Help! College student looking for an engagement ring!

[steve006]

Hi guys! I don''t know how I found this site this morning but it has already helped me so much. My budget is around 2,500-3,300. My gf thinks buying a ring online is crazy. We''ve been to all the stores in the malls. Some are nice but they look just like all of her friend''s rings. She thinks she wants a princess cut. size 6.5? From what I''ve read on here, it seems like G+ is the color to go with?

This is her dream ring. From Fred Meyer Jewlers. but its 4,000.....too much

http://store.fredmeyerjewelers.com/escalate/store/DetailPage/pls/fredmeyerjewelers/bc/fredmeyerjewelers/pc/994277/clist/014b8032df2d:014b8032df3d:014b8032dfc5:014b8032e07b:014b8032e07b/ret/1-17-52-35/pls5catname/1-17-52-35

Is there anything on the net like that?

Here is another plain one that she would "settle" for

http://www.zales.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2089460

and another one..
http://www.zales.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2250003

I think it needs a setting around it. But most of the ones I find online have round diamond settings and I dont think it would look very good with a princess center.

Thanks for your help!

 

[colorkitty]

Don't take this the wrong way, but what's crazy is to buy a J I2 ring from zales. For $2650 you can get that same second ring but with H color and vs2 clarity and very good cut from bluenile.

http://www.bluenile.com/product_details.asp?oid=4838&nav1=settings_channel.asp&track=row_2mod_3&elem=img

Or you could use their build your own ring and get something similar to the first picture.

Look around at other vendors, too.

Edited to add: I hope I didn't come across too harsh. It's just that I have experience having a small budget and I'm interested in saving you $ and knocking her socks off. You can get a lot for 3K, it's a decent budget, but you have to educate yourself and shop around. Good luck!

 

[Bunnifer]

Date: 1/9/2007 3:41:30 PM
Author: colorkitty
Don''t take this the wrong way, but what''s crazy is to buy a J I2 ring from zales. For $2650 you can get that same second ring but with H color and vs2 clarity and very good cut from bluenile.


http://www.bluenile.com/product_details.asp?oid=4838&nav1=settings_channel.asp&track=row_2mod_3&elem=img


Or you could use their build your own ring and get something similar to the first picture.


Look around at other vendors, too.

Ditto what colorkitty said. You can definitely find a diamond of MUCH better cut/color/clarity that the ones you''ve posted. I''m pressed for time right now so I can''t look but colorkitty''s BN one looks good.

 

[hikerchick]

Try this combo:
Setting is $900 in white gold and stone is about $2150 after the PS wire discount for a total of $3050

Diamond: http://www.whiteflash.com/princess/Princess-cut-diamond-114417.htm

Setting: http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Diamond-Settings/Baguette-Diamond-Ring_969.htm

 

[steve006]

I need all the help I can get. It will never come off as rude to me. I''m only about 3 days into my diamond education process. You guys have all bought from these online stores? That solitare princess from blue nile was nice. Thanks for your time. I''ll try the building option.

There is a nice store where I''m from called the Shane Company that lets you select your setting and then the diamond. but they seem pricey to me.

 

[hikerchick]

My boyfriend was VERY nervous about buying online but we took the chance and it worked out REALLY well for us . . .
Check out BN, WF, James Allen and GOG . . . all have good reps on here . . . we bought from WF so they are the only ones I can personally vouch for . . .

 

[steve006]

Sorry I''m new to this. What are the sites for those letters?

 

[brilliantround]

Date: 1/9/2007 4:30:46 PM
Author: steve006
Sorry I''m new to this. What are the sites for those letters?

Hey Steve. Fellow newbie here.

Blue Nile, WhiteFlash, Goodoldgold are the sites.

The people here are very helpful and I gotta say buy online. That Zales stuff yikes. I''m on a 3K budget as well and I think I''ve nailed down a great ring from help here. PS don''t steal my ring! lol

 

[steve006]

I read your topic all morning. This might be a stupid question, but do they put everything together for you or do you get the diamond and the ring seperate and have to take it somewhere.

