Help find an engagement ring + diamond online

[j1huynh]

Hi All,
I have just joined today and I have been looking at engagement ring for about a month now. I have gone through the mall stores and to some asian jewelry stores. After reading through online of the different I can get scam from buying a diamond, I am really afraid of buying one. My mom keeps telling me to go to a Vietnamese jewelry store that she has bought some jewelry there before but I just have doubts.
I have been to tiffany''s and I have picked out the classic tiffany''s setting ring with round diamond. It looks simple and elegant.
I am looking for about 1ct diamond F/IF and excellent cut. At tiffany''s, it costs around $21k (not including tax) which I think is too expensive. I have looked at WF and similar style and diamond costs around $12k. My question is that WF has many different round diamond (ACA, premium, ideal, etc). Why they have different ratings? I would assume ACA is the top quality??

Also, when buying online, how do I make sure that I don''t get tricked and that the diamond once set on the ring is not damage?

Can someone help suggest some round brilliant diamonds at some other well known vendors that they have experienced with?

Thanks so much.

 

[JulieN]

ACA is the hearts and arrows line.

Have the vendor send it to an appraiser after setting.

GOG, James Allen, and High Performance Diamonds are good places to look.

 

[mrssalvo]

Whiteflash makes a beautiful Tiffany repro setting that looks almost identical to the real thing. they are highly reputable. I would suggest getting the diamond and setting from the same place if at all possible. Excel also makes a super tiffany repro setting so you might give them a look as well. Like Julie suggested you can always have the stone and setting checked out by and independent appraiser.

 

[tyty333]

BGD makes a nice replica too. You might check them out.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5478

They have lots of F/IF starting in the mid $10k to mid $12k

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/search-for-diamonds/?shape=B&bgd_signature=1&bgd_select=1&bgd_everythingelse=1&size1=1&size2=1.19&color1=4&color2=6&clarity1=2&clarity2=3&price1=300&price2=500000&lab=any&cut_grade_from=0&cut_grade_to=3&polish_from=0&polish_to=3&symmetry_from=0&symmetry_to=3&depth_from=59&depth_to=62&table_from=53&table_to=58&submit=Search

 

[CharmyPoo]

Is there a reason you want to get an IF diamond?

 

[Dreamer_D]

An appraiser can verify that the diamond is not damages and is the one you purchased, based on the clarity plot and often a laser inscription in the diamond.

 

[j1huynh]

Thanks for everyone's reply.
I just want to get a nice diamond for my future wife and also it can be kinda of an investment.

I have looked through WF and BGD and I have a few questions:
1) The diamonds are cut by these places or do they just buy from a wholesale? I am asking because I just want to make sure in case some might be better than other from store to store.
2) For the girdle, what's the ideal size? Thin to Medium?

As for the ring, I am thinking of getting either the one in platinum suggested by tyty (http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5478) or this knife edge (http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5336#stock_type).
I can't decide which one is nicer. =(
As for the diamond, how is this one? (http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-details/?product_id=26010532)
However, I don't fully understand about depth and table. A few % different affect the diamond much?

 

[tyty333]

Date: 3/4/2010 1:24:45 AM
Author: j1huynh
Thanks for everyone's reply.
I just want to get a nice diamond for my future wife and also it can be kinda of an investment.

I have looked through WF and BGD and I have a few questions:
1) The diamonds are cut by these places or do they just buy from a wholesale? I am asking because I just want to make sure in case some might be better than other from store to store.
2) For the girdle, what's the ideal size? Thin to Medium?

As for the ring, I am thinking of getting either the one in platinum suggested by tyty (http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5478) or this knife edge (http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5336#stock_type).
I can't decide which one is nicer. =(
As for the diamond, how is this one? (http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-details/?product_id=26010532)
However, I don't fully understand about depth and table. A few % different affect the diamond much?

1) I believe the diamonds come from cutters they work with. You really have to look at the diamond specifics to
tell if one is better than another.
2)For girdles, just stay away from extremes like very thin to very thick. Here is a web page you can read on it.
It says the best is medium to slightly thick. Not sure if its really a big deal as long as you stay away from going
from the extremes.
https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/diamond-girdle-thickness/

Here are a set of numbers we look for when looking at well cut diamonds. (some people have a tighter version
of these numbers).

depth 60-62%
table 54-57 %
crown angle 34-35 degrees
pavilion angle 40.6 - 41 degrees

I dont think you need to worry about BGD H&A diamonds. These should all be lovely stones. If you like that stone
from BGD, call and ask Lesley that you want pictures, ASET and Idealscope images. That way you can see exactly
what you are getting.

I like the classic tiffany half round. I think it is easier to find wedding bands to go with it and some people find
the knife edge bothers the fingers next to it(that its too pointy - but these have been rings from other vendors not
BGD so I cant speak specifically about theirs).

BTW - You know you are paying a lot to have an IF when you wont be able to see anything in a VS stone
(more than likely)? If you wanted to save money you could really drop the clarity but if you want an IF, I
understand. Also, just wanted to mention that diamonds are not really good investments. People usually only get
30-50% of what they originally paid for a stone on the market. But if you are talking "investment" like a
family heirloom thats a different thing.

BGD has an excellent tradeup policy for the H&A stones. 100% of your stone cost is applied to a new stone
(if you think you might ever need this option).

tyty

EDIT -

Here is a link of rings/jewelry from BGD...they do stunning work...
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/show-me-your-brian-gavin-rings.116157/

 

[Lula]

Here is the link to High Performance Diamond's site.
HPD

Wink Jones is the owner, and he is a great guy. HPD carries Crafted by Infinity Diamonds
CBI
So HPD is able to provide you diamonds that come straight from the cutter (no wholesalers or middlemen). All CBI diamonds are super-ideals, so you get one of the best cuts in the world.

Wink also has a Tiffany replica setting; available in two heights (how high diamond sits off the finger).

Good luck to you in your search!