Final Decision Time

[cawolf86]

Hey there, in my other thread I have learned so much and narrowed it down finally. Thanks to all of your help!

I have certain stones on hold for the next 24 hours and hopefully can pick one out in that time. If you could please help me out by voting for your favorite setting and stone it would make my life a little easier. I value all of your opinions and comments as well.

Setting 1 - http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/2mm-Knife-Edge-18k-White-Gold-Solitaire-Ring.html
Setting 2 - http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/White-Gold-2-1mm-French-Cut-Pave-Engagement-Ring.html
Setting 3 - http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/Common-Prong-Engagement-Ring.html

Stone 1 -
Carat - 0.74
Cut - Excellent
Color - J
Clarity - VS1 clean
Fluorescence - None
HCA - 1.3
Size - 5.81mm


Stone 2 -
Carat - 0.72
Cut - Excellent
Color - J
Clarity - VS1 clean
Fluorescence - None
HCA - 1.7
Size - 5.69mm


Stone 3 -
Carat - 0.61
Cut - Excellent
Color - I
Clarity - VVS2 clean
Fluorescence - None
HCA - 0.9
Size - 5.44mm


Stone 4-
Carat - 0.71
Cut - Excellent
Color - I
Clarity - SI2 feather
Fluorescence - Faint
HCA - 1.7
Size - 5.71mm

Stone 5-
Carat - 0.61
Cut - Excellent
Color - J
Clarity - VS1 clean
Fluorescence - Strong blue
HCA - 1.8
Size - 5.43mm

Stone 6-
Carat - 0.59
Cut - Excellent
Color - J
Clarity - VS1 clean
Fluorescence - Strong blue
HCA - 1.4
Size - 5.41mm

I do not have pics for the other stones but they appear eye clean with good light return and symmetry per the seller.

If you can give it a shot that would be great!!

Thank so much,

-Andrew

 

[Enerchi]

Setting 1 (classic, can upgrade later, flexibility with WR options)
Stone 3 (HCA, clarity, mid size) and can also upgrade later

 

[cawolf86]

Thanks for the response.

Anyone have any thoughts on the idealscopes? They all look similar in performance right?

 

[Christina...]

diamond # 1

setting # 3


Cant wait to see what you decice!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Can you tell me what your stone budget is? I think you are going too high on clarity on most of the stones except the one SI2. I'd look at I color over a J VS1, but the I VVS2 is paying for unnecessarily high clarity. I'd suggest VS2 at the most. I can suggest other stones if you tell me the budget. I'd just rather have an I VS2 over a J VS1, personally.

Here are a couple:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1390218.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1437809.asp

 

[winternight]

Can you tell me what your stone budget is? I think you are going too high on clarity on most of the stones except the one SI2. I'd look at I color over a J VS1, but the I VVS2 is paying for unnecessarily high clarity. I'd suggest VS2 at the most. I can suggest other stones if you tell me the budget. I'd just rather have an I VS2 over a J VS1, personally.

Here are a couple:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1390218.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1437809.asp

I agree with this.

As for setting the simple one or the shared prong for more sparkle. All those setting are really nice though.

 

[cawolf86]

Can you tell me what your stone budget is? I think you are going too high on clarity on most of the stones except the one SI2. I'd look at I color over a J VS1, but the I VVS2 is paying for unnecessarily high clarity. I'd suggest VS2 at the most. I can suggest other stones if you tell me the budget. I'd just rather have an I VS2 over a J VS1, personally.

Here are a couple:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1390218.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1437809.asp

All stones linked are under 2k.

Those look nice just a little out of my budget. I went with J color because we decided that with an online purchase clarity was the hardest to judge and paying a little more for VS was worth it - as opposed to color which for the most part, J looks great to me. I will rebrowse a little bit though - I really appreciate the feedback.

Do you think that a .6 would look ok on the common prong setting on a size 4.75 finger?

 

[chel180]

stones linked are under 2k.

Those look nice just a little out of my budget. I went with J color because we decided that with an online purchase clarity was the hardest to judge and paying a little more for VS was worth it - as opposed to color which for the most part, J looks great to me. I will rebrowse a little bit though - I really appreciate the feedback.

Many people are happy with a J and don't want to pay a premium for a higher color. I would personally pay for the color but not the clarity. I wouldn't pay the premium for VS1 over VS2 or an eye clean SI1. As long as a stone is eye clean, you will not see any inclusions. VS2 is the lowest clarity for eye clean certainty. Remember when you are looking at stone images that they are super magnified to see what they would really look like you need to reduce the image to real life size> then see if you can spot the inclusions!

Do you think that a .6 would look ok on the common prong setting on a size 4.75 finger?

Your GF has small fingers so I think a 0.6ct will look plenty on her finger.

Also remember that cut quality plays a large factor. The better the cut the more sparkly it is. I'd take an excellent cut with low color/clarity over the reverse any day.

My overall advice is to aim for H, VS2 with a very good or higher cut, then just get the biggest stone you can find for 2k.

How about
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.660-i-vs2-round-diamond-gia-35762424
or
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1433119.asp

 

[cawolf86]

Sounds good I will keep scouring up until I make a final decision. I won't be able to decide until the last minute anyways. What about an I or J with strong blue fluorescence?

