Help in buying engagement ring.

[Predator76]

Hi everyone.

I need some help here in purchasing an engagement ring...

So I have been shopping around, getting different quotes from different retailers and was wondering what is the most bang for buck? My total budget is around $6k
Requirements - Round Cut. Solitaire. Unsure with my budget what clarity or carat size can i afford. E colour and up.

I have gotten various quotes from various retailers but here's what i got so far - some are not within budget but its for reference sake.

Solitaire diamond + setting
1.12c, round cut, IS1-IS2 , DEF colour = $12k
0.7c, round cut, VVS 2, F colour = $5.2k
0.7c, round cut, IS1-IS2, J colour = $4.2k
0.9c, round cut, VVS 1, F colour = $6.5k
0.9c, round cut, VS 1, E colour = $12k
1.0c, round cut, IS1-IS2, DEF colour = $5k


In your opinion guys, with my budget, what diamond should I get? in terms of most bang for buck? and where should i get them? I have been to a few places and i am pretty confused... feels like the sales people are just trying to force me to buy something... but i guess thats their job :/

Thanks in advance.

P.S. i am a newbie to diamonds, so pardon my ignorance. I am located in Canada.

 

[MollyMalone]

Hi, Predator
Would you kindly clarify a couple of things for us:
Should those of us in the States consider your budget to be $4400 USD because your 6000 is Canadian dollars; is a simple solitaire setting desired; are you willing to make an online purchase or is it important to you to buy locally; are you hoping to have the ring by Christmas?

 

[tyty333]

Have you/your GF seen different colored stones? Why do you think you need an E on up? Normally if someone is trying to get a lot
of bang (usually means size) for their buck I suggest I/SI1. Were the colors you looked at GIA/AGS graded? If not, that E could have
actually been a lot lower on the color scale.

For $6k you can go with a nice solitaire and spend about $5500 for the stone.
Settings
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/14k-white-gold-six-prong-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-53316
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/james-allen-exclusive-engagement-ring-item-49506
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/14k-white-gold-crown-diamond-engagement-ring-item-53314

D/E color stones
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.90-carat-d-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-768043
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.90-carat-e-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-536154

Lower colors for more size
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.02-carat-f-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-788539 This is an F so still a
high color
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.03-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-362098

Edit - never mind...this is all based on US dollars.

 

[Predator76]

Hi, Predator
Would you kindly clarify a couple of things for us:
Should those of us in the States consider your budget to be $4400 USD because your 6000 is Canadian dollars; is a simple solitaire setting desired; are you willing to make an online purchase or is it important to you to buy locally; are you hoping to have the ring by Christmas?

6K canadian. I know the exchange rate sucks for us
yes solitaire setting desired.
Open to online and locally.
No, i do not need to for Xmas. I need it by Feb/March 2016.

Thank You.

 

[Predator76]

Have you/your GF seen different colored stones? Why do you think you need an E on up? Normally if someone is trying to get a lot
of bang (usually means size) for their buck I suggest I/SI1. Were the colors you looked at GIA/AGS graded? If not, that E could have
actually been a lot lower on the color scale.

For $6k you can go with a nice solitaire and spend about $5500 for the stone.
Settings
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/14k-white-gold-six-prong-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-53316
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/james-allen-exclusive-engagement-ring-item-49506
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/14k-white-gold-crown-diamond-engagement-ring-item-53314

D/E color stones
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.90-carat-d-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-768043
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.90-carat-e-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-536154

Lower colors for more size
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.02-carat-f-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-788539 This is an F so still a
high color
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.03-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-362098

Edit - never mind...this is all based on US dollars.

Yes, they were mostly GIA/AGS graded.
In terms of colour, what is important to get? My girl is particular on clarity. Shes an artist is very nit picky on being perfect.. a tiny speck of "dust" would catch her attention.. of course, I can't afford a flawless looking diamond.

A jeweler told me to not bother with DE, he said to look at F and upwards. Again, I am a newbie in this so i am just absorbing whatever information he gives to me.

 

[tyty333]

Have you/your GF seen different colored stones? Why do you think you need an E on up? Normally if someone is trying to get a lot
of bang (usually means size) for their buck I suggest I/SI1. Were the colors you looked at GIA/AGS graded? If not, that E could have
actually been a lot lower on the color scale.

