Affordable ring for my girl...

[indecisive]

The one for $745 is an H while the more expensive is an E, so you are paying a premium for that. I would go with the H, with a great cut it will face up so white!

 

[argh&stuff]

Item Code: AGS-6639410
Price: $715.00
Report: AGS
Shape: Round Ideal Cut
Carat: 0.390
Color: I
Clarity: SI1
Depth: 60.8
Table: 54.6
Crown Angle: 34.6
Crown %: 15.7
Pavilion Angle: 40.8
Pavilion %: 42.9
Girdle: Thin to Medium-Faceted
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Culet: Pointed
Fluorescence: Negligible
Measurements: 4.75-4.78X2.90


Here is another with nice sparkle. I would like to at least make it up to the .40 range, though.

 

[argh&stuff]

And yet another. This one got an HCA of 0.6. (This put it more in the "older people" area. I still don''t get that.)

Item Code: AGS-6639309
Price: $688.00
Report: AGS
Shape: Round Ideal Cut
Carat: 0.400
Color: H
Clarity: SI2
Depth: 60.5
Table: 55.4
Crown Angle: 34.5
Crown %: 15.4
Pavilion Angle: 40.6
Pavilion %: 42.8
Girdle: Very Thin-Medium Faceted
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Culet: Pointed
Fluorescence: Negligible
Measurements: 4.77-4.81X2.90

 

[argh&stuff]

That last one I posted seemed to have less "sparkle." Does anyone else agree?

 

[aphisiglovessae]

We sent our diamond to Rockdoc before purchasing. His website is www.consumersgemlab.com I think. He''s also a PS member.

 

[argh&stuff]

How did you do that, Aph?

 

[aphisiglovessae]

We went to his website and contacted him. He then contacted the dealer to see if he would be willing to send the diamond to him for analysis. Once the dealer agreed, we gave the ok and it was done. Rockdoc had very detailed reports on the diamond and sent them to us right away. Once we were satisfied with the report and the diamond, we paid the dealer and Rockdoc sent the diamond to us. Check out his website, it''s full of info as well as his contact information. If you want, I can post some of the report that he sent me, but I''ll ask Rockdoc if it''s ok first.

 

[argh&stuff]

Did you go through WhiteFlash? They are the only place where I can find all the blurbs on diamonds that I need to learn more about still. (I have had a good time tonight clicking on stones at random so I can see the "Idealscope" though. I take entertainment where I can find it.)

Heehee... she called me tonight, trying HARD to drop hints about wanting to know what I''m thinking about a ring we saw this weekend. She doesn''t have a clue I just found something BETTER. Tons better, thanks to you people who saw that she loves tulips and ran with it. Thanks!

 

[aphisiglovessae]

No, we didn''t go through Whiteflash. Our diamond came from a dealer in Canada named Martin Sheffield, if I remember right.

 

[msdarlinjoy]

Date: 2/28/2006 9:58:52 PM
Author: argh&stuff
Did you go through WhiteFlash? They are the only place where I can find all the blurbs on diamonds that I need to learn more about still. (I have had a good time tonight clicking on stones at random so I can see the ''Idealscope'' though. I take entertainment where I can find it.)

Heehee... she called me tonight, trying HARD to drop hints about wanting to know what I''m thinking about a ring we saw this weekend. She doesn''t have a clue I just found something BETTER. Tons better, thanks to you people who saw that she loves tulips and ran with it. Thanks!

I think I must be really tired ... what setting are you going with?

This is so exciting ... are you going to be able to keep this a secret?

Have a great evening!

 

[argh&stuff]

Ms. Darlin,

I''m not POSITIVE on an actual setting as of yet, but I do know I will use a tulip head no matter what. And I called the jewelist yesterday and she said they could put a tuliphead on the ring we looked at that she''s been liking so far. I''m not sold on the interlocking bands thing yet, but I do think I like the look for tulip with the cathedral build up on either side. I''m still debating over the interlocking set we found, and getting her a band with all those little diamonds scattered around it.

BUT just knowing the tulip thing has made me excited. I''m still confused over stones, but I''m not in a huge hurry, either. I want to make the BEST decision, not the fastest one.

As for telling her, I''ll do fine... until the next time I see her. She has a cute way of being inquisitive, and when she smiles and talks so convincingly, it''s hard to keep secrets. I''m gonna try, though!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Argh, I will tell you honestly, as long as you choose a stone with great numbers, please do not think that you have to spend the money to send that stone to an independent appraiser. If you were spending a large sum, then it might ease your mind. But these vendors are honest and you will have a certification. The only other thing you'll need are your EYES to know if you love it or not, and you could send it back if you didn't. And I am sure the ones you are looking at would be beautiful! Please put all your money into the stone and ring. Some of these vendors include an appraisal anyway that will work for the insurance. I do value the independent appraisers here, though, and would consider sending a stone to them when purchasing a very high priced stone.

