Help Choosing a Ring

[apperos76]

Hello all,

Over the past week I have started to research engagement rings for my girlfriend and, while certainly better informed than I was, I still remain pretty overwhelmed. I have been perusing this site quite a bit and it has been a huge help. I would love to hear everyone's opinion about my ring search.

Budget: $10,000 (for the diamond)
Setting: Unsure, either solitaire or sidestone I think (probably going to ask a friend of hers) - just focusing on the diamond right now haha
Cut: Ideal or better (probably ideal I am assuming)
Clarity: need help
Color: need help
Carat: The ultimate question. I'd love to go as big as possible, but I do not want a garbage quality ring

My girlfriend is not the type to agonize over specifics, she just wants a nice ring that she can show off to her friends. I want to make sure I am at least spending all this money on something of quality.

Any help/insight would be appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[hunnybee]

You should probably decide what diamond shape you want. Colour is a matter of preference (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcmSj8dOLRI), clarity: mostly important that it is eye clean (info on that is everywhere). By far the most important aspect is the cut because that determines how "sparkly" the stone is (i.e. the purpose of a diamond). Good Old Gold does a lot of informative videos on youtube and most of the other stuff is a quick google search.

 

[optimizedlife]

I've been researching a ton, I'm a bit obsessive. Here is what I've concluded.

- Best cut you can, HCA < 2.0, good angles...I'm looking ACA and 'some' Excellent on Whiteflash

- Colour G/H/I depending on what I find (I got her to look at Tiffanies, she can see colour diff b/t F and I, but it doesn't bother her
- Also colour diff matters less in a spectacular cut stone since the flash/etc will be what you see
- Might matter a bit more if you can see the side of the stone like in a tension ring

- Clarity - VS2/SI1 depending on what I find, as long as it's eye clean. Will not stand for black chunks or anything visible in it at all.

- Carat...can't help you, different budget. I'm budgeting around $14-$16k for the stone which gets me into a nice 1.5 with the above parameters or a 1.6 or 1.7 with some sacrifice (SI1 perhaps).

 

[apperos76]

Thank you both for your responses. I was looking at something like this:

http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-5098820-1.33-carat-Round-diamond-G-color-SI1-Clarity.aspx?sku=5098820&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com

Am I on the right track with this? What are the positives and negatives about the stone?

 

[Gypsy]

Stick to in house stones with pictures.

That's just a sample image. Plus their setting quality has not been PS vetted. They are too new a vendor.

JA also has videos of all their stones.

BGD has great settings. WF does too. HPD has excellent customer service. GOG has just a bit of everything.

 

[apperos76]

Ok, thank you for the advice.

As far as the trade-off between the four C's (specifically color and carat), am I in a decent "sweet spot"?

I will stick to the recommended jewelers. I should also mention I work about 5 mins from the diamond district in NYC so I will be heading over there as well for some research.

 

[Gypsy]

Here's a 4 carat J in a halo: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/4ct-cushion-in-steven-kirsch-halo-setting.165905/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/4ct-cushion-in-steven-kirsch-halo-setting.165905/[/URL] See the posts here as to what to expect.

Another J: https://www.pricescope.com/blog/jewel-week-5-carat-cushion-cut-diamond-ring


And Antique style cushion (LIKE THE ONES ABOVE) is also an option instead of a modern one. Those look more 'natural' at J color when they are really
big.
This is an M with matched sides (not a halo). Your J would be much whiter: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/feel-the-warmth-leon-mege-calibrated-french-cuts-avc.155906/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/feel-the-warmth-leon-mege-calibrated-french-cuts-avc.155906/[/URL]

O-P cushion in a solitaire: https://www.pricescope.com/blog/jewel-week-antique-cushion-cut-diamond-ring


HERE IS A MODERN CUT JA IN A HALO: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/victor-canera-does-it-again-cushion-halo.172877/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/victor-canera-does-it-again-cushion-halo.172877/[/URL]

A lot of people put J's in halos. You just have to understand it's not a G. That's all. There is nothing wrong with it.

 

[Gypsy]

This is what you'll see most often.

See how the pave stones are whiter and the center stone is creamy? That's what it will look like. It's not a bad look at all.

 

[Gypsy]

If you go for a halo this is what I'd do:

 

[apperos76]

Thank you... very helpful.

I am thinking my GF would prefer a solitaire or something similar (like the ones with the diamond in prongs and extra smaller diamonds around it). Since you would see some of the side of the diamond, should I stick with a higher color?

 

[Gypsy]

OOPS! The last few posts were not supposed to me in your thread. SORRY FOR CONFUSION. THOSE WERE FOR ANOTHER POSTER. You must have thought I'd lost my mind!

 

[apperos76]

Haha its no problem. Actually the fact that I didn't think that reveals how much more I need to learn.

 

[Gypsy]

Ok, thank you for the advice.

As far as the trade-off between the four C's (specifically color and carat), am I in a decent "sweet spot"?

I will stick to the recommended jewelers. I should also mention I work about 5 mins from the diamond district in NYC so I will be heading over there as well for some research.

SO sorry. I'd go for G-H eyeclean SI1 and Vs2 in a round. They will be find in a solitaire.

NY: Make appointment at Engagement Rings Direct. Plan an Hour. Make appointment at ID Jewelry. And go to Long Island to see Good Old Gold, make an appointment plan longer than an hour.

Great vendors. Each a little different "flavor".

All will be happy to help you find the ring thing.

As for solitaires. I love solitaires. I'll post some nice ones later for you. Here's one of my favorites from ERD to hold you over, it looks like a flower and has little diamonds in the head: http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/fleurette-6-prong-bouquet-inspired-solitaire-engagement-ring-bpid-70-18.html

 

[apperos76]

So helpful. Thanks a lot Gypsy, will definitely try and get out to each of those vendors.