Expert help needed - Engagement ring

[webcase]

I am looking to buy an engagement ring online and in need for help. I did some research but have only theoretical knowledge about diamonds.
My girlfriend has fairly long but somewhat thin fingers and I decided to go with 1 carat stone.

My budget is 10k and these are three diamonds I would like to choose from (other recommendations are welcome as well):

http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?__fun_frm=i&pid=LD01070016&filter_id=0
http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?__fun_frm=i&pid=LD01086397&filter_id=0
http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?__fun_frm=i&pid=LD01089362&filter_id=0

I am also completely clueless regarding the setting. I think that a solitaire platinum will work but there are so many to choose from!

Appreciate all your help and advise!

Thank you guys

 

[jaz464]

My choice would be to go down in clarity a lot and to go through a vendor other then BN. I prefer more info than that vendor is willing to give out.

 

[snlee]

Welcome to PS!

10K is a very generous budget. You could easily get larger than a 1 carat diamond. I would also go down in clarity. VVS2 is overkill. I'd go with a VS or eye clean SI. BN doesn't provide enough information. Cut is the most important. Have you checked out Whiteflash? They have some great solitaire ering settings here. You can also search for diamonds here. ACA and ES diamonds are ideal cut.

I ran a quick search and found these options:

1.08 ct F VS1 A Cut Above H&A
1.087 ct F VS2 A Cut Above H&A
1.24 ct F VS2 Round Ideal Cut
1.276 ct F VS2 Round Ideal Cut

 

[Regular Guy]

Mostly agree with my friends.

I like this one, discounted with wire pricing.

See below my signature for other ideas, but also consider the search by cut db to search more broadly, larging including WF options.

Regards,

 

[jstarfireb]

You have an extremely healthy budget for a 1ct, so why not go bigger? I'd go down in color AND clarity to get a bigger diamond, like this:
http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-179725.htm - Remember, ACAs have a 5% discount if you pay by wire and mention you're a PS member. Other diamonds at WF have a 3% discount. This one comes to about $10k with the discount, and you could add a simple WG setting for less than $200 since you'd already be topping off your budget with this diamond.
http://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/Round-Ideal-Cut-cut-diamond-311795.htm# - This one would be under budget, and it would allow you to get the setting I mention below...

I'd consider diamonds all the way down to I/SI2. Dropping the color to I in particular really opens up your options in the 1.5ct range. You probably won't see any color in a well-cut I, and you can find beautiful SI2s that are eye-clean, though it might take some work.

And set it in a classic platinum or white gold solitaire like this:
http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Solitaire/-Legato--Sleek-Line_1118.htm

 

[webcase]

Thank you everyone for your help. I am looking into your suggestions right now.

Is there any specific reason most of the people on pricescope recommend GOG or WF websites? I don''t see big price difference between
bluenile and these two, other than bluenile not providing detailed information of course.

Also, when I am looking at the clarity report (VS1, VS2) and see clouds, needles and pinpoints - how would you rate these?

Thanks again!

 

[JulieN]

Date: 6/25/2007 2:08:01 AM
Author: webcase
Thank you everyone for your help. I am looking into your suggestions right now.

Is there any specific reason most of the people on pricescope recommend GOG or WF websites? I don't see big price difference between
bluenile and these two, other than bluenile not providing detailed information of course.

Also, when I am looking at the clarity report (VS1, VS2) and see clouds, needles and pinpoints - how would you rate these?

Thanks again!

just ease. GOG carries a few designer lines, WF has great in-house custom work. so working with just one vendor for the stone and setting can make things easier. you can get pictures, someone on the other side to tell you if it's eye-clean.

VS2 is almost always completely eye-clean; no point in paying for a difference you can see only with magnification. rate? clouds, needles, and pinpoints are completely non-issues as far as desirability/ratings of the possible inclusions. Really, you don't get to durability issues until at least SI2.

 

[Regular Guy]

Date: 6/25/2007 2:08:01 AM
Author: webcase

Is there any specific reason most of the people on pricescope recommend GOG or WF websites? I don''t see big price difference between
bluenile and these two, other than bluenile not providing detailed information of course.

Hmmmm.....

I wonder how this is different from comparing two people...one fat and one skinny...and saying you don''t see the difference...except for that huge waistline on one of them.

1) the detailed information you mention is absolutely not provided by all vendors, internet or b&m.
2) that info provides information that illustrates the primary criteria you would like to use to make your purchase selection...i.e., it helps to show light performance dynamics...and without that information, sometimes...two diamonds next to each other would really otherwise be virtually indistinguishable.
3) consistent with their ability to provide this info, they also are not just showing you a slide show of the diamonds that exist virtually in a warehouse...they have examined each of these, and are in their own inventory (usually...for WF & GOG at least), and have made a financial investment in that set of stones you can therefore see and understand more about.
4) and btw, as many point out, you can trade them up later...not a concern to some...but significant concern to many.

 

[webcase]

Thank you so much again for all the advise!

My only problem right now is the ring size. She has no rings at all so I am clueless.. I would like to surprise her so not sure how to figure out the right size

 

[justjulia]

Can you enlist her mama''s help? Or best friend? No jewelry box they can snoop in?
Or put a string around her finger while she''s sleeping... no, just kidding. Good question.
I would ask your particular vendor how they handle that maybe?

 

[InlovewithJHK]

Because everyone is suggesting to go bigger than 1 carat, I just want to let you know that I don''t have ONE friend that wouldn''t want a bigger diamond if the option was there for them. I''m sure there are people like that out there but since you haven''t consulted with your GF on size and are just going off instinct, I would try for 1.25 or bigger with your budget and still get a knockout diamond. My center stone was around $10,000 for a 1.28 G VS2 and I love it.

Adding more to the mix

1.26 F VS1 - http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=131&item=866279
1.36 G VS2 - http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=131&item=1072535

But you really can''t go wrong with whiteflash''s ACA!

 

[webcase]

Ok. I am about to pull the trigger. I have found these two and they look similar.

Which one looks better based on the specs? They look virtually the same to me.

http://whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-329896.htm
http://whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-329898.htm

Thanks!

 

[kcoursolle]

Date: 7/5/2007 2:03:16 PM
Author: webcase
Ok. I am about to pull the trigger. I have found these two and they look similar.

Which one looks better based on the specs? They look virtually the same to me.

http://whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-329896.htm
http://whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-329898.htm

Thanks!

Both are really lovely and winners, but my personal preference would be this one: http://whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-329896.htm# The cut specs are tight and in my sweet zone.

If you wanted, you could save quite a bit of money by going down in color and clarity to the G/H and SI1 range and still have a very white and clean diamond.

ETA: don't forget to ask for the PS discount, it's small but helps.

 

[In the rough]

I like http://whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-329896.htm, but I think both are quite nice...

 

[webcase]

Thanks for all your help again. This forum rocks!

 

[cinnamon013]

I saw the SOLD sign! Congrats! Be sure to show us pictures!