Engagement Ring - She knows what she wants?

[cabby]

Significant other has selected this at $3,799.99.
http://www.kay.com/en/kaystore/engagement---wedding/three-stone-ring-1-5-8-ct-tw-diamonds-14k-white-gold/100006/100006.100007.100010

Neither of us has seen this in person.

This is a custom piece? It seems I can just place in cart and order.

What is likelihood of seeing this in store?... and then walking out with it for $2,500?
Even if I could is it "worth" that even?

New to PS, from my brief readings, chances are I'm going to overspend at a mall store and the "certifications" are not GIA so are worthless.

I haven't be able to find another 3 stone with that type of ring.
Sorry is the setting considered the ring also or is it separate from the ring itself?

Please advise.

Thanks

 

[Sunstorm]

Dear OP, I am sure that soon you will have some lovely people here on PS assisting you with suggestions and recommendations but I thought I would chime in until then. I am not sure whether you could get discounts, perhaps at such stores you can, however, you can find much nicer options even at lower prices. The clarity grade of the diamonds is very concerning. I1-I2 stones can be very problematic to say the least. It is highly unlikely these will not be eyeclean stones but even more concerning is the fact that when an I2 is concerned, the integrity of the stone may be badly affected and you may end up with a damaged or shattered stone. Not the mention the other specs of these diamonds. I am positive that the cut will leave much to be desired. Color is acceptable but normally that is subjective anyhow but the clarity alerted me and I have doubts about the overall quality of the ring, especially the cut of the diamonds.

 

[marmar2013]

Hi
I highly recommend researching on here and finding something else. DO NOT BUY from a mall store, you and your girl will likely regret it in the future.

Most rings come with the "setting" and then you buy the center stone seperate. This one is "all in one" because the quality is of the stones is not great. See what you can piece together here, i believe engagement rings direct probably has the best prices, but others will chime in as well.

good luck!!!!!

 

[JulieN]

What is your budget? That setting has so much going on, it could easily cost $2500 alone.

 

[cabby]

Wow just from these 3 replies I learned alot. I1-I2 didn't mean much to me so a quick google....
http://gia4cs.gia.edu/EN-US/the-diamond-4-cs.htm?gclid=CJ7V-YC6wL4CFe07OgodkkMA7w
Pretty much lowest grade possible.
Online reviews of Kay and complaints of seeing "black carbon" with the naked eye now make sense.

Regarding the setting. In the setting I linked originally does the setting include the smaller diamonds?
Looks like there could be over 2 dozen of them there.

Budget $3000

 

[JulieN]

I think you should take her shopping, to be clear that's what she really wants. So many times people like something they see in a picture and then change their minds after seeing it in person.

Yes it includes all the small diamonds.

 

[Sunstorm]

It is one possibility to take her ring shopping but I think that you are better off buying online from a well respected vendors who supplies information, photos, certificates, etc. I know it is a great feeling to buy in person and I was one who never ordered online but I do think you get a better value these days in most cases if you buy an engagement ring online and you can definitely get quality. As a trade person I cannot make recommendations to you unfortunately but perhaps others will comment and give you ideas of nice stones, setting and rings. You can look at ongoing currents threads on engagement rings that recommend very nice options for around 2500. I think that you have a very good chance of finding something beautiful for that price.

 

[Rhea]

As an example, what about something like a half carat in a Gabriel NY setting.

0.5 carat / H / SI1 from James Allen for $1500 USD http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.50-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-320138
0.53 / I / SI1 for James Allen for $1590 http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.53-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-308009
or a similar diamond
in a setting like these
http://www.gabrielny.com/engaged/style/ER6544W44JJ for $1465USD
http://www.gabrielny.com/engaged/style/ER7001W44JJ for $1465
http://www.gabrielny.com/engaged/style/ER8575W44JJ for $1440
http://www.gabrielny.com/engaged/style/ER9501W44JJ for $1465
http://www.gabrielny.com/engaged/style/ER6430W44JJ for $1440

I don't know how much setting will cost so I'd set aside a bit of money for that so the above might put you a bit over budget.

 

[Sunstorm]

These are good options suggested to start with but it would be worth looking at several recommended vendors or another option would be to go for preowned/vintage/antique, not sure if you are open to that at all. You may also want to check out the thread titled "Is this ring pretty or tacky" where there are many good vendors, different looks and options suggested many of which are are also quite flashy which your lady seems to prefer. But with the above options you are already doing far better both as far as the diamond; you would at least have triple EX versus the Kay is probably not better than good and clarity is far better here, SI1s tend to be one of the best choices for value when they are eyeclean and the workmanship on the settings suggested is also far superior to a mall chain store's.