shape
carat
color
clarity

First time (and hopefully last time) engagement ring/diamond shopping

Keep the Shane Co. stone, or buy something online

  • Shane Co.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • James Allen Stone

    Votes: 14 100.0%

  • Total voters
    14

Sterling808

Rough_Rock
Joined
Mar 29, 2019
Messages
10
Hello- I am sure you get 100 of me every day, so thank you in advance for the help and support!

I recently have spent around 10 hours and 5 trips at Shane Co. looking for the perfect engagement ring. I found my setting in the first 10 minutes, so no issues there, it is perfect.. but have ran into major issues with the center stone.

I originally was looking for a 1.35-1.45 stone that is GIA rated, eye clean, an ideal cut, I or better in color, and of course sparkly. My budget for the diamond was $8,000 w/tax, and while online prices were lower, I did not like the idea of not seeing the stone in person. I came to find that Shane's selection was extremely limited in that 1.35-1.45 range, especially when it came to my price and requirements. They had lots around the 1.25-29 mark, which was slightly to small for my setting, and lots in the 1.5+ mark that was above my budget.

After 5 trips I ended up with GIA 1288657223, 1.31 SI2/J Ideal Cut. The stone is surprisingly eye clean for an SI2, but does have a knot, which I now realize is not a great feature. I was most concerned about the J color, it was just a hair too yellow.. but ended up being the best I could really find even after searching other stores and having them send diamonds to my local store. Also ended up throwing the stone in the HCA calculator... and the results were not good. I was able to talk them down to a little under $8000 with tax for the stone.

After mounting, it is a pretty diamond, but seems to go dull in a lot of light settings. It is just is missing something, I am not quite sue what. In warm lighting the diamonds color looks more yellow then it is, while the setting stones are bright and white. Overall just not blown away, and not sure I will really be able to do much more in my price range at Shane Co.

I have now started to look online and am finding the stones I was originally looking for at a much more reasonable price. I am now torn between just staying with my current stone, then upgrading in a few years when I have a little more money.. or just getting the final stone that would ever go in the ring from an online retailer (likely James Allen) and save thousands of dollars.

I have found a 1.44 VS1 I Ideal, with what seem to be much better proportions and a much larger diameter 7.34 vs. 6.99. The stone looks very pretty, but I am not sure how to tell from the online view if it is really a good stone. Shane Co did what I assume is a normal tactic and pulled out an "online" stone and compared it against a similarly graded "shane" stone, and the online stone was extremely dull. Link to the stone I am looking at https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-6009894

While the price is above my budget, I am willing to spent a little more money to get a better stone, plus no taxes online for my state.

So I guess a few questions:

1. Does Shane Co. really get the cream of the crop while the online retailers get their reject stones as they claim, or am I safe to get a equally beautiful stone online?
2. What do you all think of the stone I linked above?
3. Am I just overthinking this to much, and should just stick with the current stone?
4. Shane has a 60 day return, does anyone know if I can return just the Diamond after mounting and get another stone mounted (I know I would have to pay per point to mount another stone)

Thank you!!

Sterling
 

lovedogs

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jul 31, 2014
Messages
18,014
As always (sadly) Shane is outright lying. The idea that online vendors get "reject" stones is comical. And 100% false. Shaneco/Kay/Jared, etc stones are almost always poorly cut. The ones from trusted online vendors that are recommended here are the best of the best, and have specific angles/proportions that make them far better than anything you find at a mall store.

Return the Shane co stone (and setting, honestly), and let us help you. I almost guarantee the setting isn't good quality either, and the stones won't perform as well as you want once you've acually seen an ideal cut diamond.

Can we see a picture of your setting?
 

lovedogs

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jul 31, 2014
Messages
18,014
Ps. The stone you linked above isn't ideal, since the table is bigger than the depth. Use the online search tool and only consider stones that have GIA/AGS certifications, and fall under "excellent" in the HCA tool. The HCA tells you whether the angles and proportions work togwrher.

