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Diamond with a $5500 budget

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NerdCoreRocks

Rough_Rock
Joined
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Hello all! I just found this site today, and I wish I had found it sooner!!! I''m a young kid getting ready to be engaged. Do you guys have any tips for me? All I know is that I''m looking for an emerald cut diamond, and size is the most important thing 8 ). I''m hoping to find something at (or a little above) 1.35 cts. Obviously I don''t want the color to be more than an H as well. $5500 is my max absolute budget, and I''d prefer to keep it closer to 5K if possible. I''d appreciate any comments. Help out a fresh out of college kid getting ready to blow his savings. Thanks a ton!

Stefan K.
 
HI Stefan and Welcome to pricescope.
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IF you are willing to buy from a trusted vendor onine we can help you pick a diamonds and a setting with no problem. You will normally save a great deal by doing it this way. However if you prefer to a local jewler we would be happy to help you with as well.

Let me go and see what I find... is 5500 for the setting AND diamond (because it''s going to be tight unless you want a simple gold solitare) or is 5500 for the diamond alone?
 
Welcome to PS!

Emerald cuts are tough. Step cuts like emerald and Asscher usually require a bit higher color and clarity than a typical round brilliant because they don't hide flaws very well (I wouldn't go below G-H/VS1-VS2). They're also hard to judge by numbers alone...you usually have to see the diamond before you buy it.

Whiteflash doesn't have a great selection in emerald-cuts. The biggest emerald-cut they have on Good Old Gold is this one:
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/2878/
...which is lower than your desired size range and higher than your price range.

Are there any other cuts your girlfriend likes? If emerald is the one, you'll probably have to drop the size pretty significantly to stay under budget.

Here are some 1ct emerald-cut diamonds on Blue Nile that might work for you. Keep in mind that BN doesn't have an upgrade policy, so if you want to get her a bigger one in the future, you'd have to buy it separately.
http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?__fun_frm=i&pid=LD00287091&filter_id=0
http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?__fun_frm=i&pid=LD01075224&filter_id=0
http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?__fun_frm=i&pid=LD00338989&filter_id=0
 
Good Old Gold EC''s at this time have serious Depth and Table issues.

Here are my suggestions:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=131&item=1027183

http://www.whiteflash.com/emerald/Emerald-cut-diamond-300506.htm


Honestly, a 1.25 carat is your price range (if 5500 includes a setting) is going to be difficult. As EC''s are step cuts you need higher clarity than with brilliant cuts generally. Y0u can comfortably do a VERY nice one carat stone for your budget, like the one above however. These will leave you a nice amount for the setting. You may come out under budget.

 
Just as a quick comment, $5500 is my price range for just the diamond. I would definately like to be above 1.3 cts minimum. And I'm totally ok with the cut being Very Good and not Ideal. I'm one of those ones of "the bigger the better" mind frame. If it takes me a bit to find it, thats ok. I'm not getting engaged tomorrow 8 ). Thanks for the tips so far. I won't look below an H or a VS2.

Stefan K.
 
Hi. I have another question. How are the UnionDiamond.com Cut ratings? I''ll see the same diamond on a number of sites, but UnionDiamond.com is the only one that gives it their rating (fair, premium, ideal). Should I go by these or no?
 
Date: 6/12/2007 9:46:27 AM
Author: NerdCoreRocks
Hi. I have another question. How are the UnionDiamond.com Cut ratings? I'll see the same diamond on a number of sites, but UnionDiamond.com is the only one that gives it their rating (fair, premium, ideal). Should I go by these or no?
Click to expand...
No you shouldn't go by those with a fancy like an EC.

To clarify you want a F G or H colored diamond, 1.3 carats VS1 or VS2. Very good cut. It's not carats that determine the size alone its the depth percentage, the table, and the girdle too.

So generally with an EC I like to look for

Depth 60-66
Table 56-61
Meduim to slightly thick girdle.
Very good or excellent polish
Very good or excellent symmetry. (This you cannot compromise on with ECs)
Crown height of over ten, definitely... but over 11 or 12 perferred.
 
actually, this just goes to show how little i know about diamonds. i thought a table and depth under 70% was good for emerald cuts. does anyone have any good guides to point me towards to show what are values to look for for a very good cut emerald diamond? (again, i''m not worried about amazing cuts...i''m happy with a pretty good one. emeralds can''t be as sparkley as other cuts anyways, can they?)

to be a little more specific, let me state this. i''m looking to set this in one of those pave antique looking settings, where the perimeter of the slightly raised emerald cut diamond would be surrounded by tiny round diamonds. i don''t necessarily like the look, because it detracts from the center stone, but my girlfriend adores them.

does this setting change at all what i should be looking for? can i be more lax in my cut, clarity, or color? I will settle for a 1.25 diamond, but I really would prefer something tipping over 1.3 if I can help it. I want it to look big enough to not get completely drowned out.
 
Nope. H is as low as I'd go with color unless she picks something lower... as you don't know what her color tolerence is.

