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I Love My Sailor

I Love My Sailor

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Jan 29, 2009
Messages
353
hi everyone,

The time is near for me to finally get the ring(S) of my dreams, that I can look down and smile at for the rest of my life. I am asking for a little advise from all the knowledgeable psers on this site.

I know I am going through BGD, and I know I want a 1.25-1.30 cushion G color VS2 clarity as my center stone.

My budget is $10,000

here are a coupe rings I am trying to choose between




Here is the lucy ring, but I cant decide what wedding band to pair it with

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5479


Here is fishtail Pave straight head, which I also cant decide which band to pair

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5354


I love the fishtail but I heard many people have problems with pave stones falling out.

I also like the Grace collection, but that a bit more plain that I wanted, although I could afford a bigger stone

Bigger stone, or more bling??? and what band to choose??

what should I do???
 
How about the Grace setting with a bigger diamond and a sparkly band either side?
 
I''m with Maisie on this one - I would go for a beautiful simpler style (especially if you like the Grace - it''s so fluid and gorgeous) and maximise your stone size and get some sparkly bands!
 
Also with Maisie on this...
 
Put the money into the rock.
 
okay here is my second holdup, should I lower my color to an I Vs. The G I wanted to get higher clarity and a bigger stone? is I color still considered white?
 
Date: 3/15/2010 9:00:06 PM
Author: I Love My Sailor
okay here is my second holdup, should I lower my color to an I Vs. The G I wanted to get higher clarity and a bigger stone? is I color still considered white?
Click to expand...
You need to go see diamonds in person to know your own color tolerance. A cushion will show more color than an RB. For me, I can see tint in an I color diamond and so H color is my personaly limit. But lots of people have gorgeous I color diamonds and love them. You need to know where you stand.

You know that cushions face up smaller than RBs, right? So another way to get a larger diamond is to get an RB. For 10k you could get over the 1.5ct mark (7.4mm diameter) in an I SI1.
 
I''d get the grace setting and a blingy wedding band with the biggest, whitest, SI1 you can get.
 
I would go Big with the Grace. Can't go wrong!
 
I have a .82 RB G right now, and I want something different, RB are more $$$ too its hard to decide ...If I get and I color cushion I can afford close to 1.50 carat VS2 I never imagined I could have a stone that big
 
I vote fishtail (just replace the lost stones, if any fall out). I would for sure go lower in color and clarity. The stone in the setting in the picture you had looked about 1.5+ to me, and you would be disappointed if your stone looked smaller than expected in your new setting. I have an H SI1 and it looks flawless and icy white, to Me! Bigger is always better. I did the small E VS2 thing and was bummed that the only one who could tell it from an SI1 was the grading report and the 10X microscope. I certainly couldn't, so I went bigger with lower clarity/color and am extremely happy I did. Good luck! You have a very nice budget, so have fun! I also liked the simple solitaire with a blingy wedding band idea. That way you can spend almost the whole thing on the rock. The wedding bands will be bought from a separate budget, so you will have $950 for the stone of your dreams. To me the setting should showcase the rock, not the rock getting lost in the setting.
 
I suggest you go look at some I colour diamonds in person - I have J earrings and never thought I would go that low either - they look perfectly white from the top but I can see some colour from the side - and I think I''m pretty colour sensitive.
 
Date: 3/15/2010 9:25:04 PM
Author: I Love My Sailor
I have a .82 RB G right now, and I want something different, RB are more $$$ too its hard to decide ...If I get and I color cushion I can afford close to 1.50 carat VS2 I never imagined I could have a stone that big
Click to expand...
Be sure to check the face us measurements. Cushions face up smaller and the per carat weight reflects that. A 1.5ct cushion is about the same size as a 1.2ct R, or smaller. As I said, you could get a 1.5ct I SI1 for your money, which faces up at 7.4mm! So check the face up size of the cushion you are considering as well. I would for sure pick an RB if you wanted size, it will look different than your .82
2.gif


http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-1040371480003
 
10,000 is not just for the stone, its for everything, including band so I am thinking grace e ring and 3/4 diamond etternity band leaving me 7K for a stone. I think I am going to end up going with a larger stone because ... they say you have shrinkage after wearing your ring for a while and this will be my last and final wedding set ever so I must get it right.

