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Can I make it? Anyone want to help find a diamond

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burtoncr

Rough_Rock
Joined
Feb 12, 2009
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We are going on a ski vacation 2/28 and I would love to buy a ring and pop the question
9.gif
. I know what I want:

Shape: Round
Cut: Ideal (Hearts and arrows is a plus)
Color: I+
Clarity: VS2+
Certification: AGS or GIA
Carat: 1.0+
Setting: platinum Tiffany style 4-prong size 4.5.
Price Range: $6k-6.7k total

So I have a couple questions:
1) Is it possible to do this in 2 weeks?

2) Is it stupid to rush like this? <- this part is killing me
14.gif
. I normally spend months researching and shopping around, and it's the only reason I would ask such a newb help question on a forum (sorry).

I have been looking on Whiteflash, GOG, and James Allen and I feel like I am in a "here's my money, send me what you got" mode. Ugg I hate trusting salesmen to get me "the best", but I don't think I have time to send diamonds back and forth.

3) Would you trust any of those vendors to send me my "perfect ring" the first time? Who would you start with first?

Please, give me your advice or tell me it's impossible and to take a hike :) Or if you found the perfect diamond for me, send the link on over :)

Thanks for your help!
Chris
 
Timing wise I personally think you can do it but I think you need to decide quickly. I used GOG and I did not see the diamond before I purchased it and it turned out fine for me. I was also looking for a round diamond and a 6 prong tiffany style setting...

The one hiccup that I had was the setting. My gf wanted a Tiffany style setting as well. When I asked about it on here everyone recommended Excel Diamonds as having the best Tiffany replicas. I was going to purchase it from Excel but the problem was I only had 1.5 weeks before the day I wanted to propose. Excel told me that they needed 2 weeks to create the setting.

I ended up purchasing a temporary white gold Stuller setting from GOG for a $100 for the proposal. The only problem is my fiance is now so attached to the ring she doesn''t want to replace the setting because it was the one that I proposed with! haha.
 
 
Date: 2/12/2009 5:29:08 PM
Author: burtoncr
That is the setting I was looking at in 6 prong.
what about this one:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VVS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1193895.asp
Should I look for more of a balance between color and clarity? Is I going to be too yellow?
Click to expand...

Maybe, depends on your color perception. VVS is too good a clarity for my taste, unless you are really looking for one. A VVS1 and an eye-clean SI1 are the same visually, both are still eye-clean.
 
I would definitely consider some G/H SI1s.
 
I like that one a lot...
 
http://www.highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=view-id-diamond-infinity&id=491 This diamond.

http://www.freecz.com/images/store/WST15420615.jpg soltice or bombe shank 6 prongs http://www.freecz.com/images/store/wst16320607_b.jpg both 1000 in platinum. I like the Bombe, personally.

Brings you right AT budget (winfields and highperformance diamonds are the same vendor, one is their old site and the other is the new one that they are transitioning to).

And yes, I would trust Wink and Infinity to get it right the first time for this purchase.
 
Date: 2/12/2009 3:22:53 PM
Author:burtoncr
We are going on a ski vacation 2/28 and I would love to buy a ring and pop the question
9.gif
. I know what I want:


Shape: Round

Cut: Ideal (Hearts and arrows is a plus)

Color: I+

Clarity: VS2+

Certification: AGS or GIA

Carat: 1.0+

Setting: platinum Tiffany style 4-prong size 4.5.

Price Range: $6k-6.7k total


So I have a couple questions:

1) Is it possible to do this in 2 weeks?


2) Is it stupid to rush like this? <- this part is killing me
14.gif
. I normally spend months researching and shopping around, and it''s the only reason I would ask such a newb help question on a forum (sorry).


I have been looking on Whiteflash, GOG, and James Allen and I feel like I am in a ''here''s my money, send me what you got'' mode. Ugg I hate trusting salesmen to get me ''the best'', but I don''t think I have time to send diamonds back and forth.


3) Would you trust any of those vendors to send me my ''perfect ring'' the first time? Who would you start with first?


Please, give me your advice or tell me it''s impossible and to take a hike :) Or if you found the perfect diamond for me, send the link on over :)


Thanks for your help!

Chris
Click to expand...

About 10 days ago, I was in the same boat as you! Last week, I needed something for a proposal that I am planning on Tuesday, 2/17. I have lurked on these forums and even visited several B&M establishments evaluating my options over the past several months. Basically, value-wise...I am convinced that you will NOT find a better deal at a B&M than you will at Whiteflash, James Allen or Good Old Gold.

Last Monday, I did the quote request through pricescope...and reps from each of the popular online diamond merchants quickly (anywhere between an hour and 24 hours) contacted me offering help. Since then, I have been able to find the diamond that I am thrilled with and the setting that I thought only existed in my imagination.

Now, after placing the order on Wednesday, Feb. 4th., Whiteflash has gotten the diamond that the rep helped me find(it wasn''t an "in-house" diamond) and they have completed the setting. Not to mention, it was done within the budget I set. They sent me the picture earlier today.

See my post, the whole timeline of me being a worry wart about the whole ordering process is there...and the picture of the ring is near the end.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/bought-ring-now-im-wondering-if-i-made-the-best-choice.106555/

Good luck to ya!!!
 
Alright, so Josh at JA helped me out. Now Im down to these 3:

1.12 H VS2
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1197208.asp

1.17 I VS1
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1193896.asp

0.94 E VS2
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1213151.asp


Josh seemed to like the .94 alot since it has such good color.

