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Determined to buy a ring!

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OctoberPrince78

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 27, 2008
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18
Hello.

Seems like its time to take the next step in my life. Now the hardest thing for me is get advice and/or discounts on engagement rings because NONE of my friends are married. So I really cannot rely on these guys to get info on diamond buying.

I have done extensive research online about the 4 C''s and I am determined to get the perfect ring for my lady (within a price range of course.) So far, after all my reading and studying I have decided to get a pear diamond ring, secondary choice is a princess cut.

Here is my struggle, I am not a rich guy. However I am willing to spend up to 10k for a ring. Reason why I wont settle for something cheaper is because my lady is not the kind of person who will "upgrade" to something better. She is very sentimental and attached to things that I give her so she is definitely reluctant to give up her engagement ring for an upgrade. In the end the ring I give her will be her ONLY ring.

My overall concern is buying online versus buying retail at the diamond district. I have very low cash so my purchase will be on credit. If I were to buy online I may edge towards JamesAllen.com, but if I buy via diamond district I have no recommendations or referrals. I have heard of some scams and pushy sales people and this I will simply not tolerate.

If anyone can help me with some feedback I will sincerely appreciate them. Furthermore does anyone know when is the best time to buy or any suggestions of buying diamond rings "at the right time." Also I have read something about promotional discounts on jamesallen.com... If there is such a discount I will surely go with jamesallen.

Please help this clueless fellow! Thanks.
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Hello and welcome to pricescope! James Allen is a great way to go! There are also lots of other online jewelers who come HIGHLY recommended here, and with very good reason! Whiteflash and GoodOldGold are two examples, but you can find more in "resources" at the top of the page. I know whiteflash does have a pricescope discount. Others may too, I''m just not sure. And you wont find ANY pushy slimy sales people at these vendors. I''m dealing with WF right now and their staff is WONDERFUL!!!! If you do a search on the NY diamond district you may find some "buyer beware" type warnings. Most people here will tell you that CUT is the most important "C" for the beauty of a diamond, and they are right. I don''t know anything about pear shapes, but a trusted vendor will not steer you wrong. You may have to look/call around to find what you want. If you decide on a princess cut, sticking with AGS 0 graded stones is an easy way to insure you get a beautiful one. Good luck with your search and keep us updated as to what you find. Happy shopping!
 
Thanks for your feedback. m I hear so many people dealing with whiteflash and jamesallen via storefront in the DD? Do they have actual stores there? If so maybe I CAN go down there and take a look...
 
Welcome!

To add to Kelli's advice, I would suggest making an appointment with Jon at www.goodoldgold.com , let him know what you are looking for, then see what he can find for you. He is in Long Island if you would be willing to travel there.

Also Mark at www.engagementringsdirect.com is in the DD and also has an excellent rep here.

BTW Whiteflash is in Houston Texas and JA are in Maryland.
 
I bought mine from Whiteflash and had a great experience. I bought mine sight unseen and went on the recommendation from Jamie from Whiteflash and I am so glad I trusted her because I still get compliments on my diamond.
 
Thanks Lorelei. Actually I think I will pay a visit to GoodOldGold. I work in LI, but live in Qns and I am always in the city too.
 
Date: 9/14/2008 12:03:03 PM
Author: OctoberPrince78
Thanks Lorelei. Actually I think I will pay a visit to GoodOldGold. I work in LI, but live in Qns and I am always in the city too.
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Thats perfect! Give Jon a call, tell him your budget, colour, carat and clarity preferences and that you are interested in pear shapes, then see what he can come up with!
 
You might want to play with

http://www.gemappraisers.com/shapePickerNew.asp

to see if you like chubbier or thinner pears. THis will help in your search (in terms of relaying to the vendor what you want). GOG has two listed at about the top of your price right now, one is chubbier, one is thinner. THe shape of the pear is a personal choice. Jon can do a search for you if needed.
 
Thanks, I will do that within the next few days.

Just wondering, I dont plan to propose until November. Is it too early to buy now? What should I be expecting to pay per ct. now a days anyways?
 
Maybe abit early, but depends on if you are customizing your ring, which might take a while or if you are looking at a specific quality of diamond, such as a strong flor, you might need to wait for a while before one pops up in your price range etc...

https://www.pricescope.com/RepRange.asp?shp=5&rng=7

Use this link which shows the range of price to be expected of a pear shape for 1-1.5c. Change as you desire.

Good luck.
 
