tonyc2387
Shiny_Rock
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2009
- Messages
- 227
...from the newest newbie (
). So, let''s cut to the chase:
-Budget: $4k total (smaller, but have BIG engagement plans)
-ct: .75-1.0
-color: G-I
-clarity: VS is ideal (20/15 eyes, and I''m picky), but I''d go for an SI without defects in the table
-cut: help! see below.
-setting: tiffany solitaire (her fave), prefer platinum for TCO/lifetime
So, I''m asking for some assistance from those who have seen many more diamonds than I have... tons of forum browsing, vendor searching, shopping, and talking to friends, coworkers, etc., has left me in just a confused state as when I started. The good news, I suppose, is that I have a rather large window to work in before I need to pull the trigger.
Anyway, let me address what is likely your first concern: no, a $4k, 1ct, G VS (GIA) rock doesn''t exist (yes, I''m from earth, but I''m allowed to hope, right??
). That being said, 90ish points is good enough, as the cost/benefit around that magical 1.0 number just plummets. Also, anything above .75 looks great on her finger, though she personally likes the nice round 1.0 number (
).
Here''s where I''m hung up... cut. For the most part, .75-.83ish ACA/H&A/Sig. Ideal/etc rocks exist within the price range, and fit the rest of the parameters. From my reading, a couple threads stand out:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/a-day-at-tiffanys-with-the-i-scope.69733/
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/please-help-retail-question-p.125675/
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-first-article.24045/
-and another one I can''t find the link to currently.
Basically what I''m getting is that: ACA/H&A/etc *typically* look better, but it''s up to the viewer, whether or not they can detect the symmetry, and even ''the experts'' don''t do side-by-side comparisons with ACAs & AGS0''s. Personally, I can pick it up darn near right away in almost any online photo, and I prefer the look... but I haven''t yet been able to get my paws on one in real life. About the only rocks I have seen IRL are whatever (genericmallchain) have in stock, since that''s all we''ve had time to look at. I remain less than impressed with what I''ve seen... sure, it''s shiny, but nothing has knocked me off my feet in the stores (where, if anywhere, they should be). My girl seems to be somewhat less picky, as she was impressed by almost everything she saw (except for when she saw an I next to an E and went ohheckno... and that was IGI). What I''m mostly concerned about is, well... every other day she''ll be wearing it. I think over time she''d be happier with a .8x point diamond that''s exceptionally well cut, and just catches her eye randomly (or frequently
) in all lighting, and makes her go "wow, that''s pretty", as opposed to sacrificing 3 C''s to shoehorn the magical 1ct into my budget. (Whether or not I''m right about this is a totally different issue...)
So... for you folks that have seen or own an ACA/H&A/etc, is this the sort of effect you get from it? Is ACA/H&A just truly overkill for what I''m looking for, especially considering overall size? If so, what sort of minimum cut grades/HCA should I be keeping my eyes out for to achieve that effect? Also, are there any other pointers for tweaking color/clarity?
A couple loose ends...
-Any pointers on white gold vs palladium vs platinum? I''ve gotten recommendations to go platinum, just so I won''t have to deal with re-plating (she abhors yellow gold, so it''d likely be somewhat frequent), and for a tiffany-style solitaire it seems like the price difference would pay for itself in roughly only 5 years. Haven''t heard much about palladium, though.
-Concerns about buying online vs local... I think I''m stuck between a rock and a hard place. I have no reservations about buying online from good vendors, but it seems like, in general, having any work done locally voids excellent warranties on online stuff, and I''m somewhat resistant to the idea of FedEx''ing the ring around every time it needs something (less an issue for platinum I suppose). However, I''m likely moving relatively soon, so there''s little reason to buy local. Any thoughts on long-term support from online vendors?
-Girl and I have been together for the better part of 6 years (HS sweethearts). So yes, about that time...
-On a COMPLETELY unrelated note... anyone know of any fantastic travel agents / travel sites / travel deals, specifically to the Maui area?
