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Help finding a diamond she'll love

TeamTaulbee

TeamTaulbee

Rough_Rock
Joined
Aug 25, 2012
Messages
11
I December my wife and I are celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary. When we first got engaged I was young and naive. I went to Kay Jewelers and bought her what I thought was a good diamond (a half carat heart solitare the super value kind) and got an enhancer to go with it that was around 1/3ct total. After 10 years I've learned a few things. First of all, my wife knows more about diamonds than any woman who isn't a jeweler because she reads way too much! Second, "super value" isn't a descriptor you want attached to your diamond. Third, what you do want attached is a certificate of some sort (GIA I guess). Shortly after we go married I had made up my mind that on our tenth anniversary I wanted to give her a better diamond (bigger too) in a white setting (1st one was yellow) with ten diamonds flanking it. I intend to knock her socks off...or at least give her a ring she can proudly wag in front of her girlfriends! SO...I have found this setting

http://www.adiamor.com/Engagement-Rings/Pave/Pave-Cathedral-Engagement-Ring/14KWhiteGold/1432

Now the trouble is...selecting a diamond to put in it that will look well enough to please my studious wife :D I've got 3700 to spend, but would really like to have some left to take her on a weekend trip or at least a nice dinner to present it... so my wallet keeps trying to tell me that cheaper is ok...but I have learned that it isn't always :oops:

I'm trying to get as close to 1ct as possible, buying shy to save some money...I just want it to be noticeably larger ;) and obviously bright and sparkley :D Otherwise I have no idea...Here's what I'm looking at:

http://www.adiamor.com/Diamonds/H-SI2-Very-Good-Cut-Heart-Diamond/D15498394

http://www.adiamor.com/Diamonds/F-SI2-Excellent-Cut-Heart-Diamond/D15606607

http://www.adiamor.com/Diamonds/J-SI1-Very-Good-Cut-Heart-Diamond/D15698518

http://www.adiamor.com/Diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Heart-Diamond/D14453838

anyone have any guidance?
 
You cannot tell much from just the certificate. Why dont you try Jamesallen; they sell heart shapes, you can see the actual stones and see if youre ok with the inclusions, and you can request light performance tests.
 
The first one is also for sale on James Allen and they want more for it, plus they don't have the setting I like. I was kinda of looking for some general direction on this. Some basic rules of thumb if you will... I have requested plots one these but haven't heard back. Are there any do's and dont's to buying a heart? or a 1ct diamond? or when setting with other stones? in particular metals?
 
I think that is so wonderful of you! Here's a thought... if you're wife is as diamond savvy as you say (who knows - she may be a PSer as well!) she may be up on the current (at least on PS anyway) trend of older diamonds and to celebrate a milestone and the desire for many more years to come --- how about an AVR to set in your setting you like?

I would suggest GOG and here is one of their diamonds: http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8246/ You could show them the setting you like, they may have something similar (it is a popular design) and they could work within your $3700 budget.
 
How does one request a light performance test? Does one get a qualitative result or a quantitative report?
 
Are you set on a heart shaped diamond because that is the shape you bought her the first time around? I just don't think this type of cut is very popular anymore. If she's become more diamond savvy, she may desire a different cut. Would you be able to find out from her what her preferences are?
 
I know that's the one thing she really likes about her current ring. She loves that it's unique and not everyone has a heart shaped diamond. Since I'm choosing a pretty popular setting I thought I should stick with the heart to keep it unique :)
 
I know what you mean about wanting something unique/special. I think the diamond Enerchi linked would definitely be unique, beautiful, special. I have never worked with adiamor. You should try to just request the light performance images from them and see if they offer it? I'd ask for an "ASET image" if you want to look at a fancy shape. Repost the ASET image here, and lots of experienced people will chime in. Good luck:)
 
I'm also going to argue against a heart-shaped stone. I may take some flack for this, but... I think a heart-shaped diamond is a stone you give a young woman, at least when set in a ring. Unless she's told you she want that shape, I'd suggest looking at other shapes. Many PS'ers are in love with the August Vintage Rounds (AVR) and cushions (AVC) sold by GOG. GOG has posted several videos that show the difference between this modern interpretation of an old-cut stone, and the traditional modern round brilliant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwiM3COzjFM&list=UUEV7slr-i-VduBBnfv9MxhA&index=81&feature=plcp

ETA - as popular as the AVR/AVCs are here, I'll bet an AVR would be unique among her friends!
 
Should my choice of color be influenced by the shape? I have heard that some shapes have like a minimum color grade that looks well. I have also been told that all the diamonds in the ring have to be the same color, is that true?
 
IMHO, I'd keep the heart shape as your special first engagement ring, and now, after 10 years, upgrade completely to something more in line with how the relationship has grown and matured. That's why I picked the GOG link to the AVR. It has a much different look but it's a classic and very different than what her friends may have - which seems important to her. It's a great stone at a really good price point, too.
 
