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Engagement Ring Advice

J

james0810

Rough_Rock
Joined
Apr 26, 2012
Messages
7
Hello Everybody,

I have been a silent observer of this forum for the past 3 months; I cannot begin to tell you how much I learned about diamonds just by reading and digesting all the information available here. Kudos to all of you for helping people like me navigate through all the intricacies of diamond buying.

So, to get to the point, I am ready to propose to my wonderful girlfriend. I think I know what she likes and I just need your expert opinion on two issues: diamond selection and setting selection. Other than that, I am good to go :?

I have a budget of approximately $7,500 and I plan to spend approx. $6500 on the diamond and the rest on the setting

Here are my selection criteria for the diamond:

Carat: Between 1.05 and 1.15
Cut: Excellent/Ideal
Color: I or above
Clarity: SI2 or above

Based on these criteria’s, I reserved the following diamonds:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1486039.asp - my favorite - $5890
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1470820.asp -2nd favorite -$6250
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Very Good-Cut-Round-Diamond-1467793.asp -$6010

So I would like to hear what you all think about these choices.

1.What do you think of my choices, do you agree with my rankings?
2.Can I get a better diamond based on the criteria’s listed above?
3.Should I change my criteria, i.e. compromise on the size, maybe get slightly under 1 ct and increase the color (or clarity)?

My girlfriend has a great sense of style but she is not obsessed with perfection (that’s why she likes me). So I am looking for a diamond that is eye clean, without any visible mark and very pleasant to the eye.

Last but not least – I will have an appointment with a JA gemologist on Tuesday to go over these diamonds. Are there any special requests I should make before the appointment (more pictures, ideal-scope image, etc)?

Regarding settings, here is my dilemma: I know she likes more modern styles and my guess is that she would like a tension setting. Do you think there is a visual significant difference between these two settings?

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/round-diamond-solitaire-engagement-rings.html - in 18K Gold

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/contemporary-rings/item_500-1358.asp - in 14K Gold

My preference is towards the solitaire ring since it is half the price and better gold (18K vs. 14K). I am also reluctant to buy a tension setting since I do not know her exact size and I do not want to resize a tension setting. Also I prefer to spend more on the diamond and less on the setting.

Girls (and guys), I need your opinion here – should I get the tension setting or the solitaire setting? Having her pick the setting might be an option, but only after I propose. Given the JA return policy my guess is the first option is the safest and if she doesn’t like it, she can change it to a tension setting (or something else) within the 60 days window. Does it make sense?

Thanks in advance for all your opinions!

Regards,
James
 
I think you either love those settings or hate them, so it may be risky to choose one of them. If your bride-to-be wants to wear a wedding ring, she will probably have trouble finding something that works with those unless there are matching bands or she gets something custom made.

I think I'd let her choose her setting rather than picking one of those before you propose unless she has shown you similar settings as examples of things she likes.

liz
 
LibbyLA|1335484583|3181883 said:
I think you either love those settings or hate them, so it may be risky to choose one of them. If your bride-to-be wants to wear a wedding ring, she will probably have trouble finding something that works with those unless there are matching bands or she gets something custom made.

I think I'd let her choose her setting rather than picking one of those before you propose unless she has shown you similar settings as examples of things she likes.

liz
Click to expand...
I would tend to agree. There are other settings, too, that would have a more contemporary look and still suit a wedding band. Bezels come to mind.

My fave from JA:
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire-rings/ring/item_57-8918.asp

My all time fave (and my own engagement ring choice!) from Sholdt:
http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/jewelry-designers/sholdt-jewelry/rings/08ZZ1/

Pearlmans is a Pricescope vendor and they offer 20% off designer settings to members. My stone is a .788ct and it's being set now. Our final price for the setting in 18kt white gold for our stone was just over $1300. A 1ct wouldn't be too much more than that and this setting allows bands to sit flush so you can mix/match with bands! The JA bezel also would allow this.

ETA: I'll let more of the RockyTalky experts chime in on the stones, I don't want to misguide you there!
 
My concern with the setting is the same as LibbyLA's -- that setting won't sit right with a wedding ring.

If you want a modern tension setting with some funkiness, I kind of like this one: http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/contemporary-rings/ring/item_500-7600.asp It has an interesting interpretation of a split shank ring, and would look fine with a wedding band.

This one is more traditional, but it has the "chunky" element while being more classic: http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/solitaire-diamond-rings.html

If the wedding band isn't a concern, the twist is probably OK.

I believe you would need to get her exact size if you want a tension setting. Perhaps check with your JA rep about whether they could resize it easily after the proposal (and whether there would be a charge).

ETA: What's your budget on the stone? The first one seems to have quite a large inclusion at 4 o'clock. I think you might be better off going down a little on the carat size, depending on your budget.
 
the obvious difference between the 2 tension setting options is one is bezelled, one is not. But I do agree there may be issues with a WB selection later on. Is your GF one who would eventually want an eternity/anniversary band? Is it worth trying on that type of ring now?

Personally, I love the tension settings! Not sure where these can be purchased but cruise this site for more tension ideas:
http://www.claudethibaudeau.com/ and look at the Pure Perfection designs. YUMMY!!!

