Exhausted and overwhelmed.

[DoeEyes]

I'm just exhausted. I don't want to be a diamond expert. I just want a pretty diamond that's not thousands of dollars. I don't know what my budget is. I have plenty of savings but I don't want to spend a lot on this. Maybe $1500-2000 for both my engagement ring and wedding ring. His ring will be separate. Maybe I could even get both of mine for $1000 total? I just don't know what's possible and what the lowest really is.

Here's what I'm looking for. I hope screenshots are ok, I'm attaching a picture of the basic look I want.

Engagement ring: white gold ring with 6 prong solitaire setting, 0.5-.75 ct diamond. Low profile. Would like the band to be relatively thin. I think I like the petite nouveau from Blue Nile.

Wedding ring: white gold half eternity band. I do prefer the chunkier looking ones but I know those are bigger diamonds and will be more expensive so the thinner ones are fine.

For the diamonds I just want them to look white and sparkly and I don't want to spend a penny more than I need to. I'm vaguely aware that I can save money by getting an "eye clean" clarity and lower color grades will still look white etc, but honestly I just don't know how low to go and I'm so exhausted from trying to figure this out I feel like crying.

I live in Philly so I have a lot of local jeweler options but I've visited a few and the big box stores feel icky and I went to one smaller jeweler and felt like he brushed me off and didn't have time for me.

I'm just tired. Please send help.

 

[DoeEyes]

Is it totally insane to buy it on Groupon?

 

[whitewave]

Do you think you would ever upgrade to a larger stone, and if so would you make this one a pendant? Or would you want to trade this one in and use the money toward a larger stone?

We got ya. I would say you could go eyeclean SI 1,and if you want white, stay with a G color.

So G VS2 or SI1

 

[whitewave]

Here is 1/2 carat from Martin at USA Certified jewelers. He is the rock bottom pricing but no trade in policy.

https://www.pricescope.com/diamonds/round/0_5-carat-g-color-si1-clarity-6207876. $1172 you contact Martin by calling him.

Actually, I’ll stop there. Martin is who I recommend for you. He can also tell you if he has any SI1 or 2 that are eye clean.
Here is the direct link to his website:

http://www.usacerteddiamonds.com/usagia/index3.html

 

[farrahlyn]

Yes, totally insane to buy on groupon for something like this. lol! But we can find you a good deal. I would recommend a stuller setting, they are inexpensive but very nice. Purchase the stone separately and have your local jeweler set it.

as far as the wedding band, eternities can get pricey. you can always stack bands? Or do a band like these. you still get presence without costing an arm and a leg.

https://www.jamesallen.com/wedding-...are-prong-diamond-anniversary-ring-item-58316

https://www.jamesallen.com/wedding-...w-bar-set-diamond-anniversary-ring-item-58412

https://www.jamesallen.com/wedding-...mon-prong-diamond-anniversary-ring-item-58260

 

[whitewave]

The one from Groupon isn’t going to be sparkly or white. It’s going to be yellow, opaque and unclear—ungraded I/j, only a good cut (still excellent and ideal above that) and I2 clarity. It’s a pitiful set.

 

[Maisie]

https://loupetroop.com/listings/rin...mond-in-platinum-baguette-mount-size-5-dot-25

Would you consider this? I bought my diamond from this ps’er and it’s beautiful. She has very good taste. You could get a plain band for now and add a diamond eternity for your anniversary. I know it doesn’t match the specs you gave but maybe you might like it.

Or this set?

https://loupetroop.com/listings/rin...-and-10k-white-gold-diamond-wedding-set;23497

 

[MamaBee]

Please don’t buy from Groupon. It will be a terrible quality and it won’t sparkle at all. You have some great suggestions already. Check those out first so you don’t get any more overwhelmed. If you don’t like them then come back and we’ll find you something. Don’t cry..This should be a happy time for you.

 

[JPie]

The Groupon diamond will probably resemble a piece of frozen spit; however, you're in good hands here! I see a lot of great suggestions already.

