Find your diamond
Find your jewelry
shape
carat
color
clarity

help me find a diamond ring for under $1500

kurtwoodfork

kurtwoodfork

Rough_Rock
Joined
Oct 16, 2010
Messages
79
Hi all,

so my mom never got an engagement ring. :(

and as i'm getting engaged soon and will be receiving a gorgeous diamond ring, she commented that she's happy that at least her daughter will be blessed with such a beautiful diamond.... it broke my heart. :(

so i want to get my mom a diamond ring. but i'm still a student and I have a very very limited budget.

so i have a favor to ask you gurus and a challenge. can you help me?
i want to find something that is at least H Si1 (as long as it's eye-clean and not too obviously yellow...usually i can tell yellow starting I though). but apparent size is important. since i'll be getting a 1.69 carat, I don't want to give my mom something so obviously smaller in appearance. ...all at under $1500. that's the price I'm comfortable shelling out at this point in my life. I don't want to get in debt for a gift. so, I was thinking having a center stone is probably not going to be feasible, (though I'm wondering if there could be such a deal somewhere that you gurus can find for me...I've tried for the past two weeks and I'm completely lost :(..)

so i was thinking, maybe I might be able to get something that look like the tiffany's flower ring: http://www.tiffany.com/Shopping/Ite...7466-r+101323351+101424822-x+-n+6-ri+-ni+0-t+ it has G/VS1 ~0.60 tcw and it looks significantly larger on my hand (i went and tried it on in the store) and it's pretty on its own right. it is basically a cluster ring, but not in a normal circular fashion so it doesn't look too much like it's trying hard to look like a bigger diamond. which is what I'm looking for unless I can get a center stone. but it's way above my budget...though if i can't find anything else that is just as good for my budget, i'll just have to save up for longer.

soooooooo help me please!! :(

thank you so much everyone <3

60355.jpg
 

Attachments

you're such a sweet daughter ! your mom would be so happy to receive such a thoughtful gift from you ...

since technically it's not an engagement ring for her i would think a gemstone bauble accented with diamonds would be so fitting... when i read your post all i could think of is David Yurman rings... large stones and gorgeous, and definitely within your price range ...

david yurman's pieces are such heirloom classics, you won't go wrong and your mom and all of her friends would SWOON over it!

i personally love the following rings :

8mm Albion pave diamond ring (that's a 2ct look!) $990
http://www.davidyurman.com/shoponline/product.aspx?itemid=Y9618&folderid=/women/rings

7mm pave diamond ring (that's a 1.2ct look!) $790
http://www.davidyurman.com/shoponline/product.aspx?itemid=Y9615&folderid=/women/rings

Prasiolite Wheaton Ring $875 (i LOVE this ring)
http://www.davidyurman.com/shoponline/suite.aspx?itemid=-2VPN&folderid=/women/rings

11mm moon quartz pave diamond ring $875
http://www.davidyurman.com/shoponline/product.aspx?itemid=Y0DVG&folderid=/women/rings

pearl pave diamond ring $750
http://www.davidyurman.com/shoponline/product.aspx?itemid=Y0D3Z&folderid=/women/rings

11mm Prasiolite moonlight ice diamond ring $950
http://www.davidyurman.com/shoponline/product.aspx?itemid=Y0GS3&folderid=/women/rings


i believe that if you buy any of these at your local SAKS until the end of this year (open a charge with them) you'll have 1 year interest free financing... your local Bloomingdales should be also offering interest free financing for the first few months as well !

good luck and please let us know what you've decided on, and congrats on your engagement !!!!
 
you are a sweet daughter :)) I like frankie's yurman suggestions!

Would you be open to earrings? $1500 can go quite far in the earring/stud world, or perhaps a 5 or 7-stone band - a completely different style from your engagement ring, that would avoid comparison competition... try www.idjewelryonline.com for eternities/5-7stones
 
Pearlman's Jewelers has 20% off if you buy a gift card first and use a gift card to make your purchase. Buying a $1000 card and a $500 card would save you $300, or you could get a $2500 card for only $2000.

