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engagement ring help!

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icekick99

Rough_Rock
Joined
Sep 9, 2018
Messages
13
Hi everyone! I have started a serious search for an engagement ring but I could use some help (and confidence) finding the perfect one. I am a total newbie :-)

My budget is around $28k for the diamond. I will be going with a platinum solitaire setting.

I was hoping to hit 3 carats but a cursory search in the $28k-$30k range resulted in diamonds that showed inclusions on the magnified images. I have no experience comparing a magnified image (like the ones on James Allen and Blue Nile) to what it actually looks like in real life, so I was hesitant to go with any of them.

I've read that VS2+ is supposed to be equivalent to eye clean, but this one seems to have obvious flaws in the magnified image. Do you think it would be eye clean?
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4980292

Here's another VS2 but it looks better in the image. Unfortunately it falls short of my 3c goal:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-5580984

As an aside, do you think I vs. H will make a big difference here? I would be willing to go down in size if the consensus is to move up to H.
 
Congrats on your upcoming engagement, and I'm glad you came here for help! Unfortunately, neither of those stones have what we would like to see in terms of angles, depth, etc. Let me find the "cheat sheet" of table, depth, pav angles, crown angle, etc and post it.


In the meantime, the images you are looking at are VERY magnified. In real life, these stones are much smaller (of course), so things that look big in these images are often not visible in real life without a microscope. VS2+ is almost always eye clean at a normal viewing angle, and oftentimes SI1s are eye clean as well.

We can definitely help you find something amazing in budget :)
 
Here it is!

54-57 table
60-62.4 depth
34-35 crown
40.6-40.9 pavilion
75-80 LGF (lower)

And I'll try to find some stones in the meantime.
 
What's your budget? Are you firm on it being 3 ct?

I'd recommend setting a price you can justify for the stone alone and then purchasing the best cut stone for the money.. There are tons of people on here who are incredibly generous with their time and can help you select a stone...

If your going to spend 30 k on an ER, get s top quality cut....above all else.. You wont regret it..
 
@lovesdogs: thanks for the table! I will be sure to check that from now on.

@Stive85: I am not firm on 3 ct. And I wouldn't mind saving some money -- like shooting for $25k. But I would say that $30k is the high end of my range.
 
@Stive85: Thanks for the link! A friend of mine encouraged me to look for GIA certified rings only. Can you think of any reason not to buy an AGS certified ring?
 
Searching online I'm not seeing 3ct stones in your budget, so I'm just going for the largest ones I can find within your budget that are "ideal" in terms of cut. Something to consider is whether you want a "super ideal" (e.g. whiteflash A Cut Above, or Crafted By Infinity). If it were me, I would want the best cut possible within budget, especially if spending that kind of $--but that's my opinion and not necessarily yours.

Here are the ones I found that look good for the price. Out of these, I'm partial to WF because they have good customer service and a great upgrade policy.


https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4008884.htm

I like these 2 from BN, but I'd want someone from BN to pull them and confirm that they are eye clean, especially with the carbon spot on the 2.54:

https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD10918231
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD10019795
 
icekick99 said:
@Stive85: Thanks for the link! A friend of mine encouraged me to look for GIA certified rings only. Can you think of any reason not to buy an AGS certified ring?
Click to expand...

GIA and AGS are the only labs I would trust for diamonds. AGS is stricter in terms of grading, so some people prefer AGS to GIA, but both are reputable.
 
You can save a lot of time searching from the main Pricescope page. Enter your parameters, hit the search button, hit the filters button, set the HCA cut rank to excellent. Only look at GIA and AGS graded diamonds.

AGS 0 diamonds are great performers and don't need to be run through the HCA but GIA excellent is a very broad range and those need further examination.

More info here:
https://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca
 
lovedogs said:
Searching online I'm not seeing 3ct stones in your budget, so I'm just going for the largest ones I can find within your budget that are "ideal" in terms of cut. Something to consider is whether you want a "super ideal" (e.g. whiteflash A Cut Above, or Crafted By Infinity). If it were me, I would want the best cut possible within budget, especially if spending that kind of $--but that's my opinion and not necessarily yours.

Here are the ones I found that look good for the price. Out of these, I'm partial to WF because they have good customer service and a great upgrade policy.


https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4008884.htm

I like these 2 from BN, but I'd want someone from BN to pull them and confirm that they are eye clean, especially with the carbon spot on the 2.54:

https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD10918231
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD10019795
Click to expand...

That WF ACA would be my top pick. The BN 2.54 has potential but may not be eye clean.
 
crbl999 said:
That WF ACA would be my top pick. The BN 2.54 has potential but may not be eye clean.
Click to expand...

