I''m glad I found this site when I did, I was going bezerk looking on my own and I could use a bit of help finding a stone. I''m a college student and I''m looking to propose in january. Unfortunately I have two forces going against me on this ring purchase-first I should restate that I''m a POOR college student, and second I''m the last of my group of friends to "drop my knee." So my GF wants a single diamond that is bigger than all her friends rings, which really sucks for me. So I''m looking for diamonds that fall in the range of .75 carats to 1.0 carat. I can afford 2300, but then I have to start drinking the cheap beer, if you get my drift. I''m really picky when it comes to things that are supposed to last a lifetime, so I look for diamonds that I cannot see imperfections, or as they say so colorfully at the retail stores "character", so easily within a minute. This does not mean that if I hold the diamond at 72% and if I relax my eyes I can see the crack, this means I can look right at the diamond and as I move it left to right I notice one spot that does not shine like the rest of the diamond, or I see a big piee of carbon. I.E> I need a diamond that she wil love, and will not find flaws in till she looks reeeaaallly close at it. I found some that I liked at the jewlers, but I always feel that you get a better buy online. So let me start by telling you what I have found and liked, then you can help me realize what I should look for online-
Kay''s Jewlers-5/8 carat, H-I color, I2 clarity, $1299, nice stone but not certified
Zales-3/4 carat, certified-IGI, I color, I1 clarity, $2499, good but was''t really shiny
Local place-.51 carat, F/G color, VS2, Fine cut, $2395, very beautiful stone russian cut-but was smaller than I wanted and no certification and appraisal done by store owner (which I personally do not like or trust)
Roger and Hollands-.70 carat, J color, SI1, $2699, I thought the price was a bit too high on this stone and I cannot remember if it came with a cert. or not
Local place-.63 carat, F color, SI1 clarity, EGL cert, $2180, This place is new (under 8yrs) and offers no warrantee but the jewlers are the salesmen and they really know there diamonds-he said that AGS and GIA are better certs. than IGI or EGL don''t know if it''s true but he seemed pretty confident in his words-this place caters mostly to the rich elderly.
I want a stone that won''t break the bank and still will make her finger look small. I think a .75 will be fine, but I wonder if the table makes a differce on how big it looks on her finger. I would love to spend around $1500 but I don''t know what I should be geting for that price as opposed to $2000 spent. As you can tell I really need some help here, I already have been getting e-mail offers from tons of vendors but since thier prices vary so much I don''t know who is good and who is trying to rip me off. I get one quote for $2000 while another vendor says there is no way they can do it for less than $3000 and anyone who can is selling you junk (this was on a search for a .9-1.15 carat, I color and S.I. clarity)
Also Is clarity enhancing bad or good, I don''t really like the sound of it, but I see that it really brings down the price on the gems. Oh yeah here''s your smile
Kay''s Jewlers-5/8 carat, H-I color, I2 clarity, $1299, nice stone but not certified
Zales-3/4 carat, certified-IGI, I color, I1 clarity, $2499, good but was''t really shiny
Local place-.51 carat, F/G color, VS2, Fine cut, $2395, very beautiful stone russian cut-but was smaller than I wanted and no certification and appraisal done by store owner (which I personally do not like or trust)
Roger and Hollands-.70 carat, J color, SI1, $2699, I thought the price was a bit too high on this stone and I cannot remember if it came with a cert. or not
Local place-.63 carat, F color, SI1 clarity, EGL cert, $2180, This place is new (under 8yrs) and offers no warrantee but the jewlers are the salesmen and they really know there diamonds-he said that AGS and GIA are better certs. than IGI or EGL don''t know if it''s true but he seemed pretty confident in his words-this place caters mostly to the rich elderly.
I want a stone that won''t break the bank and still will make her finger look small. I think a .75 will be fine, but I wonder if the table makes a differce on how big it looks on her finger. I would love to spend around $1500 but I don''t know what I should be geting for that price as opposed to $2000 spent. As you can tell I really need some help here, I already have been getting e-mail offers from tons of vendors but since thier prices vary so much I don''t know who is good and who is trying to rip me off. I get one quote for $2000 while another vendor says there is no way they can do it for less than $3000 and anyone who can is selling you junk (this was on a search for a .9-1.15 carat, I color and S.I. clarity)
Also Is clarity enhancing bad or good, I don''t really like the sound of it, but I see that it really brings down the price on the gems. Oh yeah here''s your smile