help a novice guy please?

[emac]

I am planning to propose to my girlfriend of 15 months soon. I have selected the
following setting from James Allen. It is one of the Danhov micropave settings in
18k white gold.

http://www.jamesallen.com/products/item_294-1697_build.asp?module=setting

The James Allen site does not have any pictures of this ring with any stone other
than the Asscher, so I cannot really tell what it will look like if I choose a different
stone.

I have my options narrowed to three stones: a squarish cushion or Asscher or a
radiant cut.

I would really appreciate some advice here... thanks so much.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

That setting is beautiful, but I think that is a very high price for 18k wg. Ritani makes a very similar ring in platinum for $2600 on the Pearlman''s site.

http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/jewelry-designers/ritani-jewelry/rings/06QQ1/36/

A square cushion or an asscher would be gorgeous!!! What is your budget for the stone? I''d probably start by calling Good Old Gold because they pick beautiful asschers and cushions. They also have other rounded square stones.

 

[emac]

Thanks for your feedback. I was thinking about $8,000 total, possibly $8,500,
so that leaves around $5,200 or a bit more for the stone.

 

[emac]

This is one of the stones I am looking at, a cushion with the following specs. Anybody
have any wisdom to share? Thanks.

Shape: Cushion
Carat weight: 1.04
Cut: Ideal
Color: F
Clarity: IF
Certificate: GIA
Depth: 66.7%
Table: 58.0%
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Girdle: Thin to medium, faceted
Culet: Very Small
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 5.96*5.65*3.77
Ratio: 1.05

 

[emac]

And here is the radiant cut I picked.

Shape: Radiant
Carat weight: 1.01
Cut: Premium
Color: F
Clarity: VVS2
Certificate: GIA
Depth: 70.9%
Table: 67.0%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Very Good
Girdle: Slightly thick to thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: Faint
Measurements: 5.70*5.46*3.87
Ratio: 1.04

 

[emac]

And last, year is the Asscher I picked. Thanks for any advice...

Shape: Asscher
Carat weight: 1.01
Cut: Premium
Color: E
Clarity: VVS2
Certificate: GIA
Depth: 71.2%
Table: 60.0%
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Girdle: Slightly thick to thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 5.56*5.42*3.86
Ratio: 1.03

 

[Cocosgirl]

Not sure which your preference is but WOW that radiant just SCREAMS awesome! Love the setting to. Good Luck!

 

[kimikocat]

I like the radiant''s clean lines and clear geometry. The Asscher would be my #2. Not sure why I didn''t like the cushion as much...

 

[Lorelei]

I love the look of the radiant best out of the ones you have, thank you for supplying pics - most useful!

 

[girlie-girl]

I love radiants so that would be my choice. I''ve been shopping for stones as well and the 1ct cushion I saw in person faced up much smaller next to the 1ct radiant of similar dimensions. Personally I don''t care for Asschers at all.

 

[girlie-girl]

Hey just for fun I put each of your stones on that ring from JA. I didn''t mess with it too much so forgive the quality, nor did I adjust the color of the stones at all. I just shrunk the images you gave etc. I don''t know if it''ll help you or not, but here ya go:

 

[marcy]

I like the radiant the best too.

 

[NeverEndingUpgrade]

Are these all from GoodOldGold? If so, ask Jonathan if he will make you a video comparing the three diamonds. That way, you won't just have to go by still photos. All 3 diamonds look awesome. I am partial to cushions, though. Also, have you thought about going down to a VS1 or 2 or SI1 clarity and maybe a G-H color in order to get a bigger diamond? You are going to be paying premium prices for those IF and VVS diamonds at those colors.

 

[emac]

First, thanks SO much for all your help so far... this site is wonderful and I appreciate you
all taking the time to help!

These diamonds are all from James Allen since that is where I would like to buy the setting.

Here is another radiant with a larger carat weight, slightly lower color and clarity ratings
and a slightly lower price. I think my girlfriend probably cares about quality more than
size, but it seems I can lower the quality standards just a bit and get a slightly
larger diamond.

I am ordering the ring tomorrow, so any last minute advice is very welcome!!!

Shape: Radiant
Carat weight: 1.15
Cut: Ideal
Color: G
Clarity: VVS1
Certificate: GIA
Depth: 66.3%
Table: 63.0%
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Girdle: Slightly thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: Faint
Measurements: 6.03*5.78*3.83
Ratio: 1.04

 

[emac]

And girlie-girl, thanks so much for those pictures showing the ring and the setting.
You are a magician!! It really helped seal the deal for going with a radiant instead
of a cushion or an asscher.

 

[emac]

Here are the side by side specs of the two radiants I am looking at...

Lab: GIA GIA
Carat weight: 1.01 1.15
Cut: Premium Ideal
Color: F G
Clarity: VVS2 VVS1
Depth: 70.9 66.3
Table: 67 63
Polish: Excellent Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good Very Good
Girdle: Slightly thick Slightly thick
Culet: None None
Fluorescence: Faint Faint
Measurements: 5.70*5.46*3.87 6.03*5.78*3.83

 

[kcoursolle]

Do you know what shape your gf would prefer? I would start with that and then pick out a stone instead of looking at three shapes at the same time. Just a thought...

I love the setting you picked out by the way, very delicate and beautiful. Someone has this setting here on ps, can anyone remember who and link the thread?

I agree with the other posters that mentioned that you don''t need VVS clarity. You can safely go down to VS1 and still have a hard time seeing anything with a microscope let alone with just your eyes. In my opinion, VS1 is still high quality.

 

[kcoursolle]

Found it!! Here's the link to the pser who owns this danhov setting! It's gorgeous: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-asscher-cut-danhov-set-engagement-ring.67866/

It has slightly different prongs though, but it's a danhov and very similar.

 

[girlie-girl]

I don't know if you've looked at any of the other vendors that come up on searches here on PS or not. But I just got my radiant from Abazias, they have some gorgeous stones at fantastic prices. I lowered the clarity a little bit from what you had and went up in color and found these two for you that are likely very pretty:

1.02ct. Radiant Diamond (Stock#: 46595266)
Cash Price: $4,436.08 Credit Card Price: $4,538.11
Color D
Clarity VS2
Depth 63.2
Table 72
Symmetry VG
Polish VG
Girdle TK
Culet N
Fluorescence F
Certificate GIA
Measurements 5.84x5.62x3.55
Ratio 1.04
http://www.abazias.com/database/NewDiamondInfo.asp?stock=46595266&src=builder


1.01ct. Radiant Diamond (Stock#: 1676594659)
Cash Price: $3,825.63 Credit Card Price: $3,913.62
Color E
Clarity VS1
Depth 63.4
Table 68
Symmetry Very Good
Polish Very Good
Girdle Very Thick
Culet None
Fluorescence Medium
Certificate GIA
Measurements 6.51x5.38x3.41
Ratio 1.21
http://www.abazias.com/database/NewDiamondInfo.asp?stock=1676594659&src=builder

I know that JA will set a stone from another vendor for a small fee (around $150 most likely) which isn't too bad honestly. Of the two stones I posted I like the second best, but I tend to favor the more rectangular radiants.

Either way I'm sure this ring will be a beauty. Keep us posted on what you end up purchasing!

 

[emac]

OK, I ordered it yesterday. Thanks so much to all of you for helping out this novice. It was so helpful
to get feedback. I will post pics when it arrives!

 

[kcoursolle]

Wonderful, congratulations!!!! I can''t wait to see the pics!! Did you decide on the radiant? That stone is a very lovely radiant.