Agree--out of the 3 I much prefer the ACA--just wanted to give alternatives :)
 
Wow, this place rocks. Thank you so much. It's a good sign that @lovedogs and @Stive85 recommended the same WF ring :-)

Here's a newbie strategy question: how fast do I need to move on these stones? I was thinking of trying to build a list over the next week+ and decide then. I know it's impossible to tell when a stone will be bought, but just thought I'd ask if there's any good way to proceed.

Is there a way to put a few on "hold" over the next week or two as I learn more, or should I pull the trigger quickly?
 
If you went with super ideal vender like Whiteflash you could go up in color to get the size you want as they will face up whiter due to the superior cut.

This one is just a smidge over budget but it’s a great pick for that larger size
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3598654.htm

If not wanting to go lower in color the one posted above is going to save you some $ and give you an awesome stone

This is another super ideal cut but they didn’t have anything in an I that is within budget and I could pick the Whiteflash one
https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD8738
 
Diamonds suggested here tend to get snatched up pretty quickly by lurkers. You can do a hold - it's usually 24 to 48 hours. If you see something that fits the bill you probably want to move quickly. On the other hand, don't rush into purchasing something that isn't quite right.

You could contact Whiteflash and ask if they will have any more diamonds coming in soon that meet your requirements.
 
I looked and finding a diamond that scores well on the HCA over three carats and under 30k is limiting. It can be returned so it seems like it might be worth a look.
3.40 K/SI1 Set in a WG Solitaire Setting 1.4 on the HCA $28775 USD (and negotiable)
https://www.1stdibs.com/jewelry/rin...round-360-carat-k-si1-solitaire/id-j_4766521/
3_60_2_2__master.jpg
 
icekick99 said:
Should I be concerned with SI1 in terms of eye-cleanliness? Is the "eye clean: Yes" in the WF table trustworthy?
Click to expand...

Whiteflash is very trustworthy but they have a return policy if you don’t like the stone for whatever reason but if it says eye clean than you can trust that it is. You can also ask for more videos or have them re-inspect the stone and verify if it is eye clean within 6”/10”. Maybe someone who has purchased from WF can tell you more about this
 
icekick99 said:
Should I be concerned with SI1 in terms of eye-cleanliness? Is the "eye clean: Yes" in the WF table trustworthy?
Click to expand...

This is how WF defines eye clean:

No inclusions visible to the naked eye of a person with 20/20 vision when viewing the diamond in the face-up position at a distance of approximately 10 inches under normal overhead lighting .

If you have a stricter definition (i.e. eye clean from any distance and angle) I recommend calling and asking about it.
 
I didn't realize the ACA category was truly a cut above. I am going to pull down my size requirement to around 2.25c - 2.75c and shoot for ACA quality.

Given the advice about choosing ACA diamonds, these two recommendations look great:
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4008884.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4018656.htm

If the SI1 is indeed eye clean, the lower price is intriguing.

BTW, does anyone have advice on the ring itself? I am looking for a platinum solitaire ring. I'm debating between 4 prongs and 6 prongs. I am looking for a simple but elegant ring that allows the stone stand out.

Here's one that caught my eye:
https://www.whiteflash.com/engageme...fany-style-solitaire-engagement-ring-3582.htm
 
Personally, I would not want to see any flaws from the sides, so I would check with Whiteflash about that. Especially since you are overseas and a return would be a huge hassle.
 
Contact them and have them pull the stones and check them out for you... Again.. Cant go wrong with a ACA so now it's deciding colour and clarity....

That Si1 looks like it could be eye clean from all angles.. But with a diamond that size I'd want it totally eye clean so I'd check...
 
lovedogs said:
The setting you linked is nice, but IMHO it's easier when stones are set a bit lower, like this one:

https://www.whiteflash.com/engageme...yle-solitaire-engagement-ring-1415.htm#size=6
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice @lovedogs. Can you explain what you mean by "easier" here? Do you mean it won't get snagged on things? Or is there another characteristic I'm missing? I was thinking a raised setting might give the ring a bigger "wow" factor, but I'm probably just splitting hairs.

Given my price range and the importance of cut, I have narrowed my search to 2.3-2.5 ct rings.Here are my four current frontrunners. Let me know if you have any thoughts!

1. 2.322 ct VS2 ACA: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4023505.htm
2. 2.321 ct SI1 ACA: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4018656.htm
3. 2.502 ct SI1 ACA: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4013664.htm
4. 2.541 ct VS2 ACA: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4008884.htm

I'm wondering if I would even be able to tell the difference between these stones in person. There is a $7.5k difference between option 4 and option 2. I would hate to pay that if it isn't worth it!
 
icekick99 said:
Thanks for the advice @lovedogs. Can you explain what you mean by "easier" here? Do you mean it won't get snagged on things? Or is there another characteristic I'm missing? I was thinking a raised setting might give the ring a bigger "wow" factor, but I'm probably just splitting hairs.

Given my price range and the importance of cut, I have narrowed my search to 2.3-2.5 ct rings.Here are my four current frontrunners. Let me know if you have any thoughts!