If you stay away from designer settings, you can save a lot of money-- I tried on a 4ct aquamarine in a very fine diamond halo at a local jeweler for $1650, and I felt that was too much and could have easily talked them down 15%.

Or, if you just want a single diamond in a plain setting, there are a few H&A rounds of 1/2ct size at goodoldgold that meet your criteria and a simple solitaire or bezel setting (like the tiffany bezet replicas) would only run you $300 more or so. If she never got a real diamond ring, 1/2ct would still seem huge to her.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/7513/ in their xprong solitaire setting would be just under $1500.

Though if you're open to gemstones, buying at david yurman you get quite a presentation box, etc so there is that. I personally am in love with this 5ct rubellite ring in a diamond halo though...http://www.etsy.com/listing/42384913/holiday-event-sale-14k-rubellite-pink?ref=sr_gallery_22&ga_search_query=diamond+ring&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=8&order=&includes[0]=tags&includes[1]=title&filter[0]=handmade
 
Did some more looking, if you're open to vintage or estate jewelry here is a 1.75tcw art deco style ring in 900 platinum, under $1000:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62405220/175ct-diamond-solitaire-engagement-ring?ref=sr_gallery_21&ga_search_query=diamond+ring&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=16&order=&includes[0]=tags&includes[1]=title&filter[0]=handmade

The diamond is an I1, it has some inclusions, but being 1930s vintage that is a bit more acceptable.

however, a 5 or 7 stone would be pretty blingy and be in your price range:
http://www.adiamor.com/R-1093-R2776-2.htm
 
You're a lovely, caring daughter! There's a gorgeous cluster ring on the Jewels by Erica Grace website: antique cluster, between .80 and 1 carat - judging from the photos, it should look like a 1.25 or so on the hand, depending on ring size, and it's exactly at your budget at $1550.

http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.c...C-Cluster-Ring/11844768_mo7rF#837445392_s9kVG

Alternately, I think the suggestion of a 5 stone ring is fantastic: maybe something like this?

http://idjewelryonline.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_27&products_id=1225

It's about a carat, and I think the bezels give the stones more presence.
 
What a lovely daughter you are! I hope you find an amazing ring and are given an amazing one.
 
wow thank you so much for all of your replies! you guys are all so sweet!!! i'm going to have to spend some time looking through all of the options but i'm so happy there ARE much better options than what i was able to find on my own. I was only able to find things that had I2,I3 clarity and I was so sad.

i'm so thankful for you all it really brings tears to my eyes. love you PSers!!! <3 <3 <3
 
HI:

How thoughtful--she'll love whatever you choose (but take care where you buy has a good return exchange policy! =) )

I also suggest you peruse Pearlman's--their "Great Deals" thumbnail links to three sections of discounted products (estate, closeout and previously owned) and some great items are to be had. However, if you do get a Pearlman's GC as previously suggested it cannot be used in this "deals" section.

Let us know what develops!

cheers--Sharon
 
 
these are some great suggestions. I was also going to suggest a 5 stone ring, but I see many others have already done that! Please post pictures of whatever you end up getting :)
 
That is so kind of you! Here are a few I found in your budget.

.45 H SI1 $850 (824 PS discount) ACA http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2544643.htm
.46 G VS2 $1005 Expert Select (989.93 ps dis) http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2544644.htm
.50 H SI1 $1053 Premium Select (1042.47 ps dis) http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2544604.htm
.51 H SI1 $1098 BGD Signature H&A http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-104046146008

Here is a halo setting I found at I.D. Jewelry for $495
http://idjewelryonline.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_28&products_id=7819&cType=ER
and one for $620
http://idjewelryonline.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_28&products_id=7818
Pave setting for $595
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagemen...pen-cathedral-diamond-engagement-ring-626.htm
Semi-bezel for $595
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/the-keystone-solitaire-engagement-ring-1105.htm
Solitaire for $250
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5342
Solitaire for $350
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagemen...ffany-style-solitaire-engagement-ring-587.htm

edit- most of these settings fit a .5 ct. The I.D. Jewelry settings don't specify the size so you could contact them if need be.
 