 

[argh&stuff]

Thanks Diamondseeker. I have to admit I''m still nervous about purchasing online, but at least I have a more clear idea of what I need to know before purchasing.

Get this... my girl calls me at work today. She NEVER calls me at work, so I''m thinking something horrible has happened. Nah, she just wanted to tell me she heard they make rings called tulip. I played dumb, "oh really?" She said, "yeah, too bad we already decided on that other ring." I told her i was sorry, but I''d already started the buying process, and I wasn''t sure if I could back out now, but I''d see. She was a little disappointed, but she''ll be SO excited now when she sees that I found the tulip, too! And at least now I know she likes the tulipsetting, well, I''m not sure she''s seen it yet, but she sounded keen on it regardless.

I love it!

 

[moon river]

Date: 2/27/2006 9:18:08 PM
Author: sunkist
Oh ya! the Abazias ring has a matching curvy band! I didn''t even notice that!! It''s simple, clean, and curvy! And VERY AFFORDABLE!

Good luck in finding the ring you and your GF will love!

Sunkist, this was the setting that popped into my head when I read this topic. I couldn''t remember the name of it. I think she would love this.

 

[argh&stuff]

Moon,

She''s kinda "sold" on a setting we saw that has a cathedral band, so I''m thinking maybe Whiteflash can make something for me that''s similar to the setting Niwaka makes of a tulip head. It seems to sit a little lower, which will be attractive to her, too.

What do you think of that? (It''s on the opening screen when you click on Niwaka.com.)

 

[argh&stuff]

Let me ask this, is there a HUGE difference between a .39, a .42, and a .5? I mean, I know there IS a difference, but is it going to look more like a 1/3 of a carat than a 1/2? I''m thinking... her fingers are small, but I still want it to be something she likes, size-wise. She''s not picky, not about size, but I sort of think I can, and should do better than a 1/3 of a carat for her. Maybe that''s beyond my budget, though. Ahh... I don''t know.

 

[Garysax]

Date: 3/1/2006 9:21:50 AM
Author: diamondseeker2006
Argh, I will tell you honestly, as long as you choose a stone with great numbers, please do not think that you have to spend the money to send that stone to an independent appraiser. If you were spending a large sum, then it might ease your mind. But these vendors are honest and you will have a certification. The only other thing you''ll need are your EYES to know if you love it or not, and you could send it back if you didn''t. And I am sure the ones you are looking at would be beautiful! Please put all your money into the stone and ring. Some of these vendors include an appraisal anyway that will work for the insurance. I do value the independent appraisers here, though, and would consider sending a stone to them when purchasing a very high priced stone.

I was just thinking this. Absolutely no disrespect meant to your budget, but I think you''d have to consider whether you want to appraise it because of the budget range you''re in (given you''re getting it from a legit dealer you trust--WF was good to me). Adding 150-200 dollars onto a lighter budget PLUS more shipping just doesn''t make sense to me. But I understand the peace of mind you need from it, so if you do it it''s alright too.

 

[argh&stuff]

I can''t seem to access the web site for "good old gold." Can someone help me out with a link?

 

[argh&stuff]

Gary,

I absolutely don''t want to go through appraising, I''m just trying to feel out whether or not I''ll do any purchase over the Internet. I guess that''s the "old school" in me, but it scares me more than just a little. And, while I completely know my budget is considerably less than a lot of the threads I''ve read on here, I''m proud of what I''ve decided to spend, and I''m confident that my girl will love it, because she prefers simple and isn''t flashy. And I have hopes for us to buy a house this summer, so she can move closer to me before we marry. That will give her time to decorate and settle in and all that before I come in to make a mess of things.

 

[Garysax]

Date: 3/1/2006 8:10:53 PM
Author: argh&stuff
Let me ask this, is there a HUGE difference between a .39, a .42, and a .5? I mean, I know there IS a difference, but is it going to look more like a 1/3 of a carat than a 1/2? I''m thinking... her fingers are small, but I still want it to be something she likes, size-wise. She''s not picky, not about size, but I sort of think I can, and should do better than a 1/3 of a carat for her. Maybe that''s beyond my budget, though. Ahh... I don''t know.

