~$8K Budget for Engagement Ring

[Tbone914]

Hi Everyone,

New diamond buyer here and was needing some advice.


I've done some research and read a lot of similar posts on the forum and was hoping to get some advice on picking out a diamond for engagement ring (GF seems to want to sacrifice color/clarity for size)

I plan on getting an 18 carat gold setting, which, relatively speaking, shouldn't add too much cost to the overall ring.

What do you all think of these?

Anything I am not looking at/for?

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.32-carat-i-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-290139

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.31-carat-i-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-350340

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.38-carat-j-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-89288

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.40-carat-j-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-282798

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.41-carat-j-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-89289

 

[Lorelei]

Hi Everyone,

New diamond buyer here and was needing some advice.


I've done some research and read a lot of similar posts on the forum and was hoping to get some advice on picking out a diamond for engagement ring (GF seems to want to sacrifice color/clarity for size)

I plan on getting an 18 carat gold setting, which, relatively speaking, shouldn't add too much cost to the overall ring.

What do you all think of these?

Anything I am not looking at/for?

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.32-carat-i-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-290139

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.31-carat-i-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-350340

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.38-carat-j-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-89288

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.40-carat-j-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-282798

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.41-carat-j-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-89289

Hi Tbone and welcome!

You have done a good job with your selections but just a few things. The first two have potential but I would set those on the backburner for now, let's see what else is out there? The remaining 3 have various flags with the proportions and some inclusions that need further investigation. Is your 8k for the stone only or does it need to cover the setting? If you could let us know, we can hunt up some more options for you if you wish.

 

[Tbone914]

Hi Lorelei,

The ~$8k will cover the entire ring.

So I'd like to explore options on the high and low side (for our purposes, I'd like to look at just the diamonds).

Any help or suggestions would be welcomed!

 

[Lorelei]

Hi Lorelei,

The ~$8k will cover the entire ring.

So I'd like to explore options on the high and low side (for our purposes, I'd like to look at just the diamonds).

Any help or suggestions would be welcomed!

No problem Tbone, I'll take a look to see what's available.

 

[Lorelei]

This one is around $7500 thereabouts, it's a new item from Goodoldgold, call and ask for more info if interested, it has definite potential from the basic proportions.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/12117/

This one also looks good.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/12115/

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3016689.htm?source=pricescope

Bigger, top end of budget.

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3057915.htm?source=pricescope

Top end of budget, potentially nice stone.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.30-carat-j-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-322187

 

[Tbone914]

Thank you for the great prospects!

Bear with me as I am still a tad unfamiliar.

I have seen the names(goodoldgold,whiteflash,etc.) of various sellers...I am assuming these sellers are valid and have very good reputations in this community?

When you say that the stones have potential...how would I validate before purchasing? What would I look for to ensure they are ideal for me?

I am not in a super bind time-wise, but would ideally like to act within the next few weeks.

Thanks again!

 

[Lorelei]

Thank you for the great prospects! You are very welcome!

Bear with me as I am still a tad unfamiliar. Of course and understood, it's a lot to take in once you embark on this journey but time spent researching and asking questions is time very well spent.

I have seen the names(goodoldgold,whiteflash,etc.) of various sellers...I am assuming these sellers are valid and have very good reputations in this community? Absolutely, I and some of the others have purchased from these sellers and have seen many happy customers of theirs over the years. Also on very rare occasion if things have gone awry, these vendors have stepped up and done their utmost to make things right.

When you say that the stones have potential...how would I validate before purchasing? What would I look for to ensure they are ideal for me? Check that as many of your requirements are filled as possible and as I always believe, buy the vendor as well as the diamond. Some of the above mentioned vendors and indeed some of the others you will see mentioned here offer after sales packages such as guaranteed buy back, lifetime upgrade and so on, check that the stone you buy is covered with the after sales benefits you think you would like to have. Not everyone wants to upgrade their stone but if you think that might ever be an option, it's good to know you can do so without much, if any, financial penalty. The next step, once you have found a diamond you like, is to request an Idealscope image to determine how well the diamond returns light and to check for light leakage. Some of the vendors have IS images provided as a matter of course, especially with their branded diamonds, others you would need to request but usually this can be done. You would also need to check the diamond is eye clean to your specifications if of SI clarity grade. For example, if you don't want to see any visible inclusions in any lighting from any angle or distance, make sure the vendor knows that so you are on the same page. I think it's also preferable to buy the stone and setting from the same vendor and get them to set the stone as although you can get your diamond set by another seller if you choose another vendor's setting, they might not assume responsibility should the diamond break during the setting process. The seller of the diamond usually assumes the risk

I am not in a super bind time-wise, but would ideally like to act within the next few weeks. That sounds fine, plenty of time to get things organized!

Thanks again!

It's my pleasure!

 

[Tbone914]

One last question, sorry. Those last three in my first post - you said they had proportional flags. What were you seeing that set those flags off?

 

[RockyRacoon]

Check out this option -

This stone:
1.215ct, I, SI1
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.215-i-si1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104072305017

with this setting:
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/ashleigh-14k-white-gold-5853w14

BGD is running a promo right now, where you can use a promo code to get 7% off of their Blue/Signature stones. I believe it's only good for a couple more days, though.

As a result of that, (if my calculations are correct) the whole ring should be out the door at almost exactly $8k!

That's a white gold setting, with two H&A accent stones, emphasizing a solid-sized stone that possesses a top-notch cut.

Best of luck!