Help!!! I need to stay within my budget

[cryckman]

Ok, after listening to MANY people''s advice on this forum, I have decided to not purchase the ring I was going to purchase from ebay.

With that being said, I need help. It''s crunch time. I want to purchase a ring soon in order to ask her to marry me by Christmas.

Here is my budget... I cannot spend anything over $3300, and this is exactly what I want the ring to look like:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4936237257&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

Please... anyone help me find something beautiful within my budget!!! I''m stressed out now that I have to start over after thinking I had found the perfect ring!!!

 

[Hest88]

A know a lot of guys don''t like this idea, but if you mull it over you might get used to it!

You can get a pretty nice, large princess for your budget, so why not put all your pennies in a stone and have it put in a temporary setting? That way she has the proposal and ring for Xmas, then the two of you can slowly start looking for the perfect wedding set--and save up for it accordingly. The ring you like is really nice, but I''m worried that it will leave a big gap or otherwise look funny when paired with a wedding ring. Some gals are really particular about the way the rings look together, so a temp setting can be by far the safest solution.

 

[cryckman]

That is a decent idea... thank you, but I''ll have to think about that for awhile...

One additional thing is, can anyone please tell me what depth and table measurements I should be looking for to get a very good brilliance and sparkle from a princess diamond? This might help me narrow down my search for a center stone, helping me figure out what carat weight I can afford within my budget that still gives me a great looking diamond!

 

[Hest88]

Here''s the princess chart:
http://diamonds.pricescope.com/fnc1.asp


I did a quick search through my usual "go to" sites for princesses (Gooddoldgold, Niceice, Whiteflash, Dirtcheapdiamonds, Diamondsbylauren, SuperbCert) and I don''t see a "signature" stone that has a good combination (I was thinking H, SI2) that would ensure you have a white, eyeclean stone that''s much over about 3/4 of a carat. There might be some out there, though; it''s just awfully close to Xmas I guess.

 

[icelady]

Hi Cryckman,

I found this diamond on this site . It is not one of their "Signature Princesses" but they list it as an "Ideal". You would have to check with them to make sure that it is eye clean. They also have this setting which is similar to the one in your original post. It is listed for $499 in white gold or $599 in platinum.

There may be other diamonds and other settings similar on other sites as well, this was the first one I ran across. Hope this helps! Don''t give up!!

 

[icelady]

Darn, for some reason I cannot get them to link! I used to be able to. I will try to post the pic and detail of the setting and diamond. Sorry!

 

[icelady]

Ok, Let's try this again! Here is the diamond and this is the setting...

 

[icelady]

OK, at least the diamond is coming up, just click on the GIA letters to see the GIA report. I will try again to post the setting!

Edited to add the setting link again! Hopefully this works!

 

[valeria101]

Date: 11/26/2004 52:49 PM
Author:cryckman

I cannot spend anything over $3300, and this is exactly what I want the ring to look like:

Well, it is good that you say so, because the respective princess cut happens to be so much smaller than the weight would suggest, that you should be able to put together a ring looking just like that staying in with the budget and all.

At 1 ct and 82% deep the princess cut does not match the expected size of a 1 carat princess. So the same look (5.1mm center and reasonably-sized baguettes 20pts each) should be achievable.

Not to mention that the Ebay posting is not the picture of your ring - just a stock photo that really does not mean anything.

To match the look, the center should be a decently cut 0.8cts (even at about 70% it would be visibly larger than the Ebay thing).


Here are a couple of 5-5.2mm princess cuts : G-VS2, F-VS1 (!)... and there are plenty more choices, of course.

 

[kevinraja]

At 80+ depth, the pricess on ebay is defiitely a piece of junk in my opinion. Look for depth% between 65-75% and table% between 60-72%. Plus or minus 1 or 2% is acceptable, I guess, since you are on a tight budget. I would recommend to buy a "good stone" for now with a solitaire setting, and then in future you can take your fiancee''s opinion to choose the perfect setting she wants. Good luck buddy.

 

[phoenixgirl]

Mondera has an 18k white gold version with 1/3 carat tapered baguettes for $1400. That leaves $1900 for the stone, which isn't much, but let's see what we can find.

Honestly, I don't know much about evaluating the cut of a princess just from specs online; that's why I just choose ones that are being advertised as ideal by reputable vendors. You could get a larger stone if you go with a more generic cut.


0.72 H SI2 signature ideal

0.83 I SI1 signature ideal

0.57 G VS2 superbcert

0.87 J SI1 "premium" cut

Or, you could go with smaller sidestones (this is even in platinum):

1/6 tapered baguettes in platinum for $1075 (I think that Mondera will allow you to purchase a setting separately, but BlueNile will not)

0.68 H VS1 "signature ideal"

More settings:

platinum (?) with 0/35ctw sides for $1685

expensivo but yummy vatche setting

double baguettes in 14k for only $849 Then you spend $2450 on the stone

0.25 ctw tapered baguettes in 14k for only $700! ($2600 for the stone)

Once you pick a setting, tell the vendor your price range, and I'm sure s/he'll help you find a good stone in your price range.

 

[bling_aficionado]

Here''s something that I put together from the bluenile website,

Diamond Information
Stock number: LD00599283
Carat weight: 0.84
Cut: Very Good
Color: I
Clarity: VS2

Depth %: 74.9%
Table %: 65%
Symmetry: Very good
Polish: Very good
Girdle: Thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 5.28x5.06x3.79 mm
Length/width ratio: 1.04

Though smaller in carat weight, the dimensions are a little bigger because of better stone specs in general. The setting is 18k White Gold with Baguette Diamond Accents (1/8 ct. tw.)

http://www.bluenile.com/assets/product_images/rings/DM49400300_PR_75_zoom.jpg



Oh, and the total price is exactly the same as the ebay item. It might also be possible for other vendors such as dcd or whiteflash to source the same diamond for less money and help create the setting within your budget. Good luck!