Advice needed! Help me choose my diamond engagement ring!!

[CKinNYC]

Hi Pricescopers!

First off, let me tell you (like so many others have!) what an AMAZING website this is, and what a well-informed, fun and supportive forum this is. I''ve been lurking for a while, gleaning as much info as I can about diamonds, and have learned so much. Thank you! (and sorry in advance for a looong post - I''ll try to keep to the point!)

Now, on to my question! My boyfriend of five years proposed last weekend on our five year anniversary, and we''re both really happy! Knowing I am very particular, he was very wise/clever and presented me with a Tiffany platinum band on the day, saying that this will ideally work as the wedding band, but that I can choose my engagement ring! Clever boy!

So! What to choose?! Well, I have done plenty of research!

Like many others, I LOVE the Tiffany Novo. I just love the design - the thin band, the bead-set diamonds on the shank, the elegant cathedral setting, the way the prongs let loads of light into the diamond, without any horizontal lines obstructing the diamond from the side (if you know what I mean!). I just think it is so beautiful, so elegant, so timeless. HOWEVER! I''m not wedded to it, and I don''t feel the need for my ring to be from a brand name. What I do feel the need is for it to be truly beautifully designed (the setting), and to have a great diamond - the best balance of fantastic cut/color/clarity/size for our budget. Design-wise, I don''t like fussy things, milgrain edges, engraving, complicated things.... I like nice clean lines, beautiful design!

I''m thinking of going the a la carte route, and buying a diamond from one of the recommended online vendors, and then having it set - but I have yet to find a setting that I love as much as the Novo! I don''t like Excel diamond''s one - the head is too high and heavy for me. Oh, forgot to mention, I don''t need to COPY the Novo - ie. if I found a comparable setting, I would set a round brilliant in there.

Can anyone recommend a possible setting?? Thin band, bead-set shank, (slightly) cathedral-style? I saw this one on WF - what do you think? http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Diamond-Settings/Petite-Open-Cathedral_1211.htm

And what''s the opinion of white gold versus platinum?

We live in New York, so we''re going into Tiffany on Saturday to check out what we''d get in our budget. We''re also going to check out the Diamond District, and the lovely jewellry stores on the way there!

Question - our budget is $18k, including tax. What sort of Novo might that get me? Will going the bespoke route with an Ideal cut H&A RB (eg. from Whiteflash) actually get me much more?

Sorry for the rambling post, and the many questions! I just can''t decide what route to go!

Thanks so much in advance for your responses!

 

[CKinNYC]

Oh, one more thing! The WF setting is 1.5mm thick (or thin!). Is that too thin for about a 1.5 carat stone, if we go that way?

Thanks!

 

[NeverEndingUpgrade]

I would think you would get a LOT more for your money buying your diamond and setting from GoodOldGold.com, NiceIce.com, or Whiteflash. GoodOldGold is on Long Island. Any chance you can visit Jonathan there and let him show you his stock? I bet you could find a couple of things--Haha.

The Whiteflash ring is beautiful and I love their diamonds too. I just don''t buy from them because I live in Texas and would have to pay sales tax which is a conisderable sum on a diamond and setting. I did buy my diamond from GoodOldGold and LOVE it.

Regrarding platinum vs. white gold. I chose platinum just because I wanted something that was going to stay the same color and didn''t need replating. That being said, I have a lot of white gold jewelry that has never needed replating, but I don''t wear it daily like a wedding ring. Some people like the shinier look of white gold. This might be a factor on the setting you linked to, which has smooth polished sides. You wouldn''t notice the metal as much if the ring had diamond melee on the sides too. Some people prefer white gold because they don''t like the grayer look of platinum. But no better/worse as far and I''m concerned. The white gold that a lot of designers are using to today is alloyed with good stuff, so it looks better longer.

I am no expert, just a consumer that went through the diamond/wedding set purchase process for my 15-16th anniversary present. Yes, it took me that long to figure out what I wanted!

 

[NeverEndingUpgrade]

No, I don't think that 1.5 mm is too thin for a 1.5 ct. diamond. Harry Winston does it!!!!!!

I'm editing this post because I just realized that the Novo is a cushion and I put links to rounds. Below are just some examples that would allow you to still buy a setting and keep it under $18K:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/2628/ (cut-corner square brilliant)

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4222/ (1.3 ct. cushion)

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/2436/ (2.02 ct. G/SI2 cut-corner sq. brilliant)

Happy shopping!

 

[NeverEndingUpgrade]

I forgot, Jonathan at Good Old Gold has a cool cut diamond called a "Cushette" which is a very sparkly cushion but he can''t show them online. You might want to ask about them.

 

[CKinNYC]

Thanks NeverEndingUpgrade! And yes, very nice diamonds! *drool*