It''s funny how when my gf and I see zales in the mall we think "zales is good its everywhere".

 

[hikerchick]

If you want to trust the vendor, you can buy the diamond, the setting and have it set and sent to you. However, we did went about it the long way.
We picked a diamond from Whiteflash, had it sent to us, took it to an independant appraiser we found here at PS and had it looked over. We then went setting shopping around here but decided that the extra $500 to buy the same setting we found locally from Whiteflas was worth it for us. So, I shipping the diamond back to WF and having them set their diamond in the setting we have chosen and ship it back to us. The initial shipping of the diamond was free because we chose to keep the diamond. The shipping to WF and the shipping from them back to us, we have to pay for . . .

feel free to ask questions . . . there are a lot of very nice well people here . . . they really helped me!!!

 

[brilliantround]

I'm almost certain they put it all together for no extra charge and I guess I'm doing that to save $.

I'm looking to get a Hearts and Arrows 0.616ct G VS2 put in a diamond setting for around $3K out the door with upgrade policy. I hope to get a hold of WF and finalize sometime next week.

The one jeweler I went to showed me a 0.5ct Hearts on Fire diamond with similar specs for $3700 after tax. Then diamond settings were easily $850+ after tax. Bigger ring for 1/3 the cost wow.

That Zales with the I2 and I-J.. There's a term on this forum I learned - frozen spit

 

[steve006]

frozen spit! I like that.

What about this one?

http://www.bluenile.com/product_details.asp?oid=5849&page=8&show_all_pages=0&col=2&row=3&pos=8&set_shape=

 

[hikerchick]

That looks nice but keep in mind that Blue Nile will not sell just the setting (I read that somewhere on here)
so, you''d have to buy the diamond there as well.

 

[steve006]

blue nile is not a good place to buy the diamond?

 

[hikerchick]

Oh no, it is a fine place to buy a diamond . . . I just meant IF you buy the setting there, you HAVE to buy the diamond there and most of the suggested diamonds on this thread are from other vendors.

I have never purchased from BN but have heard positive feedback from others here.

 

[hikerchick]

Try these from BN to go with that setting you chose

http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?__fun_frm=i&pid=LD00142540&filter_id=0

http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?__fun_frm=i&pid=LD00126892&filter_id=0

 

[FacetFire]

Hi there! I think you can make a gorgeous ring on your budget. Couple of ideas:

http://www.exceldiamonds.com/diamond/19185.html (.72 E SI2 for $2575 - you can call and ask if it''s eyeclean) plus http://www.exceldiamonds.com/-Engagement-Rings-5/Exceldiamonds-4-Prong-Diamond-Engagement-Ring-in-White-Gold-650.html (solitaire setting for $375)

or

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=131&item=962668 (.73 G SI1 for $2220 - once again call and ask if it''s eyeclean) plus http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones.asp?module=setting&cid=58&item=869 (tapered baguette setting for $975)

or

http://www.whiteflash.com/princess/Princess-cut-diamond-114417.htm (.707 H VS2 for $2220) plus http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/3Stone/Baguette-Diamond-Ring_969.htm# (baguette setting for $900)

 

[E B]

Hi Steve! Welcome to PS.

The setting at Fred Meyers is pretty different from anything I've seen. This setting from James Allen is somewhat similar, though:

18k WG Princess Cut Open Gallery

It would eat up half of your budget, which is something to think about. Still, you could put a .50-.60ct G-H ideal center stone in the middle and have a fabulous ring (the setting itself has at least .60ct worth of diamonds in it alone).

ETA: This .55ct F, SI1 looks good (and with the setting, would put you at a total of $2725):

.55ct F, SI1 Princess

 

[pahoyafan]

Here is a great combo that would cost $3011 after the pricescope discount.

Setting
http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Diamond-Settings/The--Legato--with-Micro-Pave_1071.htm

.72 ct A Cut Above Stunner (looks eye-clean)
http://www.whiteflash.com/aca_princess/A-Cut-Above-Princess-cut-diamond-22633.htm

 

[steve006]

"Here is a great combo that would cost $3011 after the pricescope discount.

