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Affordable ring for my girl...

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Two thoughts about that particular diamond:

If it does go, you probably will have people here happy to help you find another that you love.

I think I''ve heard that Whiteflash has some sort of lay-away plan, so if you''re sure that you want that one and you''re sure about cash flow (and anything else that I''m not thinking of at the moment), you could ask them about that.
 
Kimberly,

I will be able to, soon. Very soon. I plan on asking her in April or maybe EARLY May. I had saved, but had an unexpected car "issue" arise. The ring is important, and I have a GREAT idea of what she''d like now, and I''m putting all the pieces together. And, if it ends up that I have to go over my original budget by a couple hundred dollars, I will be able to. It''s not a matter of I can''t get it, it''s a matter of the diamond may be gone before I get that particular one.

Does that make sense?

I thought I was doing good, looking in advance, getting ideas, settling into things, trying to get comfortable with purchasing online and the like....

I hope no one feels as though I''ve wasted their time in helping me. She will have her ring, and it will be just as soon as I can possibly get it all worked out. I can''t wait! Well, I don''t want to...
 
Well I do believe most companies will work with you regarding a payment plan. I am sure wf can allow you you pay in installments just ask.

In my experance when you find a rock you love you need to jump on it as it may be gone and another nice one may not be around for awhile. There are few well cut stones out there you know and even fewer in your budget.

As to being afraid to buy on the net why? Everything is in writing! You are more protected under the eyes of the law.
Every person responding to you has probably bought online . Wf is one of the favorite venders here. They would not risk there rep doing you wrong.

Take the leap. I did and I am glad for it.
 
Date: 3/6/2006 10:40:09 PM
Author: argh&stuff
Kimberly,

II hope no one feels as though I''ve wasted their time in helping me. She will have her ring, and it will be just as soon as I can possibly get it all worked out. I can''t wait! Well, I don''t want to...
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No one will feel like you have wasted their time. Research is key to getting a good deal for your money, and you''ve been doing research. Most of us don''t have money to throw away on a bad diamond, so we''ve all been there doing research, on the upgrade if not the first diamond.

If you have found a really great diamond and can put it on layaway, great! If not, there will be another beautiful diamond out there for you when you are ready to buy.

I don''t post that much but I''ve been following your thread. I think your fiance is going to be thrilled beyond belief when she finally gets the ring, both because of the ring and because of how much thought and effort you''ve put into it.
 
I''m still waiting to hear from WF again; the original idea of what my girl wants got a little mixed up, I think. I''m looking for a thin, solitaire band with a cathedral. The original quote included a ring with tiny stones embedded in the band.

What I may do is purchase the diamond, and then have the ring made. But really, I''m thinking another paycheck and I''ll be set. Maybe two... I''m starting to wonder if maybe I should try to slide a little closer to the 1/2 carat mark. I know she doesn''t care, and that even smaller stones than the one that I''m considering look adequate on her little fingers, but, I also don''t want her to want an upgrade later. I mean, if she wants a bigger ring, I''ll take care of her come an anniversary, but I''d hope that she''d want to wear her "original" on her wedding finger, always. Knowing her and the "sappy" side of her, she will.

I think I''ll do a new search and see what''s available today....

*As for being curious as to my leariness of buying online, I just don''t like not seeing something of this magnitude prior to purchase. I want this to be just perfect, or as close as I can come... And I want it to be nothing short of the kind of moment that takes her breath away.

From what I''ve seen (and I''ve seen some doosies), WF will follow through just great. I''m just an old fashioned type of buyer, I guess.
 
Okay, I''m still thinking the one we''ve been talking about for a week or so now is the one that I like the most. It appears to have a ton of sparkle, which is her preference.

Now, I need help with the symbols on the AGS report. It has red markings on the left side of diamond, according to the picture. I noticed down on the bottom of the report that it said, "Pinpoints are not shown." What does that mean?

WF says the diamond is eye clean.... So, I''m confused....
 
I think what you need to keep in mind is that eyeclean means just that - you can''t see the imperfections just by looking at the diamond. in other words, you''d need to have a loupe, or a microscope, or some other tools of the trade in order to see them, it doesn''t mean they aren''t there.

