Hi all,
I'm looking to buy an engagement ring for my girlfriend, and I am overwhelmed by the ring selection process. I am leaning towards buying one online because my girlfriend has expensive tastes and I don't have the wallet to match it. I have some concerns about the quality of online rings, but online just seems so much cheaper, and I tend not to trust sales people. Should I be buying in a store though? How much do people here trust Blue Nile and James Allen?
I have done a fair amount research, but the amount of rings and diamonds I can find online is truly mind boggling. Even when I look at the 360 images of diamonds on James Allen, I am not sure what I am looking for or how to tell if it's a good looking diamond or not.
So here is where you can hopefully help me out. My girlfriend wants a white gold halo or solitaire ring and a round cut diamond. That's basically all I know about what she wants and she wants it to be a surprise so she won't tell me anymore. I have a total budget of $4k to $5k (diamond and setting combined). I am trying not to go too high with the setting so I can save money for the diamond.
Here are a few settings I like that I'm considering, but I am open to other suggestions:
https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/halo/14k-white-gold-pave-halo-and-twisted-shank-engagement-ring-item-17466
https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/halo/14k-white-gold-petite-diamond-halo-engagement-ring-item-41066
https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/halo/14k-white-gold-flowering-tulip-diamond-halo-engagement-ring-item-50697
Now help me find diamonds to match these rings. I'll pick out a few but let me know your thoughts on them or if you have any other ideas. I'm generally looking in the range of .7 - .9 carats with excellent or ideal cuts.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.81-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2056130
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.82-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2204825
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.80-carat-i-color-vvs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1979830
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.80-carat-h-color-vvs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2104371
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.74-carat-g-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2129364
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.89-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1838650
To be honest, I really am not too good with figuring out what I should be looking for in these pictures. Occasionally I notice a blemish but not always. I have trouble telling if they're cloudy or not. Please give me any advice or tips or feedback you can!
Thanks so much for your help!
Your jewelry confused friend,
me.
I'm looking to buy an engagement ring for my girlfriend, and I am overwhelmed by the ring selection process. I am leaning towards buying one online because my girlfriend has expensive tastes and I don't have the wallet to match it. I have some concerns about the quality of online rings, but online just seems so much cheaper, and I tend not to trust sales people. Should I be buying in a store though? How much do people here trust Blue Nile and James Allen?
I have done a fair amount research, but the amount of rings and diamonds I can find online is truly mind boggling. Even when I look at the 360 images of diamonds on James Allen, I am not sure what I am looking for or how to tell if it's a good looking diamond or not.
So here is where you can hopefully help me out. My girlfriend wants a white gold halo or solitaire ring and a round cut diamond. That's basically all I know about what she wants and she wants it to be a surprise so she won't tell me anymore. I have a total budget of $4k to $5k (diamond and setting combined). I am trying not to go too high with the setting so I can save money for the diamond.
Here are a few settings I like that I'm considering, but I am open to other suggestions:
https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/halo/14k-white-gold-pave-halo-and-twisted-shank-engagement-ring-item-17466
https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/halo/14k-white-gold-petite-diamond-halo-engagement-ring-item-41066
https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/halo/14k-white-gold-flowering-tulip-diamond-halo-engagement-ring-item-50697
Now help me find diamonds to match these rings. I'll pick out a few but let me know your thoughts on them or if you have any other ideas. I'm generally looking in the range of .7 - .9 carats with excellent or ideal cuts.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.81-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2056130
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.82-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2204825
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.80-carat-i-color-vvs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1979830
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.80-carat-h-color-vvs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2104371
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.74-carat-g-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2129364
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.89-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1838650
To be honest, I really am not too good with figuring out what I should be looking for in these pictures. Occasionally I notice a blemish but not always. I have trouble telling if they're cloudy or not. Please give me any advice or tips or feedback you can!
Thanks so much for your help!
Your jewelry confused friend,
me.