Thanks in advance for any (direct) help... and thanks for all the help you''ve already provided. From looking around, there''s one heck of an impressive community here. I''ve learned so much from reading tons of discussions, and it''s truly amazing how much help you guys have provided to anyone who drops in and asks... phenomenal, even, considering I''ve never seen a bad word spoken _anywhere_.
I only hope that, by the end of this, I''ll be able to offer some shred of advice in turn. At the very least, if things work out, I should be able to offer up a good engagement story...
-Budget: $4k total (smaller, but have BIG engagement plans)
-ct: .75-1.0
-color: G-I
-clarity: VS is ideal (20/15 eyes, and I''m picky), but I''d go for an SI without defects in the table
-cut: help! see below.
-setting: tiffany solitaire (her fave), prefer platinum for TCO/lifetime
So, I''m asking for some assistance from those who have seen many more diamonds than I have... tons of forum browsing, vendor searching, shopping, and talking to friends, coworkers, etc., has left me in just a confused state as when I started. The good news, I suppose, is that I have a rather large window to work in before I need to pull the trigger.
Anyway, let me address what is likely your first concern: no, a $4k, 1ct, G VS (GIA) rock doesn''t exist (yes, I''m from earth, but I''m allowed to hope, right??
Here''s where I''m hung up... cut. For the most part, .75-.83ish ACA/H&A/Sig. Ideal/etc rocks exist within the price range, and fit the rest of the parameters. From my reading, a couple threads stand out:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/a-day-at-tiffanys-with-the-i-scope.69733/
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/please-help-retail-question-p.125675/
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-first-article.24045/
-and another one I can''t find the link to currently.
Basically what I''m getting is that: ACA/H&A/etc *typically* look better, but it''s up to the viewer, whether or not they can detect the symmetry, and even ''the experts'' don''t do side-by-side comparisons with ACAs & AGS0''s. Personally, I can pick it up darn near right away in almost any online photo, and I prefer the look... but I haven''t yet been able to get my paws on one in real life. About the only rocks I have seen IRL are whatever (genericmallchain) have in stock, since that''s all we''ve had time to look at. I remain less than impressed with what I''ve seen... sure, it''s shiny, but nothing has knocked me off my feet in the stores (where, if anywhere, they should be). My girl seems to be somewhat less picky, as she was impressed by almost everything she saw (except for when she saw an I next to an E and went ohheckno... and that was IGI). What I''m mostly concerned about is, well... every other day she''ll be wearing it. I think over time she''d be happier with a .8x point diamond that''s exceptionally well cut, and just catches her eye randomly (or frequently
So... for you folks that have seen or own an ACA/H&A/etc, is this the sort of effect you get from it? Is ACA/H&A just truly overkill for what I''m looking for, especially considering overall size? If so, what sort of minimum cut grades/HCA should I be keeping my eyes out for to achieve that effect? Also, are there any other pointers for tweaking color/clarity?
A couple loose ends...
-Any pointers on white gold vs palladium vs platinum? I''ve gotten recommendations to go platinum, just so I won''t have to deal with re-plating (she abhors yellow gold, so it''d likely be somewhat frequent), and for a tiffany-style solitaire it seems like the price difference would pay for itself in roughly only 5 years. Haven''t heard much about palladium, though.
-Concerns about buying online vs local... I think I''m stuck between a rock and a hard place. I have no reservations about buying online from good vendors, but it seems like, in general, having any work done locally voids excellent warranties on online stuff, and I''m somewhat resistant to the idea of FedEx''ing the ring around every time it needs something (less an issue for platinum I suppose). However, I''m likely moving relatively soon, so there''s little reason to buy local. Any thoughts on long-term support from online vendors?
-Girl and I have been together for the better part of 6 years (HS sweethearts). So yes, about that time...
-On a COMPLETELY unrelated note... anyone know of any fantastic travel agents / travel sites / travel deals, specifically to the Maui area?
Thanks in advance for any (direct) help... and thanks for all the help you''ve already provided. From looking around, there''s one heck of an impressive community here. I''ve learned so much from reading tons of discussions, and it''s truly amazing how much help you guys have provided to anyone who drops in and asks... phenomenal, even, considering I''ve never seen a bad word spoken _anywhere_.