Hi everyone -- I've been spying on various threads (and used the search function), and have learned a lot in the past week! I know that many threads have addressed this question in various forms, but I'd like your input on my situation. My girlfriend's largest priority for an engagement ring is "exorbitant sparkle" (like most women). Of course, she says the bigger the better (in my mind, I'm thinking between 1.25 and 1.75ct -- I know this is a large range; her best friend has a 1.6, which may serve as a point of comparison for her). I'm not going to give you a target price because, frankly, I don't have one (but the budget isn't unlimited). I keep trying to come up with a budget, but I honestly can't decide -- the two months salary rule would tell me I can spend $5000 now (I'm a grad student), but $15,000 in 18 months (I'll have a "real" job). I have enough saved up to buy whatever is the most bang for the buck, within reason.
What I know:
* Round Brilliant (maximizes sparkle)
* Adhere to HCA < 2.0
* I'd really like to buy from Blue Nile (I know it's a drop-shipper) because of the (1) low prices, (2) selection, (3) reputation, and (4) I get an extra 5% cash back with my credit card that I wouldn't get at JA/BGD/WF/GOG (although I could buy from them if BN isn't working out).
* I know cut is the most important of the C's for sparkle.
My question is: Where is the wiggle room for a middle-class layperson? I don't anticipate ever having to sell the diamond back, and no one will be looking at it through a microscope.
Here is what I've gathered -- please tell me if I'm wrong:
Cut: It seems to me that an Ideal Cut diamond on BN with a HCA < 2.0 will be sufficient -- while the idea of a signature ideal is great, I'm guessing it's not worth the money, right?
Clarity: It seems like VS2 is the safe way to go (since I can't see pictures of the diamonds, so a SI diamond is risky). Maybe a SI1 because it drops the price a lot. If I go all the way down to SI2, does it affect the "sparkle"? Will the inclusions (if visible) only be visible if you get 2 inches away from the diamond, i.e., would it matter to a layperson?
Color: Going down to a J seems risky, as people here have noted that J is where a lot of people start noticing the yellow. It seems like not many people notice yellow at I, although H may be better. (I know I need to pay attention to the color of the diamonds in the band, although she wants small channel/pave diamonds like in this Tiffany's ring so it might not matter.)
In general, I'm wondering what the general public buys when they walk into their local jewelry shop or Zales or Jared's -- are they buying SI2's with color J, or worse, or better? All-in-all, what type of clarity and color is best for someone who doesn't live in NYC/LA/Chicago (and is thus subjected to higher standards) and who isn't a diamond aficionado?
What I know:
* Round Brilliant (maximizes sparkle)
* Adhere to HCA < 2.0
* I'd really like to buy from Blue Nile (I know it's a drop-shipper) because of the (1) low prices, (2) selection, (3) reputation, and (4) I get an extra 5% cash back with my credit card that I wouldn't get at JA/BGD/WF/GOG (although I could buy from them if BN isn't working out).
* I know cut is the most important of the C's for sparkle.
My question is: Where is the wiggle room for a middle-class layperson? I don't anticipate ever having to sell the diamond back, and no one will be looking at it through a microscope.
Here is what I've gathered -- please tell me if I'm wrong:
Cut: It seems to me that an Ideal Cut diamond on BN with a HCA < 2.0 will be sufficient -- while the idea of a signature ideal is great, I'm guessing it's not worth the money, right?
Clarity: It seems like VS2 is the safe way to go (since I can't see pictures of the diamonds, so a SI diamond is risky). Maybe a SI1 because it drops the price a lot. If I go all the way down to SI2, does it affect the "sparkle"? Will the inclusions (if visible) only be visible if you get 2 inches away from the diamond, i.e., would it matter to a layperson?
Color: Going down to a J seems risky, as people here have noted that J is where a lot of people start noticing the yellow. It seems like not many people notice yellow at I, although H may be better. (I know I need to pay attention to the color of the diamonds in the band, although she wants small channel/pave diamonds like in this Tiffany's ring so it might not matter.)
In general, I'm wondering what the general public buys when they walk into their local jewelry shop or Zales or Jared's -- are they buying SI2's with color J, or worse, or better? All-in-all, what type of clarity and color is best for someone who doesn't live in NYC/LA/Chicago (and is thus subjected to higher standards) and who isn't a diamond aficionado?