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Diamond size dilemma... need some help.

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mcurt34

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Jan 21, 2008
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I found the woman of my dreams. A long story short, we met, then I moved away 2 months later. When I go to see her in April, I will ask her for her hand in marriage.

Here is the dilemma. She is very small and petite. Only 5''3" and her ring size is 4.75 (US) How many carats do you think would be too big? I think a 1 carat would look like she was dragging around a beast on her hand. (although some women would love this, i know she wouldn''t) I don''t have the opportunity to try rings on with her and she comes from a very traditional family. So, I will get the "real" wedding ring rather then buying a small engagement ring first.

Also, I just started all this diamond research. I know that i want to get her a round cut diamond with Platinum (ideal or higher, F or higher for color and VVS1+) Any ideas on what type of setting or ring style would look fabulous and such a small hand? My budget is $3000.oo but ill probably spend $5000.oo

I know for a 1st post this is a lot to ask. But i have read a lot of the forums and everyone seems so helpfully and excited to help.

Thank you in advance.
 

I am 5''2" and have the same ring size so it sounds like your girlfriend''s hands and mine are probably very similar. I''m all about big diamonds and I was actually quite impressed with how large a 1 carat looks on my hand. I would be happy with a 1 carat despite my big diamond taste.


Since you mentioned your GF doesn''t like anything too flashy, even something a tad under a carat would be sutiable.

 
PS a round cut solitaire setting is perfect.
 
thanks for suggestions DC. Thanks Coat, that chart helped. I know if i asked her what size she would like, she would say something like this. "Getting any engagement ring from you would be wonderful!"
 
reposted the link up in my first post--should work now.
 
I think anything right on up through 1.5 ct would look fine.....but I'm not her, and you seem pretty clear that she wouldn't want that.

I think that with a smaller hand and a gal with modest tastes, you might be better off going with a simple solitaire setting; perhaps something like this W-prong. Plenty left for a well-cut stone and you're all set.
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If you think she wants something a little more adorned, I love the Legato setting: http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Diamond-Settings/The--Legato--with-Micro-Pave_1071.htm. It's one many of the gals here on PS are fond of.
 
If you think she wants something a little more adorned, I love the Legato setting: http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Diamond-Settings/The--Legato--with-Micro-Pave_1071.htm. It's one many of the gals here on PS are fond of.

now I am extremely new to this, but, how strong is that ring? I just envision the diamond getting knocked off. I know its a dumb question. Just curious though

both of those were beautiful rings btw.
 
You might consider a shy carat (.8?) in a setting like the Vatche empress with a petite profile, I like how low it''s set for a solitaire. No knuckle dragging, at all, just elegance. I''m 5''1" with a size 4 and it''s my favorite for a small hand and an active girl. I don''t own one though (yet!)
half pave: http://www.goodoldgold.com/setting/V-142/ or plain: http://www.goodoldgold.com/setting/V-144/
 
In your budget you may consider dropping the clarity to a VS1-2 in order to be able to afford a platinum setting. Personally I find it hard to justify paying more for a difference that you need a microscope to see. Others, however may love the thought of perfection even though they are indiscernible to the eye. This stone is nice and you may be able to pull it together for under $5000 with a simple platinum setting. http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3469/


ETA: You might like this one too: http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3974/ I'm just trying to give you ideas for a place to start your search.
 
Date: 1/21/2008 4:10:09 PM
Author:mcurt34

Here is the dilemma. She is very small and petite. Only 5''3'' and her ring size is 4.75 (US) How many carats do you think would be too big? I think a 1 carat would look like she was dragging around a beast on her hand. (although some women would love this, i know she wouldn''t) I don''t have the opportunity to try rings on with her and she comes from a very traditional family. So, I will get the ''real'' wedding ring rather then buying a small engagement ring first.

