In Search of More Bling and the Lost Weekend

Hey Folks-

This is my first post.   Up until a week ago, I thought I had the whole engagement ring process done with as I was about to put an order in with BN for a 1.2-ish, Signature Cut, F, VVS2 ditty...... but that was until I discovered Pricescope.  So thanks to you..... kind supporters and forum participants, I didn't not get to attend any BBQs or get to hang out with friends at the shore this Memorial Day.  But instead, I spent the entire 3-day weekend hunched over my laptop reading, cutting and pasting from multiple explorer windows, filling in excel spread sheets, and checking HCA and AGA numbers. 
By Monday morning, I was back in my comfort zone of having performed my due dilly prior to a major purchase.  All was right in the world for about an hour, until I encountered a thread about 'modified' rounds.....  namely Eight Star, Star 129 and Eighternity.  Just when I thought things were making sense again, you guys have to thrown in these amazing, highly unique gems into the mix.  Thank you, again.

But don't worry, I'm not mad at ya...... and to prove it, I'm giving you wonderful people of PS, the opportunity for make up for my lost weekend by simply providing some guidance as to which YOU would choose and what I can expect with these modifieds, given a budget of $10k to $12K to spend on the girl your heart melts for.   

Thanks everyone.  This is truly an awesome community.

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"It is also important for the State to inculcate in its subjects an aversion to any 'conspiracy theory of history' for a search for 'conspiracies' means a search for motives and an attribution of responsibility for historical misdeeds."

-Murray N. Rothbard, in The Anatomy of the State



John Swinton [1829-1901] Chief Editorial Writer of the New York Times (Considered "the Dean of his Profession" by his peers), when asked to toast an 'Independent Press' in a gathering at the National Press Club, circa 1880

"There is no such thing in America as an independent press unless it is in the country towns. You know it, and I know it. There is not one of you who dare express an honest opinion. If you express it you know beforehand that it would never appear in print. I am paid... for keeping my honest opinions out of the paper I am connected with. Others of you are paid similar salaries for doing similar things....

The business of the New York journalist is to distort the truth, to lie outright, to pervert, to vilify, to fawn at the feet of Mammon, and sell his country and race for his daily bread, or for what is about the same thing, his salary. You know this, and I know it and what foolery to be toasting an 'independent press.' We are tools, and the vassals of rich men behind the scenes. We are jumping-jacks. They pull the strings and we dance. Our time, our talents, our lives, our possibilities, all are the property of other men. We are intellectual prostitutes."

~~~ When in doubt...don't.~~~

Ok, so I had a chance to see a 1.53 ct. G SI1 Star 129 up close and personal this afternoon.  For contrast, I was able to compare it to what I originally wanted to purchase, a slightly smaller 1.2 ct. EX cut F color VVS2 diamond...... I have to admit the Star 129 had noticably more 'life' and sparkle to it.  And as far as it being too busy?  Not at all.  If I didn't know which was which, I think I would pick the 129 over the other based soley on visual observation........ but its not so simple.  The problem lies in the fact that the sensible part of me has a hard time justifing the purchase of this particular Star 129 (for example) when I can purchase slightly smaller 1.2 ct. Signiture cut F color VVS2 diamond for the same price or a similiar 'normal' 1.53 ct G SI1s for approx. 30% less.  What would you do? 

Now, if I can only find a dealer who also sells the Eighternity and Eightstar to really mess with mind. 

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"It is also important for the State to inculcate in its subjects an aversion to any 'conspiracy theory of history' for a search for 'conspiracies' means a search for motives and an attribution of responsibility for historical misdeeds."

-Murray N. Rothbard, in The Anatomy of the State



John Swinton [1829-1901] Chief Editorial Writer of the New York Times (Considered "the Dean of his Profession" by his peers), when asked to toast an 'Independent Press' in a gathering at the National Press Club, circa 1880

"There is no such thing in America as an independent press unless it is in the country towns. You know it, and I know it. There is not one of you who dare express an honest opinion. If you express it you know beforehand that it would never appear in print. I am paid... for keeping my honest opinions out of the paper I am connected with. Others of you are paid similar salaries for doing similar things....

The business of the New York journalist is to distort the truth, to lie outright, to pervert, to vilify, to fawn at the feet of Mammon, and sell his country and race for his daily bread, or for what is about the same thing, his salary. You know this, and I know it and what foolery to be toasting an 'independent press.' We are tools, and the vassals of rich men behind the scenes. We are jumping-jacks. They pull the strings and we dance. Our time, our talents, our lives, our possibilities, all are the property of other men. We are intellectual prostitutes."