Diamond and Ring Advice

[cyclist]

I have recently started shopping for an engagement ring for my GF. I have some input and a size from my GF but am doing the shopping on my own. I also have a stone from her grandmother that is 1.01ct in the G and vs2/si1 range, the stone is loose and I have the setting that it was in at some point as well. I also have a .75ct stone from my mother that is not super nice. I plan on trading in both the small stone and the setting (and using some small stones from the setting).
I am working with Green Lake Jewelry (who are local to me) on a custom reverse-tapered pave ring with side filigree in platinum base on her and my preferences. Any input I should know beyond what I might have already read here about this process would be helpful.
For the stone, I have spoken with the diamond buyer for GLJ about my stone (he gave me the color/clarity range above) and potentially trading it in. I compared it to a 1.2, J AGS 0 Ideal cut, a 1.3 G and a 2.2 K OEC that he had and am waiting to see a 1.4 J OEC that he should have this week. The stone I have is reasonably well cut, it is reasonably bright with moderate contrast, I also really like how much color it gives off with most of the flashes being colored not white. The 1.2 ideal was a little brighter, with much sharper contrast but had a much more black a white appearance that I did not like as much, I could also see the body color in it while loose, but maybe not in a mount. The 1.3 G stone looked very similar to mine but ~7mm instead of 6.4mm, I liked it but am not sure it is worth the $ to upgrade only the size. The 2.2 OEC was too big and while I like the big colored flashes, I did not like the big dark spots that accompanied them some of which is due to the sheer size of the stone. I am interested to see the 1.4 OEC when it comes in, but don't know if I will like it or not and it will be similar in price to the 1.2 ideal and 1.3. The prices at GLJ are similar to what I have seen online from recommended vendors here and I like seeing what I am buying. I can afford to upgrade the stone, but we could also use the money for other things like a wedding or house down payment. Part of me feels like I want her to have something from me that I won't ever have doubts about being nice enough, but I also rather like the stone I have and don't like taking the sell at wholesale buy at retail double hit to trade up. I want to buy a really nice ring, but I also have never really been a big jewelry guy and likely wouldn't be looking at a stone much nicer than the one I have if I didn't already have it. Any thoughts on how to get the best value in a stone or how I can quench my doubts about the stone I already have? Are there any other type of stones/cut I should be looking at?
Thanks

 

[heididdl]

Yes an ideal cut round brilliant 1.2 carat diamond G eye clean siI does she want a j warm colored Old European cut. It is a very specific market ....... I'd trade in your stones and buy a sparkler here on line . Where do you live maybe one of ps vendors has a store . I am going to New York Ro Erd and IRD to see things in person .
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.15-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-73728

 

[JulieN]

Recutting your own diamond is almost always more cost effective than buying a new one.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I am kind of lost reading your post. Are you trading in her grandmother's diamond (and if you are, does she know that)? I think it is fine if you want to trade in the one from your mother if you have her blessing on that. One thing I need to say after reading your post is that this ring is for her, it is to please her and be a ring she can wear proudly the rest of her life. A lot of guys aren't "big jewelry guys", but that really doesn't matter. You just need to know what HER preferences are and then pursue the best diamond and setting within your budget. You are off to a good start using Greenlake, as long as you know what she likes!

 

[LLJsmom]

At the beginning, you said you had some input from your GF. What was that input? I know you are doing the buying, but what does SHE like? No offense, but SHE is the one wearing it every day and staring at it. So get what she likes, not what YOU think you like. And as for "too big", most women shopping in the 1-2 carat range would not object to a 2.2 being TOO big. Not to say she would want it. I'm just saying don't toss it out just because YOU don't like it. She may very well dislike it too. But you should at least ask. Sorry if this comes across a bit harsh. I will admit that I am a bit biased being a girl myself. I can tell you I stare at my ring a heck of a lot more than my SO.

 

[braga123]

It sounds like you really like the stone you have and are concerned about the financial loss with trading it in and paying retail on the new one. You mention that you could spend the money on other important stuff, and there is nothing wrong with that. A one carat diamond is a very nice starter ring, and it sounds like you have other needs right now. I think you are very lucky to have the opportunity to save money and still give her a decent ring...but maybe, since the diamond is from her grandmother, you feel a bit pressured to spend more of your money towards the ring. I think that since you are considering spending the money you would save on a common goal, perhaps you have already viewed this ring purchase as a common purchase...which means that you should ask for her input.

 

[cyclist]

Thanks for some good feedback.
She went to a mall type store with her mom and really liked an A Jaffe Reverse taper, but didn't like how lots of people had very similar rings, hence starting with the design and going custom, she also liked the look of their generic .9ish stone and thought a 2ct was too big, and is not in the budget anyway, I was only looking to get a better feel for an OEC. Her mom has an OEC that is in the 1ct range (guess from looking at it) that she likes the look of so it isn't a complete unknown, but she wants a stone that doesn't look yellow so a J is on the line for that, I don't know what her mom's stone is. She does not have any attachment to the stone from her grandmother, but was not super impressed looking at it loose, dirty in bad light, I was amazed at how much better it looked post cleaning.
She doesn't want to design her ring, she wants it to be a surprise so I don't really want to ask for more input. She also isn't really a jewelry person either, and was impressed by the mall stones.
I don't want to buy a starter ring and don't think she would upgrade it no-matter what, but I want a decent amount of wow factor. She wants something sparkly that looks good to her and her girlfriends but is also in favor of being reasonable price wise and isn't going on hang out on pricescope to find out everything about it.
I explicitly did not like the ideal cut and do not want to buy something without seeing it, especially when the prices are not that much better online. I am just waivering on if I will feel using the stone I have is cheaping out when I could do much better, but I haven't seen much better yet.