Looking for an engagement ring - begging for help

Fluorescence will only make a diamond look "whiter" when it is exposed to UV light. In other light, it will not fluoresce.

Written by cawolf86 » February 1st, 2012, 4:44 pm:

Written by Christina... » February 1st, 2012, 7:44 am:Tulips choicess are excellent and within ur budget. A well cut stone will look bigger than a larger poorly cut stone. I agree with tulip and think this stone and setting will be stunning and classic. BGD has a great reputation and does incredible work. I think you and your SO will be very happy.

Just to compare a couple similar choices from james allen - thoughts on these?

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1452902.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1452904.asp

Your getting really good at this!! Based on the numbers alone these are both great stones. I would call and ask them to get pics and an idealscope, aset of these two. When two stones are comparable I would always go with the larger stone. You've done great work! Your gf is going to love all the effort you have put into this. BTW JA has a great trade in and return policy as well, I loved working with them. Jim is an amazing guy! I can't wait to see what you decide to do. Hurry on her ring size, you don't want to miss out on these stones. You get free sizing at JA....most vendors anyway, and a local jeweler can do it for under $50. average US finger size is a 7.

I forgot to mention that JA will hold the stones for you while you are waiting for images and a gemologists review. You could put both of these on hold as well as the BGD while you wait.

Written by cawolf86 » February 1st, 2012, 4:32 pm:

Written by tulip928 » February 1st, 2012, 6:32 am:This is only slightly smaller than you wanted, but it is a beautiful diamond and a better way to spend your hard earned money. It will shine on her petite hand! There is an upgrade policy on the signature diamonds, also - something to consider.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/Diamonds/diamond-details/0.641-G-VS2-round-Diamond-AGS-104054189017

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/six-prong-solitaire-14k-white-gold-5351w14

That looks amazing.....

It looks perfect to my untrained eyes as far as all the pictures and ASET/Idealscope images I have browsed. Wow. I guess going for a signature diamond has that advantage. How do the 0.62 or 0.624 ct signature diamonds compare with that one? It seems like a steep jump for 0.3mm across the top. Is it noticeable?

I am probably going to go with this one as of now - I have a plan to try and lock down her ring size I will find out in a couple days.

Thanks!

Just to give you an idea, here is a similarly sized BGD diamond, on a size 5 finger. It's in a 6-prong setting, but it's the "tapered tiffany" style, which is a bit different. Link: http://www.pricescope.com/forum/show-me-the-ring/bgd-menage-a-trois-t165580.html

Written by Christina... » February 2nd, 2012, 8:27 am:I forgot to mention that JA will hold the stones for you while you are waiting for images and a gemologists review. You could put both of these on hold as well as the BGD while you wait.

Yes the rush is on - I will be contacting them today. Thanks for all the encouragement

BGD looks like they have great products and prices but I am just a little iffy on their return and resize policies compared to JA. JA seems to offer a better and faster return policy and better, faster shipping for resizing.

Written by dmz » February 2nd, 2012, 1:29 pm:
Just to give you an idea, here is a similarly sized BGD diamond, on a size 5 finger. It's in a 6-prong setting, but it's the "tapered tiffany" style, which is a bit different. Link: http://www.pricescope.com/forum/show-me-the-ring/bgd-menage-a-trois-t165580.html

That looks amazing! Makes me feel even better about getting a little bit smaller, well-cut stone. That looks like a great size and beautiful ring.

FYI I just put one of those from JA on hold so if you want the other you better act fast.

I noticed this post and wanted to give a heads up.

Nice choice in stones.

In the 11th hour and trying to see if there are any deals - I have come to the decision that J color is the best for my current budget and we looked at some stones and IMO well cut RBs in a solitare look good even at K. WIth that in mind -

Little larger, J color, VS1 and scores HCA 1.7 - just a tad above some of the H&A stones - thoughts?
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1446326.asp

0.71 good size for us, J, VS1 clean, affordable - scores 1.8 HCA?
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1458326.asp

0.64 "Hearts and Arrows" cut, J color, same price, VS1 - scores 1.8 HCA as well.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1436376.asp

All three look to be fine stones. IMO I would go for the largest eye clean that I could afford. I also am not big on paying the premium for a branded diamond, when a larger non branded stone perfoms identically. I would still ask to see an ideal scope image for the first two stones, the HCA is a tool to help you weed out non contenders, since you have found a couple nice stones the next step is the idealscope image, this will help show leakage. The next step will be to order the diamond and take a look for yourself!

