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Engagement ring upgrade time.

timelinex

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 20, 2016
Messages
7
My wife and I always bought locally at Shane Co and have been really happy with our purchases. They offer lifetime cleanings and such, so it gives my wife 'peace'. It's time for us to upgrade the diamond on her engagement ring (.72ct shane co signature cut) and I'm really opposed to paying a big premium just because it's local. I've found earlier threads recommending a site or two that are reliable and trustworthy. HOWEVER, my wife has one big issue with the entire thing. You can't see the diamond in person before buying it. As we all know, there is more to a diamond that just the raw numbers on paper. For example I think she likes a little more color than completely colorless, so even if we could afford the most expensive it wouldn't be for us.

We are looking for something that's about 1 carat and under the 10kish range.

Any recommendations on what we can do?
 

telephone89

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Aug 29, 2014
Messages
4,223
Where do you live? Many of the rec'd vendors have brick and mortar stores you can go to. Many/Most of the rec'd vendors have WONDERFUL return policies. So you can order a stone (or two or three), view them in real life and different lighting conditions and send back if not totally happy.

You have a terrific budget for what you're looking for. Not sure what you mean by 'some colour', but here are some from WF.
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3586220.htm 1.458 ct J VS2
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3601957.htm 1.414 ct I SI1
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2890097.htm 1.322 ct H SI1
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3577112.htm 1.205 ct G SI1

Of course, should you wish to stick closer to 1 ct you'll simply save a good chunk of change :)
 

timelinex

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 20, 2016
Messages
7
I'm in the PHX,AZ area. Her ring looks very similar to this:

http://shaneco.com/detail/three-stone-swirl-diamond-engagement-ring-in-14k-white-gold/41071262

We would get bigger but they told us at Shane Co that without some serious modification it would only fit about 1 carat. Also, it might look a little goofy with any bigger in this type of ring. I was hoping to keep it under 8k actually, but am ok with 10k if we find something 'worth it'. So it looks like 8k is totally reasonable for a great diamond at our size. That 1.2ct diamond looks great (in pictures and video), maybe we gotta ask how the 1.2 will fit in the band.

By color, I literally meant color. I think our diamond is H. Comparing to E's my wife said she actually didn't like how they were noticeably a bit clearer under light. Who am I to argue that it's technically 'better' :naughty: :naughty:

I would love to look at something locally. I know we can order and send back, but it's not preferable. If you can recommend somewhere local thats close to the price/quality as the big online guys, I would love to check it out.

thanks
 

telephone89

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Aug 29, 2014
Messages
4,223
So if her current stone is around 3/4, I don't think a 1.2 would be a great idea. If you want to reuse the setting (you can always get a new one for the new diamond :Up_to_something: ) you'd need to get mm measurements from the jeweler to see what you can fit. Most settings don't have a huge range and will need to be similarly sized.
 

timelinex

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 20, 2016
Messages
7
I talked to the store and officially they actually said that I can put up to a 1.5ct diamond in that ring. I asked him to double check because I couldn't believe it and he said it's true. He's going based off the item's actual numbers in their system.

So I'm thinking we will try something up to 1.2ct or so.
 

diamondseeker2006

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jan 11, 2006
Messages
58,547
They would have to replace the head to do that, and even then, it might mean the diamond would be set way up high in order to make it fit between the side stones. I'd honestly either keep the ring as it is or put a colored stone in it if you are selling the diamond or putting it in a pendant or something. If she ever wants a larger stone, this is a good time to buy because prices are relatively low. No way would I try to get a larger stone in that setting. I think it will mess it up.
 

timelinex

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 20, 2016
Messages
7
diamondseeker2006|1454097686|3983692 said:
They would have to replace the head to do that, and even then, it might mean the diamond would be set way up high in order to make it fit between the side stones. I'd honestly either keep the ring as it is or put a colored stone in it if you are selling the diamond or putting it in a pendant or something. If she ever wants a larger stone, this is a good time to buy because prices are relatively low. No way would I try to get a larger stone in that setting. I think it will mess it up.

According to them, they would only have to replace the head if I wanted something bigger than 1.5ct.

Maybe they made the head smaller from the original to fit the .72ct ?
 

partgypsy

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Nov 7, 2004
Messages
6,622
If you could go to one of the recommended vendors here I would suggest taking the ring with you, so the jeweler can examine it and give their opinion what is the largest size that would comfortably fit in that setting.
 

timelinex

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 20, 2016
Messages
7
Well we spent the night looking at diamonds and have decided. I'm buying the follwoing two and we will return the one she likes less:

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3622370.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3621245.htm

They are roughly the same price. One is bigger (1.3ct) and G/vs2 while the other is 1.1ct and F/vs1. Obviously a bigger size is nice, so she will take a look at the smaller size and see if the 'better stats' is worth the smaller size on the 1.1ct one.

Any comments on our choices?
 

timelinex

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 20, 2016
Messages
7
Have the AGS reports changed since 2012 to be a little more detailed on the inclusion map? We have a VS2 and there is barely anything there, just 4 small lines. It seems like all the diamonds AGS reports we look at now have ALOT more stuff detailed on there. Even the vvs2 ones seem to have more than ours.

Any explanations for this?
 

diamondseeker2006

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jan 11, 2006
Messages
58,547
I seriously doubt the inclusion mapping has been changed. Likely depends on the type of inclusions as to how much is actually plotted. Many times you'll see a notation that there are additional clouds or twining wisps not plotted. A stone might have more white inclusions and another might have one black inclusion with the same clarity grade. I don't worry too much about the inclusion plot in a VS2 stone as long as the vendor says it is eyeclean. I might look at it with a loupe and make sure I am okay with the inclusions, though.
 

tyty333

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Dec 17, 2008
Messages
27,196
timelinex|1454121606|3983863 said:
Well we spent the night looking at diamonds and have decided. I'm buying the follwoing two and we will return the one she likes less:

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3622370.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3621245.htm

They are roughly the same price. One is bigger (1.3ct) and G/vs2 while the other is 1.1ct and F/vs1. Obviously a bigger size is nice, so she will take a look at the smaller size and see if the 'better stats' is worth the smaller size on the 1.1ct one.

Any comments on our choices?

OK, so they are both beautiful stones but I thought you said she liked color and you are looking at an F? Why not go down some in
the color range to H/I and go bigger or save some money? I think you should put it in a new setting :bigsmile: .

Is your VS2 stone a GIA or AGS?
 

timelinex

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 20, 2016
Messages
7
tyty333|1454284426|3984856 said:
timelinex|1454121606|3983863 said:
Well we spent the night looking at diamonds and have decided. I'm buying the follwoing two and we will return the one she likes less:

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3622370.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3621245.htm

They are roughly the same price. One is bigger (1.3ct) and G/vs2 while the other is 1.1ct and F/vs1. Obviously a bigger size is nice, so she will take a look at the smaller size and see if the 'better stats' is worth the smaller size on the 1.1ct one.

Any comments on our choices?

OK, so they are both beautiful stones but I thought you said she liked color and you are looking at an F? Why not go down some in
the color range to H/I and go bigger or save some money? I think you should put it in a new setting :bigsmile: .

Is your VS2 stone a GIA or AGS?
Her's is a G, so G and F are still OK. I think the one we saw was an E and that was too clear. Her's is done by AGS.
 
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