Getting engaged - HELP

[rbilramz]

Hi! Newbie poster here, looking for some help. I am planning on getting egaged in the next few weeks, and need some help finding the right diamond. I want to know where I can get the best diamond, for the least amount of money. I live near Los Angeles, but ahve heard that you can get more for your money online. Price really is the driving factor for me, as I do have a budget.
I do want to get my future fiance the nicest ring possible however. I am planning on buying either a round, or princess cut diamond (also open to the "hearts on fire cut" but it might be tough to keep in my budget) and putting it in a solitare setting. I would like to get it with color H or better and SI2 for the clarity. I also want the cut to be atleast very good because I have seen how much a good cut matters. Oh, so I want to do all this for somewhere between 1.25 ct and 1.75 (how much visibly different will the sizes look in a solitare setting?). Since I have about $7500 to spend, I know I am asking for a lot. Thats why finding the cheapest place to order such a diamond is so important.
If you all could please point to a few webpages that have good reputations, or maybe some of the better stores in LA (Robbins Brothers?).
Also, how are the diamonds at Costco? Oh, and what about eBay? They seem to have diamonds selling for a lot less than anywhere else.
I appreciate all your help, as this is very important to me.

Thanks in advance

 

[MissAva]

1.25 I/SI1 $5801 7.00-7.02x4.24
Platinum Tiffany Knife Edge Solitaire Ring

 

[MissAva]

1.28 J VS1 7448$ 6.98-7.03x4.28
Gold Four Prong Solitaire 135$

 

[skphotoimages]

Search ww.whiteflash.com or www.goodoldgold.com They are a few good places to buy diamonds. I ended up getting mine at a local jeweler, but if I were going to do it online, I''d buy from one of those two. I know there are a few more that come highly recommended on this site though. I got a 1.55 I VS2 and a shite gold setting with six channel set diamonds for $7200.
Best wishes!

 

[MissAva]

1.253 J SI1 $ 5,768 7.01x7.03x4.25

 

[MissAva]

I would say one of your best options is to pick one or two vendors give them your buedget and desires and see what they can do for you. I found princess cut stones as well, but I do not know as much about them and I could not find any with pictures in you budget ct weight range. Do you know what shape she prefers? I love rounds but I have a princess before and did not much care for it. The visable difrence between a well cut 1.25 and 1.75 will be huge! What size finger does your girlfriend have?
If you want to know about Robbins Brother do a search for them, I dont know about CostCO and I would say avoid Ebay at all costs. If something is too good to be true...well there is a reason. Hope this Helps! Welcome to Pricescope!

 

[rbilramz]

Thanks for the help so far. I think she prefers a round diamond, but has also said she likes princess. Really I would prefer to get her a round one, but if i got a great deal on a gorgeous princess i would take it.
i really want to try and get her something closer to 1.5 ct.

oh, with the online stores, are the open to any negotiation? or are they completely set on the prices listed? are there any other sites than the ones shown above that i should check out?

thanks again!

 

[MissAva]

If she prefers a round then get her a round, they face up larger, hide more color and it is what she wants. No downside in my mind.

If it were me I would call Whiteflash and give them your budget and see what they can find you. They may be able to find you something that you would not be able to locate using the search by cut method. IE tell them what you have typed here and give them your need by date and see what they come up with! They are great at locating things for PSers!

This is another stone from WF which I personally adore...if it had been the size I wanted it would have been my pick, but I like thinner arrows! Yummy!
1.36 I VS2 7.12-7.08X4.39 $7,000 w/o PS discount

 

[mrssparkles]

Matatora,

Platinum Tiffany Knife Edge Solitaire setting is exactly what I have and I have never known it even had such a name. Thank you so much. My husband and I had only referred to is as the "Crown" setting.

 

[skphotoimages]

Date: 12/11/2005 6:19:12 PM
Author: rbilramz



oh, with the online stores, are the open to any negotiation? or are they completely set on the prices listed? are there any other sites than the ones shown above that i should check out?



thanks again!

I did research on that one. GOG gives a discount for wire transfers. Whiteflash gives a discount for pricescopers if you ask. I also read that you can always ask if they can go any lower, although that doesn''t mean they will.
I think niceice.com was another one, but I can''t remember the fourth. I have just heard such good things about GOG and whiteflash. I agree that it''s best to call or email with your budget and requests and see what they can find you.

 

[coda72]

I don''t know much about round diamonds, but I think you''ll have a hard time finding an extremely well-cut diamond that''s a 1.5 carat for $7500. I did a quick pricescope search for you, and the cheapest one I found for you was still over $8000. Here it is:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/1_49ct_j_vvs2_h&a1.htm

The one I found closest to your price range was less than $8,000 but it''s less than 1.5 carats, and it looks like it has a nasty inclusion in the center that may make it not eyeclean.

http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/diamond_Details.aspx?itemcode=AGS-6248401

So, you might want to raise your budget a bit or go for a smaller diamond. It looks like there''s plenty of diamonds in the 1.2-1.25 range that will fit your budget.