On the PLUS side... halos make your center stone look bigger... so you can probably get away with a 1.20 carat, depending on spread (mm size).

Under 70 is acceptable for depth for EC's . But with your budget you need as much spread (mm size) as you can get from all your carat weight... that means less depth. I would try to stick to a stone under 64 depth with a table from 55-60 if you can find it. What's the point of getting a 1.3 carat diamond that faces up (mm size) like a 1.10 of shallower (but still acceptable) depth?

I also would work with a vendor, like James Allen... to find what you want. Or ERD (who does lovely halo settings) .. just email them with the specs I posted, give them your budget and ask them to find you the right stone.


ERD (engagementringsdirect) gives you a 3% discount on the stone if you buy a custom setting from them.James allen gives Psers a straight line discount on thier stones... and you can have it set anywhere you want.
 
Is this similar to the setting she wants. Cause if it is... this is the EXACT one I'd get her. It's Beverly K, you can buy it from Pearlman's jewelers. In 18K white gold it is pretty darn afforable too.

And Kudos to you for getting her what SHE wants, instead of what you want!

Beverly K EC halo.jpg
 
Yes, that is pretty much the exact type of setting that I''m looking for as well. Again, I am a very in debt fresh out of college kid, so my budget has to be strict. I don''t think I want to buy a setting like that, because I would have to skimp more on the diamond. I was thinking about getting one of the halo settings off ebay, and having one of those guys set my stone. I''ve found really pretty setting/setting combos for as low as $600. Ultimately I want my MAX price to be about $6000. That is why I was looking for a loose diamond in the range of $5500.

Would a larger depth really hurt the ring that much? I would think that it would actually help my ring with that kind of setting. From the top down, you''re going to be seeing all the sparkle of all those diamonds around it. Wouldn''t it not matter as much if the top proportions were smaller, because its harder to tell? But from a side view, wouldn''t the diamond look bigger with a larger depth percentage?

Also, with a $6000 limit, do I basically really have no hope of getting a good looking 1.3 emerald stone with that sort of setting? I really want to do that, so I can really wow her off her feet. I don''t think she''d expect it at all. But if its basically impossible, I can start focusing more on smaller stones.
 
NerdCoreRocks,

A larger depth would make the diamond look smaller no matter the setting. You''ll just be paying more for what you cannot see. In such a setting, you can''t see much of the side either. Diamonds are cut to maximize their sparkle from the top, so there''s no point in getting a deep stone. People don''t see diamonds from the side too, I''d stay with depth % under 65 to max the face up size.

To be painfully honest, I did not respond to your thread earlier because I don''t think you can get a good looking 1.3 ct EC with a $6000 budget. To wow her off her feet, you''ll need a great cut stone while keeping the colour and clarity balanced. If you are willing to go smaller, it really opens up your options. H VS2 right?
 
Date: 6/12/2007 2:05:52 PM
Author: Gypsy
Is this similar to the setting she wants. Cause if it is... this is the EXACT one I'd get her. It's Beverly K, you can buy it from Pearlman's jewelers. In 18K white gold it is pretty darn afforable too.

And Kudos to you for getting her what SHE wants, instead of what you want!
Click to expand...
What a beautiful setting!!!! Ditto that beverly k is very affordable. They also have great quality, I've seen their pieces in person and they look fantastic.
 
If you get a poorly cut EC the problem is that it will be flat and lifeless and glassy. I have seen MANY big EC's and small EC's that are that way. It's only the wellcut ones that really look like diamonds and have sparkle and flash. I have a square emerald cut, and I can tell you, cut is the most important thing, then color and clarity, then size. If you get a poorly cut 1.3 EC that has is deep or has other issues your just wasting your money to be able to brag about having a 1.3 carat stone.

I really would suggest dropping your size requirements down. In a nice halo setting, the stone will look bigger than it is anyway.


That Beverly K setting I posted is about $1200 which for the quality and the workmanship is a steal. I personally would get a lovely 1.0 carat diamond for about 4800 with the PS discount and setting it in this beautiful QUALITY setting. She will love the final product. And if you get a 5 x 7 stone... she won't really miss the extra mm once it's in a halo setting.
 
To Chrono: I guess I''d go into the low 1.2x cts if I have to. That would be my minimum though. This may make absolutely no difference at all, but my girlfriend and I are not "diamond people." So maybe a diamond that might look OK to you experts would look perfectly great to us. That is just a guess, and it may be 100% untrue hehe. But if I flat out can''t get a 1.3 budget that will look very pretty to our untrained eyes, then I''ll have to settle for a smaller diamond. Although, I''m not 100% convinced that I can''t do that yet. Maybe if I get enough of you guys to crush my spirit, I''ll have to start bringing my head out of the clouds 8 ).
 
What about this one?
http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?__fun_frm=i&pid=LD01023161&filter_id=1

Normally we don't tend to recommend Blue Nile around here because they don't have an upgrade policy. But I can't seem to find too many decent emeralds in your price range anywhere else...

