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Engagement Ring Help, have a couple of diamonds in mind

C

chon79

Rough_Rock
Joined
Mar 30, 2012
Messages
18
Hello everyone. To start, I have been checking out the department stores such as Zales and Jared's and have had a bad experience so far with sales people that don't seem all that knowledgeable on their diamonds. It honestly seems I have educated myself a little more online than in person. I am debating on purchasing a diamond and setting online at this point. The places I have looked at mainly are Blue Nile and James Allen. I would just like some additional help/recommendations as far as my choices so far based on my budget. Diamond choice is also very limited here, which they would all have to order the diamond if I wanted anything else.

My budget is $6000 and wanting a cushion cut in 1 ct. She really wants a a near colorless diamond that sparkles.

First off, although a bad experience, there is 1 diamond that Jared is holding for me. It is IGI Certified.

Measurement: 5.38 x 5.05 x 4.03
Weight: 1.00 CT
Color: G
Clarity: VS2
Polish/Symmetry: Good/Good
Certificate: IGI
3900$

That is all the information available for this diamond. Here are a couple I have found online that I am considering:

Measurement: 6.37 x 5.21 x 3.63
Weight: 1.02 CT
Color: F
Clarity: VVS2
Cut: Good
Depth: 69.7%
Table: 66%
Polish/Symmetry: Very Good/Good
Girdle: Medium to Thick
Certificate: GIA

$4800

Last one:

Measurement: 5.35 x 5.87 x 3.73
Weight: 1.01CT
Color: F
Clarity: VVS2
Cut: Excellent
Depth: 69.7%
Table: 67%
Polish/Symmetry: Excellent/Very Good
Certificate: GIA
$4690

I am tried to keep the setting around 1000-1500. She really likes these style of settings (forgive me as I don't know the name for the style): http://design.jared-diamonds.com/Item/R999560927903/sc/

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
 
I dont know much about cushions, but out of those three I am pretty sure everyone here is going to recommend you go with the third one- the GIA EX cut certified one!!!! I like James Allen much better than blue nile bc they have pictures, etc, plus a nice pricescope discount. I would also recommend getting the stone and setting from the same place, and James Allen's settings are supposed to be pretty good.

You can get the idealscopes free for 3 diamonds from JA. They will have an expert compare them and make their recommendation. So i would find 3 you like the best there and go that route. Good luck!

Jessica
 
You can more than likely go with a larger stone if you drop your clarity down one from VVS2 to VS1. Would be extremely difficult to tell the difference in the two clarities except with a microscope, but should be a significant price difference.

Bryan Cavitt
 
Good Old Gold is probably the best place to shop for a cushion. They can do modern or antique style cushions and will get you a well cut one. Cushions cannot be chosen from a grading report like rounds can. You have to have pictures and an ASET image to check light performance. IGI is not a reputable lab. Mostly you will see GIA and maybe a few from AGS, but those are the only labs that are accurate.

So is the total budget including setting $6000?
 
Thanks everyone. I will keep IGI diamonds out of my search. Total price is 6000 max with setting. She is a very petite figure (5 feet, 100 lbs) and a size 4 finger. I figured 1 ct. would be ideal for her.
 
Good Old Gold can get more diamonds in and make you a video so you can see them. But I am linking a few for you to see some examples of excellent cushions. I actually think the August Vintage one would look best in that style setting, and I am pretty sure Gabriel and Co. carries some styles like that, and they likely are better than the one at Jared, too. You'd just need to call and explain what you are looking for and your budget and they can call in stones for you. I'll look for settings next.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8583/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4921/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8992/
 
Here is another Gabriel setting: http://www.gabrielengaged.com/style/ER8037W44JJ

I would recommend GOG for the diamond...they are also a Gabriel & Co retailer. That way you can buy both the setting and beautiful cushion in one place.
 
I am trying to consider this diamond you recommended:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8992/

I am actually in the San Antonio area. I am going to see what Americus Diamond has to offer as a last resort before purchasing online.
 
diamondseeker2006|1333123364|3159930 said:
Settings:

http://www.gabrielengaged.com/style/ER7546W44JJ

http://www.gabrielengaged.com/style/ER7544W44JJ

http://www.gabrielengaged.com/style/ER7805W44JJ
Click to expand...

Hey DS,

Just wanted to thank you again for all your help. We went back to Jared to tell them to cancel the hold of the diamond and get my deposit back. We looked again at their diamond selection although I already told her we would not buy from them, and it looks like we are changing the shape! Although their selections were limited, we saw some rounds that looked very brilliant and sparkly. I didn't put them under the magnifying glass but they were hearts and arrows diamonds. From what I researched so far, rounds are typically more pricey per carat but have a much bigger appearance. After talking, we decided to look at a round diamond with maybe a cushion halo setting. :)

What did you think of this diamond?

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8410/

I am still in process of reading the entire GOG article on the 4 C's, but the hearts, arrows, and ASET look amazing :)
 
That looks like a great diamond! :love:
 
Could you please tell me if this is a good diamond: 1.01 ct, I color, VS1, GIA cert, depth is 71.8%, table is 72%, Grd med-thick, polish very good; sym: good; flour: none, Cul: none. This is a princess cut. Thanks
 
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