Thanks for all the replies

I was leaning towards setting 2 but it seems setting 3 is way more popular in the voting. I was worried that the setting was too "fancy" compared to the simple prongs off the band in setting 2. The more I look at setting 3 I like it more and more though.

 

[bunnycat]

I like setting #3 best of your chosen ones. It's classic but also updated and modern with the pave.

I looked at the online pics of the diamonds and come back to diamond #1 and diamond #3. I'm not an expert to tell you which one will truly pack the most wow and I agree the stones are of a size that VVS2 vs. VS2 makes little difference. Both look nice (to my nOOb eyes) in the IS image and online, but the patterning seems better in the photos in #1 and #3, and I bet #1 would forestall thoughts of "upgrade" for some time to come.... I also like the .74 I VS2 Diamondseeker posted. It was one I looked at when I was considering how it would look with one my setting choices. I do tend to think in terms of just do it right once, so you don't have to think about it again for some time (hopefully a fairly LONG one).

 

[cawolf86]

Yah that makes sense.

If you had to choose between a $1000 setting/$1500 stone or a $500 setting/$2000 stone - what would look better? I'm thinking the egged setting would have more brilliance.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I would spend the max on the stone now and get the cheapest setting you can find. Then let her pick a more elaborate setting later when you can afford it. I would go no higher than VS2. You can definitely go to I or J color and strong blue fluor. would be great! I'll look again now that I know your budget.

Where are you finding .74 J VS1's for under $2000? I think you'd be glad if you went with that size.

 

[Enerchi]

DS has the most awesome advice --- listen to her! I agree with spending the bulk of your money on the stone now and upgrade the setting at another time - anniversary? birthday? first house or baby? But the diamond... you will not regret focusing the bulk of your money on what people notice the most - SPARKLE!
Good luck!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Aw, thanks Enerchi!

If you can get #1 diamond for under $2000, then grab it!!!! I couldn't find any comparable in-house stones. I think you'll be glad you went with the larger size especially since you are using a ring without a halo. Even if you go with a plain setting, you can get a diamond wedding band to add a little extra sparkle later!

 

[cawolf86]

Aw, thanks Enerchi!

If you can get #1 diamond for under $2000, then grab it!!!! I couldn't find any comparable in-house stones. I think you'll be glad you went with the larger size especially since you are using a ring without a halo. Even if you go with a plain setting, you can get a diamond wedding band to add a little extra sparkle later!

Actually stone 1 is 2300 and stone 2 is 2100.

 

[bunnycat]

this one's pretty, and not quite as plain and not too much more money than your basic setting posted, if you don't mind buying from somewhere other than where you get the diamond.

http://www.eternitydiamonds.com/engagement-rings/diamond-engagement-ring/Double-Prong-Solitaire-Ring-432.htm

or this:

http://www.eternitydiamonds.com/engagement-rings/diamond-engagement-ring/Adriana-Prong-Set-Engagement-Ring-by-Eternity-%28.18-ctw.%29-165.htm

How much will you be saving by buying the diamond and setting through JA? You should get a PS discount on the stone, plus I think there's a discount on the setting if you buy both together, I think.

 

[cawolf86]

No discount for together other than the ps discount. I just feel comfortable with their customer service and policies.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Oh yes, definitely get the diamond vendor to set the stone. It saves a lot of headaches for sure. I'd go with the .74 J VS1 (#1), but I might ask if they have the plain setting with a rounded shank instead of the knife edge. I have a copy of the Tiffany knife edge setting, but with a basic solitaire, I'd probably prefer the rounded shank.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I actually have a photo showing the difference in size between a .74 and a .61! I think it is really worth going for the .74.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Oh yes, definitely get the diamond vendor to set the stone. It saves a lot of headaches for sure. I'd go with the .74 J VS1 (#1), but I might ask if they have the plain setting with a rounded shank instead of the knife edge. I have a copy of the Tiffany knife edge setting, but with a basic solitaire, I'd probably prefer the rounded shank.

This is my pick too. And I second the advice for a rounded shank not a knife edge, it is much more comfortable.

 

[bunnycat]

I actually have a photo showing the difference in size between a .74 and a .61! I think it is really worth going for the .74.

I agree. I tend to find it easier to see size differences incrementally in stone from 5.5-6mm range (as in, I can visually see 5.5, 5.6, 5.7 5.8 differences) after that it starts to be like diminishing returns or something once I am looking at over 6.1mm.

I'd go for the least expensive setting in this case if it would get you stone #1.

If you need a visual, here's one that has links for how different stone look on the hand:

http://www.engagementringguru.com/diamond_carat_size_on_hand_the_most_commond_diamonds_0_5_to_0_99_carats.shtml

 

[quiritacontini]

first one,so classic

 

[cawolf86]

Oh yes, definitely get the diamond vendor to set the stone. It saves a lot of headaches for sure. I'd go with the .74 J VS1 (#1), but I might ask if they have the plain setting with a rounded shank instead of the knife edge. I have a copy of the Tiffany knife edge setting, but with a basic solitaire, I'd probably prefer the rounded shank.

Yes I definitely will be making my purchase in total from JA.

What about the comfort fit band vs the knife edge?

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-ringssolitairering/item_57-8435.asp

 

[cawolf86]

I actually have a photo showing the difference in size between a .74 and a .61! I think it is really worth going for the .74.

Nice - helpful!