I want to thank each member of this forum, and especially the developer Leonid for the wonderful resource you have been in my successful ring purchase and engagement.
In an effort to contribute to this website, I will condense 3 months of my own research into some simple rules of thumb. Keep in mind these rules are for FRUGAL minded men looking for an absolutely stunning round brilliant solitaire engagement ring.
1. Use https://www.pricescope.com/sift.asp
2. Search for excellent cut.
2. Search for a size range that fits your budget.
3. Budget no more than 1 month''s salary.
Here is approx price/crt range:
.25-.35crt : $600-$800
.45-.55crt : $1000-$2000
.70-.80crt : $2500-$3500
.90-1.15crt : $4500-$7000
3. Search for H color.
4. Search for clarity VS2-SI1.
If you do not get enough search results with the above criteria, expand our color range to include G-I, but keep the clarity the same.
If you earn more than $7000 a month in salary I would suggest getting a 3 stone diamond rather than a solitaire. Also, ead the first paragraph of this page on this link regarding budgeting for a diamond ring http://www.dirtcheapdiamonds.com/dirtysecrets.cfm
Keep in mind certain websites offer free independent appraisal, as well as free shipping. You can completely trust the integrity of the vendors listed as results from this search because all of them suffer immense impact to their business from negative customer feedback.
All the diamonds you will get by searching with this method I mentioned will be spectacular. I have visited no less than 10 local diamond brokers/retailers and none of their diamonds come close in beauty to the diamond I purchased through this search.
All this being said, my preferred vendor after all my research is Whiteflash. In my 3 months of research I have not seen one mention of a bad experience with them. They include shipping and free independent appraisal (for insurance purposes, and verification), and the branded line of diamonds they sell (called A Cut Above, or ACA)are simply jaw-dropping.
Regarding settings/sizes: Look for certain jewelry websites that offer free ring-sizing kits and sneakily "borrow" a ring from your girlfriend. Compare the ring sizing kit with your girlfriends ring and get as good a match as you can in size. Remember, if in doubt, go "slightly" larger. It would be better that she can wear the ring and it be loose, than she not be able to fit it on her finger. I spent a month looking at different styles of settings, and in the end picked an inexpensive 14k gold 4-prong tiffany setting. I think in the end, this was the best choice out of everything I looked at because it does not distract from the diamond at all, and costs thousands less.
Sincerely,
John Wildharber
In an effort to contribute to this website, I will condense 3 months of my own research into some simple rules of thumb. Keep in mind these rules are for FRUGAL minded men looking for an absolutely stunning round brilliant solitaire engagement ring.
1. Use https://www.pricescope.com/sift.asp
2. Search for excellent cut.
2. Search for a size range that fits your budget.
3. Budget no more than 1 month''s salary.
Here is approx price/crt range:
.25-.35crt : $600-$800
.45-.55crt : $1000-$2000
.70-.80crt : $2500-$3500
.90-1.15crt : $4500-$7000
3. Search for H color.
4. Search for clarity VS2-SI1.
If you do not get enough search results with the above criteria, expand our color range to include G-I, but keep the clarity the same.
If you earn more than $7000 a month in salary I would suggest getting a 3 stone diamond rather than a solitaire. Also, ead the first paragraph of this page on this link regarding budgeting for a diamond ring http://www.dirtcheapdiamonds.com/dirtysecrets.cfm
Keep in mind certain websites offer free independent appraisal, as well as free shipping. You can completely trust the integrity of the vendors listed as results from this search because all of them suffer immense impact to their business from negative customer feedback.
All the diamonds you will get by searching with this method I mentioned will be spectacular. I have visited no less than 10 local diamond brokers/retailers and none of their diamonds come close in beauty to the diamond I purchased through this search.
All this being said, my preferred vendor after all my research is Whiteflash. In my 3 months of research I have not seen one mention of a bad experience with them. They include shipping and free independent appraisal (for insurance purposes, and verification), and the branded line of diamonds they sell (called A Cut Above, or ACA)are simply jaw-dropping.
Regarding settings/sizes: Look for certain jewelry websites that offer free ring-sizing kits and sneakily "borrow" a ring from your girlfriend. Compare the ring sizing kit with your girlfriends ring and get as good a match as you can in size. Remember, if in doubt, go "slightly" larger. It would be better that she can wear the ring and it be loose, than she not be able to fit it on her finger. I spent a month looking at different styles of settings, and in the end picked an inexpensive 14k gold 4-prong tiffany setting. I think in the end, this was the best choice out of everything I looked at because it does not distract from the diamond at all, and costs thousands less.
Sincerely,
John Wildharber