Hello everyone,
I am in the process of picking an engagement ring for my fiance. I have been saving for a long time, but really haven't narrowed it down. Budget is approximately $30k. We are officially engaged, but decided to hold off on a big "rock" until we could pay cash. She is leaving it entirely to me at this point. I plan on buying from a vendor here, either Whiteflash, or a broker who can get me a diamond the quality of "ideal" at a minimum. We have looked at diamonds, and this is the feeling I get about her preferences:
most important: quality of cut and light reflection
2nd most: size (ties into light reflection)
3rd: color (face up white; we looked at stones in the H to K range, hard to see much of a tint even on the K stone really, although the price difference is substantial. I don't see us buying above I, for example, and her earrings are J color, very well cut, she loves them).
4th: clarity. She is fine with a stone that isn't eye clean, as long as there isn't a huge black hole covering 1/2 of the table. Anything Si1 more than adequate.
From what I have read, think of the purchase like a pizza; the budget determines the size of the pizza, and then make the biggest slices the preferred characteristics (In this case, huge slice cut, smallish size clarity).
My first thought was to grab a nice, low color stone. $30k buys me a 3ct J color Super Ideal from Whiteflash, for example. But, I am worried that it will be "too" big for her hand. Anyone with experience with that situation? We live in an upscale area, but people are pretty dressed down, you don't see too many 3+ carat diamonds, then again, that could just be cheap husbands. I figure anyone driving a $100k sportscar shouldn't be putting a Kay Jewelers $1999 special on their future bride's finger.
2nd thought: there is a really nice I color, AGS Ideal (000), 2.31ct, that a diamond broker located for me. He brought it in, definitely stunning, even compared to the Hearts on Fire product he carries, 99% the equal in performance. Relatively affordable too at $17,800. With the money left over, I could put together a really stunning 3-stone ring. Given that center stone, what would be the appropriate sized side stones be? Color, given the middle is an I color?
Finally, what will generally look better and be more appropriate? 2 totally different styles of rings. She loves trying on rings: I know this will be the "one" purchase I make that she will always remember and cherish, and I want to get it right!
She is fairly tall, thin, size 5.5 finger, mid 40's. Is 3 carats too much for someone that age? We have all seen pics of the high school girl rocking Mom's diamond necklace and Rolex President, and that is something I want to avoid too. The 3-stone option is very intriguing, not sure how it would look; none of the jewelers locally have anything comparable, nor do I want to waste their time as I can't afford the insane markup!
I am in the process of picking an engagement ring for my fiance. I have been saving for a long time, but really haven't narrowed it down. Budget is approximately $30k. We are officially engaged, but decided to hold off on a big "rock" until we could pay cash. She is leaving it entirely to me at this point. I plan on buying from a vendor here, either Whiteflash, or a broker who can get me a diamond the quality of "ideal" at a minimum. We have looked at diamonds, and this is the feeling I get about her preferences:
most important: quality of cut and light reflection
2nd most: size (ties into light reflection)
3rd: color (face up white; we looked at stones in the H to K range, hard to see much of a tint even on the K stone really, although the price difference is substantial. I don't see us buying above I, for example, and her earrings are J color, very well cut, she loves them).
4th: clarity. She is fine with a stone that isn't eye clean, as long as there isn't a huge black hole covering 1/2 of the table. Anything Si1 more than adequate.
From what I have read, think of the purchase like a pizza; the budget determines the size of the pizza, and then make the biggest slices the preferred characteristics (In this case, huge slice cut, smallish size clarity).
My first thought was to grab a nice, low color stone. $30k buys me a 3ct J color Super Ideal from Whiteflash, for example. But, I am worried that it will be "too" big for her hand. Anyone with experience with that situation? We live in an upscale area, but people are pretty dressed down, you don't see too many 3+ carat diamonds, then again, that could just be cheap husbands. I figure anyone driving a $100k sportscar shouldn't be putting a Kay Jewelers $1999 special on their future bride's finger.
2nd thought: there is a really nice I color, AGS Ideal (000), 2.31ct, that a diamond broker located for me. He brought it in, definitely stunning, even compared to the Hearts on Fire product he carries, 99% the equal in performance. Relatively affordable too at $17,800. With the money left over, I could put together a really stunning 3-stone ring. Given that center stone, what would be the appropriate sized side stones be? Color, given the middle is an I color?
Finally, what will generally look better and be more appropriate? 2 totally different styles of rings. She loves trying on rings: I know this will be the "one" purchase I make that she will always remember and cherish, and I want to get it right!
She is fairly tall, thin, size 5.5 finger, mid 40's. Is 3 carats too much for someone that age? We have all seen pics of the high school girl rocking Mom's diamond necklace and Rolex President, and that is something I want to avoid too. The 3-stone option is very intriguing, not sure how it would look; none of the jewelers locally have anything comparable, nor do I want to waste their time as I can't afford the insane markup!
. My point is wealth isn't a reason to buy or not buy something but her personality, what sort of thing she normally wears and most importantly what she WANTS is definitely reason.
) Doesn't lose value, and only requires gas and an oil change every 5k miles. 
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