Date: 9/14/2008 3:21:59 PM
Author: :)
You might want to play with

http://www.gemappraisers.com/shapePickerNew.asp

to see if you like chubbier or thinner pears. THis will help in your search (in terms of relaying to the vendor what you want). GOG has two listed at about the top of your price right now, one is chubbier, one is thinner. THe shape of the pear is a personal choice. Jon can do a search for you if needed.
Click to expand...

Just popping in to say THANK YOU for posting this link! I have been searching for something like this to help with figuring out the right L:W ratio when buying an EC (since doing it online). Big help!!
 
Date: 9/15/2008 7:22:11 AM
Author: OctoberPrince78
Thanks, I will do that within the next few days.

Just wondering, I dont plan to propose until November. Is it too early to buy now? What should I be expecting to pay per ct. now a days anyways?
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You've already gotten some great advic about vendors, so I'm just going to chime in on this question. If you were paying cash for the ring, I'd say it's not too early at all to buy. Since you are putting the ring on credit, though, I think it's best to wait as long as you can and save up as much as possible in cash firts. Remember, the faster you put the ring on credit, the faster the interest starts accumulating and the more the ring will cost you. If you can use the next couple of months to save every penny you can and pay for more of the ring in cash, it will be better in the end.

I know I'm being the crazy/annoying internet lady who is trying to play financial planner, but I would make sure that it is okay with her that you are putting the ring on credit (since you will be married soon and sharing debt). I know that many women would prefer an eternity band or something within the cash budget, then get a more expensive ring for an anniversary when it is more feasible, that way no sentimentality is lost. I'm just throwing that idea out there because while I know your intentions are very good, it's a big financial decision for both of you and I want you both to be happy!

You can't go wrong with any of the vendors, though! Congrats and good luck to you!!
 
Hey Stone Cold, that is an aswsome tool. Thanks!!

Also NewEnglandLady, You're right about financial aspect of it. Its hard to figure things out because she "would" like a nice, descent size diamond, but at the same not time, not to run me poor. Ugh........

With regards to depth/width ratio. How important is it? Im assumind a smaller depth = a wider face, no?
 
Hey OctPrince!

I was in sorta the same boat as you. I just purchased an ER in August from Winfields (www.winkjones.com). I''m not planning on proposing till mid Oct so Wink let me buy the ring on layaway. This was great cause it let me save up money so I wouldn''t put all of it on a CC and allowed me to take advantage of a great deal on a diamond that was sure to sell before Oct. So I just wanted to throw the layaway option out there for ya if you havent considered it yet.
 
Hello Hari, Actually that''s a good idea, but I dont think online offer lay aways... Sadly..

What did you get her?
 
I would like some feedback with the diamond I found on JamesAllen.com

1.30ct Pear
Color: F
Clarity: VS1 (only a small feather near the girdle)
Cut: Premium
Pol/Sym: VG and VG
Flourescence is strong, but the customer service at JA said after viewing the diamond there is no blue tint with normal lighting.

All that for $6600

If its a great price, value then I "might" just get it before someone else snags it.

What do you all think?
 
Date: 9/15/2008 2:31:22 PM
Author: OctoberPrince78
I would like some feedback with the diamond I found on JamesAllen.com

1.30ct Pear
Color: F
Clarity: VS1 (only a small feather near the girdle)
Cut: Premium
Pol/Sym: VG and VG
Flourescence is strong, but the customer service at JA said after viewing the diamond there is no blue tint with normal lighting.

All that for $6600

If its a great price, value then I ''might'' just get it before someone else snags it.

What do you all think?
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Do you have pics of the diamond? That is the best way to tell how it looks so if you could post the link or ask JA for photographs then that would help.
 
Date: 9/15/2008 7:41:35 AM
Author: Stone-cold11
Maybe abit early, but depends on if you are customizing your ring, which might take a while or if you are looking at a specific quality of diamond, such as a strong flor, you might need to wait for a while before one pops up in your price range etc...

https://www.pricescope.com/RepRange.asp?shp=5&rng=7

Use this link which shows the range of price to be expected of a pear shape for 1-1.5c. Change as you desire.

Good luck.
Click to expand...
While using this site to see pricing reports, what does the 1A, 2B, 3C, etc.. mean?
 
Date: 9/15/2008 2:41:46 PM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 9/15/2008 2:31:22 PM
Author: OctoberPrince78
I would like some feedback with the diamond I found on JamesAllen.com

1.30ct Pear
Color: F
Clarity: VS1 (only a small feather near the girdle)
Cut: Premium
Pol/Sym: VG and VG
Flourescence is strong, but the customer service at JA said after viewing the diamond there is no blue tint with normal lighting.

All that for $6600

If its a great price, value then I ''might'' just get it before someone else snags it.

