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Advise needed

JoseeCL

JoseeCL

Shiny_Rock
Premium
Joined
Mar 4, 2016
Messages
103
Hi everyone! My husband and I just had our 10 year wedding anniversary. He has generously offered to upgrade my engagement ring. We have a budget of 10 000$. I will be matching my new ring to a 3.90 diamond eternity band prong set in 14k white gold.
Here are my options and I would love any input or advice you could give.
My first two options are from Michael Hill
1. Southern Star radiant cut (90 facets with an 8 point star in the middle. Single halo with diamonds on the shank. Center diamond is 0.74 I1 I color. TCW 1.20
8999$ mark down to 5999$cameff_1515396538635.png
Screenshot_20180111-215449.jpg 2. Southern Star same as first. Single halo. Plain band. Center diamond 1.03 VS2 H color. TCW 1.32
12999$ mark down to 9099$
3. Tiffany & Co. A Lucida platinum solitaire. 0.74 VS1 H color.
10 000$
 
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Congrats on your anniversary and how exciting to be able to upgrade!! I'm going to vote none of the above...do you have to upgrade with Michael Hill or do you have $10k to spend wherever you want? If the latter, what type of look do you prefer so we could give you some suggestions?
 
These options are horribly overpriced for mall-quality diamonds (can’t really tell from pictures but I1??). The “12999 markdown to 9099” is a joke. 9099 is way too much for that. Run away. You can get a 1carat I VS2 round brilliant diamond with decent cut off James Allen for around $5000 onwards, for example, and the halo setting costs you maybe $1200ish at JA sales.

Definitely avoid that I1 clarity like the plague.

$10,000 is a big budget to me and IMO you could possibly go right up to 1.5 ct with that budget, depending on color and clarity for example if you buy an SI1 diamond that’s eye clean.
 
$10k which currency?
 
Would you like us to help you find better and bigger?
 
@JoseeCL Radiants are nice but it's very hard to find a well cut one. For that reason I'm going to suggest a cushion that you could potentially get a beautiful halo for at JA for less than the second ring you posted and a MUCH better quality and a bigger ring!
Setting: https://www.jamesallen.com/engageme...-edge-pave-diamond-engagement-ring-item-49997 (look at the example with a 1.5 cushion!!)
Single halo: https://www.jamesallen.com/engageme...amond-engagement-ring-round-center-item-17445
Pretty diamond just from a quick search: https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.52-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-sku-3553222

That should come in at around $9k or less depending on setting, in platinum, when you ask for a PS discount and pay by wire.
 
ac117 said:
Congrats on your anniversary and how exciting to be able to upgrade!! I'm going to vote none of the above...do you have to upgrade with Michael Hillenergypyouu have $10k to spend wherever you want? If the latter, what type of look do you prefer so we could give you some suggestions?
Click to expand...
I have 10 000$ to spend where I want :)
I want something unique, a one of a kind, special, timeless. I don't want a round brilliant. I'm defenitly favoring the radiant cut. Solitaire or with a halo but not a double halo. Diamonds on the shank or not is fine but I don't like split shanks. No split shanks, no double halos ;) Love white gold or platinum, would consider rose gold no yellow gold.
Any suggestions :)
Oh and I don't want a used ring. I fear getting someone elses failed marriage energy. So the ring has to be new and I would prefer to try it on before buying so buying online would not be favorable for this one. I would consider it but not favorable.
 
jadesilver said:
These options are horribly overpriced for mall-quality diamonds (can’t really tell from pictures but I1??). The “12999 markdown to 9099” is a jobough199 is way too much for that. Run away. You can get a 1carat I VS2 round brilliant diamond with decent cut off James Allen for around $5000 onwards, for example, and the halo setting costs you maybe $1200ish at JA sales.

Definitely avoid that I1 clarity like the plague.

$10,000 is a big budget to me and IMO you could possibly go right up to 1.5 ct with that budget, depending on color and clarity for example if you buy an SI1 diamond that’s eye clean.
Click to expand...