Also, I just started all this diamond research. I know that i want to get her a round cut diamond with Platinum (ideal or higher, F or higher for color and VVS1+) Any ideas on what type of setting or ring style would look fabulous and such a small hand? My budget is $3000.oo but ill probably spend $5000.oo

I know for a 1st post this is a lot to ask. But i have read a lot of the forums and everyone seems so helpfully and excited to help.

Thank you in advance.
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HI:

Sorry, could you clarify what you mean by this? Are you saying you want to buy the entire set (wedding and and engagement ring) all at one time?

Your criteria is top notch/quite strict and therefore costly: ideal cut, D/E/F color, IF/FL/VVS1 clarity. Platinum setting.

A nice plain solitaire setting and band would likely take (min) ~ $1200 of your budget leaving you with enough for a perhaps a .50 stone or so--larger depending if you do plan on spending up to 5K.

Are you looking to buy online?

cheers--Sharon
 
You can easily drop your clarity to VS2, and should not be able to see any inclusions without 10x magnification. I have an SI1, and can't see any inclusions without both magnification and a colored light H&A viewer that causes the clear speck inclusions to stand out. If you work with a PS vendor who has the stone in-house and has magnified pictures of the stone, you should be able to reach a comfort level with the clarity of a particular stone without arbitrarily picking a very high clarity. Don't pay for clarity any higher than you need - if you can't see any flaws in it at about 8 inches, you're golden. Your clarity range alone is going to price you out of a lot of beautiful diamonds.

I also think your color range is a bit high - at least consider going to a G in an ideal cut stone with your budget.

As far as size - bigger is good. The biggest you can get for a reasonable clarity and acceptable color. Anything at the carat or less range is not going to be gaudy. You want a stone large enough to be able to appreciate its great cut.

For that reason, I also agree that platinum probably prices you out of a lovely stone that would be affordable in white gold. You can always upgrade the setting to platinum for the wedding day.

ETA: I saw that someone recommended the Legato with micropave from Whiteflash. I have a Legato sleek lines setting for my stone (without the pave), it is very comfortable to wear, low-set, but perfectly durable. It's very classic and sophisticated. Also, because it's not too-high set and doesn't have ungodly thick metal prongs like some settings, it does not spin on my finger at all, not even in the winter. It's so fluid in person, too, the pictures don't do it justice. Unique without being too trendy. I wouldn't worry about it's durability, but I believe there is a warranty from WF.
 
Yeah, im kind of a doofus with all this ring stuff. I now understand what the engagement ring/ wedding ring is *smack head* :)

My eyes were bigger then my wallet... thats for sure. After doing more research on GoG I am changing my standards. I have read that the cut makes all the other "C''s" come to life. I wont go below VG. As for the others, I could live with a VS2 and possibly an H for color.

I plan on buying it online. Although, I will find a jeweler here in Germany to get a feel for what the difference is on the grades. I love the rings on Whiteflash, but they dont have a good selection of diamonds. I''m thinking of going with Blue Nile or GoG. I am not sure yet though. any tips on that choice would be fantastic.
 
I found a number of ACA and Expert Selection diamonds in the .75-.80 range on Whiteflash, if you drop your clarity to SI1. Keep in mind that the photos posted are at 40x magnification, further magnified on your computer screen. Even then, most have barely visible clear crystal flecks. Do yourself a favor and don''t rule them out, the ACAs are beautiful and very reasonably priced. The people at WF will be honest with you about how the stone looks and whether you''re likely to see any inclusions, just give them a call to discuss a stone. I''ve heard great things about GOG, too, but just wanted to say that you should keep your options open. I think a .75-.80 stone is going to be the sweet spot in your budget, and the stones I saw are reasonably priced.
 
