Please give me your expert(wise) advices!!!!

[chumpe]

I want to buy a diamond ring for someone special. Yes, I want to marry her. So basically, I am trying to buy a ring before Christmas. I went to a downtown engagement ring store(I live in Seattle) and pick out a ring (I am a college student, could afford about 2k for a ring at the moment). I came home and then came across this web site and checked out the etailers. I realized that buying diamond online is more efficient and get most bang for the buck. also it seems like many people in this forum are all experienced diamond shoppers. I''ve never bought a diamond ring before, and would very much appreciate you guys can give me any kind of adivces.

So my questions are, which e-tailer you guys recommend? What would be a good diamond and setting for the budget I have? I want something nice and simple and beautiful for my gf. Thanks a lot!
p.s. I know the store I went to offers lifetime diamond/ring exchange service. Do people really do that?

 

[Scintillating]

List of E-tailers

Keep in mind that Christmas is Busiest time of year for jewelers. And - it''s only 17 or so days away. You''re just starting the e-ring process, and could easily spend 10 times that amount of time educating yourself about diamonds before purchasing. - And then there''s style....

Do you know what she''d like?
Is she Traditional? Concervative? Funky? Eccentric?


"p.s. I know the store I went to offers lifetime diamond/ring exchange service. Do people really do that?"

Yes!!!!! - Many vendors like whiteflash and GoodOldGold have lifetime upgrade policies.
Check out their websites for details. It''s pretty awesome really!

Scintillating...

 

[Kaleigh]

Hi chumpe and welcome to PS

Both Whiteflash and Good old gold offer the policies that you are seeking. Read the tutorials here first and learn about cut. A simple tiffany setting in WG should do the trick. Is 2k the budget for the stone and the setting??

 

[Kim N]

I second (or third?) the recommendation of Whiteflash and Good Old Gold. I agree with Kaleigh on the simple Tiffany setting in white gold. That shouldn''t cost much at all.

What shape stone does she like? You can search for stones by using the "Cut Quality Search" engine above.

 

[chumpe]

thanks for the quck response
and yes i have a tight budget of around 2k for a diamond and the setting. that''s why I was curious about lifetime diamond exchange program, then I can exchange the diamond for bigger/better one in future. seems like White Flash is most recommended. I know she''s conservative type, and is not much into much jewlery. So I am thinking of just getting simple round diamond with ideal cut(since i found out it''s the most important c) and I saw nice tiffany rings that falls in my budget at White Flash. should I go with 4 or 6 prones? do 4 prone ones really help the diamond shine more?? Also do women like white gold or platinum? I heard that with 4 prones, it''s can''t hold the diamond as strong.

 

[E B]

Hi Chumpe!

$2000.00 is a great budget to work with. No matter the size, as long as you get a well cut diamond (ideal would be best

) it'll out-sparkle any diamond your fiance-to-be will see on the street.

Possible (gorgeous) diamonds:
http://www.goodoldgold.com/0_49ct_e_vs2_h%26a.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/diamond_Details.aspx?itemcode=AGS-6640110#
http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/diamond_Details.aspx?itemcode=AGS-6755901#
http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?pid=LD00982478

Possible settings:
http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Solitaire/14k-Gold-6-Prong-Tiffany-Style_687.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Solitaire/Platinum-4-Prong-Tiffany-Style_608.htm
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement_rings/classic_solitaire_settings.asp?module=setting&cid=57&item=934&name=1012W
http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Solitaire/Platinum-Sleek-Lines-Solitaire_688.htm

When looking for a diamond, don't shy away from the I and J colors. I have an "I" colored diamond myself and it's extremely white. I and J, while further down on the "colorless" scale, often present a wonderful bargain and face up extremely white..if well cut.

(Links will work if copied and pasted!)

 

[chumpe]

Thanks so much for the links. I really like the diamonds you sent me, especially the one with H&A. It says that it has "A Cut Above H&A" how does that compare to ideal cut? btw do you like 4 or 6 prones??

chumpe

 

[E B]

No problem! I prefer 4 prongs, but you'll get varied responses on this question. Many feel 6 prongs protect the diamond more, while others feel the fewer prongs, the better...more diamond to look at. "A Cut Above" diamonds are gorgeous (and have the perfect "hearts and arrows" pattern), but if you find one that's a Whiteflash ES (Expert Selection...still ideal cut, many with hearts and arrows), it'll be just as beautiful and a wonderful deal.