I actually know it is overpriced... I've bought some pretty amazing rings for way cheaper. My 3.90 ct eternity band is appraised over 12 000$ and I paid 1000$ for it. I have a "Jaqu de Lili" 4ct Ceylon sapphire ring with 1 full carat of vs1 diamond around it for 1500$ appraised over 12000$....
That being said, I kinda wanna be able to see and try the ring on first. And I want a special cut, something unique. The southern star is a radiant cut but with 90 facets, way more than the usual radiant... And the Lucida obviously is exclusive to Tiffany & Co.
I'm defenitly pulling more towards the Southern star simply because it is rarer than the Lucida and has been discontinued so what's out there is all there is. It's more unique in my eyes.
 
JoseeCL said:
I have 10 000$ to spend where I want :)
I want something unique, a one of a kind, special, timeless. I don't want a round brilliant. I'm defenitly favoring the radiant cut. Solitaire or with a halo but not a double halo. Diamonds on the shank or not is fine but I don't like split shanks. No split shanks, no double halos ;-) Love white gold or platinum, would consider rose gold no yellow gold.
Any suggestions :)
Oh and I don't want a used ring. I fear getting someone elses failed marriage energy. So the ring has to be new and I would prefer to try it on before buying so buying online would not be favorable for this one. I would consider it but not favorable.
Click to expand...
By buying in a B&M store you are giving away a good 1/3 on what you can buy online. If you still want to buy from a store do so and we can still offer some advice. That amount of money can buy over a carat plus halo online and you can see what you are getting even better than in store, due to magnified images and use of light return tools. You can see my prejudice.

I don’t trust any B&M stores after my many experiences. I may be wrong in that but I have been blatantly lied to too many times.
 
ac117 said:
@JoseeCL Radiants are nice but it's very hard to find a well cut one. For that reason I'm going to suggest a cushion that you could potentially get a beautiful halo for at JA for less than the second ring you posted and a MUCH better quality and a bigger ring!
Setting: https://www.jamesallen.com/engageme...-edge-pave-diamond-engagement-ring-item-49997 (look at the example with a 1.5 cushion!!)
Single halo: https://www.jamesallen.com/engageme...amond-engagement-ring-round-center-item-17445
Pretty diamond just from a quick search: https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.52-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-sku-3553222

That should come in at around $9k or less depending on setting, in platinum, when you ask for a PS discount and pay by wire.
Click to expand...

The cushion is nice... But seems 1/10 woman have cushion cut with halos... Too popular... I want something unique.
 
503F806A-05C4-4BB1-B584-25AEF64175D5.jpeg It could look something like this, or you could halo it
Do Michael hill have GIA certs btw?
 
How much is that 1.32 radiant? Then I have to find a mounting and someone to mount it :/
 
It’s 3k. Yes you are then creating your own unique ring, very special to do as a couple imo. It’s not hard to find a jeweler to make the ring, any large jewelery store can, though here on ps we tend to prefer the really great jewelers!
 
scarsmum said:
503F806A-05C4-4BB1-B584-25AEF64175D5.jpeg It could look something like this, or you could halo it
Do Michael hill have GIA certs btw?
Click to expand...

That's beautiful!!!
I don't know if MH has GIA report. I'll have to ask.
 
A fully blinged out setting would be around 4-5 k. No diamonds, around 2k (estimates).
 
JoseeCL said:
That's beautiful!!!
I don't know if MH has GIA report. I'll have to ask.
Click to expand...
The reason I ask is because the validity of the diamonds clarity and color grades varies, a lot, between grading labs.
 
I don’t know how you feel about diamond color, but the radiant from PFG is M, which will make it creamy colored not white. The video does not show the color as it will appear in some lights. For comparison, if your MH I color is EGL graded, then it would probably be more like a GIA K.

Apologies for serial posting. Ladies with M color rings here can probably post some examples if you go in that direction.
 
ac117 said:
Understand you want something different but I still feel like finding a radiant with excellent light return is very difficult. GOG sells H&A square cuts that would be a nice choice for the radiant shape but with better light return: https://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond-search/1.03-Square Hearts & Arrows-N-GIA-I-SI2-diamond-stock-10835a-cert-6157022746
Click to expand...

