Hi everybody!
This board is fantastic! I've learned so much and feel much more competent when I look at diamonds now. It's also nice to see how generous people are with their advice and how supportive people here are. You guys are a great bunch!
So I've been a lurker for a while (4 months or so) and it's probably time for me to start contributing to the board… that and I have questions and need advice.
My girlfriend knows that we're getting engaged. In fact, seeing how some of our friends are getting married and hearing about their wedding plans, we've even started to plan our own wedding. We're both the type that like to plan really early so she doesn't mind the fact that we're not officially engaged yet. Lately though, she has hinted that she'd like to be engaged sooner than later. I originally had planned for us to be engaged at the end of the year, but now I feel it needs to be in the next couple of months. If I had known it was going to be that soon, I would have had the engagement ring in hand by now. So the dilemma I'm facing is wondering if I've let the perfect stone go by and not purchased it thinking that I had plenty of time. I use the diamond search and check almost everyday, and currently I don't quite feel like there's a stone that I can say, "that's the one". There had been a couple back in January when Whiteflash seemed to had quite a few added to their inventory. I'm looking for a 1.55-1.7 carat, color G-H, VS1-SI2 (preferably eye-clean SI1) with a budget of 12-13.5k for the stone. Having the best cut is obviously the most important, and I had my heart set on an ACA but a ES would not be so bad.
First question, given the criteria above should I purchase a diamond now or wait for something better? The hard part is not knowing when more selection will show up.
1. http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/diamond_Details.aspx?itemcode=AGS-7011403
2. http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/diamond_Details.aspx?itemcode=AGS-6550508
I hesitate on these because of the visibility of the inclusions.
I've also started to talk with Renee at Whiteflash and she suggested possibly looking at I color stones.
3. http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-2323743.htm
4. http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-2313847.htm
I was really set on a G-H, SI1 stone.
Second question, should I be more open to I stones or stick to what I had planned? Given the choice I'd prefer the higher color since I was able to pick out a G vs. an I in the store. I think a H, VS1-2 stone would be out of my budget range.
Any thoughts are appreciated.

This board is fantastic! I've learned so much and feel much more competent when I look at diamonds now. It's also nice to see how generous people are with their advice and how supportive people here are. You guys are a great bunch!
So I've been a lurker for a while (4 months or so) and it's probably time for me to start contributing to the board… that and I have questions and need advice.
My girlfriend knows that we're getting engaged. In fact, seeing how some of our friends are getting married and hearing about their wedding plans, we've even started to plan our own wedding. We're both the type that like to plan really early so she doesn't mind the fact that we're not officially engaged yet. Lately though, she has hinted that she'd like to be engaged sooner than later. I originally had planned for us to be engaged at the end of the year, but now I feel it needs to be in the next couple of months. If I had known it was going to be that soon, I would have had the engagement ring in hand by now. So the dilemma I'm facing is wondering if I've let the perfect stone go by and not purchased it thinking that I had plenty of time. I use the diamond search and check almost everyday, and currently I don't quite feel like there's a stone that I can say, "that's the one". There had been a couple back in January when Whiteflash seemed to had quite a few added to their inventory. I'm looking for a 1.55-1.7 carat, color G-H, VS1-SI2 (preferably eye-clean SI1) with a budget of 12-13.5k for the stone. Having the best cut is obviously the most important, and I had my heart set on an ACA but a ES would not be so bad.
First question, given the criteria above should I purchase a diamond now or wait for something better? The hard part is not knowing when more selection will show up.
1. http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/diamond_Details.aspx?itemcode=AGS-7011403
2. http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/diamond_Details.aspx?itemcode=AGS-6550508
I hesitate on these because of the visibility of the inclusions.
I've also started to talk with Renee at Whiteflash and she suggested possibly looking at I color stones.
3. http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-2323743.htm
4. http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-2313847.htm
I was really set on a G-H, SI1 stone.
Second question, should I be more open to I stones or stick to what I had planned? Given the choice I'd prefer the higher color since I was able to pick out a G vs. an I in the store. I think a H, VS1-2 stone would be out of my budget range.
Any thoughts are appreciated.