The main thing is how large they face up--well cut diamonds face up larger because they generally aren''t excessively deep (therefore hiding weight where you can''t see it, in the middle and bottom). You can get a feel for that by looking at the measurements of the stone.

 

[valeria101]

Date: 3/1/2006 8:10:53 PM
Author: argh&stuff

Let me ask this, is there a HUGE difference between a .39, a .42, and a .5? I mean, I know there IS a difference, but is it going to look more like a 1/3 of a carat than a 1/2? I''m thinking... her fingers are small, but I still want it to be something she likes, size-wise. She''s not picky, not about size, but I sort of think I can, and should do better than a 1/3 of a carat for her. Maybe that''s beyond my budget, though. Ahh... I don''t know.

There are some things hard to do online (as yet).... I can easily show three diamond drawings of these sizes, but to show what they would look on someone''d hand... That a different matter. How do you get a hand through a computer screen?
Below are a couple lined up: 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 cts, same proportions & all.

Some shops show rings on a model''s hand, and that''s a pretty good way to get an idea of how they look - size-wise and otherwise. Here''s one link I have no particular recommendation for them - other than precisely what is said: that the way they display jewelry is a good idea. Some things are nicer, some less - the usual thing.

Hope the 2c helps.

 

[Logan Sapphire]

Hi- I posted before that I think your girlfriend and I have about the same ring size. Here''s a .51ct on my finger; I think it looks like a pretty good size!

 

[argh&stuff]

I think she would be pretty content with a .42 that has sparkle. BIG sparkle. Thanks for posting the comparisons and the picture of your hand, Logans. Thanks a lot. I know she''s a fan of "dainty," so yeah, .4 something should be fine.

She won''t care, I know. She''s not like that. But I do want to get the best for my money. And I will definitely remember the key thing in carat size is to think about the depth. I am right, aren''t I?

 

[JulieN]

You should see if you prefer the tulip prongs to be oriented at 0, pi/2, pi, 3/2pi, and 2pi rads or pi/4, 3pi/4, 5pi/4, and 7pi/4 rads. Seeing it the first way is how it''s on the Niwaka site (and supposed to be safer because most damage occurs on the axis), while the second way is the typical way of seeing four prongs.

 

[argh&stuff]

Julie,

Woah. I got lost in the pi thing there. What?

I want it to sit low... is that what you''re referring to? Yeah, tell me how to tell someone that who knows more about jewelry stuff than I do.

 

[Blenheim]

What Julie meant by the pi thing:

Do you want two of the prongs to be right by the band, and the other two to be at the top and bottom when looking at it? That''s the way that Niwaka does it. (You could also think of it as 3 o''clock, 6 o''clock, 9 o''clock, 12 o''clock.)

The ring that Logan Sapphire posted earlier on this page has the second orientation. (1:30, 4:30, 7:30, 10:30 with the clock analogy.)

 

[argh&stuff]

Oh goodness... I didn''t know it mattered where the prongs went.

I''m not sure which is better. What I like about the niwaka setting is that the "tulip" seems to sit lower, and the cathedral is on the band, too.

The Abiazas (or something similar to that) is also appealing to me.

The stuller setting seems to sit a bit high to me.

As for where the tulips poke up, wouldn''t that be a matter of where you look at it from?

I''ll try to look at the pictures again and get what you''re talking about....

 

[argh&stuff]

OH!

I see it now!

Well, I think it doesn''t matter much one way or the other. I''ve never seen a tulip setting other than the 3-6-9-12 way. (I like the clock metaphor... that''s what made it "click.")

Is one way typically better than another?

 

[JulieN]

the NSEW orientation is safer, but it may look "funny"

 

[sunkist]

Date: 2/28/2006 6:14:09 PM
Author: argh&stuff
This may have been posted already, but bare with me. I ''found'' it on my own.


Item Code: AGS-6639401

Price: $745.00

Report: AGS

Shape: Round Ideal Cut

Carat: 0.420

Color: H

Clarity: SI1

Depth: 61.7

Table: 55.6

Crown Angle: 34.7

Crown %: 15.6

Pavilion Angle: 40.8

Pavilion %: 43

Girdle: Thin to Medium Faceted

Polish: Excellent

Symmetry: Excellent

Culet: Pointed

Fluorescence: Negligible

Measurements: 4.81-4.84X2.97



*What does cutlet mean?


And, also, what does the Idealscope do? Looks like a kaliedscope to me... Interesting, but I don''t have a clue what I''m looking for...

Hey Argh, I think this stone you found looks great!! I think it will have lots of colored light sparkles.