I think if I got the smaller stone, I may wish later on I had gone bigger but I dont think if I get a bigger stone, I will wish I had gone smaller for a G
 
Can you get a new setting later? It sure would be nice to crack 1.5ct if it is your forever diamond!
1.gif
A simple solitaire is only $250.
 
Date: 3/15/2010 11:04:31 PM
Author: dreamer_d
Can you get a new setting later? It sure would be nice to crack 1.5ct if it is your forever diamond!
1.gif
A simple solitaire is only $250.
Click to expand...
Yes, this is what I would do
30.gif
 
I''m ordering a fishtail pave'' band from B&L. I''ve never heard of anyone losing stones out of the fishtail pave''s. Lots of ladies have lost tiny stones out of multi row pave''s. Then again, it''s really about how the ring is constructed and the quality of the workmanship.

How about the Novella setting? I think that the four tiny prongs per stone really lends itself to the vintage feeling of a cushion cut diamond (and there''s a Novella band too).

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5372
 
One other thing I have to think about is polish and symmetry. Is there really a difference between EX and VG or GD?



here is an EX/ VG but look were the inclusion is... right in the middle


http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1288738.asp

Here is a VG/G, but the inclusion is not as bad

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1281498.asp


what do you think
 
Date: 3/16/2010 6:43:49 PM
Author: I Love My Sailor
One other thing I have to think about is polish and symmetry. Is there really a difference between EX and VG or GD? Not normally to the naked untrained eye.



here is an EX/ VG but look were the inclusion is... right in the middle


http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1288738.asp

Here is a VG/G, but the inclusion is not as bad

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1281498.asp


what do you think
Click to expand...
To be honest I am not impressed with either of those diamonds, are you looking for a cushion that has the best optical performance? If so then I would keep looking and check out some of GOG's August Vintage Cushions or any of his other hand selected stones.
 
what about this stone

here is the link

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1269754.asp

Diamond Details
Item Number: 1269754
Shape: Cushion
Carat weight: 1.41
Cut: Ideal
Color: I
Clarity: VS2
Certificate: GIA

Depth: 69.6%
Table: 69.0%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Very Good
Girdle: Slightly thick to extremely thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 6.40*6.11*4.25
Ratio: 1.05
 
Date: 3/18/2010 7:49:11 PM
Author: I Love My Sailor
what about this stone

here is the link

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1269754.asp

Diamond Details
Item Number: 1269754
Shape: Cushion
Carat weight: 1.41
Cut: Ideal
Color: I
Clarity: VS2
Certificate: GIA

Depth: 69.6%
Table: 69.0%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Very Good
Girdle: Slightly thick to extremely thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 6.40*6.11*4.25
Ratio: 1.05
Click to expand...
OK, honestlly... eeek. Not liking the photo at all!

Call ERD or GOG and go from there. It will save you a lot of headache.
 
okay so, do you think I should go with a smaller august vintage buy GOG about 1.25 I SI1 instead of a 1.50 I VS2 from a different vender(like the others I posted) The AG collection is more expensive! but I do want a good diamond
 
I just wanted to tell you that Good Old Gold offers a military discount. I just found that out.
1.gif
 
Date: 3/18/2010 8:53:24 PM
Author: I Love My Sailor
okay so, do you think I should go with a smaller august vintage buy GOG about 1.25 I SI1 instead of a 1.50 I VS2 from a different vender(like the others I posted) The AG collection is more expensive! but I do want a good diamond
Click to expand...
Be sure to check the mm "face up" size. That will tell you more than the ct weight in terms of how large it will look on your hand
2.gif
 