Setting
http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Diamond-Settings/The--Legato--with-Micro-Pave_1071.htm
.72 ct A Cut Above Stunner (looks eye-clean)
http://www.whiteflash.com/aca_princess/A-Cut-Above-Princess-cut-diamond-22633.htm"

thanks for your help, but ring is too small and stone is too big on that one for me.

 

[steve006]

Facet i like those diamond pics. I would be willing to go up in table size and lower in color. can you tell a difference between E and G? I dont think i''ll need an E. but maybe. I dont know what i''m talking about.

 

[armylynn]

So I thought she might like something like this. http://www.sunjewelry.com/er2165.html I just ordered from there and they have great customer service and a great selection. You can order loose diamonds also to get the kind of stone you want or let them pick. I love a lot of James Allen stuff though also. BlueNile would be really good also if you want the convience of just getting the setting and diamond at the same place.

 

[devientdrow]

Hey! I think you have come across some GREAT options! From what you have explained I don''t think you NEED and E unless you have you''re heart set on it. If you browse through here some people have posted charts of comparison between color of diamonds and you''d be surprised! I personally have a G and it''s amazingly white. From the top it looks just like an E! The only trace of color you could see is through the side. I think you''d find lots of stories of people on here having G''s that look like and E. By lowering your color grade JUST a little you can get a great diamond that looks completly colorless and save some cash or get a larger stone!

 

[hikerchick]

Here is the best option as I see it . . .
Buy the setting armylynn suggested from sunjewelry, check on their return policy first . . . $1174 for setting only
http://www.sunjewelry.com/er2165.html

And ship the setting to whiteflash to set the diamond that pahoyafan suggested . . . $2116 with 5% PS discount for ACA diamonds . . . for a total of $3289

http://www.whiteflash.com/aca_princess/A-Cut-Above-Princess-cut-diamond-22633.htm

 

[hikerchick]

http://www.whiteflash.com/princess/Princess-cut-diamond-114417.htm#

or this one I suggested earlier . . . set in the sunjewelry setting

 

[steve006]

Thanks for all your help guys! I really like the sunjewelry setting. The diamond selection gets a little pricey though and doesn''t let you select the exact diamond. How much would it cost to ship and have a different place put it together if I found a better diamond?

So the sunjewelry.com is #2 on her list right now

This is my favorite so far and hers too I think.

Let me know what you guys think...

I really like the setting. Have you guys seen anything around that has those baggets on the sides with even more diamonds after it on the ends? Can you guys help me find a good diamond on that site with at least an H for color. Remember the max I want to go is around 3,300. Thanks!

 

[steve006]

bump!

 

[cpster]

I really liked the combo pahoyafan posted.

I think the thin band would really show off the center stone well.

Whatever you do, don''t buy from the Shane company. They have very few certified stones. I went in there recently and all they had were I1 stones.

 

[steve006]

really? All I''ve heard is good stuff about shane co. Thanks. And you didn''t like the bagget one i posted last?

 

[cpster]

For me, that last one has too many different shapes of diamonds...rounds, baguettes, and a princess.

I found this Tacori mount on special at Pearlman''s. It might be worth a call to see if that princess stone you are thinking about will fit. It might be a bit small.
http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/jewelry-specials/closeout-jewelry/rings/065CO1/64/

This one is from Know Jewelers and looks nice too at $1390 though, so it may be pushing your budget.
http://www.knoxjewelers.biz/index.htm?crn=202&rn=516&action=show_detail

This is a three stone for $1090
http://www.knoxjewelers.biz/index.htm?crn=202&rn=808&action=show_detail

Another three stone, but in 14k WG for $980.
http://www.knoxjewelers.biz/index.htm?crn=202&rn=352&action=show_detail

Does she like engraving? Or more plain styles? The Knox site has a bunch of well priced mountings.