Hello...new here!

[dubby]

Hello all! Let me start off my saying this forum is great! I have been searching and browsing for the better part of 2 hours, and can already tell I will be reading random posts for the better part of the upcoming weekend. I have been an active member of many forums (mostly car and watch related) for some almost 10 years now, and am still astounded by the wealth of knowledge available online. I have quite a few friends who have purchased engagement rings in the past few years, and every one of them seems to have their own 2 cents…"Color is where you cant skimp.." "Clarity is where you cant skimp…" "Make sure there is no flourescene…" Needless to say, I'm pretty sure none of them stumbled upon this forum..not to say their fiances rings arent beautiful also!

I have been with my girlfriend for 8 years now, and am planning to pop the question in the upcoming months. We have started looking at settings, and think we may have found one she likes. How are Tacori settings in terms of price, and quality? We are planning to check out a few more stores in NYC this weekend to get a better idea of whats available. I will also send her a link to the designers page---I had no idea there were so many!

After talking to a few jewelers and doing some research on this site, I have learned that cut grade is perhaps the most important stat when purchasing a round stone. Can anyone give me a range of where I expect to be at for a center stone (round) with the following stats:

1.8-2.0 ct
G color (may be willing to drop down to H depending on the stone)
**edit SI-1 clarity
Cut - Ideal/HA perfect/AGS 0
Polish- Excellent
Flourescence--Not sure yet


Here is the setting in the lead so far:
http://www.tacori.com/lytebox-zoom-iframe.php?item_id=HT2515RD812X

Would a jeweler be able to create something that is very similar to this with good accuracy (I would like to make a few small changes)..I am especially concerned with the milgrain and arches around the ring?

Thanks in advance!

 

[legallyspoiled]

Welcome Dubby!

I am still a noobie around these parts. I lurked for a few months, reading everything that I could. I still learn something new everyday!

Under the Pricescope banner, you should see a box with "Diamond Prices" in red. You can plug in your numbers there and get some ideas on pricing.

Good luck!

 

[stone-cold11]

If she likes tacori, go with tacori. Recreating a setting can be a copyright infringement and depending on the skill level of the jeweler, the result might not be as good. Usually you get what you pay for, the more skillful the jeweler, the more expensive the custom made, but it will definitely cost more for the same quality you get from tacori because of the design work, CAD drawing etc., from a custom.

Go and visit GoodOldGold? They are in Long Island and a Tacori vendor.

Depending on the clarity and lab grading the stone, there can still be a large variation in price. Stick with GIA/AGS and you will get what you pay for, the rest of the labs, probably not even when you think it is a good deal.

 

[dubby]

Thanks guys! I will def give GOG a ring, they arent too far from me! I left out the clarity in my original post, looking for SI1 +

 

[motownmama]

definitely GOG will help you................

 

[stone-cold11]

Using the diamond search tool here, there are 3 stones available with GOG within your specs.

Low at 16k, a 1.8c G SI1 http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/6980/, to a high of 22k, a 2.07 H SI1, http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4884/.

 

[Hest88]

Oh, if GoG is near you that''s perfect! You''ll have lots of choice there and can get a great education too. Otherwise, there are also a few familiar vendors in the diamond district, but no reason to go that route if GoG is closer.