Help my friend put together an engagement ring!

[Venti25]

Hi everyone,

One of my friends is on the verge of proposing to his GF and needs help selecting an engagement ring within a relatively short time frame..luckily he's thinking about a classic solitaire in platinum. Budget is 4.5k setting + diamond, I colour or better and platinum setting.

This is what he has selected so far:

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagemen...-knife-edge-solitaire-engagement-ring-734.htm or http://www.whiteflash.com/engagemen...fany-style-solitaire-engagement-ring-1415.htm

with this diamond:
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3019466.htm

which comes together at approximately 4.5k USD and that is pretty fixed as there is 10% GST added when it gets to Australia.

In terms of setting he leans towards the knife edge 6 prong solitaires and it must be platinum (preferred by gf).

I know whiteflash's ACA's are considered some of the best stones around but I was hoping maybe with some super sleuthing pricescopers might be able to find something just that little bit better in terms of bang for buck either in size or colour? What he's selected now is nice already but I just wanted to double check that there wasn't a better combination out there. However as time is limited I'm not sure there is time to request ideal scopes on virtual stones.

I was considering recommending this but not sure about those inclusions even with the WF's definition of "eye clean" there are some crystals that are just off the table.

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2960083.htm

I also went browsing on James Allen and came up with this option here:

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-dia...arat-i-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-263487

or even this one (G rather than I), same ~ size as whiteflash

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-dia...arat-g-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-247263

with the equivalent 6 prong platinum setting:

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagemen...-solitaire-engagement-ring-handmade-item-2426

I'm not sure how the setting compares to the white flash one, I think there might be subtle differences but as I have not seen both I'm not sure how they compare visually..I think the WF knife edge has a thinner taper?

Can anyone chime in here and give a little advice? I'd be happy to drop down to Si eye clean myself however as this is not for me but for a friend and his gf I'm playing "safe"..if the inclusion was off to the side I think that would be okay too.

 

[ecf8503]

I like the second WF setting - the first one seems too thick to my eye.

If WF says the stone is eye-clean I have no reason to doubt them, but since it's an ACA they have it in house and can easily pull it and inspect it. It is a beautifully cut stone.

The JA stones are very nice as well, and they are both AGS 0, which is awesome. But both have inclusions under the table, so you would have to ask them to call the stones in (they don't have them in house as I understand) and have the gemologist look at them.

 

[heididdl]

setting:

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/platinum-six-prong-knife-edged-solitaire-engagement-ring-handmade-item-2426



http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.85-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-262786

stone ideal cut I color si .85 (size does matter )

 

[Venti25]

ecf8503: I also think I like the non knife edge from WF, it does seem a little bulky up top and I worry that the knife edge might be too sharp? I might ask JA to put those on hold, but I have to see if the JA setting is an ok alternative first. No point in calling them in if the setting is a deal breaker.

heididdl: Thanks for looking! I agree 0.85 is seriously tempting...but I ran the numbers through the HCA and it doesn't seem to score too well there 3.1? Think it might be worth asking for an IS anyway as one of three potentials? Med flour is a nice bonus too..

I've also put together this "short list" basically went through and tried to pick ones with HCA scores under 2.0.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-dia...487,107842,247824,265453,102904,264101,263485

Do any of those stand out to anyone? I was thinking maybe the 5th and 7th for the smaller table but..maybe splitting hairs now?

 

[arkieb1]

We have a free trade agreement with the US, make sure you get your friend to ask any vendor to fill in the AUSFTA forms correctly and attach copies to the outside box and put a copy on the inside as well. It helps reduce the costs a bit and speeds up the process. Sometimes if customs is being difficult they will charge you the full amount but you are entitled to claim some of it back again if you submit those forms.

http://www.whiteflash.com/search.aspx?text=australian%20customs

 

[Venti25]

Thanks arkieb1 will definitely not forget to tell him.. he's lurking at the moment but a bit forum shy!