 

[DoeEyes]

Here is 1/2 carat from Martin at USA Certified jewelers. He is the rock bottom pricing but no trade in policy.

https://www.pricescope.com/diamonds/round/0_5-carat-g-color-si1-clarity-6207876. $1172 you contact Martin by calling him.

Actually, I’ll stop there. Martin is who I recommend for you. He can also tell you if he has any SI1 or 2 that are eye clean.
Here is the direct link to his website:

http://www.usacerteddiamonds.com/usagia/index3.html

So is $1100-1200 the minimum I should expect to pay for this size diamond? Settings and band bringing me up to about $2k? Plus then I have to pay a jeweler to put it all together.

I tried on a set from Barsky in Philly and it was going to be about $2500 for both rings. I posted the specs in another post. And it seems like I can find something on Blue Nile for about $2k total too. Should I just do that? No muss no fuss. My only concern is they only allow two complementary returns per customer and what if I need to tweak it a lot?

 

[ringo865]

Please do not buy an I2 from groupon. Go to Walmart and look at their diamonds. They are probably I1-2. Pretty much anything will be better than that.

With a stone of that diameter, you could go lower in color. Maybe to an I. Clarity however should not be I.

Does his band have to have stones? Eweddingbands has reasonable prices.

Must you have your wedding band now? If you can save up til the wedding, you could put more toward your engagement ring now.

Blue nile and others can put the diamond into a setting for you.

 

[farrahlyn]

For a stone under .8ct, i prefer a 4 prong setting, a 6 prong setting can be overwhelming unless the prongs are really refined.

What about this combo? $1387 for the e-ring setting and stone.
setting: https://www.bluenile.com/build-your...old_19788?elem=img&track=product&vtype=sample
Stone: https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...AMONDS&track=viewDiamondDetails&action=newTab

and for the weding band i'd wait for a JA sale and snag a band there. Or one of these which will keep you just under your $2k all in budget

https://www.bluenile.com/riviera-pa...old_43663?elem=img&track=product&vtype=sample

https://www.bluenile.com/pave-wedding-band-14k-white-gold_44381?elem=img&track=product&vtype=sample

 

[whitewave]

So is $1100-1200 the minimum I should expect to pay for this size diamond? Settings and band bringing me up to about $2k? Plus then I have to pay a jeweler to put it all together.

I tried on a set from Barsky in Philly and it was going to be about $2500 for both rings. I posted the specs in another post. And it seems like I can find something on Blue Nile for about $2k total too. Should I just do that? No muss no fuss. My only concern is they only allow two complementary returns per customer and what if I need to tweak it a lot?

Martin can make you a ring when you buy the diamond.

Do you have a costco membership? Maybe look there.

 

[DoeEyes]

@farrahlyn The 3 bands you linked are what I meant when I said the "chunky" look. I thought those were all called half eternity when there are stones going halfway around the band just on top? Now I'm confused. I actually like this chunky look just as much as the tiny ones, like the one in my picture.

@Maisie Thank you, but neither of those are the look I want, unless you just mean buying them for the diamonds and putting it into something else? High price for that though.

@ringo865 Lol, after everyone's responses the Groupon ring is out. I assumed it was a no-go at that price. Saving up isn't the issue, I have plenty in savings right now. I wanted to just buy both at the same time to make sure they look nice together, and so I wouldn't ever have to do this horrible shopping experience again LOL. I want to get it all out of the way right now and be done with it. Would it make sense to buy a diamond somewhere else and have Blue Nile put it into a setting? They seem to have a huge selection of diamonds on their website, so unless I could save a few hundred on the diamond it would probably be easier just to get one they already have right?

 

[farrahlyn]

adding a few more BN stone options which might push you slightly over budget but not by a lot.
.58ct I VVS1 $1362.26
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...AMONDS&track=viewDiamondDetails&action=newTab

.51ct I VVS2 $1252
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...AMONDS&track=viewDiamondDetails&action=newTab

 

[farrahlyn]

I totally get the one stop shopping when you just want to get it done with!

@farrahlyn The 3 bands you linked are what I meant when I said the "chunky" look. I thought those were all called half eternity when there are stones going halfway around the band just on top? Now I'm confused. I actually like this chunky look just as much as the tiny ones, like the one in my picture.

those that i linked from JA aren't half eternities, if you look at them, they dont go halfway. Depending on your ring size though, you'll probably get the completely diamond look across your finger.

