shape
carat
color
clarity

6-7,000 budget need help finding Princess cut diamond 1.2+CT

AlmostMarried

Rough_Rock
Joined
Oct 24, 2013
Messages
10
Hey all I know this is probably the most popular question on here but I need some help finding the best diamond for 6-7,000 budget(preferablly on the lower side of 6K if possible) keep in mind I have to get the setting still! so 6-7K drops down what, 1000??? for the setting? so the diamond has to be 5kish??

i would like a Princess cut 1.2+ct diamond. Can someone help me find the right cut/color/clarity for that size/price? Also whats a good site to look on?

Attached is a picture of what i am trying to buy for my soon to be fiancee! (hopefully).

_11230.jpg
 
Re: 6-7,000 budget need help finding Princess cut diamond 1.

White Gold I would imagine is the most common?
 
Re: 6-7,000 budget need help finding Princess cut diamond 1.

AlmostMarried|1382618345|3543557 said:
White Gold I would imagine is the most common?


Thats probably true. The only concern there is most white golds, like if you went with thats James Allen stone, would have nickel in it. Sometimes, not often, but sometimes... you can be allergic to it.

Youd be closer to 6k if you went white gold, but you could still get plat in your budget i am sure, as your setting is very simple.

Also, white fold has a rhodium plating on it to look VERY white. Now its still white underneath, but not as much so. If you went gold, id go 14 k, as that is whiter, so if when the plating wears off, it is still pretty white. You may choose at that point to leave it, or get it plated again
 
Re: 6-7,000 budget need help finding Princess cut diamond 1.

Noted, I will do some research and see if Platinum is better for us than white gold depending if her skin is sensitive and my budget can handle it. That however is pretty straight forward, the diamond is where i am concerned as I do not want to go to a store and get screwed... So I am looking to find almost the exact diamond i want and go off of that. Or should I not go into a store for this?? I am extremely concerned doing it online because i am a complete amateur at this....
 
Re: 6-7,000 budget need help finding Princess cut diamond 1.

the setting you have pictured there is one that can be reproduced very cheaply.
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/14k-white-gold-2mm-comfort-fit-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-7086

otherwise, here are some other relatively cheap ones that should keep you in budget, and have a bit more design to them.

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/18k-white-gold-2.2mm-wire-basket-solitaire-ring-item-22607
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/18k-white-gold-double-claw-prong-engagement-ring-item-22604
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/14k-white-gold-etched-profile-solitaire-item-9201

James allen, if you ask for a pricescope discount and buy with a wire transfer will give you typically a 1-5% discount off the diamond and about 1% off the setting

Buying online, IMHO, is easier than buying from a store. From a store, you are confronted with jewelry store lighting, sales people, and a lack of information about the stones. In an online store, you can get Idealscope images, certificates to compare angles, and your own time to compare, without pressure. Plus, if you post your options here, people are happy to assist with what they think looks best
 
Re: 6-7,000 budget need help finding Princess cut diamond 1.

Niel thank you so much for all of this information. What about if something happens to the ring isnt there some sort of warranty and what not that you would just bring the ring back to the store and they would take care of whatever is wrong??
 
Re: 6-7,000 budget need help finding Princess cut diamond 1.

AlmostMarried|1382619705|3543572 said:
Niel thank you so much for all of this information. What about if something happens to the ring isnt there some sort of warranty and what not that you would just bring the ring back to the store and they would take care of whatever is wrong??


Those warranties are a bit overblown. They dont cover that much, as most thing that would happen wouldnt be a defect they would be due to normal wear. What youd want to do is get insurance. You would want to do that regardless of buying online or from a local store. If, say for example you got the ring and something happened to it, you could still send it back to JA. But also a good jeweler should be able to service you, for simple things, even if you didnt buy it there.
 
Re: 6-7,000 budget need help finding Princess cut diamond 1.

I am sorry for my ignorance on this topic. Say for example the stone comes off the setting and gets lost. I thought there were warranties and such that help in a situation like that. Or am i completely off base here?
 
Re: 6-7,000 budget need help finding Princess cut diamond 1.

AlmostMarried|1382620486|3543576 said:
I am sorry for my ignorance on this topic. Say for example the stone comes off the setting and gets lost. I thought there were warranties and such that help in a situation like that. Or am i completely off base here?

No reason to apologies. How would anybody know if they've not done it before.

That would be something an insurance would cover. I think if you get its own insurance policy it is like10% a year or so of what you paid, somebody will have to comment as I can't remember mine. It depends on the deductible of course. I wouldn't do a rider on your house insurance as I wouldn't want to put a claim on it just because of jewelry.

Here's an interesting read.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/jared-lifetime-warranty.141915/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/jared-lifetime-warranty.141915/[/URL]
 
Re: 6-7,000 budget need help finding Princess cut diamond 1.

