Help a newbie out on best price?

[clanderson]

Hey everybody!

I'm shopping for an engagement ring and have been doing as much research as I can before making a purchase.
I'm a working student and money is real tight, so unfortunately my budget is around $1500 maximum.. But luckily, I have a super loving and modest girl <3 .

I've narrowed it down to these two options:
James Allen:
14K WHITE GOLD ANTIQUE BEZEL AND PAVE SET ENGAGEMENT RING ($830)
SKU: 11105W14
+
0.39 CARAT F-VS2 GOOD CUT ROUND DIAMOND ($780)
SKU: 303487

Total: $1610

Blue Nile:
Petite Vintage Pav Leaf Diamond Engagement Ring in 14k White Gold (1/4 ct. tw.) ($790)
Stock #: 49870
+
0.41‑carat Diamond, Round, Very Good‑cut, F‑color, SI1‑clarity ($696)
Stock #: LD05089719

Total: $1486

Could anybody help me out on whether or not these are good prices or even good choices? She's going to love these settings especially, but I want to get the best price I can and the most out of what I pay (obviously, I suppose).

I'd really appreciate some experienced input here
Thanks everybody

 

[edelweissmaedl]

I don't like either of the diamonds you mentioned, they both score low on the HCA.

I noticed both picks were F in color....going down to H or I would give you room to get a better cut and you are not going to notice any color in a stone this size.

For bluenile I think this one is a better pick at $774
http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-own-ring/diamonds?stockno=LD05239610

It scored 1.7 in the HCA and with your limited budget I would want to make sure the cut is the best you can find.
.44 ct
I VS1
ideal cut
table 60%
Depth 60%
crown angle 34
pavilion angle 40.8

 

[enbcfsobe]

is the setting style something that is important to your GF? if not, you may be able to maximize your budget by going with a more basic setting and getting a slightly larger diamond. a solitaire with a well-cut rock is classic, timeless, and will still be modest and understated.

 

[enbcfsobe]

for example, here is a distinctive but simple setting and what looks like a nice stone.

http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-own-ring/east-west-solitaire-engagement-ring-14k-white-gold_33367?elem=img&track=product

http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-own-ring/diamonds?stockno=LD05112033 ($1163 for H/SI1 1.3 on HCA)

overall, if you are on a limited budget buying an ideal or near ideal cut stone is (imho) key. not only will the diamond be brighter and have more presence in terms of light return, but it will also be more likely to "face up" bigger. poorly cut stones may be deep and therefore look smaller than they should (not good when you are already looking at a small stone). by going down to G/H in color and asking the vendor if an SI1 stone is "eye clean" you can get more for your money in terms of what the naked eye can see. if your GF has specific tastes/requirements re: the setting, let us know and we can try to help work within whatever budget you have left after the setting.

 

[JulieN]

In the JA setting, there's something that really bothers me. See how the bezeled rounds are raised, and not level with the rest of the ring?

Contrast that to this one, which is level. http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/side-stones/vintage-round-diamond-and-marquise-sapphire-engagement-ring-item-49490
If you like the JA setting, I would have to ask if it an be modified

 

[edelweissmaedl]

enbcfsobe brings up a good point. If the vintage setting is more important than the center stone then stick with that. But if there is flexibility there I would try to get a bigger solitaire. The setting enbcfsobe posted is still unique and feminine even though it is simple.

 

[Niel]

If a vintage setting is what's most important. Would you consider second hand? A genuine antique can come with very high quality, and look great with smaller stones.

Here's just one I've been watching that might work if shed like a true vintage.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=231184232351&alt=web

 

[Niel]

Love this cutie...

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=141524139200&alt=web

 

[clanderson]

Thank you so much for the help everybody!!

I really think the vintage/antique style is important, she really adores that style and I'd love to give that to her

Niel, thank you for the eBay links - those are some beautiful rings!
What are the risks involved in buying second hand like that? It makes me a little nervous, but very eager at the same time at the prospect of getting much more for the money (and she would probably love the fact that it's a genuine "antique" hah).

I'm leaning towards these three diamonds now:
http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-own-ring/diamond-details/LD05323807
http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-own-ring/diamond-details/LD05259137
http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-own-ring/diamond-details/LD04820130
The $711 one looks the best to me so far

One last thing - are there any discount codes/specials on James Allen/Blue Nile I should be aware of?

 

[Niel]

EBay can be a dangerous game,that's true. But look for vendors with return policies (and make sure you read them) and also read all descriptions of the ring, as well as the photos.

People here are pretty good at finding second hand gems, so consider maybe even starting a new thread with a title like "help me find a true antique for 1.5k" or something. People often click on the title of the thread based on what it says, that'll get more of the people who are good at finding these things helping, if you wanna go that route.

Here's a reputable vendor that many people have used here.
http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/rings/62ct-vintage-step-style-old-european-cut-diamond-ring.html#.VKP4PL0o7qA

Or ask them I'd they have anything else coming down the pipeline similar.