What do you all think?
Click to expand...
Do you have pics of the diamond? That is the best way to tell how it looks so if you could post the link or ask JA for photographs then that would help.
Click to expand...
I dont have a pic because its on hold with JA (by me) However I have the full specs below.

1.30ct
Premium Cut
F Color
VS1
63% Table
59.5% Depth
Pol/Sym are both Very Good
Girdle is extremely thin to thick
Cutlet is small
and strong flourescense.
Again there is a small feather along the girdle so that should not be visible when mounted.

All that for $6600

Think its worth every penny? Feedback PLEASE. I may be a complete moron but I plan to buy it before someone else even though I dont plan to propose till November..... Aye..........
 
I also found another one with an astounding price difference. However I will let the professionals be the judge.

1.33 ct
Cut, Ideal
Color, I
VS1
Depth 66.4%
Table 53%
Pol/Sym are both Very Good.
Girdle, medium to thick
w/ very strong fourescence

This baby is $4200. What a price difference no? Please help me disect this. Thanks.
 
Date: 9/16/2008 12:42:52 PM
Author: OctoberPrince78
I also found another one with an astounding price difference. However I will let the professionals be the judge.

1.33 ct
Cut, Ideal
Color, I
VS1
Depth 66.4%
Table 53%
Pol/Sym are both Very Good.
Girdle, medium to thick
w/ very strong fourescence

This baby is $4200. What a price difference no? Please help me disect this. Thanks.
Click to expand...

The reason Lorelei was asking for pictures is that, unlike Round Brilliant cuts, its really hard to tell anything about fancy cuts by the porportion numbers. An Idealscope or an ASET image would be immensely more helpful in determining if its a good cut or not.

As to the price difference between these two stones, I''m pretty sure it can be attributed to the difference in color. F color will cost a premium for the whiteness and jumping down to an I color is a HUGE jump in color scales.

Also, I''d be careful about how low in color you go with fancy cuts. Ideal cut RBs can hide warmer colors but I''ve heard Garry say many times that fancy cuts can intensify colors so that some color concentration points in the cut appear many grades below what they are classified as.

Maybe someone else will chime in with more analysis since I''m no expert by any means
37.gif
 
Date: 9/16/2008 12:54:17 PM
Author: HariSeldon

Date: 9/16/2008 12:42:52 PM
Author: OctoberPrince78
I also found another one with an astounding price difference. However I will let the professionals be the judge.

1.33 ct
Cut, Ideal
Color, I
VS1
Depth 66.4%
Table 53%
Pol/Sym are both Very Good.
Girdle, medium to thick
w/ very strong fourescence

This baby is $4200. What a price difference no? Please help me disect this. Thanks.
Click to expand...

The reason Lorelei was asking for pictures is that, unlike Round Brilliant cuts, its really hard to tell anything about fancy cuts by the porportion numbers. An Idealscope or an ASET image would be immensely more helpful in determining if its a good cut or not.

As to the price difference between these two stones, I''m pretty sure it can be attributed to the difference in color. F color will cost a premium for the whiteness and jumping down to an I color is a HUGE jump in color scales.

Also, I''d be careful about how low in color you go with fancy cuts. Ideal cut RBs can hide warmer colors but I''ve heard Garry say many times that fancy cuts can intensify colors so that some color concentration points in the cut appear many grades below what they are classified as.

Maybe someone else will chime in with more analysis since I''m no expert by any means
37.gif
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Thanks Hari - yes indeed that would be very helpful if that info could be provided, otherwise we can''t tell much about these diamonds.
 
Very strong flouro of what color? Color other that blue are bad.
 
Can anyone please describe what would be an ideal table and depth for a pear diamond? I understand that table for example, cannot be too big nor too small.... But I dont know what is the ideal %.

Thanks.
 
http://diamonds.pricescope.com/fnc3.asp

This is general shape guidelines for fancy of how AGA grade their diamonds.

Ideal cut being Table 56-60%, Crown Height 12-15%, Table Depth 59-63%, L/W 1.5-1.75.

No other guidelines other than that, so you will have to see it yourself using IS, ASET etc...
 
Date: 9/17/2008 7:13:28 AM
Author: OctoberPrince78
Can anyone please describe what would be an ideal table and depth for a pear diamond? I understand that table for example, cannot be too big nor too small.... But I dont know what is the ideal %.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
You can't go by numbers so much, they are not a real indicator of cut quality, use them as a guide only then as SC says, photos, ASET to help you further, also trusted vendor input. In practical terms if you find a diamond you love which has a bigger than suggested table for example, then try not to worry as your own eyes trump any charts or proportions - look at the whole diamond.
 
I love you guys/gals for your patience and expertise!
 
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