I've been trying to dive into diamond shopping for the first time in 2 decades and am a bit overwhelmed. I took my wife to a local Jewelry shop to ensure she got what she wanted. From there she likes for it to be a surprise and research is my game. Our 20th Anniversary is next year in February, but as a surprise I wanted to see if I could get it for Mother's Day or her birthday in June instead and really make it special.
We need to replace both the wedding band and engagement ring/diamond to refresh the whole set.
1) For settings she liked the pave style. She liked the look of 1/3 tcw on the engagement band (180 degrees of diamond) and a matching wedding band with 1/2 tcw. She felt like this gave the best look while being small enough to leave the focus on the main diamond. Do you have any feedback on these settings I should look into?
2) Why do sites like Ritani and Whiteflash seem so much less expensive than others? I hear if it's too good to be true a lot in diamond shopping so I figured I'd ask.
3) The big question...
Old engagement ring's main diamond is 0.95 carat, H Color, SI1 Clarity, and Very Good Cut so the new one should blow it away!!
All rings will be platinum if that matters for color.
She wanted at least 2 carats and felt like 3 carats seemed too big and even 2.5 carat seemed a bit large so I'm shopping in the 2.2-2.45 range. I have been looking at F-G Color, VS1-VS2 Clarity, and Excellent-Ideal Cut. I can be easily moved off any of those I'd just been reading and researching and kept hearing those were sweet spots for price to quality.
Where I'm getting stuck is the magic you guys do!! How do I go ahead and narrow down and pick it? I obviously want to get this right since it's such a big purchase.
Thanks in advance for your guidance!!
We need to replace both the wedding band and engagement ring/diamond to refresh the whole set.
1) For settings she liked the pave style. She liked the look of 1/3 tcw on the engagement band (180 degrees of diamond) and a matching wedding band with 1/2 tcw. She felt like this gave the best look while being small enough to leave the focus on the main diamond. Do you have any feedback on these settings I should look into?
2) Why do sites like Ritani and Whiteflash seem so much less expensive than others? I hear if it's too good to be true a lot in diamond shopping so I figured I'd ask.
3) The big question...
Old engagement ring's main diamond is 0.95 carat, H Color, SI1 Clarity, and Very Good Cut so the new one should blow it away!!
All rings will be platinum if that matters for color.
She wanted at least 2 carats and felt like 3 carats seemed too big and even 2.5 carat seemed a bit large so I'm shopping in the 2.2-2.45 range. I have been looking at F-G Color, VS1-VS2 Clarity, and Excellent-Ideal Cut. I can be easily moved off any of those I'd just been reading and researching and kept hearing those were sweet spots for price to quality.
Where I'm getting stuck is the magic you guys do!! How do I go ahead and narrow down and pick it? I obviously want to get this right since it's such a big purchase.
Thanks in advance for your guidance!!