I found a few more. Here are a couple of virtual stones that scored under 2 on the HCA. You could get WF to call them in to see what they think.
.53 H SI1 $1064 (1058.68 ps discount) HCA 1.0/.8(first score from GIA cert, second from AGS info) http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-250923.htm
.5 H SI1 $1021 (1015.90 ps dis) HCA 1.1 GIA Triple excellent http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2538838.htm

Another ACA
.51 H SI1 $1225 (1188.25 ps dis) ACA http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2544605.htm
 
thank you all so much for all the suggestions, please, keep them coming!! :D there are so many good choices i'm very conflicted on what i should do.

i AM very partial to that flower design, that Ms. Frankiextah found for me! for under $1000. but looking at all the other options too, i'm sooooo conflicted. i do want to get my mom a diamond ring, even if it's a cluster/pave ring. the diamond ring will be my gift to her for my marriage -- to thank her for raising me and being my support all these years. I just wish I had more money to spend on it.

I think i'm going to take some time this weekend and go to saks to see some of the david yurman rings in person. meanwhile, i am really considering getting one of those beautiful 0.5 carat stones at david gaven and whiteflash, but i need to do more setting search to make sure it's going to be in my budget and look as impressive and unique ..

just to give you guys some ideas of my mom's taste: during thanksgiving break, I went window shopping with mom to nieman and she fell in love with this ring : http://www.alexisbittar.com/product.php?productid=22224&cat=259&page=1&defvarid=16859 (attaching photo below here), so i went back and bought it -- i couldn't give it to her while i was home since her ring size (7.5) was too big for the ring already made. since it was 'rare', they said they'd need to send it back to the designer and get it resized, and send it back to me. I guess it could be her Christmas present.


and then at nordstrom, i found this: http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main...LBASE001&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=0730608247216 that was on sale for $68 and it is a gorgeous! gorgeous white pearl with pinkish hue, so I bought it for mom and was able to get it in her fingers before I left.

my mom was thrilled, so I am happy with the purchases, but in retrospect I feel like maybe I should've saved that money towards her diamond ring. =\ oh well. too late =P

my mom's lived a very hard life, and I'm so incredibly grateful of everything she's ever done for me and to help me be where I am today. with her love, her prayer, and her counsel, I feel I was able to make it through the hard times we went through as a family, and no amounts of money is enough to spend on mom :) I hope I become really really rich and be able to buy my mom the five carat ring my dad 'promised' her apparently ...teehee..!!... :) :) ....>_< and now I feel bad I'm not getting my dad enough things. but he's actually surprisingly picky! =P

alexisbittar_modern_georgian_smoky_qtz.jpg

majorica pearl ring.jpg
 
Hi SweetieTooth,

love the sentiment of what you're wanting to do for your mom.

My first thought was that even though you're getting engaged and starting a new life with your husband to be, she will still be "your mum for all eternity" so maybe an eternity ring would be a good choice?

Brian Gavin have some nice ones that are within your budget

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond-jewelry/wedding-bands/diamond-eternity-bands/

Anyhoo, regardless of which ring choice you make I'm sure your mum will appreciate what a great daughter she has.

MAC


ETA: I forgot to say congratulations on your engagement.
 
the options lucky found are great options.

BTW sweetie you are tooo sweet for doing this for your mom! I feel the same way about my mom and her/our situation. My dad and her could only afford a .2ct ring back when they got married, and I got a beautiful 1.55 ering this year, and she cried when she saw it. I wish I would get her something beautiful she would be proud and honored to wear.
 
sweetietooth, if you mom loves alexis bittar (great NYC designer btw!), i am confident that she'd LOVE david yurman pieces ! have fun this weekend shopping for her ! :appl:

p.s. flower cluster ring will always be online as a backup !
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Jewelry Blog
PriceScope-Concierge-Ad
Find prime cuts.
Top