 

[DoeEyes]

@farrahlyn I thought long and hard about 4-prong vs 6-prong and I really love the 6-prong look. I've seen a few pictures of the smaller diamonds with 6-prong and I still love it. The 4-prong is too square for me. I love the classic look of 6. The two wedding bands you linked are great!
@whitewave I don't have a Costco membership. I might try calling Martin and see if he can walk me through this. I'm hesitant to even reach out to anyone because every time I go to a jeweler I spend a lot of time and mental energy and end up walking away feeling more confused and frustrated than I was before. Honestly that's why Blue Nile is appealing to me.

 

[bludiva]

Hi @frogplus - what I'm hearing is ring shopping is a chore you want to get over with and you want a classic look and don't want to spend to much on it. If you're not in a rush one option would be to pick out a setting and band you like from James Allen and wait for their next 25% off sale, they have one every few months. Then post again here and the prosumers can point out the best stones for your budget. It sounds like a one-stop-shop would be less stressful, either James Allen or Blue Nile would have that classic look you want and options in any price range. Good luck and you're the customer, jewelers should be making it easier for you, not more frustrating.

 

[kindred]

The bands that @farrahlyn suggested will not look "chunky" in person. You are seeing a hugely magnified image. Those bands are all 2.5 mm and only have .25 ct of diamonds. They will look much more delicate in person.

Are you open to a pre-loved (used) ring if you can find the right style or would you prefer to buy new?

I would not be too worried about Blue Nile's policy. Just make sure you don't buy a third time from them if you aren't happy with the first two. But that really shouldn't be a problem. I would rather buy from James Allen, personally, as they can usually get you Idealscope images of the diamond, which we could help you analyze.

 

[KristinTech]

@frogplus You have come to the right place! If you prefer Blue Nile, there are many fans here and they can guide you!

 

[whitewave]

B2Cjewels.com is less expensive also. I have had good luck with them. They also have a clearance section under the jewelry tab.

What is your ring size?

 

[whitewave]

@farrahlyn I thought long and hard about 4-prong vs 6-prong and I really love the 6-prong look. I've seen a few pictures of the smaller diamonds with 6-prong and I still love it. The 4-prong is too square for me. I love the classic look of 6. The two wedding bands you linked are great!
@whitewave I don't have a Costco membership. I might try calling Martin and see if he can walk me through this. I'm hesitant to even reach out to anyone because every time I go to a jeweler I spend a lot of time and mental energy and end up walking away feeling more confused and frustrated than I was before. Honestly that's why Blue Nile is appealing to me.

Martin is a sponsor here, so he is considered a trusted source, I think if you explained your mindset and what you want, he could help.

 

[farrahlyn]

@farrahlyn I thought long and hard about 4-prong vs 6-prong and I really love the 6-prong look. I've seen a few pictures of the smaller diamonds with 6-prong and I still love it. The 4-prong is too square for me. I love the classic look of 6. The two wedding bands you linked are great!

Totally Understand. the BN petite noveau is gorgeous but you won't quite get the .5ct stone AND diamond band you want under $2k, you'll be just slightly over that. You can also request petite prongs but i think they charge an additional $50

Just a few more options, from adiamor:
setting: $450 I LOVE this setting!
https://www.adiamor.com/Engagement-...Custom-Fit-Basket-Solitaire/14KWhiteGold/1792

stones:
I SI1 $1121 so $1571 e-ring total
https://www.adiamor.com/Diamonds/0.50-ct-I-SI1-Affinity-Cut-Round-Diamond/D41313474

G SI1 $1285 so $1735 e-ring total (I LOVE this diamond!)
https://www.adiamor.com/Diamonds/0.50-ct-G-SI1-Affinity-Cut-Round-Diamond/D42017616


wedding band option: but quite frankly i'd prob go with one of the JA or BN options i posted.
https://www.adiamor.com/Wedding-Rin...w-Diamond-Wedding-Band-25mm/14KWhiteGold/1563

 

[Maisie]

A lot of Pricescope members on a strict budget have had success buying from ID Jewelry. If you call up and speak to Yekutiel he will help you find the perfect ring within your budget. Tell him you heard of him from Pricescope. He will find you a beautiful diamond.