Mcurt, I am just about your girlfriend''s size and my ring is 1/3 ct. My FI went for "quality over quantity" so the cut, color, and clarity are awesome (just about a 1 on the cut advisor tool, E, VS1). I like that it''s a smaller stone, but I do feel pangs of DSS (diamond shrinkage syndrome) when I''m around girls with huge bling. I would have been willing to go down in color -- an H or so would have been my pick -- and perhaps down in clarity a bit in order to get a stone around .6 ct -- this would have been my "sweet spot." I do tend to like more modest jewelry, and never wanted a ring much bigger than .75 ct even in my most blingy moments. If your girlfriend likes modest jewelry, this is probably a good range to consider.

It would have cost almost exactly what my FI paid for my ring to get a replica of my ring with an H/VS2 stone from Whiteflash (both platinum settings). Don''t get me wrong, I won''t trade my ring for the world now, but since you''re doing research, I just wanted to put that out there. Especially since my ring was in the $3K range.

My ring is sized to a 5 so it can get over my knuckles, but at the base it''s about a 4.5. Close shot:

PC230163.JPG
 
Whole-hand shot:
(please forgive the ratty nails and poor lighting, it's the only one like this I have right now)

PC230164.JPG
 
I wear i''m 5''3" and wear a 3.5 and had a 1 carat. I think for even someone with modest taste a 1 carat on a 4.75 rings in a solitaire setting would be perfect.
 
Date: 1/21/2008 8:07:21 PM
Author: mrssalvo
I wear i''m 5''3'' and wear a 3.5 and had a 1 carat. I think for even someone with modest taste a 1 carat on a 4.75 rings in a solitaire setting would be perfect.
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I agree with mrssalvo. I, too, have a size 4.75 finger and wear a 1.59 ct RB. For me it''s not big enough........but I do agree, a 1ct sounds good for our size finger with more modest taste. But I assure you, the 1.59ct solitaire does not look like I''m dragging a beast around on my hand, but it''s my ultimate goal to have such a ring.
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I''d stick with an ideal cut for sure, but drop your color/clarity some and you''ll be fine.
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spebwfkejenn550411.59ctsolitairew.jpg
 
I would certainly recommend white gold over platinum. It will save cash in your budget for the bling, and personally, I prefer white gold. So win-win!!!
 
Date: 1/21/2008 11:10:12 PM
Author: LitigatorChick
I would certainly recommend white gold over platinum. It will save cash in your budget for the bling, and personally, I prefer white gold. So win-win!!!
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I would agree with that recommendation. I have certainly questioned my choice of going platinum....cost wise that is....the scratching drives me nuts. An occassional rhodium plating on white gold takes no more time than a polishing but you save a lot of $$$$ going white gold.
 
I think that it just depends on the person. I wear a size 5 - 5.5 and my e-ring is a .62 pear in a simple solitaire setting. It looks bigger than what it is, and I am always asked if it is a 1 ct.

My DH picked it out himself, I said that I wanted a pear solitaire around 1/3 ct or so...he surprised me when I opened the box and saw my ring!
 
Size is very much based on preferences, I would get what you think she would like. I would also ask her, you might be surprised to hear what she answers!

I''m 5''3 and a size 4.5 and I think a 1 carat stone looks awesome on me, but some women would prefer 2 carats or more while others want 1/4 carat.
 
mcurt,

Have you seen this stone? It''s in budget, and would be a great size for your girlfriend''s hand:

.81 ct, G, VS1 AGS Ideal $4076
 
That''s a nice one Ebree. I think 3/4 of a carat or so (.8 is my stone''s weight) is a great size. I wear a generous size 8 ring and it''s definitely noticable, but it''s modest enough for most women. I think it would look lovely on a smaller hand.

I saw that Stuller makes a white gold in a new alloy -- I think it''s called X10? Anyway, it''s supposed to be much more platinum like, and it would save money on the setting, allowing you to put more into the diamond. What about a diamond like the one Ebree found with a Stuller Solstice -- it''s such a nice solitaire setting. It has substance but it''s still delicate.
 
Id like to thank everyone for their inputs. You have cleared up a lot of things and made this choice easier. When i do have the ring, I will come back here and post some pics for you guys.

Thanks again
 
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