If WF says it''s eyeclean, certianly their reputation preceeds them, but I believe they will arrange to have the diamond sent to a local appraiser so that you can actually physcially SEE it before making your purchase decision.

The marks on the report are the inclusions in the diamond - the ones you can''t see. It''s important to know where they are as they are invaluable identifying marks if/when you ever decide to reset the diamond, or take it to a local jeweler for cleaning or sizing or whatever. Being a work of nature, no two diamonds are exactly alike and knowing the individual features of YOUR stone means you can determine down the line if someone tries to ''swap'' it out on you.

I''ve no doubt you''ll find some amazing way to ask your girl to be yours for life. in fact, i, personally, love the way you put that :O) and no matter what, i''m sure it''ll be a special moment that will live forever in both of your memories.
 
I never thought of that as an identifying factor, F0rbidden.

Thanks.

So, there are marks, but I won't see them. I get it. I was thinking, geesh, I don't see anything on that picture.

I've looked at a few other sites today after work... Nothing as pretty as the one WF has, though.

My girl called (again, even though she says she's "done helping" me in the process) to tell me she did a search last night and found a diamond that is .45 carats, and is 740, I believe. She emailed me the link....

Item Number: 9636502
Shape: Round
Carat weight: 0.45
Cut: Ideal
Color: J
Clarity: VS2
Certificate: GIA

Depth: 62.2%
Table: 55%
Polish: Excellent - Ideal
Symmetry: Excellent - Ideal
Girdle: Thin to medium, faceted
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 4.94*4.97*3.08


http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=130&item=796297



It's a J... and I've been warned about putting a J with white gold (thank you again, people!), so I emailed asking about it's "face up color" I believe it's called.

The depth... is it too much?

The picture doesn't look as "sparkly" as the WF one we've been talking about, but maybe that's a matter of angle??

Any other questions I need to ask the vendor?

Many thanks for help!
 
Here is another diamond.... a good one? (There is no "real" picture on the site, just a sample. I don''t like that very much.)


BlueNile


Stock number: LD00402563

Carat weight: 0.50

Cut: Very Good

Color: J

Clarity: SI2


Depth %: 60.7%

Table %: 61%

Symmetry: Very good

Polish: Good

Girdle: Medium to slightly thick

Culet: None

Fluorescence: None

Measurements: 5.10x5.14x3.11 mm


Is the girdle an issue? I think I remember hearing thin to medium was the goal, as the thickness takes "weight" out of the diamond''s face.
 
Argh -

Why?????

You found a stone you both love - at WF - why not do it, see it, and if you change your mind then send it back and keep looking? I think you are overthinking this.........................
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I agree!!
I just purchased my diamond 2 weeks ago, and i know how easy it is to ''keep looking'' indefinintely. there''s always another stone that looks nice and MIGHT be nicer, but you know - go with your heart on this one.

If you and she found something you love, why 2nd guess yourself?
 
Well, I''m hoping to get her something closer to the 1/2 carat size she was hoping for.

And, I want to find a good value and I want to feel like I looked around fully, not like I just found one that was great, and went with it. And, I feel like I''m still learning, and I want to venture beyond just WF to see what I find, and I know people here will help me to see if diamonds are quality or not.

Plus, I sort of am enjoying the search process, and comparing other diamonds to the one with the sparkles...

(by the way, the blue nile diamond has a cloud polish... does that mean no sparkle?)
 
We found a cathedral setting that I thought she''d like, but the band was a bit too wide for her. I fear the same would be true of something similar to "water lily." So, I think she likes the stuller setting I posted earlier the best, because of interlocking portion and the total thickness of both rings when worn together. So now I''m wondering if anyone can try to post a picture of that setting with a tulip head?

We''ll try to get out to Solomon brothers this weekend; maybe they will have a tulip head on display. I sure hope so; she''s about to make me nuts over it.
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You know the wonderful thing about WhiteFlash? Lifetime upgrades!
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So it''s a .40 now- why not a .60 in a year or two? Or even a .75?

I just bought a .338 from WF yesterday morning: https://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-1358885.htm# It''ll be in a simple 2.5 mm 4 prong 18K white gold Tiffany setting. Over the next few years I plan to upgrade to around a 2ct. That''s the plan, it could always change.