 

[enbcfsobe]

Did you run those diamonds through HCA yet? If you click on the GIA report it will show all the angles and other info for you to get some sense of how the stone is likely to perform.
Also, do you know what type of vintage/antique styles she likes? Does she want pave? That can make a significant price difference, and needs more care/maintenance long term. Also styles differ between periods -- Edwardian vs Deco vs Nouveau -- I would do more research about what exactly she likes before picking a setting.

ETA: the one from Grace is lovely, if you think she'll like the geometric motif.

 

[enbcfsobe]

3 things to add:

1) is there a cultural or other reason for choosing E and F colors? there is a premium on these colors and most folks here do not see a big difference IF the diamond is well cut.

2) cut will make the biggest difference in what you can visually observe. GIA "Excellent" does not mean it will be a great performer. there are lots of articles and resources explaining this. a key part of PS is the HCA -- find it under "Tools" and plug in the numbers on the report before deciding whether a diamond makes it on to your short list. some folks will say to reject anything 2 or above. i think on a budget you can look at something up to 2.5 as long as it still scores at least very good on all 4 categories and as long as it isn't depth that is affecting the score (because then you are wasting $ on carats no one will see).
for the stones on your current list, the last one looks likely to be much better than the other two (though again, I wouldn't bother paying for F color):
A - HCA 5.3
B - HCA 4.5
C - HCA 2.2
I would definitely discard A & B.

3) looking at the settings you selected, have you thought about or looked at any pictures of what they will look like with the size stone you are buying? the sample stones are likely around 1 carat, with a diameter approx. 6.5 mm. before buying i would ask the vendor for sample pictures of the setting with the diameter stone you are looking at (or maybe some savvy PSer can give some photoshop help). my concern is that while the settings are lovely, they will overwhelm a smaller stone. i would be particularly concerned about not having the petals at the top be wider than the diameter of the stone. but that may just be a personal preference.

 

[clanderson]

Wow, I can't even begin to explain how much I appreciate all of your advice...
I know I'm just one guy, but this is still a forever deal for me, and I really cherish all of your expertise!

As for the clarity I've been choosing (E & F), I've done so because of a past mistake. I got her an "I/J" grade diamond promise ring a couple years ago and it looks like it's coated in yellowed superglue . I began to stress the color more than anything else.

 

[Niel]

Wow, I can't even begin to explain how much I appreciate all of your advice...
I know I'm just one guy, but this is still a forever deal for me, and I really cherish all of your expertise!

As for the clarity I've been choosing (E & F), I've done so because of a past mistake. I got her an "I/J" grade diamond promise ring a couple years ago and it looks like it's coated in yellowed superglue . I began to stress the color more than anything else.

Where did yoy buy it from? Assuming it was a small diamond, (.25 or so) an I is not going to appear yellow. I suspect it wasn't graded by a reputable lab.

 

[enbcfsobe]

I totally understand the concern about color. I'm not sure how best to reassure you that a well cut G will look very white. I suggest browsing through the "Show me the bling" for a bit to see what different color graded stones can look like. I don't fully understand the physics/science, but a well cut stone reflects more light, so it looks whiter & has more of that diamond "sparkle" even if the body color is lower. I believe color is graded from the bottom/side of the diamond. I understand not wanting to go too low, but I think for most discerning PSers, unless they are super color-sensitive, G/S1 is sort of a sweet spot in terms of getting a white stone that is likely to be eye clean (check with the vendor) and not paying too much of a premium for color/clarity. Again, this is all assuming you are getting a well cut diamond (which the HCA can help with initial screening).

 

[clanderson]

Heheh... Uh.. Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C54OK9Q/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Niel]

Heheh... Uh.. Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C54OK9Q/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Yeah.... Don't let that scare you away from near colorless stones. You're looking at stones less than half ct, they will appear white at I or higher.

 

[clanderson]

I'm not seeing any Blue Nile stones on the PriceScope search tool, what's up with that?

Woa! Check this one out!
$698 and a 0.8 on HCA
I think I may have found a winner..!

Now if only I could use the JA setting with that awesome Blue Nile diamond hahaha

 

[Niel]

Since you said she likes vintage. What do you think of this setting

 

[enbcfsobe]

I will take a look at the stone posted above.. In the meantime here are some other options...

These are SI2, but PSers seem to trust this vendor re: whether stones are eyeclean.

http://www.idjewelry.com/ringbuilder/index/diamonddetails/diamond/EW1834568

http://www.idjewelry.com/ringbuilder/index/diamonddetails/diamond/AIBM1490

http://www.idjewelry.com/engagement...14kt-white-gold-0-54ctw-er7225w44jj-igcd.html

http://www.idjewelry.com/engagement...-featuring-roubd-cut-side-stones-2105159.html


or if you prefer BN, maybe one of the engraved style settings, which are less expensive and may do more for a smaller stone (b/c they taper at the stone) while still giving the vintage vibe…

http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-...ent-ring-setting_44710?elem=img&track=product

http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-...ent-ring-setting_21019?elem=img&track=product

that would bump your budget for the stone up a bit… here are some options that might be good…

http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-search?stockno=LD04685423&compare=true

http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-search?stockno=LD04583543&compare=true

http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-search?stockno=LD04865155&compare=true

http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-search?stockno=LD05323933&compare=true

 

[Niel]

I will take a look at the stone posted above.. In the meantime here are some other options...