WHAT ABOUT THIS STONE





http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/DiamondDetails.aspx?Item=178607907





Diamonds Details
table%:57
depth%:
65.60



girdle: culet:None
width:6.3mm
length:
7.03mm
Measurements
View Certificate
Top View
Side View
1.50 Carats Premium Cut Cushion Diamond
This PREMIUM-cut grade, G-color, and VS2-clarity diamond comes accompanied by a diamond grading report from the GIA.
Diamond Details:
Item #: 178607907
Carat: 1.50
Color: G
Clarity: VS2
Cut Grade: PREMIUM
Measurement: 7.03x6.30x4.13
Depth %: 65.60
Table %: 57
Symmetry: G
Polish: EX
Girdle:
Fluorescence: N
Price: $8,535
 
You can''t pick cushions from the numbers. You really should call the vendors and ask them to find you something in the specs you want.
 
Date: 3/18/2010 8:53:24 PM
Author: I Love My Sailor
okay so, do you think I should go with a smaller august vintage buy GOG about 1.25 I SI1 instead of a 1.50 I VS2 from a different vender(like the others I posted) The AG collection is more expensive! but I do want a good diamond
Click to expand...
If buying a cushion that is well cut matters to you then definitely look at GOG or www.briangavindiamonds.com or speak to Mark at ERD and see what he can find.

If you select a vendor with an upgrade policy then you can work towards the 1.5ct size if you can't quite get there at the moment.
 
I honestly have no clue about numbers and what too look for, I was searching for cushions in general but I thought these venders have pretty decent stones?
Are there certain numbers I should stay within? or anything specific on the report I should stay away from or is there any must haves? I want a well cut stone, I don't want a dull cushion with no fire! But it does not have to be the best.

Oooo I talked to my husband and he has agreed go give me a little more wiggle room in price so 10,000 will be just for my engagement ring. So I have about 8,200 for a stone if buy a setting with micro pave. If I choose a solitaire I have about $8,800 for a stone. I am leaning more towards micro pave! But have not decided
 
Date: 3/20/2010 9:01:40 AM
Author: I Love My Sailor
I honestly have no clue about numbers and what too look for, I was searching for cushions in general but I thought these venders have pretty decent stones?
Are there certain numbers I should stay within? or anything specific on the report I should stay away from or is there any must haves? I want a well cut stone, I don't want a dull cushion with no fire! But it does not have to be the best.
Click to expand...
Again you can't judge these shapes by numbers unfortunately, it won't work. You could have a stone with a depth and table percentage that you think might be a great diamond, see it and its a shocker because the overall proportions aren't effective. Its a stab in the dark for consumers to find a good stone by the numbers, honestly your best bet would be to work with a vendor as above with a good reputation with cushions that has in house stones with all the info provided, or has the expertise to find something suitable from the virtual listing.

Have you spoken with Brian about finding you a diamond?
 
Date: 3/20/2010 9:01:40 AM
Author: I Love My Sailor
I honestly have no clue about numbers and what too look for, I was searching for cushions in general but I thought these venders have pretty decent stones?
Are there certain numbers I should stay within? or anything specific on the report I should stay away from or is there any must haves? I want a well cut stone, I don''t want a dull cushion with no fire! But it does not have to be the best.

Oooo I talked to my husband and he has agreed go give me a little more wiggle room in price so 10,000 will be just for my engagement ring. So I have about 8,200 for a stone if buy a setting with micro pave. If I choose a solitaire I have about $8,800 for a stone. I am leaning more towards micro pave! But have not decided
Click to expand...
In house stones, yes, from GOG and BGD and WF (less reliable with fancies perhaps). But not with virtual stones that are not in house (with phtos) and less so with JA who provides images and has access to the diamonds but have not bought them for their persoanl inventory yet.
 
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