Help choosing between two ACA's from Whiteflash

[grobbins]

Hi there pricescope community, so I am finally ready to pull the trigger and actually order my setting and ACA stone from whiteflash. I will admit compared to the majority of you here my budget will probably seem pitiful, about 3k all in with the setting and accounting for import taxes at 13% into Canada(setting is roughly 1400 but I know it is one she will absolutely love so no changing that) it is all I can afford and I refuse to go into any debt at all for just a ring. So i have been saving every cent i could get my hands on since Christmas last year. I have included Idealscope, ASET, and H&A images of both stones in question. I was wondering if you guys can tell me if there is any particular I should be picking over the other and why. Number 1 seems to me the better pick but I will admit I am to new to all of this to trust just my own opinion.

Also I assume the spread difference between the two stones is pretty much unnoticeable?(5.4x5.43 vs 5.08x5.12) I will admit Iam trying to get her as big of a stone I can afford without skimping on quality. Thats my main reason I decided to go with whiteflash as they have the setting I know she would fall in love with and they also have their ACA series of stones. Plus Becca from whiteflash has been extremely pleasant to deal with. Iam also curious if you guys think the stones wouldlook off at all they both are "K" in color(remember pitiful budget lol) and it will be getting set in white gold the ritani french split setting to be exact. Im just scared the stone might look off compared to the pave of small stones in the setting or will it be practically unnoticeable to the untrained eye? Becca has said she thinks it will not be a problem as the diamond faces up white?

I appreciate everything I have learned from you guys here with all the reading I have done.

Also Becca was nice enough to send me a hand pic of Diamond #1 so I could see how it faced up. What do you guys think?

 

[grobbins]

Hereare the last few pics as i did not know the limit was only 4 allowed per post

 

[Dancing Fire]

Also I assume the spread difference between the two stones is pretty much unnoticeable?(5.4x5.43 vs 5.08x5.12) I will admit Iam trying to get her as big of a stone I can afford without skimping on quality.

Yes, 5.4 vs 5.1mm will be noticeable.

 

[grobbins]

Ok then that would put me more in favour of diamond #1 unless you guys think there is a reason to not go with it vs diamond #2

 

[Andelain]

They're both great, get the bigger one.

 

[Cricketcat]

I agree, I'd get the bigger one. I recently purchased a Brian Gavin hearts and arrows signature ,70 J color. I was worried about tint. I have yet to see any yellow tint. The diamond faces up just as white as my GIA F color diamond.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Also I assume the spread difference between the two stones is pretty much unnoticeable?(5.4x5.43 vs 5.08x5.12) I will admit Iam trying to get her as big of a stone I can afford without skimping on quality.

Yes, 5.4 vs 5.1mm will be noticeable.

Yes, definitely.

But I would not get K color. The tint will be visible. I would not go below J color as that is the lowest in the near colorless range.

All ACA's are great stones, so basically you are choosing based on color, clarity, and size. But honestly, I think you'd be better off going to higher color in Expert Selection.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Not really seeing a good ES prospect. How about this J?

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3171958.htm

 

[grobbins]

I will admit I really did not think the difference between a j vs k color was that much. I mean I have watched just about every comparision video i could find online for those color ranges. GOG has put up a really good one I think where he compres a H/J/K and I swear to me the difference is almost non existent. At least I could not notice anything different color wise until he took the stones and out them face down against a flat white background.

 

[grobbins]

Just a quick update for you guys. I am going with diamondseeker's advice and moving up in color to a J as well as a step up in clarity. This is the new stone I have picked out(first link) and am just waiting to hear back from whiteflash on certain pricing. Becca at whiteflash originally picked the one in the second link that I have for comparison but it looks black in the aset rather then a blue/dark blue. Which do you guys think is the better stone? Or are they both pretty much the same and I am just picking out something that's not even different?

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2914768.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2914767.htm

 

[Gypsy]

They could be sidestones in the same ring. They are that similar. There is no wrong choice.

 

[grobbins]

Great I figured there was no difference but just needed to confirm my thoughts with you die hard enthusiasts. I am still way to new at all of this stuff.

 

[dollyanjuli]

Are you for SURE you want to get a 1400 setting if you budget is tight? You could get a much larger stone if you go up to even 2500, and get an inexpensive solitaire setting...just a suggestion, it's easier (and most of the time, cheaper) to change out your setting later than it is to upgrade your stone! Just a thought...

What is the setting that you know she loves? Can you post a pic?

 

[grobbins]

the setting I know she would fall in love with the round French v split by ritani. I know this from her sister who was showing my photos of rings she was looking at with her back last year. The French v split ritani almost matches exactly style wise to one that she said would be her perfect ring.

I also know that she has said to that the setting is more important then the stone(simple country girl that does not need or even want a huge rock) and that she would rather have a beautiful setting over a bigger stone. All this plus I look at the fact that whiteflash offers a lifetime upgrade policy on their ACA diamonds where you get the full purchase price you paid towards an upgraded stone. So in my mind it would be easier to upgrade her diamond down the road for an anniversary present rather then trying to find a whole new setting and upgrading that instead.

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/ritani-classic-split-shank-diamond-engagement-ring-2237.htm

That is the setting in question from ritani. I have also gotten whiteflash to price match and get the setting in 14k white gold for only $1390(18k/platinum are just to expensive for the budget)

I just discovered that they do make that setting to in palladium as well so now I am wondering which would be better 14k wg or palladium.

 

[grobbins]

Just to give everyone a quick update on here. I went ahead with the first J colored diamond that I linked on my last post thanking diamondseeker for his/her's advice.

I have just decided to stick with the classic white gold for the setting as I know it is my SO preferred choice. I geuss now the long waiting game begins for me. This will be fun I'm sure and I cannot wait to get glamour photos from whiteflash when the ring is done and on its way to me. God I'm nervous now just for the shipping haha. This is the most expensive thing I have bought online and also the first time I have ever bought a ring like this in general.

 

[tyty333]

Not to worry... It's going to be gorgeous!

Now you can start worrying about the proposal !

 

[SirGuy]

Congrats, can't wait for you to get it in!

 

[grobbins]

Not to worry... It's going to be gorgeous!

Now you can start worrying about the proposal !

Seriously you are right. I honestly thought that finding "the" ring was gonna be the hardest part. Nope you guys helped me a bunch through replies and reading past posts.

The plan of execution I have been stuck on for quite some time now.