More Questions From IRAQ...

[Deadgame]

Hello again everyone, it''s Brad; back with more questions that have been asked 50 million times (I know because I looked them up in the archived post). Levi at Vatche is helping me with my setting (Vatche 514 and 517). I was going to get a different Vatche setting, but she told her friend she like this one, and come to find out, she likes the round cut better too. Maybe I don''t know her at all. I''m alreay 0 for 2 with her ring tastes. Levi at Vatche hasn''t given me the price for the set yet, so I don''t know exactly what I can spend on the stone. But I do know this---I need help. I am torn between buying a bigger stone or a finer cut stone. I am thinking my budget for the stone will be $6000. I would really like a 1.25-1.3ct HAA for that price, but I don''t see that happening while Hell is still hot. So either I can find a HAA stone in the neighborhood of 1ct for that much, or I may be able to get a 1.25ct stone of lesser quality. Will there be a huge difference between 1ct and 1.25ct? As you know, I am in the middle of nowhere and seeing the stones to compare can''t happen. By the time I get back to the states, it''ll be just about time for the vacation when I plan on giving her the ring. So, if you had $6000, which way would you go? Any deals you''ve found would greatly be apprceiated.


Wish You Were Here, (Just Kidding)

Brad

 

[abradabra]

Well--my suggestion would be to fall somewhere in the middle. I mean, I certainly would work to save on money color and clarity (maybe H/I and SI) to get a larger stone. Also, you can get an extremely well cut diamond without it being branded hearts & arrows. I''m thinking of something of similar quality to a lot of the stones in the Whiteflash "Expert Selection" line (many of which missed being "branded" for something that you as a consumer would be unlikely to notice--for example vg polish instead of excellent or something to that effect)...

Good luck on your purchase!!!!

 

[Hest88]

Hi Brad!!! Glad to hear things are progressing. Here''s one stone that''s 1.22:
http://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/Round-Ideal-Cut-cut-diamond-783927.htm

This one is an I1, that scares me, but it *might* be eye clean enough.
http://www.dirtcheapdiamonds.com/diamond_detail.cfm?did=7213291

Otherwise, you can still go for over a carat for that price range, though not in the 1.25 range. There''s definitely a bit of a size difference, but I suspect she won''t know or care!

 

[moremoremore]

"Maybe I don't know her at all." LOLOLOL!!! Welcome to the world of....THE HUSBAND! None of you know what we want...so you're not alone!

OK- you want fast and easy? I'd email Mark Turnowski at engagementringsdirect. Me, Reena, Alexah, and a whole bunch of others purchased our awesome stones from him. No bull, no smoke, no mirrors. I can almost guarantee that you will hear back from him within an hour if you email him. Tell him what you're looking for. I would try to find a very good quality stone visually and a good size..I am going to get flamed, but I'm not a stickler for numbers. I want a nice big stone that still is a very very good cut. His "eyes" are fantastic and he can get you a quality stone. I am 100% confident. Feel free to PM Reena and Alexah too. He can also get you about any setting at a great price. I inquired about a side stone with him. By the end of the day, he walked down the road to the supplier and had it in his office. Fast and easy!

P.S. God bless you!

 

[moremoremore]

Reena's stone from Mark

 

[moremoremore]

My stone from Mark (also a cushion)

 

[moremoremore]

Atlas'' stone!

 

[solange]

The stone from Whiteflash sounds very nice. I bought my stone there.The only thing is that it is an EGL grading but it is an ideal and an H color should look great in that good a cut.
You can email Lesley or Brian and ask them about the stone. They are very reliable and have an excellent reputation as does Engagement Rings Direct.
It should not be too hard to find a nice stone in the 1.25 range in your range.

 

[Todd07]

Brad,
Have you played with the search by cut tool? It''s a fantastic way to find great candidates based on the HCA score. Below are two examples that should please.

1.2c/I/SI1/AGS0 H&A/HCA 1.3/$5963 from WF

1.28c/I/SI2/AGS0 H&A/HCA 1.6/ 5.6k from GOG

A well cut eye clean I will be fantastic and fit in your budget.

I''ve attached a pic of my J SI1 for reference. If you are anxious about color, there are some great threads to show you can do well if you buy from a good vendor

 

[fortheloveofdiamonds]

Hi there,

I put on a set 1.5c and a set 2.0c and I''ll tell you, for me, unless I put them *real* close together! I couldn''t tell the difference. I think it will be hard to find a high quality-eye-clean stone in a 1.25 for your budget. However, I don''t think that the difference between a 1.0 and 1.25 is that huge.....IMO

I chose to go with the setting that I loved and got a 1.5c instead of a 2.0c and I am happy. Here are some links that might be interesting to you and all within your budget!

http://www.goodoldgold.com/1_013ct_h_si1__h%26a.htm

http://www.goodoldgold.com/1_015CT_H_SI1_H%26A2.htm

http://www.goodoldgold.com/1_174ct_i_si1_h%26a.htm

http://www.goodoldgold.com/1_12ct_i_si1_h%26a.htm

and this one if you want to go for size with a K and still be within budget.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/1_22ct_k_si1_h%26a.htm

If you want to have more budget you could buy just the e-ring first and get her the wedding band when you get back from Iraq (this is what my husband is doing) Remember. Cut is king! After that I go clarity, then color! Good Luck. *I have not purchased through GOG, however there are a lot of ppl who have purchased from them and have been very happy* If you want to know who I used, pm me!

 

[SJS1234]

Here are a couple from abazias.com:

http://www.abazias.com/database/NewDiamondInfo.asp?stock=4788865

http://www.abazias.com/database/NewDiamondInfo.asp?stock=7876534

There were several 1.2 ct diamonds in your price range on this site, but someone else on here would be better able to tell you how the table and depth percentages rank....... help?

 

[SJS1234]

By the way, the color on all of these are excellent

A couple of others:
http://www.abazias.com/database/NewDiamondInfo.asp?stock=8713480

http://www.abazias.com/database/NewDiamondInfo.asp?stock=8367523

 

[Patty]

SuperbCert has a 1.11 H SI1 for $6000: http://superbcert.com/Shop_By_Product/Diamond_Details.cfm/P/220873/N/1;1

My sister has a diamond that is 1.11 and it''s just enough bigger than one carat that you notice its size.


Or this J, VVS1 1.19 for $6125: (I think this is overkill on clarity but that''s just me.)

http://superbcert.com/Shop_By_Product/Diamond_Details.cfm/P/596/N/1;1


Or a 1.21 VS2, K color for $4785: (K may be too low on color for you but you would get the size you want at a great price and the ideal cut stones mask color to a point.)
http://superbcert.com/Shop_By_Product/Diamond_Details.cfm/P/598/N/1;1

 

[reena]

todd, holy carp--that''s like the whitest diamond i have ever seen. it looks amazing!

is that the new setting? why haven''t you posted in SMTR???

sorry for that mini digression, deadgame. i concur with MMM--mark is faaaaantastic. (so are the other pscope vendors.) and he''s lightening quick! which could be good for you in this case. either way, good luck! let us know how it turns out.

 

[Alice in DiamondLand]

Yes, that''s the ring. We got it today. I tracked the fedex package yesterday evening, into the night and first thing this morning. It''s now on my finger and it''s rad!! We''ll take pics tonight.

The picture Todd sent was the one that was on the Whiteflash person''s finger. the pave wedding band is pretty dang gorgeous. the pave that Brian at WF did is scrumptious.