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advice on size, color, and clarity?

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J

jdpredator

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 27, 2008
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Hi, I am in need of some help/advice.

Right now I am looking to buy my girlfriend an engagement ring. We decided that ~1 carat would be a good size. However, I would really like to keep it under $6000 total. This includes the the setting.

This is the style setting she wants. http://www.tiffany.com/Engagement/Item.aspx?sku=18715716

Obviously tiffany''s is a little more than I would like to spend.

I am willing to move into the .9 carat range but I am not sure what else I can skimp on and still have a quality diamond. Round cut is what I am most interested in.

Judging by everything I''ve read over the last week I should go with the highest quality cut and I can go down in color ( H? maybe ) and down as low as SI1 as long as there aren''t any inclusions that are visible to he naked eye. Is this correct? With a .9 carat diamond is the color and the blemishes going to be that noticeable?

I really like what I see on bluenile.com but I am unsure how to read the grading report to make sure I am getting the quality I want. It seems like there are mixed reviews here about bluenile.com. They seem to have the best prices. Is this just a figment of my imagination?

I live in southwest lower Michigan. Is there a database that rates local jewelers? I just don''t know if I trust not being able to see the diamond and setting in person before purchasing it.

Thanks, this website is amazing. I appreciate any input you all have.
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I can''t wait to see the look on her face. It''ll be worth every second that I put into finding the perfect ring for us. :)
 
Hi JD! Welcome!
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If you are looking for a simple solitaire setting and a beautiful diamond, You may wish to check out Whiteflash.com. They have A Cut Above branded diamonds that are touted to be the world's most visually balanced diamond. They are "super" ideals, thus, you wouldn't have to worry about the cut not being superior. Additionally, their prices are fair and their customer service is great!

Here is an example of a gorgeous stone they have ... 1.004 H VS2, A Cut Above, $6,185 (w/ Bankwire/Pricescope discount). I know that this is a little over your budget, however, the setting, shown here would only be around $195, thus, all being said and done you would be within $500 of your budget ...
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If you are really keen on the Tiffany setting ... you may want to check out Signed Pieces. They present have a .65 E VVS1 diamond in an authentic Tiffany simple solitaire setting for $5,700.

Click here to see.

I hope you find exactly what you are looking for ... Good luck!
 
Go to Pearlman''s! They are located in Grand Rapids (they have advertisements on this site). I am sure you will see a lot of beautiful settings and diamonds there. Of course, cut IS key, but also get the best color and clarity you could afford.
 
Thanks for the advice. I think I''ll try pearlman''s out this weekend. :)

I actually found a very nice setting on jamesallen.com but I am running a little late for work so I can''t really look it up right now. I think it was only $1250 or $1450 for platinum.

:) Justin
 
Anything else?
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I note you mentioned platinum. I would go for white gold and save a bit of money in your budget for the bling.

You will find that there are folks on PS with a lot of RBs in the lower colour ranges (J/K even), and they say they face up very white - a testament to a great cut. Another thing to think about.
 
I would like to go with white gold but I wasn''t sure if there would be a re-plating issue if I bought the ring online.

Would it be best to buy the diamond online and the setting at a jewelry store?
 
If you can buy the diamond and setting from the same online vendor, then I would do that. But if you find a stone from a vendor who does not have the setting you want, then I''d buy the setting locally. But any jeweler can replate a white gold ring, so that is not an issue.

If you can go to Pearlman''s, though, that will solve your problems! They have more settings than almost anyone! I think you may have to go less than a carat if you go with a diamond setting, though. Bill cna help you with ideal cut diamonds, too!
 
I was just looking at Pearlman''s website. They seem very expensive when compared to the online companies.

How much bartering is acceptable when dealing with jewelers? The last thing I want to do is insult someone, but I also want the lowest price.
 
The diamonds on the band will eat a bit into your budget.

$4192 with PS discount... Check (email or call) if it is eyeclean..
This is a Canadian Diamond that is an AGS 1 - the 1 is b/c of the polish which is a fabulous find as the light performance was not dinged
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3661/

They have a large selection of settings similar to the Tiff one (look on the GOG website under settings and select semimount to view)
 
Date: 1/30/2008 6:04:29 PM
Author: :)
The diamonds on the band will eat a bit into your budget.

$4192 with PS discount... Check (email or call) if it is eyeclean..
This is a Canadian Diamond that is an AGS 1 - the 1 is b/c of the polish which is a fabulous find as the light performance was not dinged
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3661/

They have a large selection of settings similar to the Tiff one (look on the GOG website under settings and select semimount to view)
Click to expand...
Wow, fabulous find, :) !

Pearlman''s is not really more expensive. They just carry high quality designer brands. And you''ll usually pay more for that combination. I wouldn''t hesitate to buy a stone and setting from Good Old Gold, either. In fact, my ring stone came from there!
 
You guys are great. I am going to call about that diamond at break tomorrow.

I am going to talk to my girlfriend tonight. Hopefully. (if mother nature cooperates) we will be able to take a trip to Grand Rapids on Saturday.
 
"Thank you for your email! To be honest, after I looked at this diamond under a 10X loop and saw the inclusion, it was then that I could locate the inclusion about 7 inches away from my eye. "

I hope this helps.



Sincerely,

Sarah


to bad
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Date: 1/27/2008 11:36:38 PM
Author: Sparkalicious
If you are really keen on the Tiffany setting ... you may want to check out Signed Pieces. They present have a .65 E VVS1 diamond in an authentic Tiffany simple solitaire setting for $5,700.

Click here to see.
Click to expand...
Hey Canuk-gal -- Great minds or is it enabling minds think alike, huh?
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Fyi - Pearlmans is in Battle Creek -- Not Grand Rapids ...
 
