Engagement Ring Options, BN or BGD. Help me choose!

[esmalley007]

Hello all,

Have been searching for a ring the last month or so. Mainly searching on Blue Nile untill I found out about James Allen and Brian Gavin on this site.

I am looking for a round, very good to excellent cut 1.25-1.35 stone. I want to keep the cost of the stone below 6,500 and the setting close to 1,500. Don't want to spend over 8k total if possible. Here are a few stones I am considering. I'm a little scared of buying SI1 stones in case they are not eye clean. BUt I do like the money saved.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.320-j-si1-round-diamond-gia-34662201

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.300-j-vs1-round-diamond-gia-38272628

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.320-j-si1-round-diamond-gia-38806574

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.270-j-vs2-round-diamond-gia-37995255

http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-search?track=head#diamonds_pid=LD02695530

My favorite settings are the following two platinums on Blue Nile. Does BGD have something similar at similar price?
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-engagement-ring-platinum_17875
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-engagement-ring-platinum_17875

Any suggestions and recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Gypsy]

Have you seen a J colored stone in person? It can be a little risky to buy a J for someone as a surprise. I'd be fine with Si from BGD as long as they can tell you the inclusions pose no risk to safety and that the stone is eyeclean. BN doesn't have the ability to examine each stone, so I'd stick to their signature line, which is pre-screened if you want an SI.

 

[Gypsy]

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.148-i-si1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104059901010 This is the stone I would pick for your budget. I color and SI clarity. The spread (more important than the carat weight) is 6.75mm and it's a Blue Line stone which are great values, each stone is screened for performance and to make sure there are no negative effects from the florescence. It is reserved so I'd call about it.

 

[esmalley007]

Have you seen a J colored stone in person? It can be a little risky to buy a J for someone as a surprise. I'd be fine with Si from BGD as long as they can tell you the inclusions pose no risk to safety and that the stone is eyeclean. BN doesn't have the ability to examine each stone, so I'd stick to their signature line, which is pre-screened if you want an SI.

Is the color difference really noticeably between an H and a J? If so I might consider a smalley stone, 1.10 or so and maybe get a Halo setting.

 

[rubybeth]

Have you seen a J colored stone in person? It can be a little risky to buy a J for someone as a surprise. I'd be fine with Si from BGD as long as they can tell you the inclusions pose no risk to safety and that the stone is eyeclean. BN doesn't have the ability to examine each stone, so I'd stick to their signature line, which is pre-screened if you want an SI.

Is the color difference really noticeably between an H and a J? If so I might consider a smalley stone, 1.10 or so and maybe get a Halo setting.

It's going to depend on how color sensitive you are, but yes, you can generally tell the difference between an H and J if they are side by side. I wouldn't buy one without seeing images or a video first, but even then, in different lighting situations, they will look different. I'd be careful about putting a J color stone in a halo setting with F/G melee stones.

Also, all the stones you linked from BGD and virtual stones, not in house, so you aren't seeing real images of the stones in question. And, the Blue line stone that Gypsy linked is listed as Reserved--did you reserve it?

 

[Gypsy]

It can be a noticable difference, especially when unset and compared to other stones side by side. But when set the difference is not as apparent. AND noticing the difference doesn't mean anything except that your eyes work. It's noticing it and being bothered by it means you are color sensitive. And when you are buying for someone else, it's hard to say what will bother them and what won't. I know many people who happily own J's and others that will not go below H. It just depends. That's why we advise to play it safe.

Regarding a halo setting: does she like that style? What is her lifestyle? How active is she and how careful is she with her stuff.

AN H in an F/G halo is FINE. No issues. Even an I. You can go two color grades in either direction safely.

 

[esmalley007]

Have you seen a J colored stone in person? It can be a little risky to buy a J for someone as a surprise. I'd be fine with Si from BGD as long as they can tell you the inclusions pose no risk to safety and that the stone is eyeclean. BN doesn't have the ability to examine each stone, so I'd stick to their signature line, which is pre-screened if you want an SI.

Is the color difference really noticeably between an H and a J? If so I might consider a smalley stone, 1.10 or so and maybe get a Halo setting.

It's going to depend on how color sensitive you are, but yes, you can generally tell the difference between an H and J if they are side by side. I wouldn't buy one without seeing images or a video first, but even then, in different lighting situations, they will look different. I'd be careful about putting a J color stone in a halo setting with F/G melee stones.

Also, all the stones you linked from BGD and virtual stones, not in house, so you aren't seeing real images of the stones in question. And, the Blue line stone that Gypsy linked is listed as Reserved--did you reserve it?

I did not reserve that stone. If I did decide on the Halo I would choose a smaller stone with a better color rating, no worse than H. I'm a little hesitent about buying a blue line stone. If, for example, wea re in a night club will her stone shine bright blue and if her friends stone has no Fluorescence will hers not shine? How does the blue line look in sunlight and regular lighting?

 

[esmalley007]

It can be a noticable difference, especially when unset and compared to other stones side by side. But when set the difference is not as apparent. AND noticing the difference doesn't mean anything except that your eyes work. It's noticing it and being bothered by it means you are color sensitive. And when you are buying for someone else, it's hard to say what will bother them and what won't. I know many people who happily own J's and others that will not go below H. It just depends. That's why we advise to play it safe.

