halo and the pave diamonds down the shanks is: 0.78.
So far, if the money is not a problem, I’d prefer the Verragio from J.R. Dunn. But a setting alone for $5,300 can present a problem for some budgets at certain stages in life. So if that’s your situation, I’d recommend the first non-designer setting from James Allen, above. It’s plenty beautiful and a truly stunning design. (And anyone can also see, the Verragio might be too overdone in its filigrees and intricacies. It can depend as much on a woman’s style as on a man’s budget.)
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A James Allen offer on a Verragio setting only (similar to the one offered by J.R Dunn): $5,200
This Verragio design at James Allen is VERY similar to the Verragio design at J.R. Dunn.
- Same designer of course.
- Specs are very similar, almost identical.
- Design is extremely similar: two flanking accent stones, almost like a 3-stone ring; filigrees; and split-shank with pave diamonds.
- Offer at James Allen is $100 less.
Personally, I like the Verragio design at J.R. Dunn slightly better. It just fits my preferences a little more. It’s a little more delicate and beautiful, in my opinion. Also, insignificantly but still it’s a fact: the setting at J.R. Dunn has 0.10 more tcw.
But these designs are so close, either one would do very well. They’re each a Verragio Insignia design, and could justify becoming heirlooms passed down for generations.
What about the center diamonds? Does James Allen (again) beat the competition badly with much lower prices on the same certified specs?
Heh, again, I am sometimes accused of just sending people to James Allen, because I’m an affiliate there. I plead not guilty. I send people to the best diamond deals I can find.
And, virtually every time you price compare based on specs of certified diamonds, James Allen kills it.
And this is where James Allen will kill it again, in this price comparison.
As you’ve seen, on these brand name, designer setting rings (Verragio Insignia rings of very similar design), the prices are just about even. J.R. Dunn’s offer is $5,300. James Allen offer of a very similar style ring from the same designer is $5,200 (but it has 0.10 less carats in the tcw of the accents, so that makes the prices look even more equal).
But what about the center diamonds?
This is where James Allen again shines.
A representative J.R. Dunn offer on a 1-carat center diamond for its Verragio setting: $6,939.49
This is an incredibly beautiful diamond.
Carats
1 carat, for ease of comparison.
Clarity
VS2-Clarity:
Color
Color: D (That’s the best possible color, which is “no color at all.” There are no A, B, or C color grades of course.)
Cut Quality
The Cut Quality is graded as “Very Good.”
A representative offer I was able to find on James Allen for a diamond with EXACTLY the same specs, graded by the GIA as well: $5,290
The color is D.
The Clarity is VS2.
The Cut Quality is “Very Good.”
The grading lab is the highly respected GIA, just as with the diamond we looked at above, from J.R. Dunn, for $6,939.49
So these two diamonds are, by objective standards, equal in quality.
And the James Allen diamond is $1,649 less.
How to get the James Allen deal
At James Allen, you don’t just add a ring to cart. It’s slightly more interesting (and gives you more control and choice). Instead, you do this:
- You choose a setting (the metal ring, which in some cases comes with accent diamonds).
- Then you choose a loose diamond to add to it.
But it’s not as hard as it may seem. In fact it’s easy.
At least, it’s easy if you have someone walking you through it for the first time.
Here’s exactly how to get these deals (or very similar deals) at James Allen:
1. Select this 18K white gold Verragio setting. (It’s available on the same page in 14K and platinum as well, at different price points.) Just choose them from the drop down on the setting product page.)
2. For the diamond, go to these pre-set James Allen diamond search results and select a diamond from the first 2 or 3 diamonds in the list.
(James Allen diamonds are unique, so I can’t send you straight to a specific diamond. It would sell out quickly. But there are many many others in the inventory. The price will be close to what you see here.
Also, of course the inventory is always changing, so you may see slightly different prices when you search.)
3. For even greater savings, click the “Lab-Created Diamonds” filter. (Use my pre-set James Allen Lab-Created Diamonds search results.)
Just to make the point: You can save even more (THOUSANDS MORE) by choosing a lab-created center diamond. One with very similar specs to the two earth-created diamonds considered here is only $1,920 at James Allen.
Yes, you can get a diamond with those same specs for $1,920. It would be a lab-created diamond. (See the search results in the last image up there. And click on it to be taken to those exact results.)
Lab-create diamonds are 100% authentic, no different from an earth created diamond except in their origins.
However, at this time, I was unable to find a GIA-graded lab-created diamond with these specs. I did find some IGI-graded lab-created diamonds with these specs. (See that last image up there.)
But you should know that many people consider GIA grades to be of a higher standard than IGI grades. Personally, I trust both labs. But the labs do have different reputations as far as their standards go. It’s impossible for anyone to objectively prove that the IGI is inferior to the GIA. (To do so, some highly trusted imaginary new organization would have to create a grader of the grading labs. 😉
Total cost comparison of the three rings “assembled” here (settings + center stone) with these search techniques:
J.R. Dunn (earth-created): $12,239.49
J.R. Dunn’s offer of that Verragio setting + 1-carat round brilliant, VS2-Clarity, D-Color, Very Good Cut, GIA-certified earth-created center stone: $5,300 + $6,939.49 = $12,239.49
James Allen (earth-created): $10,490
James Allen’s offer of a very similar Verragio setting + 1-carat round brilliant, VS2-Clarity, D-Color, Very Good Cut, GIA-certified earth-created center stone: $5,200 + $5,290 = $10,490.
James Allen (lab-created): $7,120
James Allen’s offer of a very similar Verragio setting + 1-carat round brilliant, VS2-Clarity, D-Color, Ideal Cut, IGI-certified lab-created center stone: $5,200 + $1,920 = $7,120.