That is beautiful! But like I said, then I have to find a mounting and someone to mount it :/ I wouldn't even know where to start.
My husband wants to get one in store. He wants something we can see and try on.
He's really not up to finding a diamond, them a mount and having it made.
He really wants to buy something in store and have insurance or warranty from the store and what not.
 
JoseeCL said:
That is beautiful! But like I said, then I have to find a mounting and someone to mount it :/ I wouldn't even know where to start.
My husband wants to get one in store. He wants something we can see and try on.
He's really not up to finding a diamond, them a mount and having it made.
He really wants to buy something in store and have insurance or warranty from the store and what not.
Click to expand...

Please listen to the wise advice you are getting here. If you are interested in the look of this stone (which blows every stone that you’ve posted completely out of the water!). Good Old Gold can make a video for you to see this diamond in various lighting conditions. They also have many setting options as well. They will send you a completed ring that will knock your socks off! Good Old Gold, James Allen or Whiteflash will afford you a gorgeous ring in your budget. Please don’t purchase from a Mall store. You will be spending way too much for the low quality in return!
 
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Ok given what you’ve said here’s what I suggest...look on yelp for the best rated jewelry store in your area. I can pretty much guarantee it won’t be Michael hill and it probably won’t be Tiffany. Go to that store and tell them you’re looking for something over 1 carat, I color or better. SI or better, GIA certified. If they can’t produce something then ask them what they could bring in for you to look at. Have in mind your favorite looks and cuts.

The ones you posted are not worth the money. The two MH ones have a disorganized “crushed ice” look.
 
I understand what you are saying and I completely agree... However, my husband wants the warranty from the store. If we loose the diamond it will be replaced. If we need sizing or coating it will be done free of charge.
Of I buy from GOG, JA or WF, we won't have any warranty like that.
 
You can buy insurance for any diamond. I purchased from Whiteflash and insuring through jewelers mutual was seamless as the sales receipt and AGS cert were transmitted electronically with my ok. 3 clicks and I was done.

I also got 1 Free resizing and Vatche will replate my setting for life if needed (which it won’t because I got a platinum setting)

Do you know how many resizing or replatings you can get for the $5000 you are going to overpay through a mall store?
 
JoseeCL said:
I understand what you are saying and I completely agree... However, my husband wants the warranty from the store. If we loose the diamond it will be replaced. If we need sizing or coating it will be done free of charge.
Of I buy from GOG, JA or WF, we won't have any warranty like that.
Click to expand...


But if you are overpaying by a lot, how is any of that free?

You should double check that with the store-- I don't know any store that replaces a lost stone for free. Why would they do that?

Gemsafe has the best insurance I have found. All of my policies are with them. gemsafe.com
 
Michael Hill doesn't cover lost stones:

"10.4 The twelve month limited warranty and the three year watch limited warranty each exclude, to the extent permitted by law, damage due to ordinary wear and tear, misuse, accident, abuse, alteration, substitution, improper repair or warranty service performed by someone other than us or our authorised repairers, theft, disappearance, loss (including lost stones) or any other type of use causing deterioration."
 
How much is the Michael Hill professional care plan you have to BUY in order to get "free" inspection and cleanings?

"
Back to results
PEACE OF MIND FOR A LIFETIME
Life doesn’t stop just because you’re wearing jewelry. That’s why we make it easy to keep your piece shining as brightly as the day you got it. With the purchase of our lifetime Michael Hill Professional Care Plan, we cover the following repairs and services at no charge:

  • Ring sizings
  • Re-tipping of prongs
  • Stone tightening
  • Refinishing and polishing
  • Cleaning and inspecting
  • Earring repair
  • Chain and bracelet soldering
  • Rhodium plating white gold
  • Resetting diamonds and gemstones
  • Clasp replacement

The Michael Hill Professional Care Plan is currently not available to purchase online.

If you wish to purchase a Professional Care Plan, please contact your nearest store within 30 days of your purchase.

Read more for pricing information and full terms and conditions >"


*ETA: it is $400.00 for a 10k purchase which is such a RIP OFF that I am now angry about it
 
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