Additionally I noticed that this setting really doesnt look like a "Tiffany", or maybe Im too picky:
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/classic-solitaire-settings/ring/item_57-1943.asp

He suggested this one in platinum for something like $800:
http://www.jamesallen.com/Rings/Engagement-Rings/Solitaire-Settings/18k-White-Gold-Six-Prong-Basket-Solitaire-Diamond-Engagement-Ring/

Or they are producing a handmade Tiffany replica for around 1100 in platinum.

He said the first two settings can be in my hand withing 3 days, but the last one will take 5-7. So the decision needs to be made this weekend.

What would you do, H->E color upgrade or ~0.2 carats?
 
Here is an idealscope comparison

burtoncr idealscopes.JPG
 
Here are the diamonds:

burtoncr rocks.JPG
 
With the time crunch, I would really consider just trusting someone like Jonathan at GOG...tell him your budget and what you are thinking, and he will find you a gorgeous diamond that performs beautifully. He really loves to get into the specs and is really thorough about analyzing each stone, so you can trust that the diamond will be great!!
 
I like the H.

The closer you get to the Tiffany, the more expensive it is going to be.
 
1.12 or the .94
 
Date: 2/13/2009 4:57:03 PM
Author: burtoncr
Alright, so Josh at JA helped me out. Now Im down to these 3:

1.12 H VS2
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1197208.asp

1.17 I VS1
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1193896.asp

0.94 E VS2
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1213151.asp


Josh seemed to like the .94 alot since it has such good color.

Additionally I noticed that this setting really doesnt look like a ''Tiffany'', or maybe Im too picky:
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/classic-solitaire-settings/ring/item_57-1943.asp

He suggested this one in platinum for something like $800:
http://www.jamesallen.com/Rings/Engagement-Rings/Solitaire-Settings/18k-White-Gold-Six-Prong-Basket-Solitaire-Diamond-Engagement-Ring/

Or they are producing a handmade Tiffany replica for around 1100 in platinum.

He said the first two settings can be in my hand withing 3 days, but the last one will take 5-7. So the decision needs to be made this weekend.

What would you do, H->E color upgrade or ~0.2 carats?
Click to expand...
I would go for the H to get the size (I also would pick it first based in IS pics, .94 second). Diameter wise, which is what you really want to be looking at (vs. ct. weight, as this is how big the diamond actually faces up/looks), there''s a noticeable amount of difference. And in a well cut stone which this is, H is still going to look bright white and sparkly.
28.gif


Out of these two settings, I prefer the first one.
 
First, I encourage you to place a hold on any that interest you. Links from this message board generate a lot of traffic to those pages, and someone might just snatch one up. This happened to me at least twice.

Second, I agree that the IS images look best for the 1.12 and .94

Third, I wouldn''t worry about the size difference between the 1.12 and .94 You need to look at the diameters, and actually, the difference between those two is quite small. You might notice that extra .3 mm in a side-by-side comparison, but once it''s mounted and on her hand, you won''t. I suggest you save the money and get the .94
 
Date: 2/14/2009 9:01:10 AM
Author: RBsearch
First, I encourage you to place a hold on any that interest you. Links from this message board generate a lot of traffic to those pages, and someone might just snatch one up. This happened to me at least twice.

Second, I agree that the IS images look best for the 1.12 and .94

Third, I wouldn't worry about the size difference between the 1.12 and .94 You need to look at the diameters, and actually, the difference between those two is quite small. You might notice that extra .3 mm in a side-by-side comparison, but once it's mounted and on her hand, you won't. I suggest you save the money and get the .94
Click to expand...
Really? You think a .35 difference is small? If these stones were larger in size, I would agree it wouldn't be that big of a deal, but in up to 1 ct.ish, I've found (and others) smaller diameter differences make a bigger difference. And I believe the experts say one can see the difference at .20, but don't quote me on that.
5.gif


Anywho, I say go big or go home!
9.gif
(if budget allows)
 
I guess it all comes down to budget and priorities. If I were the one buying (and my budget is usually top priority), I would say the extra .3 mm isn''t worth the extra $800. But others will disagree. As someone who is less familiar with the metric system, it sometimes helps me to think of these numbers in terms of inches, or to pull out the mm ruler. .3 mm is 0.01181 inches, and that''s pretty small. Others will disagree, and they are not wrong.
 
Date: 2/14/2009 9:52:11 AM
Author: RBsearch
I guess it all comes down to budget and priorities. If I were the one buying (and my budget is usually top priority), I would say the extra .3 mm isn''t worth the extra $800. But others will disagree. As someone who is less familiar with the metric system, it sometimes helps me to think of these numbers in terms of inches, or to pull out the mm ruler. .3 mm is 0.01181 inches, and that''s pretty small. Others will disagree, and they are not wrong.
Click to expand...
If we were talking lengths on a necklace, I''d say you were absolutely right. But when you''re talking diamonds, which are small in comparison, it''s a fairly noticeable difference.
2.gif
 
Ha, thanks guys. They tried to tell me that .3mm wasn''t much as well. The problem is I''m an engineer. I can picture a half mm in my head.

I already have the ones I want on hold (including those three), thanks for the suggestion!
 
Let us know what you end up with!
 
Date: 2/14/2009 3:01:11 PM
Author: Ellen
Let us know what you end up with!
Click to expand...
Ditto!
35.gif
 
I like the 1.12.
 
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