Date: 12/6/2005 4:05:24 AM
Author: chumpe
Thanks so much for the links. I really like the diamonds you sent me, especially the one with H&A. It says that it has 'A Cut Above H&A' how does that compare to ideal cut? btw do you like 4 or 6 prones??


chumpe

 

[chumpe]

quick question. can you see hearts and arrows without a microscope?

 

[mrssalvo]

Hi chumpe,
you can''t see the hearts b/c they can only be seen when the diamond is upside down. as for the arrows, there are many H & A owners who say they can see the arrows in certain light settings with just their eyes..

 

[Kim N]

I prefer 4 prongs too, but like Ebree said, preferences vary a lot. I like the 4 prongs especially for smaller stones because you see more diamond that way.

I like that 0.57 I/SI1 that Ebree posted.

Here are a few more good ones:
0.545 ACA G/VS2 http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/diamond_Details.aspx?itemcode=AGS-6639907
0.556 ACA I/SI1 http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/diamond_Details.aspx?itemcode=AGS-6640403
0.557 ACA I/SI1 http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/diamond_Details.aspx?itemcode=AGS-6640407
0.577 H/VS2 http://www.goodoldgold.com/0_577ct_h_vs2_h&a.htm

If you buy from Whiteflash, ask for the Pricescope discount.

 

[chumpe]

thanks for the links.
seems like every time you go one grade down in color, you save a lot. Anyhow, you think I is still considerably white? do colors affect the shine of the diamond? can you see any yellow from an "I" diamond? thanks alot!!!

 

[Kaleigh]

I stones that are ideal cut face up very white. You won''t see any color.

 

[Shay37]

Date: 12/6/2005 7:40:47 PM
Author: chumpe
thanks for the links.
seems like every time you go one grade down in color, you save a lot. Anyhow, you think I is still considerably white? do colors affect the shine of the diamond? can you see any yellow from an ''I'' diamond? thanks alot!!!

Nope, that would be the cut that affects the shine.

BTW, welcome to Pricescope.

shay

 

[plg_cp]

Date: 12/6/2005 7:40:47 PM
Author: chumpe

seems like every time you go one grade down in color, you save a lot. Anyhow, you think I is still considerably white? do colors affect the shine of the diamond? can you see any yellow from an ''I'' diamond? thanks alot!!!

Chumpe,
I bought a 0.57 J SI1 A Cut Above from Whiteflash for my fiance and it is stunning. Neither of us can see any color in it. If I had to do it over again I wouldn''t change a thing about the color or clarity. Obviously my budget was very much like yours (less actually) and I was able to squeeze in a bit more size by moving down to J color. As I said, no regrets. I wouldn''t hesitate for I. Also, take advantage of the vendors'' honesty to find an eyeclean SI to save more money to put towards size.

As Shay mentioned, the cut is what impacts the performance and the ACA''s are cut very sweetly.

Good luck!!
Mark

 

[chumpe]

Hi
another quickie. How much do you save when you mention pricescope to Whiteflash?

 

[plg_cp]

Date: 12/6/2005 8:35:51 PM
Author: chumpe
Hi

another quickie. How much do you save when you mention pricescope to Whiteflash?

I''m not sure what the actual % discount is, but if you use the Search By Cut tool here on PS, the prices listed are the discounted ones. Compare them to the price listed on WF''s website and there you go.

For example, the 0.556 mentioned before is $1,285 and $1,221 with discount. probably not enough to make your decision either way but it''s a nice bonus.

Mark

 

[portoar]

I vote for 4 prongs, 6 prongs looks too busy on such a simple style and on a smaller diamond. I love this setting:

http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Solitaire/Platinum-Sleek-Lines-Solitaire_688.htm

It''s very simple and elegant, yet offers a tiny bit more than a plain 4 prong setting.

Those diamonds the others picked out for you look beautiful. Any one of them would work. For $2,000, and factoring in a discount for wire transfer and/or pricescope discount, you could go a little better on color, as with these in the "near colorless" range:

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-1958356.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-1958329.htm#

As for the discount, I just bought two diamonds (for earrings), .523 and .521 and was quoted a 5% discount. I think they state a 2% discount for wire transfer on the website, maybe you can call and ask about the discount policy. Maybe you get a further discount for being on Pricescope?

Whiteflash has been really wonderful to work with. Can''t recommend them highly enough.