PixnSparklez
Rough_Rock
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2007
- Messages
- 24
Hello All,
First, I would like to say thank you for taking the time to read my post and help me out.
My boyfriend and I are getting engaged in the next month or so. We originally had a fairly big budget (25K) but since the recession and the huge unemployment rate for his profession (where we live), we would like to make a practical decision. I'm 25 years old and we've been dating for almost 5 years. We set this budget before he was to graduate from Law School because we had some money saved up but then when the recession hit, we had to survive off of our savings for a bit.
Now that I am a little bit older and maybe a little bit wiser, I would like to set a practical budget. I didn't expect to get engaged until late this year to early next year but he brought it up to me last week so now I'm on the hunt (for real this time) for a loose diamond. I consider myself to be very educated about diamonds but not as educated as many of you (that's why I'm here). I work full-time and attend school full-time (graduating next year), he works full-time. He has a mortgage's-worth of student loans to pay and I have quite a bit of student loans to pay as well. We are looking to buy a house soon and we're also saving for a truck as well. So now that you kind of know our situation, I'll tell you a little bit about my question (finally).
QUESTIONS:
After doing research for some years now (since I've been ready to marry him four years ago), 1.) I've always heard about e-rings and all the good stuff but what about getting your 6-month check-ups? Do I need to send it in to the place I bought it? 2.) I would ideally LOVE an AGS-Ideal diamond but I can only afford it through the internet. Has anyone ever heard of GSI-graded diamonds through Fred Meyer Jewelers? They now sell loose diamonds but said that when I'm ready to upgrade to my "ideal" diamond, they can order in GIA or AGS diamonds for me through their vendors. That is why I'm thinking I might go through them since I plan on upgrading my diamond eventually. 3.) Is it a good idea to buy a lesser-known, newer grading company diamond like GSI? What has anyone ever heard about them? 4.) The other reason we may go through Fred Meyer Jewelers is because they finance and we like that. We're looking to put down $3,000 and pay off the rest within 3-12 months. We're comfortable with a budget under $8,000 including the setting.
I know BN has a financing option but to upgrade you must buy their "Signature Ideal" cut diamonds and I don't know if that is the typical 57-58 facets or if it has more faceting. I'm a traditional girl, so I don't want all the additional facets. I saw a couple diamonds (ideal cut) through JA that was within our price range but their actual diamond pictures looks kind of horrible so I'm scared to order through them even though I've only heard good things. I guess my question is, should I search more through the internet? I'm only comfortable with BG, JA, WF, and I'm on the fence about BN. I'm thinking my best bet would be Fred Meyer but at the same time I would LOVE to have an ideal or excellent AGS/GIA certified diamond. I don't know why certification is so important to me but it is.
We've been looking at: RB, 1.5-2.0 ct, D-I color, around SI1-I1 clarity, and "ID"-VG cut but this is through GSI not AGS or GIA. However, on the internet, I've been looking at RB 1.5 ct, H-I color, SI1-!1 clarity, and Ideal-Very Good cut diamonds through AGS or GIA on WF, JA, BG, and BN for around the same price range. I really don't mind having a smaller diamond with better cut, I'd rather have a better cut over anything but my dilemma is through the internet or through Fred Meyer with a lesser-known grading company? I'm upgrading eventually to a GIA or AGS diamond.
Sorry for the long message, I felt like I kind of had to explain my financial situation because that is why we're now in a bind because before the recession we were OK. Plus, I ordered in 3 diamonds to look at at Fred Meyer this week Thank you for any suggestions!
SL
First, I would like to say thank you for taking the time to read my post and help me out.
My boyfriend and I are getting engaged in the next month or so. We originally had a fairly big budget (25K) but since the recession and the huge unemployment rate for his profession (where we live), we would like to make a practical decision. I'm 25 years old and we've been dating for almost 5 years. We set this budget before he was to graduate from Law School because we had some money saved up but then when the recession hit, we had to survive off of our savings for a bit.
Now that I am a little bit older and maybe a little bit wiser, I would like to set a practical budget. I didn't expect to get engaged until late this year to early next year but he brought it up to me last week so now I'm on the hunt (for real this time) for a loose diamond. I consider myself to be very educated about diamonds but not as educated as many of you (that's why I'm here). I work full-time and attend school full-time (graduating next year), he works full-time. He has a mortgage's-worth of student loans to pay and I have quite a bit of student loans to pay as well. We are looking to buy a house soon and we're also saving for a truck as well. So now that you kind of know our situation, I'll tell you a little bit about my question (finally).
QUESTIONS:
After doing research for some years now (since I've been ready to marry him four years ago), 1.) I've always heard about e-rings and all the good stuff but what about getting your 6-month check-ups? Do I need to send it in to the place I bought it? 2.) I would ideally LOVE an AGS-Ideal diamond but I can only afford it through the internet. Has anyone ever heard of GSI-graded diamonds through Fred Meyer Jewelers? They now sell loose diamonds but said that when I'm ready to upgrade to my "ideal" diamond, they can order in GIA or AGS diamonds for me through their vendors. That is why I'm thinking I might go through them since I plan on upgrading my diamond eventually. 3.) Is it a good idea to buy a lesser-known, newer grading company diamond like GSI? What has anyone ever heard about them? 4.) The other reason we may go through Fred Meyer Jewelers is because they finance and we like that. We're looking to put down $3,000 and pay off the rest within 3-12 months. We're comfortable with a budget under $8,000 including the setting.
I know BN has a financing option but to upgrade you must buy their "Signature Ideal" cut diamonds and I don't know if that is the typical 57-58 facets or if it has more faceting. I'm a traditional girl, so I don't want all the additional facets. I saw a couple diamonds (ideal cut) through JA that was within our price range but their actual diamond pictures looks kind of horrible so I'm scared to order through them even though I've only heard good things. I guess my question is, should I search more through the internet? I'm only comfortable with BG, JA, WF, and I'm on the fence about BN. I'm thinking my best bet would be Fred Meyer but at the same time I would LOVE to have an ideal or excellent AGS/GIA certified diamond. I don't know why certification is so important to me but it is.
We've been looking at: RB, 1.5-2.0 ct, D-I color, around SI1-I1 clarity, and "ID"-VG cut but this is through GSI not AGS or GIA. However, on the internet, I've been looking at RB 1.5 ct, H-I color, SI1-!1 clarity, and Ideal-Very Good cut diamonds through AGS or GIA on WF, JA, BG, and BN for around the same price range. I really don't mind having a smaller diamond with better cut, I'd rather have a better cut over anything but my dilemma is through the internet or through Fred Meyer with a lesser-known grading company? I'm upgrading eventually to a GIA or AGS diamond.
Sorry for the long message, I felt like I kind of had to explain my financial situation because that is why we're now in a bind because before the recession we were OK. Plus, I ordered in 3 diamonds to look at at Fred Meyer this week Thank you for any suggestions!
SL