I strongly recommend returning the diamond and setting to shaneco and starting over.
 

lovedogs

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jul 31, 2014
Messages
18,014
PPS. Here are some options that are significantly better than your current stone or the one you found:

More expensive, but wf is one of the best in the buisiness, and you will get an amazing upgrade policy where you only have to spend $1 more to upgrade (if you want to in the future).
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4001980.htm

Options from JA:
https://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/l...i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-6751096
https://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/l...color-si1-clarity-true-hearts-cut-sku-3208458
 

Sterling808

Rough_Rock
Joined
Mar 29, 2019
Messages
10
Thank you for the feedback, here is the setting. I like the look of a round diamond in a cushion setting, and like that the diamonds continue around the side of the halo. Also like the size of the diamonds in the band instead of the tiny ones normally found, total weight for the setting is 1.14. Only complaint is the center stone seems mounted a little high.
 

farrahlyn

Brilliant_Rock
Premium
Joined
Sep 22, 2015
Messages
1,170
Return the whole shebang.

JA has a really nice deal going on right now. 25% off the setting if you buy a stone over $5k
settings. Nothing as high in ct wt as what you have right now but i will echo the statement above that many if not most women prefer a thinner band. Do you know your intendeds ring size?

https://www.jamesallen.com/engageme...e-and-pave-gallery-engagement-ring-item-53074
https://www.jamesallen.com/engageme...tline-falling-edge-engagement-ring-item-53073
1.53 J SI1 $8910
1.40 J VVS1 $8510
1.30 H VS2 $8830 not my favorite (the arrows are a bit skinny for me) but i do like it and it's an H!
1.57 J VS1 $8520
1.30 H SI1 $8110 if you can get over the crystal inclusion on the table. May not be eye clean.
1.37 I VS1 $9350 (i know, over budget but nice)


i do like the WF options too. And you could ask that they find you a setting similar to the Shane one if you're set on it.
 

Sterling808

Rough_Rock
Joined
Mar 29, 2019
Messages
10
Thank you all for the feedback, this really helps.

As far as certification, I noticed a few stones were not GIA graded. I am likely just misinformed, but was always told to get GIA no matter. Thoughts on other graders?
 

lovedogs

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jul 31, 2014
Messages
18,014
Thank you all for the feedback, this really helps.

As far as certification, I noticed a few stones were not GIA graded. I am likely just misinformed, but was always told to get GIA no matter. Thoughts on other graders?
The only reputable ones (in the US, anyway) are GIA and AGS. AGS 000 almost guarantees outstanding cut, whereas gia XXX does not. Ags is much stricter on cut, so I personally prefer it since there's less question about cut. But both are very reputable. Ags is less well known by local Jewelers, so they might lie and say it's not trusted, but they are wrong. However, I don't trust any other lab (egl, igi, etc).
 

bling_dream19

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Feb 21, 2019
Messages
3,335
I agree - start over if you can. Go for your dream ring, stay focused on it and don't give up! You will be so happy.
 

Dancing Fire

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Apr 3, 2004
Messages
33,852
So I guess a few questions:

1. Does Shane Co. really get the cream of the crop while the online retailers get their reject stones as they claim, or am I safe to get a equally beautiful stone online?
SHAME Co. is so full of BS!.. :roll: :wall:
 

Sterling808

Rough_Rock
Joined
Mar 29, 2019
Messages
10
So, I have made the decision to at a minimum return the diamond. Looking to see if James Allen can make a similar setting.

Narrowed down to a few stones:

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...color-vs1-clarity-true-hearts-cut-sku-6468943

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...color-vs1-clarity-true-hearts-cut-sku-6257129

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2962077.htm?source=pricescope - I know it was already said WF is more expensive typically, how does this stone compare to the two James Allen stones in the same price range?

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...color-si1-clarity-true-hearts-cut-sku-3208458 - This was suggested, and the cheapest option by $1000. Do you think the inclusion will be visible?

Thank you :)

Sterling
 

quaddio

Brilliant_Rock
Premium
Joined
Aug 13, 2011
Messages
509
I like the lower cost option and you can always return
 

kmoro

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Sep 13, 2018
Messages
1,081
So, I have made the decision to at a minimum return the diamond. Looking to see if James Allen can make a similar setting.