But... she has to love them too. This would be a tough one to receive if she's really a vintage girl, as an example! HAve you got a sense now of what she would like?
 
Ha! Just saw slg recommended one of the same diamonds I did!

I honestly really do not like either setting you posted. I think they are far too dangerous to pick without her giving input. So I would suggest getting the diamond set in the least expensive solitaire for the proposal and tell her she can choose the permanent setting afterwards.
 
Thank you everybody for the wonderful suggestions and very quick replies! I am very thankful for all this great advice.

Regarding the settings - It seems that the consensus is that the settings I selected are very risky and controversial. I guess I will choose a simple, less expensive solitaire for the proposal and tell her she can choose the permanent settings afterwards. In my defense, we went last week to a Na Hoku store and she showed me a casual ring with a similar design, hence my ideea for that particular tension setting.

For now, let’s focus on the diamond selection only. I realize that my choices were not exactly great so I guess I need to select another 3 diamonds, put them on hold instead of the 3 I selected and keep my apointemnt with the JA gemologist on Tuesday in order to chose the final one.

Here are the selctions proposed by diamondseeker2006 and slg47

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1479512.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1446887.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1479511.asp - recommended twice
Are all these better and safer choices than my favorite from the initial posting? (http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1486039.asp)

Farmer gal – I am not sure my GF likes the blue fluorescence of the diamond you recommended and I would rather be conservative in that area…But if you have other recommendations, by all means please let me know.

Lotus 99 – my budget on the stone is approx. $6500

Thanks again,
James
 
james0810|1335499704|3182016 said:
In my defense, we went last week to a Na Hoku store and she showed me a casual ring with a similar design, hence my ideea for that particular tension setting.
Click to expand...


Okay, well. If that's the case then-- that really the perfect defense. Of the two: http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/round-diamond-solitaire-engagement-rings.html is the safest option.

Since you went to the store with her, can you just... send her some pics and see what she thinks?

I would bury that link from JA in with a couple others and ask her what she thinks of them. Here are a few links to send her (Include the JA one) and ask her for her input.

http://www.maevona.com//bridal/6/boreray

http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/jewelry-designers/steven-kretchmer-jewelry/rings/80O1/

http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/jewelry-designers/sholdt-jewelry/rings/16ZZ1/

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/pave-and-side-stones/twist-18k-white-gold-5440w18

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/three-prong-martini-solitaire-platinum-5355p

http://www.maevona.com//bridal/3/eorsa

http://www.maevona.com//bridal/110/eorsa/dia
 
Gypsy,

the key word for that ring we saw at Na Hoku is "casual". It was not an engagement ring and we were not shoping for one. She has no ideea I am going to propose and I want to keep it that way. After the proposal we will be back on the forum and she can then tell you guys more about what exactly she wants. Thanks for all the links, they are wonderful suggestions.

I agree though that of the two settings from JA the one you linked is the safest option. I will probably chose that one since it is under $1,000 for the 18K gold and will use the JA return policy to have her select something else if she wants. I have already talked to a JA rep about it and they said it is possible to do that.

I really want to go back to the diamond selection, though. Are there any other suggestions based on my specs?

Thanks,
James
 
james0810|1335531254|3182111 said:
Gypsy,

the key word for that ring we saw at Na Hoku is "casual". It was not an engagement ring and we were not shoping for one. She has no ideea I am going to propose and I want to keep it that way. After the proposal we will be back on the forum and she can then tell you guys more about what exactly she wants. Thanks for all the links, they are wonderful suggestions.

I agree though that of the two settings from JA the one you linked is the safest option. I will probably chose that one since it is under $1,000 for the 18K gold and will use the JA return policy to have her select something else if she wants. I have already talked to a JA rep about it and they said it is possible to do that.

I really want to go back to the diamond selection, though. Are there any other suggestions based on my specs?

Thanks,
James
Click to expand...

then perhaps she might want something else in an engagement ring? that setting looks like the ends would catch on things.

as far as diamond selection-your specs are kind of limited. would you consider slightly smaller than 1.05, or J color?
 
slg47|1335534983|3182142 said:
as far as diamond selection-your specs are kind of limited. would you consider slightly smaller than 1.05, or J color?
Click to expand...

Yes, I would consider slightly smaller than 1.05, although I would preffer to keep I color or better.
OR
I could increase the budget for the stone to $7,000 in case I can find that "perfect" deal that is worth increasing the budget.
 
What do you guys think about these ideal scope images?
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1479511.asp
Carat: 1.036
Cut: Ideal
Color:I
Clarity: SI1
HCA: 0.8 (EX, EX, EX, VG)
AGA: 1A
1479511id.jpg

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1479512.asp
Carat: 1.046
Cut:Ideal
Colorr:I
Clarity: SI1
HCA: 1.7 (EX, VG, VG, VG)
AGA: 1A
1479512id.jpg

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1486039.asp
Carat: 1.104
Cut:Ideal
Colorr:I
Clarity: SI2
HCA: 1.2(EX, EX, EX, EX)
AGA: 1B
1486039id_0.jpg
 
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