Regarding a halo setting: does she like that style? What is her lifestyle? How active is she and how careful is she with her stuff.

AN H in an F/G halo is FINE. No issues. Even an I. You can go two color grades in either direction safely.

She does like the halo but I think her preferred setting is small pavees on the side set in platinum. She's very active and I would say modearately careful with her stuff. I guess it really depends on what she's wearing. She is alot more careful when wearing her rolex and her David Yurman jewelery than when she's wearing her pandora bracelet.

 

[rubybeth]

Gypsy can probably answer your questions about fluorescence better than I can, so I'll leave that to her. If you didn't reserve the BGD stone, it might be too late, and I don't see any others in your price range.

What about some of these from James Allen? I haven't put the numbers into the HCA, but you can do that:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1486612.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1501302.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1439017.asp

In this setting:
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/Platinum-Art-Nouveau-2-0mm-Pave-Set-Ring.html
(they actually have a lot of pave settings in your price range that you might like)

James Allen will also tell you if a stone is 'eye clean' to your standards, and give you up to 3 idealscope images to compare, and you can post them here for expert advice.

 

[Gypsy]

I did not reserve that stone. If I did decide on the Halo I would choose a smaller stone with a better color rating, no worse than H. I'm a little hesitent about buying a blue line stone. If, for example, wea re in a night club will her stone shine bright blue and if her friends stone has no Fluorescence will hers not shine? How does the blue line look in sunlight and regular lighting?

With Strong Blue, in a nightclub when the black light is on hers will glow a fabulous blue color, and no if her friends stone has no florescence it would not glow so she'll be jealous. Also in really bright direct sunlight it will glow a faint blue color. With anything medium florescence-ish you won't see it outside of the black light. That's about it.

It is on hold. But the buyer may not be serious or may change their mind. I would call them and ask them if they would place it on hold for you, and send you an email, if the other buyer doesn't not buy it.

I think an I color with strong blue will be fine with a halo, personally.

 

[move1986]

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.076-J-VS1-Round-Diamond-AGS-BL-104059901012

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.106-J-VS1-Round-Diamond-AGS-BL-104059901013

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.075-I-VS2-Round-Diamond-AGS-BL-104059901003

these 3 are also within ur range. They are also the Brian Gavin Blue series.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lzkPLyqZVg
you can see the diamond under diff lighting is this video made by one of their customer.

I myself recently just bought our engagement ring and wedding bands from Brian Gavin.
And mine is also the Brian Gavin Blue. It is a lovely stone. Not much to worry about it. Shine like crazy too.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/our-bgd-engagement-and-wedding-bands-are-finally-here.177880/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/our-bgd-engagement-and-wedding-bands-are-finally-here.177880/[/URL]
u can see from my post.

btw i think the ring setting that u like from Blue nile, Brian Gavin also got one which is similar.
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/pave-and-side-stones/novela-platinum-5372p

It is called "Novela". Mine is also that setting.

 

[stillinlove]

I just wanted to throw in my 2 cents:

For the record, Blue nile WILL inspect a stone to ensure it is eyeclean.

I have an I/Si2 from blue nile, strong blue flor. I LOVE it. I don't see any yellow color in it, and only a very very slight blue in direct sun. Also, when i called BN about the stone, they pulled it from their vault and had someone inspect it to ensure that it was eyeclean and that the strong blue didn't pose any haziness problems.

So, I would say, if you find a stone on BN that you like, call them and ask them to look at it for you - you can always return it if you don't like it when you receive it.

 

[Gypsy]

I just wanted to throw in my 2 cents:

For the record, Blue nile WILL inspect a stone to ensure it is eyeclean.

I have an I/Si2 from blue nile, strong blue flor. I LOVE it. I don't see any yellow color in it, and only a very very slight blue in direct sun. Also, when i called BN about the stone, they pulled it from their vault and had someone inspect it to ensure that it was eyeclean and that the strong blue didn't pose any haziness problems.

So, I would say, if you find a stone on BN that you like, call them and ask them to look at it for you - you can always return it if you don't like it when you receive it.

Is yours a signature line stone? I was told they only offer this level of service with their signature line. Always want to be able to give correct information so your input was great.

 

[stillinlove]

Nope, apparently, Si2's don't qualify for the signature line, but I was told that the cut of my stone would put it in the signature line if it wasn't for the fact that it is an Si2.

They definitely will pull any stone you want them to from the vault and inspect it for eye cleanliness etc. In fact, one of the stones I asked about they said they would not recommend because it had a large black inclusion.

 

[esmalley007]

Nope, apparently, Si2's don't qualify for the signature line, but I was told that the cut of my stone would put it in the signature line if it wasn't for the fact that it is an Si2.

They definitely will pull any stone you want them to from the vault and inspect it for eye cleanliness etc. In fact, one of the stones I asked about they said they would not recommend because it had a large black inclusion.

Thank you for this. Very good to know!

 

[Gypsy]

Great information. I assume this is Blue Nile USA ?