first post/complete n00b - am i reasonable?

[unknown00]

first post here, plan to start shopping for a ring soon. first of all, being a guy, i had no idea shopping for a ring would take this much time, research, effort! not to mention price! i did my research and am first planning to get a diamond before worrying about the rest. am i reasonable?

cut- round with hearts/arrow
carat- 1.2k minimum
color- near colorless, J minimum
clarity - SI1 and SI2/Slightly Included minimum
price- 10k max for entire engagement ring
must be certified with report

 

[xeoh85]

For an engagement ring, i wouldn't go below H / SI1.

Here are some 1ct H / SI1 stones in the price range you are looking for:

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2782674.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2782653.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2782635.htm

Here are some 1.2 ct H / SI1 stones, but slighly above your stated price range:

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2794508.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2777293.htm

- X

 

[unknown00]

thanks for the link. those are surprisingly priced high, is there a reason for that? i assume just the vendor? i have had friends who got a 1.3-1.5k ring with (i assume) similar color/cut for a couple thousands less...

 

[xeoh85]

They are priced high because of the cut quality. You stated that you wanted a Hearts & Arrows cut.

Not all GIA "Excellent" or AGS "Ideal" cuts are Hearts & Arrows cuts. Many people (myself included) think that cut is the most important factor. As such, diamonds with the same Carat, Color, Clarity can vary by as much as 50% in price based on the cut factor alone.

 

[unknown00]

is it expensive because of ideal/excellent selection quality of the cut or expensive because of wanting the hearts/arrow combo? what are some alternatives to the hearts/arrow combo?

 

[xeoh85]

Read these:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/content.php?c=15

http://www.goodoldgold.com/4Cs/Shape/RoundHeartsAndArrows/

- X

 

[minmin001]

here is a 1.5ct J VS2 for under 10k and since it's ideal cut and also have blue fluor it will look whiter face up.
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.510-j-vs2-round-diamond-ags-bl-104059065021

 

[mogster]

What kind of setting are you looking for?

 

[Mayk]

here is a 1.5ct J VS2 for under 10k and since it's ideal cut and also have blue fluor it will look whiter face up.
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.510-j-vs2-round-diamond-ags-bl-104059065021

NICE FIND!!!! I like it!!!!

 

[unknown00]

What kind of setting are you looking for?

i am not too sure, to be honest i haven't even started looking at them. i was told to just go diamond shopping first

 

[mogster]

What kind of setting are you looking for?

i am not too sure, to be honest i haven't even started looking at them. i was told to just go diamond shopping first

I ask because you stated 10k as your budget for the ring, so if you were looking for an intricate, hand-forged or designer piece, for example, that wouldn't leave very much for the diamond.

 

[unknown00]

What kind of setting are you looking for?

i am not too sure, to be honest i haven't even started looking at them. i was told to just go diamond shopping first

I ask because you stated 10k as your budget for the ring, so if you were looking for an intricate, hand-forged or designer piece, for example, that wouldn't leave very much for the diamond.

i understand, setting is not priority

any other comments about the cut and what to do?

 

[lapelirroja]

A J is totally fine for an engagement ring, especially if it's an ideal cut....however, this is assuming that your intended is not color sensitive in a way that she feels it is unacceptable. It's one thing to tell a difference between a G and a J, and it's another for it to bother you.

I have a beautiful J from white flash.

 

[mogster]

There's a premium for true H&A and unless you're really set on it, you can get a very nice diamond with AGS 000 or GIA Excellent (HCA score below 2.0) grade without the premium.

Here is a H&A stone: http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.300-I-SI1-Round-Diamond-AGS-104057253108

You can get a white gold solitaire for around $450, I think, and still meet your budget.

 

[mogster]

Here are some "True Hearts" stones from James Allen (all AGS 000), though I'm not sure if that means they are H&A (perhaps a more experienced PSer can answer). These are all virtual inventory stones. You can select up to three for them to check out for free.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1360366.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1473927.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1464794.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1398071.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1413621.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1493087.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1379630.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1336408.asp