Princess Cut 4000$ Budget

[jshzglr]

Hello forum,

I finally found the perfect girl. Now I just need the perfect diamond, while being financially responsible of course.
I'm looking to buy an engagement ring in the next few days and I need to have it in hand by September 10, 2015. My budget is approximately $4,000 for the diamond plus setting. I know she wants princess cut, with a thin solitaire setting. Sorry I'm not too good at all of this, but I am good at google which is why I'm here. I was thinking platinum for the setting but I'm really not sure. I'm basically going for the biggest ring possible without any visible flaws. If I could get close to 1 carat that would be amazing but obviously that's probably not gonna happen.

Thank you for any and all help and if there is anything else you need to know, and I'd imagine there is I'll obviously be here to answer.

 

[Niel]

Now if you could handle 14k gold we could get you to that magic 1ct number

http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-own-ring/14k-white-gold-engagement-ring_20315?elem=img&track=product

http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD06031983

Sign up for the "reffer a friend" and reffer yourself that's 100 off that takes you too just about 4050.

I prefer that setting in the above combo. I prefer this diamond in the below. If you could swing it to get that setting with this diamond I think that's a good idea

http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD06065653

http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-own-ring/solitaire-engagement-ring-white-gold_19788?elem=img&track=product

With the referral discount it puts you right under 4k

If it has to be platinum I'll keep looking.

 

[jshzglr]

2 questions.

1) Is platinum a better purchase, should I go over my budget a little to get the platinum or not?

2) How do you/I know that the two "SI1" diamonds you posted are eye clean? Or does it not really matter?


Also, I don't need to be over the 1 carat threshold, as long as I'm in the vicinity it's 1 carat to me. Just an additional note.

 

[Niel]

2 questions.

1) Is platinum a better purchase, should I go over my budget a little to get the platinum or not?

2) How do you/I know that the two "SI1" diamonds you posted are eye clean? Or does it not really matter?


Also, I don't need to be over the 1 carat threshold, as long as I'm in the vicinity it's 1 carat to me. Just an additional note.

I can't tell you if it matters if its platinum. I can tell you how I feel but I'm not your fiance. Some will say its worth it, others would say sense you're on budget and buying a basic soli that you should put most of your budget toward the stone.


How can you tell if they are eye clean? You should be able to ask them. Also there are photos , though small, on the gcal reports if you look at the pages. Again I can't say if she has to have it 109% eye clean, but I mean, might as well shoot for that, right?

I looked for ones around .95 and above and didn't get any hits, but are you in with say, .85-.9?

 

[Niel]

A little over budget, a little under 1 ct

http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/0-9ct-i-vs1-premium-cut-princess-diamond.html

http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/solitare-designer-engagement-ring.html

 

[OoohShiny]

I really like these:

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-3208309.htm
http://www.agslab.com/pdf_sync_reports/104069256009-PGR.PDF

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-3208312.htm
http://www.agslab.com/pdf_sync_reports/104069777001-PGR.PDF

Both are near-as-dammit 1ct, are 'Super-Ideal' A Cut Above stones, have great ASETs, and are VS1 so should have no issues with inclusions. (The reports show inclusions in the middle of the table but I can't see them in the photos and they are specified as 'eye clean', although you will need to check what that definition means.) They're also both under $4.5k, and you won't be paying a premium for crossing the magic 1ct barrier.


You can get a little over 1ct if you drop to VS2, but personally speaking, I prefer the faceting of the two above.

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-3430630.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-2988893.htm


WF also has a decent selection of platinum solitaire rings, although any ring in platinum is going to be quite expensive...

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/#/metals=platinum&shapes=princess&category=14

This would probably the thinnest one they do?

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/lyric-solitaire-engagement-ring-for-princess-cut-diamonds-by-vatche-1756.htm

and the stone isn't set as crazy-high as some of the other solitaires on there.

 

[MC08]

Whether to get platinum is a matter of preference. You should take your future-fiance to look at gold vs platinum and see if she has a preference. I personally love yellow gold and white gold, but you should let it be your fiance's decision!

 

[jshzglr]

Both of those diamonds are well over $4,000 without even adding in the setting. I'm really trying to stay around 4k. Like I said I'm really just going for the biggest eye clean diamond I can while staying under 4k for everything, including setting. I wouldn't mind going over a little for the platinum setting vs white gold but I still need to figure that out.

Thanks for the help thus far. Just curious, is this white flash site pretty good, I haven't seen it until I came on these forums.

 

[Niel]

Both of those diamonds are well over $4,000 without even adding in the setting. I'm really trying to stay around 4k. Like I said I'm really just going for the biggest eye clean diamond I can while staying under 4k for everything, including setting. I wouldn't mind going over a little for the platinum setting vs white gold but I still need to figure that out.

Thanks for the help thus far. Just curious, is this white flash site pretty good, I haven't seen it until I came on these forums.

