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Diamond Engagement Ring $8k Budget

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gatsby

Rough_Rock
Joined
Feb 8, 2015
Messages
4
Hello everyone. I was hoping some of you tenured folk could review my ideas and diamond choices and possibly offer some suggestions if you see fit.

I would like to spend no more than $8k on diamond and setting. The lady would like a halo setting. Although I'm learning, there's a lot I don't know about diamonds. I used pricescope.com to find a diamond with the following parameters:

Shape - Round
Carat - At Least 1
Cut - Excellent
Clarity - VS2+
Color - H+

I spoke to Joshua from EnchantedDiamonds.com and asked him if he had a budget of 5 - 6.5k to spend on a diamond which one would he select and he gave me the following suggestions, the top one looks most impressive to me:

https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/R115-LKJZPM
https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/R119-2KD9J9

I haven't found a setting that I really like yet. I am looking for a halo setting that isn't incredibly bulky or gaudy. Pretty open if some of you have suggestions. Thanks in advance!
 
Wow, that first one Joshua chose is an amazing price for a fantastic diamond. I would reserve it right away. You will not find a better (or bigger) diamond with those stats for that price. I'm very impressed w/ ED's inventory, and they have a fair amount of very helpful information up front.
 
Regarding halos, check out Ritani.com . They are well made, reasonably priced, and not too gaudy but still beautiful. You can't buy directly from them unless you purchase a diamond, but you can work through a local dealer who has Ritani if you have your own diamond.
 
Hey Rocky,

Thanks for the response. I appreciate you doing some digging for me. It seems like the ones you linked me are a bit smaller and lower in some of the main categories than the ones I posted I was wondering if you could maybe share why you would choose those over the ones I posted? I admittedly don't know all what I should be looking for aside from the obvious. Thanks!
 
@teobdl - It looks awesome doesn't it? It seems almost too good to be true though I wonder if there's a question I should ask about it or if there's something I'm not seeing.

Also those bands from ritani.com are really nice. The ones I like are way too expensive if I'm going with a $6k stone though =/. I'd definitely have to reduce my budget for the stone if I wanted to go with one of those.
 
gatsby|1423513019|3829905 said:
Hey Rocky,

Thanks for the response. I appreciate you doing some digging for me. It seems like the ones you linked me are a bit smaller and lower in some of the main categories than the ones I posted I was wondering if you could maybe share why you would choose those over the ones I posted? I admittedly don't know all what I should be looking for aside from the obvious. Thanks!
Click to expand...

I don't have any personal experience with that vendor and I only recommend vendors with whom I've had very positive interactions and that provide exceptional customer service.

I am certain all of the vendors I recommended will provide you with a high-quality product, expert assessment, and great customer service.

Doesn't mean you won't get a great stone with the links you provided - I am just not comfortable giving recommendations from vendors that I have not personally vetted.
 
The typical procedure is to ask the vendor for an idealscope image of the diamond. I recommend doing that and making sure there are no white spots where there should be red. I would bet $50 that the first diamond has no issues (based on proportions, the photo, and the hearts image). I like to point out potential red flags and things to think about, but this diamond is great by every check one can do before getting a reflector image.

If he doesn't do idealscopes, then just verify the return policy and make sure it's to your liking.

Having shopped in this size and price range before myself, I see no reason for you to keep looking.

As far as getting a halo setting, unfortunately you will not find many well-made halos less than $1500. https://www.ritani.com/engagement-rings/french-set-halo-diamond-band-engagement-ring-in-palladium/4775 That is your best bet. Palladium is fine for Ritani because they've been working with it for so long. There is a really nice guy in the Midwest whose online store has the best prices on Ritani (even lower than the Ritani site, when I spoke with him). I can't remember the name of the place right now, but maybe another PSer will see this and chime in. It might come to me later...
 
You may want to talk with Chris at BE (formerly ERD), Chris is very good working within your budget, can source the stone and does beautiful halo's as evidenced by many on this forum
Best of luck.
Edit: you could buy the diamond in your original post and have Chris do the halo, and stay within your budget.
 
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