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Cheaper Novo-style alternatives

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sda9911

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jul 21, 2012
Messages
5
Hi. My girlfriend really likes Tiffany's Novo ring, but my budget goes up to £2000 ($3100) although ideally I want to spend around £1500 ($2350).

I've found the following, which I think look similar to the Novo. I'm not very good at this stuff though (typical guy!) so would appreciate your feedback - are any better than the others?

Tiffany Novo - 0.5 ct - £3825 (can't afford it) :-(
http://www.tiffany.co.uk/Engagement/item.aspx?GroupSku=GRP10015&selectedSku=23599724#f+0/1008/2004/0/4003/1008

James Allan,Item#: 11104P Platinum .30ct Common Prong Brilliant Diamond Engagement Ring
#20 stones, 0.30 G-H VS
Item#: 1281630 Cushion 0.5 carat G color VS2 clarity diamond
Total price £1886

Adiamor - Classic Pave Engagement Setting
Item Number: R2934 in Platinum .25ct http://www.adiamor.com/Engagement-Rings/Pave/Classic-Pave-Engagement-Setting/1619
0.51 carat Cushion, Excellent-cut, F-color, SI1-clarity Item Number: D-15468760 http://www.adiamor.com/Diamonds/GIA-Certified-F-SI1-Cushion-Diamond/D15468760
Total price: £1508

Purely Diamonds -
http://www.purelydiamonds.co.uk/engagement-rings/single-stone-with-shoulders/platinum-single-stone-with-shoulders/round-brilliant/pd115pl-platinum-ring-with-a-round-centre-and-round-shoulder-diamonds.html?dir=asc&limit=all&order=price
G VS2 .5 carat round
Total price £1039

Blue Nile
Cathedral Pavé Diamond Engagement Ring in Platinum - 0.4carat SI2 14 diamonds
0.43-Carat Round Diamond Very Good-cut, H-colour , and VS2-clarity
Total price: £2274

Dejoria
Orrin Palladium Diamond ring shoulder 0.21ct in weight and are G/VS
Round diamond 6161338 .5 carat G VS2/EGL
Total: £1500

Like I said, they all look pretty similar to me (apart from the cushion/round difference!).

Any feedback appreciated.
 
What shape center diamond does she want?
 
I don't know. Kinda hard to keep the proposal a surprise if I ask her! All I know is she liked the Novo when we visited Tiffanys recently. I'd have thought she'd like the round or the cushion...
 
Oh yes, I can see what you mean - that one has the side diamonds much closer together, and it does look more like the Novo when you compare them side by side.

It's quite a lot more expensive though - and the weight of the diamonds on the side is lower. How does that work?!

I suppose you're right about being a big difference in my price range. I'd like to keep as much money for the wedding as possible but at the end of the day I guess it's about finding the right ring. I visited a jewellery shop yesterday and spent about 45 minutes being shown different types and quality of diamonds. I couldn't see the difference between an H and a G round cut diamond, and I also couldn't see any imperfections on a VS2 and a VS1. So I guess I'd be happy with that.

When it comes to Cushion cut, I notice online these seem to be much cheaper than round for a similar weight - why's that?

many thanks
 
There are many many factors that account for pricing differences. Among the more important ones are:
1. quality and weight of the center diamond and the lab report that the stone comes with
2. quality and weight of diamond melee
3. quality of workmanship of the ring and type and amount of metal used
4. type and length of refund/exchange/buyback/upgrade policies
5. brand/service overhead for the vendor

Cushion cuts generally retain more of the rough diamond material than round cuts, and as such can be cut and offered by vendors for lower prices for the same weight.

For your budget, I think JA probably offers the best value. IMO for a ~0.5ct diamond, you can drop to I color and SI1 and still easily find an eye clean stone with minimal tint. Stick with well cut diamonds with GIA or AGS reports, ask for ASET/IS images to look at the quality of cut critically, and your ring should be stunning!
 
sda9911|1342918202|3237902 said:
I don't know. Kinda hard to keep the proposal a surprise if I ask her! All I know is she liked the Novo when we visited Tiffanys recently. I'd have thought she'd like the round or the cushion...
Click to expand...

Just my opinion, but if you know she liked the Novo, I'd stick as close to it as possible. Square cushion diamond, and that setting Julie posted from James Allen is pretty darn close. They also provide actual photos of the diamonds you're considering, which (with fancy cuts, especially) is important.
 
Charmypoo - you are on fire!!! Great finds!!! I love the 2nd Tiffany one you posted previously - great deal and looks in great shape, including the box, etc.

Great suggestions here SDA!! Hope you find something that would work (Charmypoo's working overtime on this for ya!! :lol: :naughty: :wink2: )
 
I would buy one of the ebay real Tiffany rings because I don't think you will do any better in that price range.
 
Thanks for all the replies. I wouldn't feel right giving a second hand engagement ring, even though that option would probably represent the best deal financially.

I suppose my question is, of the ones
I've got in my short list (in top post), assuming I think they all look great, are the more expensive ones any better than the cheaper ones? On the face of it (to me!) they seem pretty similar.

Thanks
 
can you post a link to the James Allen setting you want? I can't find it.

Cushions and other fancies almost always are cheaper than rounds, save for some shapes that have special marketing/branding. Rounds are the most popular shape, after all.

yes, there is a difference between a basic setting and something more stylized. I personally favor a nicer setting than the basic prong head and I don't mind going with a smaller or lower quality diamond to make up the difference.
 
sda9911|1342989739|3238229 said:
I've got in my short list (in top post), assuming I think they all look great, are the more expensive ones any better than the cheaper ones? On the face of it (to me!) they seem pretty similar.
Thanks
Click to expand...

This wasn't in your shortlist, but it's similar to the Novo in that the head is sunken into the band. It's also 1.8mm in width for a delicate look (check the photo on the finger):

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagemen...iamond-engagement-ring-773.htm#divDescription
 
JulieN|1342990955|3238233 said:
can you post a link to the James Allen setting you want? I can't find it.

Cushions and other fancies almost always are cheaper than rounds, save for some shapes that have special marketing/branding. Rounds are the most popular shape, after all.

yes, there is a difference between a basic setting and something more stylized. I personally favor a nicer setting than the basic prong head and I don't mind going with a smaller or lower quality diamond to make up the difference.
Click to expand...

Here's the original one I found on James Allen:
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/Platinum-Common-Prong-Ring.html

Now that you've pasted the link to the other one, i can see it's more like the Novo.. but had I not seen it, I'd have thought this one was still pretty close!
 
JulieN|1342993838|3238247 said:
Then there is this one for only $800 in Pt http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/Platinum-Rounded-French-Cut-Pave-Ring.html It is very thin and delicate looking, may not be a good choice if she's hard on her hands or has larger fingers.
Click to expand...

It shows $1175 for me in platinum, and a good budget-friendly choice. :))

This is similar to the Novo's cut, and this looks to be a fairly bright one. James Allen allows you to request three ASET images, which should be helpful if you decide to go with a cushion.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1276442.asp
 
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