They are a good site yes.

However, I wouldn't go over your budget to get them. The setting you'd be able to get would be basic, and it would be .9 ish or less. You can get well cut princesses elsewhere. I'd go that route.


And she did say she wants white metal?

 

[jshzglr]

I've basically never seen her where gold. So it's definitely going to be either white gold or platinum. I like platinum better I doubt she'll care.

 

[Niel]

I've basically never seen her where gold. So it's definitely going to be either white gold or platinum. I like platinum better I doubt she'll care.

Ok answer me a few things.

What's your absolute max?
What are you comfortable paying?
What's the lowest ctw you're willing to do?
What are you trying to get to in regards to ctw?

 

[jshzglr]

I've basically never seen her where gold. So it's definitely going to be either white gold or platinum. I like platinum better I doubt she'll care.

Ok answer me a few things.

What's your absolute max?
What are you comfortable paying?
What's the lowest ctw you're willing to do?
What are you trying to get to in regards to ctw?

Sure.
Max is 4250
Comfortable is between 3500-3800
Lowest ctw is .75
Trying for .85+

 

[Niel]

I've basically never seen her where gold. So it's definitely going to be either white gold or platinum. I like platinum better I doubt she'll care.

Ok answer me a few things.

What's your absolute max?
What are you comfortable paying?
What's the lowest ctw you're willing to do?
What are you trying to get to in regards to ctw?

Sure.
Max is 4250
Comfortable is between 3500-3800
Lowest ctw is .75
Trying for .85+

Ok, so, heres one option

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-3081030.htm?source=pricescope

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/4-prong-tiffany-style-solitaire-engagement-ring-for-princess-428.htm

 

[Niel]

This is a bit if a whildcard but

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/asscher-cut/0.95-carat-i-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-592660

 

[Niel]

I've basically never seen her where gold. So it's definitely going to be either white gold or platinum. I like platinum better I doubt she'll care.

Ok answer me a few things.

What's your absolute max?
What are you comfortable paying?
What's the lowest ctw you're willing to do?
What are you trying to get to in regards to ctw?

Sure.
Max is 4250
Comfortable is between 3500-3800
Lowest ctw is .75
Trying for .85+

I think we might have it. Over .85, under 4k, plat

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/0.91-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-sku-503823


I like this setting but it could be too wide
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/platinum-3.3mm-cross-prong-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-2356

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/platinum-double-claw-prong-engagement-ring-item-5302

If you picked the second one and you signed up for their "reffer a friend" discount to get 100 off, then it would be 3850

 

[marymm]

As another option to consider, here's a combo from Blue Nile - a 0.92ct H-SI1 Signature Princess with very square dimensions (5.33x5.34) (http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD03818492) paired with the Classic Prong Solitaire in 14kt WG (http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-...teGoldSelect&track=alternate-metalsCustomizer), coming in within budget at $4025.00 (if you go with the Platinum version of the ring, the total is $4445.00). The ring is 2mm which is considered thin (but not unsafe).

I think this BN Princess-cut would be a beauty - as part of BN's Signature collection, it is eyeclean, and it has a nice crown height - and since the depth is 70% you get a nice face-up size at 5.33mm square (plus, I really love a square Princess as opposed to an almost-square, but that is my preference)...

eta: I haven't checked out any of the options above, except to note the two from BN were I-color and thus not the same as the diamond I linked to here.

 

[Niel]

As another option to consider, here's a combo from Blue Nile - a 0.92ct H-SI1 Signature Princess with very square dimensions (5.33x5.34) (http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD03818492) paired with the Classic Prong Solitaire in 14kt WG (http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-...teGoldSelect&track=alternate-metalsCustomizer), coming in within budget at $4025.00 (if you go with the Platinum version of the ring, the total is $4445.00).

I think this BN Princess-cut would be beauty - as part of BN's Signature collection, it is eyeclean, and it has a nice crown height - and since the depth is 70% you get a nice face-up size at 5.33mm square (plus, I really love a square Princess as opposed to an almost-square, but that is my preference)

, .04 is a negligible difference. It'll appear square.

But that's a nice option too if you don't want to put any money towards a setting.

 

[jshzglr]

I've basically never seen her where gold. So it's definitely going to be either white gold or platinum. I like platinum better I doubt she'll care.

Ok answer me a few things.

What's your absolute max?
What are you comfortable paying?
What's the lowest ctw you're willing to do?
What are you trying to get to in regards to ctw?

Sure.
Max is 4250
Comfortable is between 3500-3800
Lowest ctw is .75
Trying for .85+

I think we might have it. Over .85, under 4k, plat

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/0.91-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-sku-503823


I like this setting but it could be too wide
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/platinum-3.3mm-cross-prong-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-2356

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/platinum-double-claw-prong-engagement-ring-item-5302

If you picked the second one and you signed up for their "reffer a friend" discount to get 100 off, then it would be 3850

I think I might take the plunge on this one, are we sure it's eye clean?

