Help me narrow down an engagement ring

[2jzzzz]

Hi, I have been doing a bit of research and have narrowed my selections down to a few choices.

I am in Australia and am happy to purchase from a shop such as Whiteflash.com

My budget is around $3000AUD. I still have to factor in a 10% GST tax upon arrival, so total I would like to spend on a setting and diamonds would be $2800ish.

Now, setting am am happy to go for a plain solitaire setting. Something along these lines http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/6-prong-tiffany-style-solitaire-engagement-ring-584.htm

I want 18K yellow gold, preferably with a 6 claw.

Now diamond, I am aiming for around the .7 carat mark. I am happy to go to a G or H, but like a very good cut. I am happy with anything that is eye clean, so SI2 is ok. Something like this http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3034530.htm

Those together cost about $3150 with discounts, plus $300 tax upon arrival. Is someone could point me elsewhere for similar but that little bit cheaper, much appreciated. I am happy to buy from Bluenile, as long as they are reliably appraised.

Thanks, 2jzzzz

 

[RockyRacoon]

Any of these three stones (ask for Pricescope discount for an even better price), depending upon your color preference:

.816ct, K, VS2
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.816-k-vs2-round-diamond-ags-c-104069723039

.712ct, J, VS1
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.712-j-vs1-round-diamond-ags-c-104070179070

.618ct, H, VS1
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.618-h-vs1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104068959012


With this setting:

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/six-prong-solitaire-14k-yellow-gold-5351y14


Well under your budget, with an awesome stone and classic setting!

 

[2jzzzz]

Thank you very much for the reply. I'm not sure I could be happy with a J or K, I think I would like to stay at a H or I. I am very, very new to this all, could someone shed some light (pun intended) on whether it will be ok to go for a larger J with a very good cut and be happy with the slight tint?

 

[Roqsteady]

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/12071/
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2978565.htm
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-dia...arat-h-color-si1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-306960

 

[TC1987]

Look at GOG for color comps. http://www.goodoldgold.com/4Cs/Color/NearColorless/ and page forward or back. I picked that to show I and J.

The I color grade is the narrowest, i.e. the way it's defined by GIA, there is not much difference between a high I and a low I; they are pretty much the same. Color is graded face-down. I grade is also where most people start to notice a tint. I will face up white but sightly tinted from the side.

J has a lot more tint. Many people think J is too tinted for an e-ring if you want "white" and not slight yellow. K has been described as "certainly not white." J and K are wider color bands, there is a difference in a J that is almost I and a J that is almost K. L and M, imo, are very pleasing pale yellow, and there are people on here who have L or M e-rings.

Therefore, if you want it to look colorless, I think H is the cutoff but "I" might work, esp. if it's an I that has blue fluorescence.

G in that size range would be really safe if you don't want to see tint

ID Jewelry and B2C Jewels have found some nice stones for people on a budget. Some of the VG cut grade that just missed the Excellent due to something minor might be what you need to get the size & color. If there's nothing listed in-house, maybe start working with one vendor to locate a stone that works for you.

 

[2jzzzz]

What do people thin about these 3?

I am more leaning towards the $2000 stone

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/compare.aspx?idnos=3034530%2c3059451%2c3055782

 

[2jzzzz]

After a day of research, I have come down to this.

Setting: http://www.b2cjewels.com/Traditional-Solitaire-Settings/Prong-Set-Solitaire-Engagement-Ring-18K-Yellow-Gold-8178-1.aspx

Diamond: http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-1-4749198-0.80-carat-Round-diamond-I-color-SI1-clarity.aspx

What do people think?

 

[2jzzzz]

Ok, I have finalised my search 100% and won't be looking for any more diamonds. I have settled on this. Everything looks great, so too the price.

http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-4232471-0.79-carat-Round-diamond-I-color-SI1-clarity.aspx?cid=DiamPS&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com

Now I am deciding on a setting. I have liked this one

http://www.b2cjewels.com/Round/1/8178/Traditional-Solitaire-Settings/Prong-Set-Solitaire-Engagement-Ring-18K-Yellow-Gold.aspx

but I am more leaning towards having a platinum crown so there is no yellow around the diamond as much, but this can not be altered for platinum. I have always tried to stay away from white gold due the maintenance required. What do people think about whte gold around the diamond, but yeloow gold band?