Ok great, now back to the diamond. The one that was posted is an I color isnt that kind of low???
 
Re: 6-7,000 budget need help finding Princess cut diamond 1.

AlmostMarried|1382620486|3543576 said:
I am sorry for my ignorance on this topic. Say for example the stone comes off the setting and gets lost. I thought there were warranties and such that help in a situation like that. Or am i completely off base here?

Most B&M store "warranties" have really nitpicky requirements in order to maintain the warranty, such as coming in and having your prongs checked every 6 months and validated on the original paperwork. I had a friend who bought an e-ring from a mall store and his FI went in at 7 months to get the prongs checked and that completely voided the lifetime warranty. Just as an example. I agree with Niel that you are much better off buying jewelry insurance through Jeweler's Mutual, etc. than relying on a store warranty. My ring is insured for $15k and I think I pay an annual premium of $190 (not 100% on that figure because I have other things insured and I pay a lump sum for everything, but I think my e-ring portion is about $200).

You'll also get much more for your money online that at a B&M store. I would definitely find a stock setting in 14k white gold and max out your budget on the stone. If she is allergic to nickel she would probably already know that by now IMO.
 
Re: 6-7,000 budget need help finding Princess cut diamond 1.

AlmostMarried|1382622461|3543605 said:
Ok great, now back to the diamond. The one that was posted is an I color isnt that kind of low???

Most PSers will say an I in a solitaire is just fine. I wouldn't go to a J for you as this is a princess, but an I IMHO is fine. Plus, your budget for well cut stone at about 5k will keep you at about that color range. Other places like Whiteflash, and good old gold (good places to buy princesses) don't even have any around that size and budget.

Again I'm no princess expert, but those are suppose to be James Allen's branded princesses. So I don't think its a bad option. I'd ask James Allen to get an ASET of it if you like it. They let you do that for up to 3, they then review them, provide you those ASET (a test to help see how well the diamond performs) and tell you which they think performs best. They are always very honest, I don't think they work on commission, and as usually all your stones are around the same price, so they don't try and up sell you.
 
Re: 6-7,000 budget need help finding Princess cut diamond 1.

AlmostMarried|1382627987|3543671 said:
Ok I chose the diamond listed above (1.22 Carat I-VS1 True HeartsTM Ideal Diamond) 5,500 and had it reserved along with the below setting. Then I will insure it with Jewelers Mutual. Looks good?

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/18k-white-gold-2.5mm-knife-edge-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-7208

I'd get 2 others for them to compare. That way instead of yay or nay they can tell you which performs best.

Also I'd get 14k or platinum. As 18k will be more yellow once the rhodium wears off. Less gold means less yellow. So 14k will look whiter.


Also, is that setting good enough? I only ask because it is often considered more of a "budget" or "temporary" setting. Of course that is similar to what the inspiration pic looked like, so if that exactly what she wants that works out. But if not I'd look at one of those ones one tear up.

I'd consider that double claw one, as those will provide more protection for those sharp princess corners.

If no one else has any suggestions for 2 other stones, ask the JA rep to suggest two others in your 5k ish price range and size.
 
Re: 6-7,000 budget need help finding Princess cut diamond 1.

I did have the JA rep do that for me, that one appears to be the best fit. The others with the same cut/clarity/color go down in size to around the 1.0 CT weight. I also searched on Blue Nile, WhiteFlash, and JA and that was the best i could find. What do you mean about next tier up for rings? Do you mean something like this?



http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/platinum-2.5mm-knife-edge-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-7207
 
Re: 6-7,000 budget need help finding Princess cut diamond 1.

Beautiful stone!! she is going to be over the moon! congratulations. :)
 
Re: 6-7,000 budget need help finding Princess cut diamond 1.

AlmostMarried|1382629775|3543695 said:
I did have the JA rep do that for me, that one appears to be the best fit. The others with the same cut/clarity/color go down in size to around the 1.0 CT weight. I also searched on Blue Nile, WhiteFlash, and JA and that was the best i could find. What do you mean about next tier up for rings? Do you mean something like this?



http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/platinum-2.5mm-knife-edge-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-7207

No. I don't think you need to bump up to platinum. Because that's the same setting, just a different metal. I was meaning consider one of the settings that are a bit more designed, a little bit better quality.

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/18k-white-gold-double-claw-prong-engagement-ring-item-22604

Like this, if would like the way the shank goes up to the basket. It has claw prongs, which would add more protection to the points. And it has a little than just the bare bones prongs.

However if that setting is her dream. Ignore me and get it :)
 
Re: 6-7,000 budget need help finding Princess cut diamond 1.

I see! Thank you so much for all of your expertise i appreciate this so much. This has made this so much easier. Thanks!
 
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Top