 

[Niel]

I've basically never seen her where gold. So it's definitely going to be either white gold or platinum. I like platinum better I doubt she'll care.

Ok answer me a few things.

What's your absolute max?
What are you comfortable paying?
What's the lowest ctw you're willing to do?
What are you trying to get to in regards to ctw?

Sure.
Max is 4250
Comfortable is between 3500-3800
Lowest ctw is .75
Trying for .85+

I think we might have it. Over .85, under 4k, plat

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/0.91-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-sku-503823


I like this setting but it could be too wide
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/platinum-3.3mm-cross-prong-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-2356

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/platinum-double-claw-prong-engagement-ring-item-5302

If you picked the second one and you signed up for their "reffer a friend" discount to get 100 off, then it would be 3850

I think I might take the plunge on this one, are we sure it's eye clean?

Yes a vs1 will be eye clean. An I under 1 ct should be fine in platinum

 

[jshzglr]

I've basically never seen her where gold. So it's definitely going to be either white gold or platinum. I like platinum better I doubt she'll care.

Ok answer me a few things.

What's your absolute max?
What are you comfortable paying?
What's the lowest ctw you're willing to do?
What are you trying to get to in regards to ctw?

Sure.
Max is 4250
Comfortable is between 3500-3800
Lowest ctw is .75
Trying for .85+

I think we might have it. Over .85, under 4k, plat

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/0.91-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-sku-503823


I like this setting but it could be too wide
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/platinum-3.3mm-cross-prong-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-2356

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/platinum-double-claw-prong-engagement-ring-item-5302

If you picked the second one and you signed up for their "reffer a friend" discount to get 100 off, then it would be 3850

I think I might take the plunge on this one, are we sure it's eye clean?

Yes a vs1 will be eye clean. An I under 1 ct should be fine in platinum

Would it not be fine in white gold? What's the difference there?

 

[Niel]

I've basically never seen her where gold. So it's definitely going to be either white gold or platinum. I like platinum better I doubt she'll care.

Ok answer me a few things.

What's your absolute max?
What are you comfortable paying?
What's the lowest ctw you're willing to do?
What are you trying to get to in regards to ctw?

Sure.
Max is 4250
Comfortable is between 3500-3800
Lowest ctw is .75
Trying for .85+

I think we might have it. Over .85, under 4k, plat

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/0.91-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-sku-503823


I like this setting but it could be too wide
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/platinum-3.3mm-cross-prong-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-2356

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/platinum-double-claw-prong-engagement-ring-item-5302

If you picked the second one and you signed up for their "reffer a friend" discount to get 100 off, then it would be 3850

I think I might take the plunge on this one, are we sure it's eye clean?

Yes a vs1 will be eye clean. An I under 1 ct should be fine in platinum

Would it not be fine in white gold? What's the difference there?

An I would be fine in any color. I mention it only becuase a color too low in the spectrum may appear off white when compared to how white platinum is. So, I was saying besides clarity. I don't think you would have any issues with color.

 

[jshzglr]

That looks good to me. An I is a little lower than I wanted but as soon as you go any higher the price jumps up for the same cwt so the color might be where I end up sacrificing. As long as she's not comparing it to another whiter diamond she won't even be able to tell the difference right?

 

[Niel]

That looks good to me. An I is a little lower than I wanted but as soon as you go any higher the price jumps up for the same cwt so the color might be where I end up sacrificing. As long as she's not comparing it to another whiter diamond she won't even be able to tell the difference right?

Unless you're in a culture, like some Asian culture, that value high color, youll be fine with an I. It'll appear white. Plus you want a fair amt for your 3800 budget. Sacrifice has to come somewhere. And that's OK. Everyone has to set properties and make sacrifices when e ring shopping. It's just about what works best for you both

If you are worried just purpose within the return period

 

[jshzglr]

I ended up getting this diamond:http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/0.91-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-sku-503823

With this setting:http://www.jamesallen.com/engagemen...mfort-fit-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-1981


Let me know what you think, and thank you so much for the help. I also used the PS Member discount so I ended up paying just under 3700.

 

[Niel]

I ended up getting this diamond:http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/0.91-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-sku-503823

With this setting:http://www.jamesallen.com/engagemen...mfort-fit-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-1981


Let me know what you think, and thank you so much for the help. I also used the PS Member discount so I ended up paying just under 3700.

Glad you found something that works for you and was in budget. Do share pics when you get it!

 

[jshzglr]

I ended up getting this diamond:http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/0.91-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-sku-503823

With this setting:http://www.jamesallen.com/engagemen...mfort-fit-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-1981


Let me know what you think, and thank you so much for the help. I also used the PS Member discount so I ended up paying just under 3700.

Glad you found something that works for you and was in budget. Do share pics when you get it!

Will do, thank you for all of your help Niel.