Another help with an engagement ring thread!

[lowroller]

Hello everyone!

I have heard alot about these forums and have been trying to educate myself with all the wealth of information on here.

I thought I had the right diamond figured out from blue nile but when I input the specs into the HCA Tool, I was disapointed that it only got a score of 2.3. The diamond I had selected was http://www.bluenile.com/ca/build-yo..._STEP&pid=LD03172701#DIAMONDS_STEP|LD03172701.

Now I guess the search is on for another diamond/ring and that is where I would need your help! I am looking to spend around $2000 with a simple yellow gold solitaire setting, or maybe a little more with a setting with diamonds on the side. I know this price is not very high and below what a lot of people spend, but this is what I have budgeted granted that I just started working recently and we bought a house together and it will be ready this summer, along with all the expenses that go along with it. I really do wish I could give her a 1 carat diamond, but I would have to be in debt to do that and keep up with the new house expenses and I promised myself I would not go down that road. She does not demand an expensive ring, but I would still like to get her something beautiful in my budget.

The reason I mentioned two different kinds of settings is because when we initially casually browsed some rings months ago, she liked the halo style with the diamonds down the side as well. But then she decided that she only wanted a solitaire as she didn't want something too 'blingy' to wear everyday. Even though it wasn't a halo, I thought this one looked nice and not too 'blingy': http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/engage...cut-pave-set-diamond-engagement-ring-item-735

Before I write a whole essay here, I'll get down to some of the specs that I was looking at.

Cut: Ideal
Carat: Around .60, give or take
Clarity: SI and above (only if it is 'eye-clean')
Colour: I figure H/G ...not THAT picky on this. I figure if I get something with fluorescence it will look a higher colour so I can compromise here?
Setting: Yellow Gold (was looking for 18k, but I heard 14k won't wear as much? Not sure here) plain solitaire setting or a halo or something similar to the link I posted above.
Budget: $2000 for a solitaire, a little more if I get a nicer setting, maybe around $2500?

I'm open to any and all suggestions, including changing some of these specs if need be as I am quite clueless and have only been researching fairly recently.

Thanks in advance!

 

[lovemybling]

I think the best thing you can do is buy the biggest/best stone you can and put into the solitaire. Then you can "Bling" up with and eternity ring, five stone or seven stone for the wedding band.

I know most guys think that the ring you propose with has to be a forever ring. But many of us here were in the same situation at the beginning of our lives together. When you get more settled you could always look into upgrading her ring if you both so desire. You can see many vendors do have upgrade policies just for that reason.

Good luck and congrats!!

 

[lovemybling]

OH another thing to remember, I believe James Allen, Brian Gavin, and white flash offer pricescope member discounts you just have to call and ask.

Another great online vendor is http://idjewelryonline.com/index.php
Just give them a call let them know your budget and wish list them have been know to make the most of your $$.

 

[hawk25]

While I'm nowhere near knowledgeable enough to confidently suggest a specific diamond, I believe with a yellow gold ring you can drop down a colour or two, possibly even a J? G or H will absorb some of the yellow from the gold anyways, and it'll save some money to get close to a 0.60ct centre.

I myself have a $2200ish budget (for the diamond only though) with a platinum ring, where the white/silver platinum colour makes the diamond colour more noticable. I'm shooting for around an I.

Maybe something like these may work? I would wait for a more experienced PSer to comment though (I'm in the same boat as you, just starting to learn). These are both ACA, so therefore costs more, but they give you a little piece of mind
0.566ct: http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2892588.htm $1488 with PS wire discount
0.59ct: http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2892582.htm $1551 with PS wire discount

The only issue would be buying the diamond from a different vendor as the setting, as apparently that adds to the cost if you're set on the JA setting you linked (not sure about JA, but WF charges around $150). I've started to notice WF's diamond settings seem a little on the expensive side (but maybe that's just me).

 

[hawk25]

Actually scratch the 0.566 one, I didn't see the light leakage at the 2 o'clock position. I wouldn't have thought an ACA would have that problem, unless I'm missing something here...

 

[JulieN]

I do not think a .5/.6 in a halo will be too blingy. Perhaps put it in a halo with a plain shank as a compromise, and it is cheaper.

Halos are very in style right now, and I guess I just wonder if one of her friends get one, she might regret her decision, since she does like them. A halo just adds so much presence, check out the before and after thread: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/solitaire-to-halo-before-and-afters.130309/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/solitaire-to-halo-before-and-afters.130309/[/URL]

 

[JulieN]

Actually scratch the 0.566 one, I didn't see the light leakage at the 2 o'clock position. I wouldn't have thought an ACA would have that problem, unless I'm missing something here...

You will never, EVER see that in real life.

 

[SMC]

This diamond looks good to me: http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.60-carat-F-color-SI1-clarity-Excellent-cut-sku-195647 - $1740 before the pricescope discount (~5%) - it's an F with a 1.0 HCA score (and I didn't see any significantly larger diamonds in your price range from the JA site, though I didn't look for eye clean SI2s)

You can check with JA to see if they will make this setting for you in 14K yellow gold: http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/engagement-rings/halo/14k-white-gold-pave-halo-engagement-ring-round-center-item-2322 ($700)

or halo with site diamonds ($900): http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/engagement-rings/halo/14k-white-gold-pave-halo-and-shank-diamond-engagement-ring-round-center-item-6800

18K yellow gold option ($875): http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/engagement-rings/halo/18k-yellow-gold-pave-halo-engagement-ring-round-center-item-947

I vote for haloing your stone to give more finger coverage!

 

[SMC]

I think the WF ACA diamonds are great too! If you can also find a setting from WF in your budget, that would be a great option. I am a fan of getting the stone and setting from the same place because it minimizes the hassle of shipping diamonds to and from vendors (unless you get the stone set locally) and you don't need to purchase insurance on the stone while it's being set.

 

[lowroller]

Thanks for all the options and opinions. I will have to consider a halo.

I liked the diamonds suggested at whiteflash but I found the settings to be more expensive than JamesAllen.

What do you guys think about this diamond?
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-...-I-color-VS1-clarity-Excellent-cut-sku-151957

 

[JulieN]

I'm tempted to suggest that you go all out: http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.81-carat-K-color-SI1-clarity-sku-188726

There are a lot of possiblities, the I you posted could work. Similar to that in size and price:
I really love this little guy, I feel like I can see every color of the rainbow: http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.55-carat-H-color-SI1-clarity-Excellent-cut-sku-174043
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.59-carat-I-color-VS1-clarity-Excellent-cut-sku-105787
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.60-carat-G-color-SI2-clarity-Excellent-cut-sku-174069
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.61-carat-G-color-SI2-clarity-Excellent-cut-sku-174000

 

[lowroller]

Really appreciate all the advice, will be making a purchase tonight!

 

[JulieN]

Just FYI, JA will review and give Ideal Scopes for 3 rounds of your choice.