These are SI2, but PSers seem to trust this vendor re: whether stones are eyeclean.

http://www.idjewelry.com/ringbuilder/index/diamonddetails/diamond/EW1834568

http://www.idjewelry.com/ringbuilder/index/diamonddetails/diamond/AIBM1490

http://www.idjewelry.com/engagement...14kt-white-gold-0-54ctw-er7225w44jj-igcd.html

http://www.idjewelry.com/engagement...-featuring-roubd-cut-side-stones-2105159.html


or if you prefer BN, maybe one of the engraved style settings, which are less expensive and may do more for a smaller stone (b/c they taper at the stone) while still giving the vintage vibe…

http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-...ent-ring-setting_44710?elem=img&track=product

http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-...ent-ring-setting_21019?elem=img&track=product

that would bump your budget for the stone up a bit… here are some options that might be good…

http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-search?stockno=LD04685423&compare=true

http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-search?stockno=LD04583543&compare=true

http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-search?stockno=LD04865155&compare=true

http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-search?stockno=LD05323933&compare=true

The setting I posted you could get from idj. That setting I believe is 500, maybe less.

From searching on their site I found a lot of h,I vs stones within your budget. Somenat .5 cts!

I'd post some, but let me know first I'd you like the setting or not so i don't waste my time lol

 

[minidancer]

Since you said she likes vintage. What do you think of this setting

I love this setting. Closest to what I had in mind seeing OP's original two setting suggestions.

 

[clanderson]

Since you said she likes vintage. What do you think of this setting

Wow... I love that one! I know she would too!!

I'm at work right now so I'll dig in to the other posts when I get off, but I had to express my feelings about that setting as soon as I saw it haha.

I'd definitely be interested in getting that setting and a companion stone there, Niel! Really gorgeous!

Thanks for all of the links guys! Can't wait to check all those out enbcfsobe!

 

[Niel]

Since you said she likes vintage. What do you think of this setting

Wow... I love that one! I know she would too!!

I'm at work right now so I'll dig in to the other posts when I get off, but I had to express my feelings about that setting as soon as I saw it haha.

I'd definitely be interested in getting that setting and a companion stone there, Niel! Really gorgeous!

Thanks for all of the links guys! Can't wait to check all those out enbcfsobe!

OK. I am about to head off, but give me like an hour? Lol. I'll post the stones and what you'll wanna do with idj.

 

[HegemonyCricket]

Looks like you already have a bunch of great suggestions, but I wanted to mention that I have that vintage style Blue Nile setting with an I-color diamond, and it doesn't look too yellow at all!

 

[Niel]

Since you said she likes vintage. What do you think of this setting

Wow... I love that one! I know she would too!!

I'm at work right now so I'll dig in to the other posts when I get off, but I had to express my feelings about that setting as soon as I saw it haha.

I'd definitely be interested in getting that setting and a companion stone there, Niel! Really gorgeous!

Thanks for all of the links guys! Can't wait to check all those out enbcfsobe!

OK. I am about to head off, but give me like an hour? Lol. I'll post the stones and what you'll wanna do with idj.

ok so i must be loosing my mind, today when i was searching i found all sorts of ones at the .5 ct range....now i dont, BUT

what I would do is this, go to their site and at the corner should pop up something to generate an email. Put in there that you found ID jewelry though PS and that you had heard that they can do a little bit better on Gabriel NY settings than is listen on the Gabriel NY website. Tell them you are interested in item #ER11747R4W44JJ from Gabriel and co website, and tell them your finger size you need, and that it is for about a 5mm round.

ask them to get the certs for these three stones
http://www.idjewelry.com/round-ew1727281.html
http://www.idjewelry.com/round-ew1727702.html
and
http://www.idjewelry.com/round-ew1633048.html

then ask them if they have any other suggestions for an eye clean round, as close to .5cts as you can get, I or better, ideally cut with your total budget of 1500.

 

[clanderson]

Looks like you already have a bunch of great suggestions, but I wanted to mention that I have that vintage style Blue Nile setting with an I-color diamond, and it doesn't look too yellow at all!

Wow, that's gorgeous Cricket! Thank you so much for that picture! Glad somebody else has that setting and is satisfied.

Thanks for spending the time gathering those stones Niel!

Time is tight today (I'm sure you understand too) but I'll check everything out ASAP!

I'm so excited! Haha

 

[clanderson]

I did it! I ended up grabbing the vintage setting from James Allen like I original thought and paired it with a modestly gorgeous .40 carat center diamond.

Thank you so much for the help everybody! She's going to love this!!



Not sure why it placed them all sideways.. Oh well

 

[Niel]

Just stunning. I love it!

Valentines proposal?

 

[Diamoneecee]

That is a gorgeous ring. She should love it.