Working with Ron at WF has been a pleasure! He has followed through, e-mailed when he says he will and has been available fo every phone call I''ve made. I really don''t think you can go wrong with WhiteFlash!

That being said, my 1.06 princess solitare and princess channel w-band are both from Blue Nile and I adore them as well. Howver, no upgrades are allowed! So keep that in mind.

Good luck!
Carrie
 
Well, we went to Solomon Brothers, and even though they said they had a tulip head setting, they didn''t. When we got there, the salesperson whom I''d talked to on the phone prior to making the drive said they did have a tulip setting, and that he was SURE of what I meant when I said that.

Well, he had another salesperson show us a "royal" setting, and then a "trellis" setting. Both were nice, but neither were the flower my girl adores. So, it was a bit disappointing. But, we did get to see a lot of the designer rings "in person," which she had a good time with. This is her, "We want a solitaire, but can I try on that Tacori, just to have an idea?" She''s silly. I think all the "bling" got to her, but they all looked so HUGE on her fingers....

So, it''s looking more and more like I''m going to have to just order something she''s never been able to try on before. The salesperson did warn that the tuliphead sits up a good deal higher than most ordinary prongs. I think there are variations on heads, though.

Anyway, I know no more today than I did yesterday. (I do, however, know that stone we both like so much is still available.)
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I think if you adore the diamond at WF, then call and talk to them and see if their layaway program will fit into your budget.
At the same time, you could ask them if they have a wax model of a tulip head ring that they could send to you so you could have a look - I know it''s hard to visualize the final product in white or yellow gold or platinum unless you have a great imagination, but at least you could get an idea of what you''re talking about.

My jeweler sent me several wax rings to look at so I could decide what I wanted to buy. Ultimately, I went to the store because they''re about an hour from me, but even with real ring selections to see, i still chose one of the wax models that they''ll make for me and then further customize with some engraving.

You mentioned Solomon Bros - you''re in Atlanta? Why not head over to Lenox mall and see if any of the mall vendors have a tulip head ring you could check out? Lenox isn''t a mall i would normally suggest shopping at, but....they have some AMAZING stores!! Phipps should have some, too.

( can you tell I used to live in ATL!)
 
First, let me say that I have enjoyed reading this thread and keeping up with your progress Argh! You sound so sweet and your love for your girlfriend is very apparent
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Second, here''s me 2 cents...Call WF. Tell them to find you X amount of stones in X carat range for X amount of $$$. They are GREAT! While waiting for THE stone to be found (I love the one you originally found but the "diamond monster" in me was like "If I were his girl and expecting a .42 stone and then he suprised me with a .55 stone, I would be SUPER excited"), see if WF can create or alter a setting like you are describing and have them make a wax model of it. I don''t know if they actually send it to you, but even pictures are better then a description or trying to imagine it.

Either way you go with the stone, I can''t wait to hear your happy ending!!! And some unsolicited advise
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don''t worry about making your proposal "perfect". The way that my fiance proposed to me was NOTHING like I had ever dreamed of, and meant SO MUCH MORE then I could have ever imagined-no matter how you "do" it, you will remember it for the rest of your lives-and to me, that is what makes it "perfect"
 
f0r,

My girl will LOVE the idea of heading to a mall.
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Lenox has more choices, as far as opportunities to see tulips?
 
This is my very favorite version of a Tulip solitaire...a little lower and a little more flowing and a little more contemporary and unique all at the same time. It is, however, from the jeweler I used for my recent asscher solitaire, and while i love Isaac, he won''t sell his settings unless you buy the diamond from him. That said, he can call in any stone that any PS vendor can...and I got him to honor the price I had found elsewhere. And of course you can use these ideas if you go custom.

Gorgeous Tulip Solitaire

You can at least add this to your "tulip folder" of ideas in case you go custom. Be sure to look at both views of the ring. Isaac/DS does unique work...
 
i was thinkiing Lenox because it''s a higher end mall - i don''t know what part of town you live in, but if you are near Solomon Bros then you can''t be far from downtown, so i thought lenox would be a good place to go - if you''re on the north side, give perimeter mall a try.

my thoughts were that the higher end jewelery stores in those malls might have more selections that you might not see elsewhere.

besides, lenox is a great mall
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I wouldn''t buy anything there - but it''s always fun to look and who knows - you and your girl may find exactly the right ring and then you''ll know what to look for!
 
