Advice on an e-ring like the link attached.

[pmankow]

Hello everyone,
I recently went to a Reed's store in Wilmington, NC with my girlfriend to look at engagement rings. She went through the selection with the sales person and this is what she liked:

Link here.

She is a size 9. Now, what you see in the link is the basic information that I have to go off of. Another thing, I am an engineering student and still have a couple of years to go. The price of that ring is $3000 and I can swing that price, and will if I have to, but I would like to find something about a grand cheaper.
We looked at this ring in the store and it looked a little "cloudy" but the sales person said that it just needed to be cleaned. The rating is an I2 for clarity, and after I did a little research online I think that the diamonds may have been flawed rather than "dirty." I really do not know for sure because that was my first time in a jewelery store so, you know....
My question, however, is: Does this look like a good buy and can anyone direct me to better sources either in the Wilmington, NC, South Bend, Indiana areas, or online. I am looking to buy the setup that I linked to, or at least something similar. Any advice on this purchase or others will be appreciated.

 

[neatfreak]

It may also have been dirty but likely the source of much of the cloudiness was the clarity of the stones...those stones just won''t sparkle like a well cut stone with better clarity. Not to say you need to go to a flawless stone-but even a jump up into the SI range will make a HUGE difference as will getting a well cut stone.

 

[pmankow]

Would you say that the SI range is a good range. I have no idea what is a good range. Are the V ranges beyond practical. I am not trying to be cheap but I also want to know what most people get as far as clarity etc...

 

[stone-cold11]

At SI range, it is much more possible to get an eye-clean stone than in the I range.

 

[Lorelei]

SI clarity are a popular choice but you need to choose carefully in order to find one which is eyeclean to your standards. There are eyeclean I1 clarity diamonds out there but you need to know what to look for and a bit of luck is involved in finding these, also cut is very important to bring out the beauty.

 

[tyty333]

Date: 7/5/2009 12:32:40 PM
Author:pmankow
Hello everyone,
I recently went to a Reed''s store in Wilmington, NC with my girlfriend to look at engagement rings. She went through the selection with the sales person and this is what she liked:

Link here.

She is a size 9. Now, what you see in the link is the basic information that I have to go off of. Another thing, I am an engineering student and still have a couple of years to go. The price of that ring is $3000 and I can swing that price, and will if I have to, but I would like to find something about a grand cheaper.
We looked at this ring in the store and it looked a little ''cloudy'' but the sales person said that it just needed to be cleaned. The rating is an I2 for clarity, and after I did a little research online I think that the diamonds may have been flawed rather than ''dirty.'' I really do not know for sure because that was my first time in a jewelery store so, you know....
My question, however, is: Does this look like a good buy and can anyone direct me to better sources either in the Wilmington, NC, South Bend, Indiana areas, or online. I am looking to buy the setup that I linked to, or at least something similar. Any advice on this purchase or others will be appreciated.

Hi pmankow,
Welcome to PS. I have been debating in my head what your best options are and I''m not really sure what to tell you

.

Let me just say if the I2 ring was dirty then they should have cleaned it for you so you could see its *true* beauty.

Would you consider buying a diamond on line? PS has some very well respected vendors with excellent return policys (and some have nice
upgrade policys too). We also have some experts (well lets say really well informed diamond consumers) that can guide you in
picking a diamond that would shine and sparkle. (I''m not necessarily one of them but I like to help out when I can).

One issue is that to stay within your budget for a nice, well cut diamond(s) we wont be able to compete with the 1 1/2 ctw in that
ring you linked. You may need to have a convo with your GF and find out whether she would really like a beautiful set or she
just wants some big rocks that well, may not be ther prettiest.

Here is an option for a center stone...priced at $1500 (.74 H I1 Hearts and Arrow). You would need to ask the guys at good old
gold if the inclusions are to your satisfaction or not (eyeclean or cause any structural issues). Good old gold also makes and post
videos of stone so if you like it that is a possibility. I''d have to look around some to find side diamonds in your price range.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5122/


So, if you are interested we (PSers) can see what we can find for you in your price range (is it $3k or $2k) and make recommendations?

You just need to let ust know,
tyty

 

[pmankow]

Thanks,
I would say $2500 max. $2000 actual budget. I am looking for stone and setting for this much.
Thank you,
Paul

 

[VRBeauty]

I'd be wary of any store that would even let you consider buying a stone that wasn't properly cleaned for your inspection. They're just expecting you to take their word that it would clean up well? Good for you for walking out of there to get more information!

ID Jewelry has a couple of 3-stone options in your price range. They're priced with SI2 stones however... I think most PS diamond experts would recommend that you use SI1 or higher for "eye clean" diamonds. Also, some jewelers might charge a bit more for a size 9 ring.

http://www.idjewelryonline.com/index.php?cPath=22_79&sort=2a&noitems=21&&noitems=21&page=1

Since you're looking for a diamond ring so early in your career -- well, before starting your career, really -- is there any possiblity that your GF would be willing to start out with a nice solitaire with the promise that you would add sidestones at a future date? Maybe for your fifth anniversary, to celebrate one year on the job, or even for your wedding, if you're planning on a long engagement? Chances are that at some point she'll want to upgrade any 3-stone ring that you could afford with your current budget. You can get a "forever diamond" quality solitaire if she would be willing to accept that as her engagement ring with the promise that you'll turn it into a lovely 3-stone ring when you can afford to do so.

Here's the story of Ryon's search for an engagement ring with about the same budget (in three threads -- and we're skipping the colored stone false start!):

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/need-your-expert-opinions.117706/
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/james-allen-was-a-great-choice.117827/
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/here-is-the-start-of-forever.118666/

And pictures of the finished product!

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/a-couple-pictures.118831/

ETA Ryon got a G SI-1.54ct. The ring you were looking at had "I or better" SI-2 stones. With a little searching and a little luck, you could probably find a ~.7ct I SI-1 diamond for under $2,000.

Good luck!

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

Would it also be possible to get her a nice 5-stone ring, like KTIceRN''s? Link I forgot how much I was quoted when I asked, but you can adjust the diamond sizes to fit your budget. Will give better finger coverage, and is a great classy look. And then when you''re out of school, you can upgrade to a solitaire. Not sure if this is something she''d be open to, or if she really wants a solitaire, but just throwing it out there.