TeamTaulbee|1345916450|3256978 said:
For example this diamond http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Heart-Diamond-1509905.asp was recommended over this diamond http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VVS2-Excellent-Cut-Heart-Diamond-1507561.asp based on color because "it's a heart"
Click to expand...

I'm assuming heart-shaped diamonds show color similar to pears, so if you're going to put it in a pave setting, then H and up is probably "safest."

Is $3700 including the diamond and setting?
 
Who recommended it, James Allen? Those are, btw, the two seemingly more attractive stones in their website. The shape/shoulders of the J are fantastic. In shapes with points, the points will look more colored/yellow.
 
TeamTaulbee|1345914392|3256965 said:
I know that's the one thing she really likes about her current ring. She loves that it's unique and not everyone has a heart shaped diamond. Since I'm choosing a pretty popular setting I thought I should stick with the heart to keep it unique :)
Click to expand...

But do you know she wants a heart shape for this new ring? Because while she may like that about her original ring, for a new one she still may want something different. It's like the year my fiance got me sweater boots for Christmas - I loved them and wore them a bunch. So then the next year he got me... more sweater boots. But I already had sweater boots, and didn't want or need more. I was not pleased by his choice of gift, and we returned them. I'm just saying, please make sure it is a heart shape she wants. By asking her. Show her the August Vintage cuts, show her some other cuts - there are many ways to get unique things without having a heart shape, and she already has a heart-shaped diamond. And if she is really into jewelry, she probably has some strong opinions. So just straight out ask her.

Here are some cool pre-loved pieces:

A vintage stone:
http://diamondbistro.com/category/216/Natural-Diamond-Center/listings/30749/113-M-VS1-GIA-OECTransitional-in-Plat-repro-sz6.html

A pear, which keeps many of the unique aspects of a heart shape while being a little more classic and grown up:
http://diamondbistro.com/category/216/Natural-Diamond-Center/listings/31002/103-Platinum-Pear-Diamond-Engagement-Ring.html

Classic three-stones:
http://diamondbistro.com/category/216/Natural-Diamond-Center/listings/30968/154-CTW-3-Stone-Leo-Diamond-Ring.html
http://diamondbistro.com/category/216/Natural-Diamond-Center/listings/30907/*Update-Posted*-Whiteflash-Trellis-3-Stone-Ring.html
 
We tend to think of heart shape diamonds for the very young crowd. Most mature women go for something
a little more classic. If your wife wants another heart that's fine but I think this is really something
You need to find out. After you give her the new ring have her heart put into a pendant so she still
gets to enjoy it.

If she likes to have something different from everyone else may I suggest an oval, pear, or an old
Cut stone.
 
Considering my wife is only 31, I definately need to ask her about this... she may still want one, but she may also want something completely new.
 
that particular princess, no.
 
TeamTaulbee|1345923649|3257022 said:
She's my princess, so how about something like this? I like these squares and the cushion ones that look like crushed ice...

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-I1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1497393.asp
Click to expand...

It's a nice sentiment, but do you think she would like a princess? Any chance your wife can be in on the decision making process? If she's really into diamonds, I'm thinking she'd like to select something herself. For me, that's half the fun. This is a major and costly purchase, maybe the decision shouldn't be based solely on a romantic idea, as well-intentioned as it is. (not intended to be a put-down, just trying to be practical.)
 
I too think you should consider letting her choose or have a say. I always tell my husband, would you let me pick out your new car? He understands this.
 
She would like a heart. She said it's not so much about what she knows she has (an antique diamond) but standing out as different. Apparently she's gotten a lot of comment about how the heart is something you don't see everyday. Well at least I can say after ten years that I know her pretty well :D
 
I really appreciate everyone's input! I do feel better knowing that I'm looking for the right shape, but then I guess that brings me back to my original questions about rules of thumb for heart shapes or 1ct stones, setting etc.
 
Congrats on reading your wife's signals correctly! :wink2: I'm afraid I don't have any insight to offer as to the correct proportions etc. for picking a heart-shaped diamond - hopefully somebody else will weigh in there!

I am not trying to dissuade you from the heart shape, but... I was perusing DBL's site today and was wondering if a colored diamond might fit the bill?

Here's one option, albeit with an oval center stone: http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/ind...-cut-fancy-yellow-vvs2-gia-strong-color-r3791

Princess with pink halo: http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/ind...s-cut-jsi1-gia-cool-cut-laser-inscribed-r4453

Oval with pink halo: http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/ind...vvs2-gia-stunning-stone-laser-inscribed-r4260
 
Ended up getting her this .90ct heart F SI2 with the 10 stone pave setting and she loves it! Absolutely loves it!sam_0723.jpg
 
Do you have any hand shots? Where did you get it from? I think it's lovely!!!!!
 
Do you have any hand shots? Where did you get it from? I think it's lovely!!!!! (oops - I like it so much that I said so twice!)
 
Hey - I just saw your avatar - you have 6 kids?! God Bless! Please come back with a hand shot!!!!
 
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