 

[Snowdrop13]

@frogplus Sounds to me like you could do with someone walking you through this in person. Consider talking to ID jewellery. I have no personal experience but they get excellent reviews on here and are known for being very good at working miracles for all budgets!

Edit: posting at the same time as @Maisie

 

[LLJsmom]

Follow the recommendations provided for Blue Nile or any other online vendor. Do NOT pick something on your own. The cut of the diamond matters most if you want something sparkly. So you need to trust the PSers who are posting suggestions because they know about cut.

 

[LLJsmom]

@frogplus Sounds to me like you could do with someone walking you through this in person. Consider talking to ID jewellery. I have no personal experience but they get excellent reviews on here and are known for being very good at working miracles for all budgets!

Edit: posting at the same time as @Maisie

This is a great idea too. ID jewelry is in NYC and they can work with you over the phone and via text and email. They can hand hold you and help find you a very beautiful diamond within budget, get it set and help you get a matching band. Many many PSers have used them and have been happy with the result. Call them directly on the phone and tell them you were recommended by Pricescopers and want Pricescope quality diamonds. Suck it up and just call. Won’t cost you a thing to talk to a trusted vendor.

 

[sledge]

Here is 1/2 carat from Martin at USA Certified jewelers. He is the rock bottom pricing but no trade in policy.

https://www.pricescope.com/diamonds/round/0_5-carat-g-color-si1-clarity-6207876. $1172 you contact Martin by calling him.

Actually, I’ll stop there. Martin is who I recommend for you. He can also tell you if he has any SI1 or 2 that are eye clean.
Here is the direct link to his website:

http://www.usacerteddiamonds.com/usagia/index3.html

Yuck. Angles are not good. Although budget friendly, you are sacrificing on cut quality. For just a little more you can get better color & more sparkle.




These are all viable options with great angles, G color and VS2+ clarity. Plus all them have AGS certification with Ideal 0 (best available) cut grades.

0.57ct G VS2 $1,442 wire (with VS2 clarity shouldn't be an issue, but verify inclusions on table doesn't affect it being eye clean and/or light performance)
https://www.b2cjewels.com/dd/976419...m_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com

0.56ct G VS2 $1,480 wire
https://www.b2cjewels.com/dd/976499...m_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com

0.53ct G VS1 $1,478 wire
https://www.b2cjewels.com/dd/976402...m_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com


And here are some settings.

6-prong basic setting (2.00mm)(tapers in @ head, will make small stone look bigger) - $190
https://www.b2cjewels.com/round/1/t...amond-engagement-ring-in-14k-white-gold-20-mm

6-prong low profile basket setting (1.80mm) - $340
https://www.b2cjewels.com/round/1/t...ire-diamond-engagement-ring-in-14k-white-gold

6-prong solitaire (1.70mm) (similar to Noveau Petite but has petals) - $425
https://www.b2cjewels.com/round/1/t...-and-geometric-motif-in-14k-white-gold-170-mm

 

[sledge]

Nice thing about the B2C options I posted above is if you like the stone & settings, it's a one stop shop for you. They will mount the stone, etc and mail it to you. I haven't worked with them personally but several here have and they seem to be good.

If you are interested in spending a little more money, I have some options at WhiteFlash to show you that are pretty awesome also. You pay a little more but IMO you also get a little more. It might be your "easy button" experience you seek. Plus, they have rock solid customer service & a killer upgrade program -- spend $1 more and get full credit of original stone price.

Your call though. Really depends where you want to be price-wise.

 

[whitewave]

Right. Op seems to be a customer who just wants a white and sparkly ring, so i don’t think we are talking super ideals and I’m not sure we are talking about complimentary angles either. (Though it would be nice).

She was looking at ungraded IJ I2 Groupon rings, so I don’t necessarily think she needs GIA graded either.

I do think IDJ would be a good choice as well, as Yekutiel can get her ungraded stones also.