Any help/guidance in selecting an RB would be appreciated...

[onenil]

Hi all,

Been lurking for a few weeks and have to say this site has been immensely helpful. If nothing else i've gained a little knowledge and learned the 4 c's are just the tip of the iceberg...

Planning to propose in the near future and hopefully i'll find a wonderful stone that I can say was picked with much thought, love and most importantly with her in mind each step of the way...Now that i know there are vast differences between diamonds, i have a feeling that i'm going to drive myself slightly crazy in this search!

My budget for the stone is $10K but could go up a bit if necessary...preference would be for: 1.2+ carats, a great cut, G or better color and VS2 or better (or I suppose SI1 as i understand that they can be eyeclear)...

I've found the following:

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-dia...-g-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-362980
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.22-carat-g-color-vs2-clarity-sku-369005
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3256273.htm

Curious to hear how well or (more likely) poorly my initial finds are and am DEFINITELY up for suggestions as i know that almost everyone that reads this has much more experience and expertise...

Thanks in advance!

 

[yssie]

Re: Any help/guidance in selecting an RB would be appreciate

You've picked promising stones.

I prefer not to pay for clarity the eyes won't appreciate, so I'd skip the 1.20 G VS1 from JA (paddling could mean slightly shallow but could also just be that the camera was too close during photography - hard to judge from just the pic and I'm not one for wagers but if I was I'd err toward the latter) - so of the three you've picked my preferences are the WF and the JA 1.22 G VS2.

Do you have a setting in-mind? It's easier and safer to buy both stone and setting from the same vendor if possible.

The WF is more expensive, and it's guaranteed to be a stunner; the JA is less pricey but you'll want to get more information on the stone. WF's settings are of better design and make (this is highlighted in the more complex designs; a basic peg-head four-prong solitaire is pretty much going to be the same either way), their service is more personalised, they offer more information on the stone, and the stone comes with more generous upgrade/buyback/trade-in policies, but you also pay more. There's no right or wrong answer - it just depends on what your priorities are.

You have a generous budget for the stone and a realistic view of what your money can get you (that *really* helps), and there are several vendors who can fulfill your requirements for the stone, so I'd suggest first deciding what sort of setting you want.

 

[onenil]

Re: Any help/guidance in selecting an RB would be appreciate

Thanks Yssie!

For settings, oh why oh why are there so many options!!! Kidding aside, I'm leaning towards a more classic/simple setting. I like the WF Contemporary, WF Broadway and the Vatche Bliss...however, I realize that her preferences really matter here so I may have to somehow figure out if she wants something more 'complex'. Barring that, I suppose we can look forward to upgrading the setting on a future anniversary!

Any recommendations for 'classic' settings? I'm not opposed to side stones, pave, etc. - I guess I just have a bias to wards a more simple look...

Appreciate your thoughts, I'm leaning towards Whiteflash...I'll have to take a deeper look to see if there's anything else that may fit my bill..

 

[Gypsy]

Re: Any help/guidance in selecting an RB would be appreciate

Have you looked on her Pinterest page? She might have posted pictures of rings she likes.