Argh&Stuff...

Did you click on the link to the tulip solitaire I posted above? I''m curious about whether any design elements in that ring can be used in your gal''s dream ring. She seemed to prefer them low and that one is just that.
 
Waller,

I''ve not had the chance to show it to her, but I think it may a bit too boxy, or heavy for her tastes. What attracted her to the tulip was the way their was an opening in each prong. I like the way it''s original, but I don''t know that she''d see the "tulip" element in the design.

I''ll have to ask her....

Thanks
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f0r,

I live on the west side of the metro Atlanta area. We drove a good bit to get to Solomon Brothers, but I enjoy going into the city, as does my girl. She never needs an excuse to visit a mall, either. As of yet, we''ve not found a tulip at a mall store (or at any store, for that matter!!).

Thanks again!

:)
 
I''m a little confused....

My girl had been communicating with WhiteFlash regarding our desire to have something with a tulip head, and we were told that the Niwaka setting had a small diamond on either side of the "head" of the tulip, which I don''t remember seeing.

That seemed a little over the top to my girl, and so we thought about going back to the original Stuller setting she liked to begin with. Well, the last email we received from Whiteflash said that a thin band isn''t safe and that WF usually uses bands of at least 2.5mm, or something similar to that degree of thickness. Of course, my girl freaked out that the setting we''ve been talking about is too thin, and so she wrote her back, asking about any concerns with the band from Stuller.

We''ve not heard anything back. Is that because WF doesn''t like to "put down" other settings? I mean, she wasn''t asking to be mean, but rather out of concern for a ring we plan on keeping for the rest of our lives....

Any ideas, guys?

Does the ring seem to thin to you? (Pictures on page 2, I believe, of this thread.)
 
Have you actually seen surprise diamonds on a ring? I think they''re absolutely darling and I don''t think that they''re over the top.
 
Date: 3/16/2006 6:43:30 PM
Author: argh&stuff


We''ve not heard anything back. be mean, but rather out of concern for a ring we plan on keeping for the rest of our lives....

Any ideas, guys?
Click to expand...


Not sure what WF does, but 2mm is very narrow - and this is not the first time WF refuses to make such a narrow band.

One way around the problem is to have the ring made thicker (about 2mm thick & 2mm wide). That helps the band keep its round shape despite being narrow. A 2-2.5 (wide) x ~2 (thick) mm band should be very dainty indeed. And just durable enough, IMO.

Anyway, if you assume the risk of having a slightly fragile ring... ''bet they''d do it.


I don''t know what to say about Niwaka having small diamond accents - there''s nothing showing in that picture on this thread, but I could not find any better ones on Niwaka''s website and have no idea if there might be a version with such detail. I would hope that if you guys do not want any such accents, they should be omitted regardless.

Talking things over with WF seems preferable to Stuller stock settings. To me at least. Hopefully my impression that these guys are friendly and accommodating is no illusion.
 
2mm is generally considered to be safe, depending on the setting, and that is still very thin.
 
A surprise diamond? I''m not familiar with that, in terminology or otherwise....

(Yeah, we were surprised, too. We''d been getting regular emails, helping my girl distinguish between what she wants and all that, and then all the sudden, nothing. I don''t think she wrote anything "harsh," just that her preference was for a solitaire setting, and a thin band. Maybe they''re just looking for something similar to what she described.... I don''t know.)
 
Date: 3/16/2006 8:05:06 PM
Author: argh&stuff
A surprise diamond? I''m not familiar with that, in terminology or otherwise....
Click to expand...

Ya, it''s pretty technical lingo, huh!
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hehe, just kidding
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The "surprise diamond" is just a little accent diamond that you wouldn''t normally expect to see there, so it''s a "surprise"! Since we''re talking about WF here, here''s one of their accent/"surprise" diamond rings.

gi_WFR-UHrPt_m00.jpg
 
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