Date: 1/31/2008 10:53:56 PM
Author: lovewhitediamonds
Fyi - Pearlmans is in Battle Creek -- Not Grand Rapids ...
Click to expand...

ditto, and they aren''t open on sat. unless you make an appt. ahead of time. I''ve been to their store a few times and it is totally worth any trip to get there. Bill and the staff are wonderful, but do call ahead and let them know when you are coming if you can''t get there during normal business hours. They will meet you on a sat. though.
 
Thanks for the heads up. I''ll be back on the normal 6-2:30 shift this week so I shouldn''t have any problem making it during the week.
 
There are plenty of vendors out there that are willing to work within your budget(unless you can''t get what your looking for at that price at all). I looked at exceldiamonds.com and they are very helpful, engagementringsdirect.com have a lot of premium stones, goodoldgold is wonderful as well. I would say not to go w/bluenile just because if you want to upgrade in a few years you won''t be able to and there are many wonderful diamond vendors that have a lifetime upgrade policy. Exceldiamonds matched a price that I found on one site to one very similar on their site, so that''s something else to consider. I loved quite a few settings at danforthdiamonds.com and they are reasonalbe in their prices so you may want to look there because they have WG, YG, and any other metal that you would want. Hope this helps and good luck on your search!
 
Here is a setting from exceldiamonds that is similar to the one your gf likes from Tiffany Co. here is the link


http://www.exceldiamonds.com/-Engagement-Rings-5/Diamond-Accent-Engagement-Ring-1392.html

Its 655.00 and its 14K WG

Here is a diamond from the same site that is an ideal hearts and arrows round

http://www.exceldiamonds.com/diamond/160784.html

You want to make sure that SI1 is eyeclean and they will tell you for sure. You can also have it sent to an appraiser and see for yourself before you buy it.
 
Thanks for the links Stephanie.

http://engagementringsdirect.com/loose_detail.php/session/630499dd36c1803df504af3d1afbb452/id/13980201/sz/150/premium/premium

Is J to low of a color to go down to?

http://engagementringsdirect.com/loose_detail.php/session/630499dd36c1803df504af3d1afbb452/id/13716458/sz/150/premium/premium

http://engagementringsdirect.com/loose_detail.php/session/630499dd36c1803df504af3d1afbb452/id/13667553/sz/150/premium/premium
 
It depends on how color sensitive you and your girlfriend are. Some people like the warmth of a J stone, but others would not go that low. I think I color is a good value. Those stones you just posted are not good. Try to stick with this search tool:

https://www.pricescope.com/sift.aspx

Put in excellent-excellent for cut, and check only AGS and GIA for lab. Leave the dots for AGS-0 and H&A like they are. Put in your carats, color, and clarity ranges. This will pull up in-house stones that you can see pictures of, and most will be ideal cut.
 
Wait!!! I found what I think is a terrific stone! It is almost a carat which makes the price more reasonable, but it is still the best cut and a good color and clarity! (Reserve it if you are interested, because these go fast.)

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3819/ .95 H SI1 H&A $4754
 
Date: 2/2/2008 11:43:47 AM
Author: diamondseeker2006
Wait!!! I found what I think is a terrific stone! It is almost a carat which makes the price more reasonable, but it is still the best cut and a good color and clarity! (Reserve it if you are interested, because these go fast.)

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3819/ .95 H SI1 H&A $4754
Click to expand...
That''s a beautiful stone. If eyeclean, which I''d bet it is, I''d snatch it up in a heartbeat.

And yes, do reserve if you''re seriously thinking about it.
 
Date: 2/2/2008 11:54:51 AM
Author: Ellen

Date: 2/2/2008 11:43:47 AM
Author: diamondseeker2006
Wait!!! I found what I think is a terrific stone! It is almost a carat which makes the price more reasonable, but it is still the best cut and a good color and clarity! (Reserve it if you are interested, because these go fast.)

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3819/ .95 H SI1 H&A $4754
Click to expand...
That''s a beautiful stone. If eyeclean, which I''d bet it is, I''d snatch it up in a heartbeat.

And yes, do reserve if you''re seriously thinking about it.
Click to expand...
Yep, thats a beauty!!
 
I really like that .95 carat diamond from GoG but with the setting it would be about $6500 not including taxes.

This is the perfect setting.

http://www.jamesallen.com/products/item_58-261_build.asp?module=setting
 
Well, the only thing left to do is go down a bit. I found this one, which isn't much smaller than the other, it's an I. Many on here have well cut I's and J's. If she's not color sensitive, it could work. Just wanting to throw it out, the price is right.

http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/3887/
 
Date: 2/3/2008 2:14:26 PM
Author: jdpredator
I really like that .95 carat diamond from GoG but with the setting it would be about $6500 not including taxes.

This is the perfect setting.

http://www.jamesallen.com/products/item_58-261_build.asp?module=setting
Click to expand...
That .95 from GoG does look great!
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The setting you shared from James Allen is gorgeous. It is not like the original setting you showed----did she change her mind? I love the shared prong setting you shared, just making sure she''s on board.
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In my opinion you''d be fine going with an I color, or even J (which I have and love but realize isn''t for everyone). But that .95 from GoG is AWESOME, so it looks like you''re finding stones in the H range in the budget.
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Ok, you''re in Michigan, GoG is in NY, so you won''t have to pay tax on the stone---right? I had to with WF but that''s because I''m in TX where they are located. Had I been out of state, I would have saved the tax.
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jenn, technically, you''re still supposed to claim the item on your taxes and pay them even if you purchase out of state
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