Narrowed down to a few stones:

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...color-vs1-clarity-true-hearts-cut-sku-6468943

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...color-vs1-clarity-true-hearts-cut-sku-6257129

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2962077.htm?source=pricescope - I know it was already said WF is more expensive typically, how does this stone compare to the two James Allen stones in the same price range?

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...color-si1-clarity-true-hearts-cut-sku-3208458 - This was suggested, and the cheapest option by $1000. Do you think the inclusion will be visible?

Thank you :)

Sterling

With the WF diamond, you can upgrade by spending only $1 more. Excellent quality workmanship. Outstanding customer service as well.
With JA, upgrade requires you spend 2x your original purchase! I think the workmanship is a bit less consistent, but I personally had a ring that I thought was beautifully set (not an expert).
Maybe google some reviews as it could influence your decision.
It might not seem like it’s worth spending a bit more for WF, but that upgrade policy and company quality is more than worth it, imo. While you’re buying a nice size diamond, it may not be the perfect size for your fiancée in the future ... many here thought they would never upgrade .... I think I’ve made my point, lol.

Good luck!

ETA: Not going to vote because my preferred options are missing.
 

lovedogs

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jul 31, 2014
Messages
18,014
So, I have made the decision to at a minimum return the diamond. Looking to see if James Allen can make a similar setting.

Narrowed down to a few stones:

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...color-vs1-clarity-true-hearts-cut-sku-6468943

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...color-vs1-clarity-true-hearts-cut-sku-6257129

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2962077.htm?source=pricescope - I know it was already said WF is more expensive typically, how does this stone compare to the two James Allen stones in the same price range?

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...color-si1-clarity-true-hearts-cut-sku-3208458 - This was suggested, and the cheapest option by $1000. Do you think the inclusion will be visible?

Thank you :)

Sterling

These are all solid options, IMHO. I think the WF is the safest bet, because it's the only one that comes with all the advanced images we'd recommend with stones from non-super ideal vendors. So you don't have to worry about it not being a great performer. Since the WF is the same size, price, and gets you a color bump, that would be my choice. AND it means $1 more trade-ups, which can be really helpful down the road.

The cheapest JA one isn't as nice as the other 3 IMHO, but obviously is cheaper. I think the lighting might be overly dark, but I'd want more pics of that one to make sure it wasn't a "low I" that was actually closer to a J in color.
 

bling_dream19

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Feb 21, 2019
Messages
3,335
WF all the way!!! You will rest assured it is an outstanding diamond and great options for diamond changes in future, if yall want to. It's a homerun.
 

737liz

Brilliant_Rock
Premium
Joined
Oct 18, 2015
Messages
690
Not giving advice re center diamond, as you have already gotten great advice. Just to say that I LOVE the setting style you chose. And it may be that your previous/current stone was set a bit high because it has a diameter too large to sit much further down into the setting. But I'm no expert.
 

Sterling808

Rough_Rock
Joined
Mar 29, 2019
Messages
10
ALRIGHT, final question. I have been in touch with Whitefish regarding two of their stones. Neither is ACA, but from everything I have read the expert selection is one notch below that I would not know the difference.. what about the Premium Select? The expert has better color, but the Premium has better clarity.

Which one would you pick? Just a reminder you are all awesome :)

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2962077.htm -
1.366 ct G SI1 Expert Selection

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4001980.htm -
1.39 ct I VS2 Premium Select
 

lovedogs

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jul 31, 2014
Messages
18,014
I think both look good, so I would ask WF to take real life pics of both to see what you think.
 

Ss52

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Jan 27, 2019
Messages
162
She’s going to be thrilled!
 

Weecam

Brilliant_Rock
Premium
Joined
Mar 1, 2017
Messages
702
Beautiful! Great choice!! :love:
 

Austina

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Feb 24, 2017
Messages
7,554
Wow, it looks stunning, lucky girl!
 

tyty333

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Dec 17, 2008
Messages
27,195
That's gorgeous! You've got yourself a nice ring there! Congrats!
 
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