EDIT: I stand corrected...by myself! Forgot to check James Allen!
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=131&item=1067849
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=131&item=1057334
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=131&item=1059988
 
Table is too big. Likely to look dull and lifeless. Please see parameters I posted above for cut.

I REALLY REALLY REALLY recommend calling JamesAllen.com AND EngagementringsDirect OR email them... and tell them you are looking for a:

To clarify you want an EMERALD CUT G or H colored diamond, 1.2 carats VS1 or VS2. Very good cut. It's not carats that determine the size alone its the depth percentage, the table, and the girdle too. Tell them you have a budget of 4800-5000 dollars for the stone.

And you want the following specs. AND pictures of the diamonds so that you can post them for us to see.


Depth 60-66
Table 56-61
Meduim to slightly thick girdle.
Very good or excellent polish
Very good or excellent symmetry. (This you cannot compromise on with ECs)
Crown height of over ten, definitely... but 12 or higher perferred.


They will find them for your... and get back to you. If they know you are serious and ready to pull the trigger if you find the right stone... they will be HAPPY to help.


 
Ah, I see that 70% table now. Of the ones I just posted in my edit, how does the first one look, Gypsy? Guess the depth is a little too big?
 
NerdCoreRocks, even if you and your girlfriend aren't "diamond people" let me suggest that you'll still be better off with a slightly smaller stone (in terms of carat weight) than a bad stone. As Gypsy pointed out, you're not going to miss the mm, but you WILL notice if the stone is ugly. Also, stones of the same carat weight do vary in size, so keep that in mind as you're looking for one. I just ran a search for 1.3 ct emerald, not specifying color or clarity, on the PS home page and got stones that are:

7.22 X 5.48
7.09 X 6.66
6.18 X 6.16
7.11 X 5.73
7.31 X 5.25
7.54 X 5.21
7.54 X 5.24

(I'm not suggesting any particular stone to you BTW, I'm just pointing out the range of variation even at the exact same carat weight.)

By the same token, you can do a search for 1.2 cts and come up with stones that face up larger than some 1.3s.

There is also the point again about length to width ratio. Are you looking for a longer skinnier stone or a shorter fatter one?
 
Date: 6/12/2007 4:50:50 PM
Author: jstarfireb
What about this one?
http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?__fun_frm=i&pid=LD01023161&filter_id=1

Normally we don''t tend to recommend Blue Nile around here because they don''t have an upgrade policy. But I can''t seem to find too many decent emeralds in your price range anywhere else...

EDIT: I stand corrected...by myself! Forgot to check James Allen!
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=131&item=1067849
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=131&item=1057334
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=131&item=1059988
Click to expand...

All the James allens posted only have ''good'' symmetry which is generally bad with step cuts.
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just to let you guys know, i really do appreciate all the responses
 
To Gypsy: I will contact the companies you suggested.

To Dee*Jay: I''m pretty positive that my girlfriend likes it more rectangular than square.
 
 
gypsy, that setting you recommended. i can''t find it. could you provide me with a direct link?
 
HI... I can't provide you with that I'm sorry. I really am. I pulled it from the BevK site cause I have the password. I can't give it out (I promised) and that exact ring isn't posted on Pearlman's or anywhere that I've seen. But I know the ballpark price on it. If I linked you to it it would just ask you for the password.
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BUT that doesn't mean you can't get request either of them to order it for you.... The site doesn't have any alternate views of it either, else I would post them for you on here.
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Send the two vendors this pic... it has the setting number on it so they should be able to price it for you! Good luck!
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Hi NCR, first of all I would like to praise you for being very considerate and getting her the type of setting she loves even though you aren''t wild about it. She will spend hours staring at the ring in happiness, and I know she will really appreciate your thoughtfulness.

I know you are trying to max your budget, just a tip I would like to offer in your searches, as I suspect the following topic may come up. You may find when trying to max your budget that EGL and some of the other grading labs are priced ''cheaper'' which may make you think you can get a whopper size, color, clarity for a much lower price. I just want to give you a heads up that labs other than the more respected ones such as GIA/AGS tend to have a reputation for giving stones a better color/clarity than they really are. The vendors are pretty saavy about what a diamond really is, and won''t severely under price a true H VS2 if they have one (as they know they can get full market value on a true H VS2). I know for Emerald Cuts you need to be concerned about the color and especially the clarity. If the price seems really low, it is usually because the color or clarity is not as stated by the lab. We got burned once on an EGL which was two colors and two clarities off (in the wrong direction!)
 
Thanks for the tip smiley. I have just recently heard of this (I happened to glance through the survey that pricescope did), and I''ve definitely been keeping it in mind.

Now another question for anyone who could help me out. I know this is probably hard to capture with photographs, but is there anyway that someone could post a few pictures of emeralds with various kinds of cuts? I want to get an idea of what the good, ok, and bad ones look like. Thanks!
 
A not good EC even though the numbers are cherry - which is why pictures or seeing the stone in person is very important.

IS_GIA15615214.jpg

My_IS_GIA15615214.jpg

My_SARIN_GIA15615214.gif
 
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