1. 2.322 ct VS2 ACA: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4023505.htm
2. 2.321 ct SI1 ACA: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4018656.htm
3. 2.502 ct SI1 ACA: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4013664.htm
4. 2.541 ct VS2 ACA: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4008884.htm

I'm wondering if I would even be able to tell the difference between these stones in person. There is a $7.5k difference between option 4 and option 2. I would hate to pay that if it isn't worth it!
Click to expand...

Sorry for not being more specific! I mean easier as in it won't get snagged on stuff, and may feel more comfortable. Also, sometimes there is worry with settings that are too high getting "knocked" on stuff. I doubt rhe one you linked is "too high", but I personally still prefer lower settings for comfort.

RE your stone choices, all are great options. We often say that size differences under 2mm aren't usually noticible, so definitely don't worry about the 8.49 vs. 8.51. but potentially 8.69 may look larger than 8.49. if I were you, I'd go for the largest one (8.69) if WF confirms it's eye clean at a comfortable viewing distance. But I don't think you can make any bad choices!

EDIT. Sorry, I totally misread the last cert in terms of size, so I thought option 3 was the largest one. Again, if it were me, I would go for option 3 because it's extremely unlikely that anyone would be able to notice the difference between 8.69 and 8.79, and it saves you around 2K. BUT, if WF says number 3 isn't as eye clean as you want, then I'd go for number 4 if it's in budget. You will almost certainly notice the difference in size between 8.49 and 8.79 (not enough to think OMG IT'S SO SMALL! or anything, but noticeable with the naked eye IMHO).
 
icekick99 said:
Thanks for the advice @lovedogs. Can you explain what you mean by "easier" here? Do you mean it won't get snagged on things? Or is there another characteristic I'm missing? I was thinking a raised setting might give the ring a bigger "wow" factor, but I'm probably just splitting hairs.

Given my price range and the importance of cut, I have narrowed my search to 2.3-2.5 ct rings.Here are my four current frontrunners. Let me know if you have any thoughts!

1. 2.322 ct VS2 ACA: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4023505.htm
2. 2.321 ct SI1 ACA: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4018656.htm
3. 2.502 ct SI1 ACA: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4013664.htm
4. 2.541 ct VS2 ACA: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4008884.htm

I'm wondering if I would even be able to tell the difference between these stones in person. There is a $7.5k difference between option 4 and option 2. I would hate to pay that if it isn't worth it!
Click to expand...

Most likely you would not see a difference in size and with it being eye clean SI1 I would vote to save money. I think they say people don’t see a size difference till around the 10% and these are 7%

https://www.diamdb.com/compare/2.32ct-round-8.51x8.53x5.25-vs-2.54ct-round-8.79x8.81x5.45/

25346730-1BCC-4CBD-AAD5-FFC90E6DD4A3.png 61EC9A40-F7F5-4F9C-9B80-4E4C5BB6DC8A.png
 
icekick99 said:
Thanks for the advice @lovedogs. Can you explain what you mean by "easier" here? Do you mean it won't get snagged on things? Or is there another characteristic I'm missing? I was thinking a raised setting might give the ring a bigger "wow" factor, but I'm probably just splitting hairs.

Given my price range and the importance of cut, I have narrowed my search to 2.3-2.5 ct rings.Here are my four current frontrunners. Let me know if you have any thoughts!

1. 2.322 ct VS2 ACA: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4023505.htm
2. 2.321 ct SI1 ACA: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4018656.htm
3. 2.502 ct SI1 ACA: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4013664.htm
4. 2.541 ct VS2 ACA: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4008884.htm

I'm wondering if I would even be able to tell the difference between these stones in person. There is a $7.5k difference between option 4 and option 2. I would hate to pay that if it isn't worth it!
Click to expand...
I would contact WF and ask them to pull your four top stones, line them up and take pics and video do you can see them next to each other. They’ll happily do this so you can be completely sure of your selection and be happy with your purchase. They’ve got great customer service so don’t be afraid to use it.
Also a high setting can be a complete pain in the ass for knocking it and potentially breaking a prong or losing a stone. Does your fiancée to be use her hands a lot for work? Has she ever shown you jewellery she loves or does she wear much now? I’d definitely want a bigger stone like a 2.5 in 6 prongs and not set high so it hits everything.
 
Thanks for all the advice everyone! I've reached out to WF to pull these stones and inspect them for eye cleanliness. I will follow up here when I get the results!

By the way - once I buy and receive the diamond, I was thinking about taking it to an expert to verify the quality. This would mostly be for my own peace of mind. Do you have any tips on who to contact or where to go? Do most diamond stores have consultancy services like this? Any thoughts would be appreciated!
 
Are you sure you girl was a will be comfortable with a stone this size? Is it typical for her social circle? What career is she in?
 
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