For $6k you can go with a nice solitaire and spend about $5500 for the stone.
Settings
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/14k-white-gold-six-prong-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-53316
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/james-allen-exclusive-engagement-ring-item-49506
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/14k-white-gold-crown-diamond-engagement-ring-item-53314

D/E color stones
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.90-carat-d-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-768043
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.90-carat-e-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-536154

Lower colors for more size
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.02-carat-f-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-788539 This is an F so still a
high color
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.03-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-362098

Edit - never mind...this is all based on US dollars.

Yes, they were mostly GIA/AGS graded.
In terms of colour, what is important to get? My girl is particular on clarity. Shes an artist is very nit picky on being perfect.. a tiny speck of "dust" would catch her attention.. of course, I can't afford a flawless looking diamond. Probably need to stick in the
VS1/VS2 range then.

A jeweler told me to not bother with DE, he said to look at F and upwards. Again, I am a newbie in this so i am just absorbing whatever information he gives to me.FGHI...would be stated as F and lower colors. (E and up would consist of colors E and D) I know
it's kind of backwards.

 

[tyty333]

Ok, so $6k Canadian is about $4400 US.

So...another try...
If she is an artist would she like something with a little more personality like these?
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/14k-white-gold-rope-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-52624
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/14k-white-gold-twisted-shank-contemporary-solitaire-item-6854
More classic...
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/james-allen-exclusive-engagement-ring-item-49506 $470

Possible stones in your budget...I stayed in the VS1/2 clarity range...
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.80-carat-g-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-753259 $3960
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.83-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-695886 $3840
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.82-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-648603 $3670

I cant find any in the .9ish range unless I move down into J and I'm afraid that if your GF is an artist she might be sensitive to
color.
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.93-carat-j-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-796980 $3830

So (IMO), since your GF is an artist and is picky you might want to stay in the VS1/VS2 range and for color I would suggest
G/H. You wrote IS1-2 in your post...do you mean SI1 and SI2. You can find eye-clean SI1s but it gets harder to find eye-clean
SI2s.
Here is an SI1 that is probably eye-clean (you have to check with the vendor). It has twinning wisp (which are hard to see). It
also has a feather down around the girdle at 5:00. If visible, it could be turned to go under a prong.
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.90-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-774051 $3850

Well, thats about all I could dig up. Gives you something to thing about.

Edit - I also wanted to mention that we have a tool you can use that can give you a quick check to see how nice the stone is
cut. Look for stones that score 2 or under. After that if you can get them, request an idealscope image.
Tool
https://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca

 

[tyty333]

Other options from Whiteflash.
Whiteflash says this is eye-clean
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3157630.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3585725.htm slight leakage under table but still nice
(and bigger stone)

With any of these settings...
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/ritani-1rz7242-solitaire-engagement-ring-3996.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/6-prong-tiffany-style-solitaire-engagement-ring-582.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/4-prong-tiffany-style-solitaire-engagement-ring-587.htm

 

[Predator76]

Ok, so $6k Canadian is about $4400 US.

So...another try...
If she is an artist would she like something with a little more personality like these?
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/14k-white-gold-rope-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-52624
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/14k-white-gold-twisted-shank-contemporary-solitaire-item-6854
More classic...
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/james-allen-exclusive-engagement-ring-item-49506 $470

Possible stones in your budget...I stayed in the VS1/2 clarity range...
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.80-carat-g-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-753259 $3960
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.83-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-695886 $3840
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.82-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-648603 $3670

I cant find any in the .9ish range unless I move down into J and I'm afraid that if your GF is an artist she might be sensitive to
color.
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.93-carat-j-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-796980 $3830

So (IMO), since your GF is an artist and is picky you might want to stay in the VS1/VS2 range and for color I would suggest
G/H. You wrote IS1-2 in your post...do you mean SI1 and SI2. You can find eye-clean SI1s but it gets harder to find eye-clean
SI2s.
Here is an SI1 that is probably eye-clean (you have to check with the vendor). It has twinning wisp (which are hard to see). It
also has a feather down around the girdle at 5:00. If visible, it could be turned to go under a prong.
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.90-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-774051 $3850

Well, thats about all I could dig up. Gives you something to thing about.

Edit - I also wanted to mention that we have a tool you can use that can give you a quick check to see how nice the stone is
cut. Look for stones that score 2 or under. After that if you can get them, request an idealscope image.
Tool
https://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca

Thank you for all the replies! I will look into it