FYI as you can see from the previous poster, these stones don't stick around for long, and lurkers have been know to jump on stones recommended for other posters. Its completely unfair and not in the spirit of PS.

Yah it's ok I decided to look in a tad lower price bracket after long consideration of what I can afford. I sent an email to place one of the stones on hold and request the images. I'll post them when I hear back.

So I am awaiting a few images from JA - they have been amazingly helpful and quick to reply at any time of night (I work nights).

In the meantime - let me post my two final setting choices. Thoughts?

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/2mm-Knife-Edge-18k-White-Gold-Solitaire-Ring.html

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/Common-Prong-Engagement-Ring.html

Posted my final thoughts in a new thread - please see:

http://www.pricescope.com/forum/rockytalky/final-decision-time-t171567.html

I cannot express how much I appreciate all the replies in this thread - they helped me learn so much in such a short time. When the final decision time came I decided to go with a smaller stone and a nicer setting after sitting down with my mother and hers. She isn't a huge ring person but I know she will love this setting and the quality of stone is more for me

The setting is from James Allen:
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/Common-Prong-Engagement-Ring.html

Stone is:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1434882.asp

Ring is size 6 - 18K white gold.

Carat: 0.59
Color: J
Cut: Excellent - GIA rated Ex/Ex/Ex
Clarity - VS1 - Eye clean through a loupe.
Strong blue fluorescence.
HCA score - 1.4

It looks great to me and the size is perfect on a size 6 finger - in reality I think we will need to down size to a 4.75 or 5 for my girlfriend. I think 0.7 ct would have been best but I am super happy with this and it sparkles like crazy in all light! And the color looks great to me - maybe it's just stone but it is set next to G-H color stones and matches them perfectly IMO.

Sorry if pictures are too big. Also sorry for the far away shots and slight blurriness - I did not have access to a macro lens. I will edit or update when I can borrow one.

Thanks Again!!

Beautiful ring!!! Hand shots please!!!

Written by purplesilk » February 21st, 2012, 2:01 am::appl: Beautiful ring!!! Hand shots please!!!

Haha thanks I like it

It is going to be a tough 3 weeks hanging on to this until I give it to her. This is a surprise proposal and we have a trip planned first week of March for our 7th anniversary - hopefully I don't get impatient and ask her first.

Would it be lame to just ask her early and go on trip after? So hard to wait.

Written by cawolf86:
Haha thanks I like it

It is going to be a tough 3 weeks hanging on to this until I give it to her. This is a surprise proposal and we have a trip planned first week of March for our 7th anniversary - hopefully I don't get impatient and ask her first.

Would it be lame to just ask her early and go on trip after? So hard to wait.

Wait!!! Wait!!! Wait!!!
Trip + e-ring = unforgettable proposal!!!

Written by purplesilk » February 21st, 2012, 2:20 am:
Wait!!! Wait!!! Wait!!!
Trip + e-ring = unforgettable proposal!!!

Yah I will just impatient

Have some decent plans - we are having dinner by the water where I plan to ask her then when we get back to the hotel where the staff will have laid out flowers, robes, and rose petals.

beautiful choice

Wait for the trip!!

This is a delayed reply because thing have been so busy. But she said yes! The trip was great and we even got pictures of the proposal. I have a couple phone shots of right when she first got it I thought I would share. It is very sparkly and she is getting compliments all the time on how much fire it has. Going higher quality but smaller in our budget was the right decision - thanks to Pricescope.

Also thought I would mention we went through the resizing process with JA and it was smooth. Took about 1.5 weeks including shipping both ways which they paid for.

You made a excellent choice, it's beautiful