Help Needed for Engagement Ring

[kwyankeefan]

Greetings Everyone,

I have been scoping out the pricescope forums for the last couple of months learning as much as I can about diamonds. I am truly impressed with the amount of knowledge out there and everyone's willingness to help others. I am getting ready to pop the big question in the upcoming months, and I have decided it is time for me to post. I have looked at a lot of the sites including James Allen, Blue Nile, Whiteflash, Good old Gold, etc.. All of these dealers have amazing stuff, but I find it to be a little overwhelming as you can imagine. I was hoping some of you in the PS community could help me out with this process. I currently live in the Orlando, FL area and I will be spending several months in Miami, FL so if anyone has some recommendations on some reputable dealers that would be much appreciated. I am also open to any suggestions from an online vendor. My budget is approximately $8,000 for everything and would say I can spend approximately $6,500 on the diamond leaving the rest for the band/taxes. I definitely would want the stone to be eye clean and ideally I would want it to score high on fire, scintillation, and brightness. Pretty much I'm just looking for an amazing diamond .

Round Brilliant
Color: G and above
Clarity: VS1 and above
Carat: I would like to be around 0.9 in order to avoid paying the extra $$$ for a 1 carat diamond
Cut: Excellent(GIA) or Ideal (AGS)

Any suggestions would be much appreciated and I am looking forward to your responses. On another note how can you test the brilliance of a stone online besides using the holloway cut advisor?

 

[Gypsy]

Here's a left field suggestion. BUT it might be a worthwhile one to investigate IF the ring is authentic:

90 point F VS Harry Winston Platinum ring: http://www.ebay.com/itm/280855697378?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 The diamond looks nice and the seller rating is solid. If it's not authentic ebay buyer protection will protect you. Although I would ask for a return policy to avoid that.

 

[kwyankeefan]

Thank you for your post. The ring is beautiful! The center stone only seems to be 0.7 carats and the total weight including the side stones is 0.9 carats. Are there any other suggestions? Feel free to post any stones you would consider purchasing.

 

[Christina...]

There are reflector technology that can be used to predict a stones performance. When buying a stone online as you know the first step is the HCA rejecting stones that score over 2, the next step is an idealscope image or an aset. I prefer IS for round brilliants ASET for fancy cuts. You can read more about these under the tools tab.

 

[kwyankeefan]

Thank you Christina that is great advice! I have heard of these tools, and will look more into them. Does anyone know if companies like whiteflash, have access to diamonds not on their website? They have some amazing stones listed, but not exactly what I am looking for in the ACA or ES grading. Any feedback or any diamond suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

[Christina...]

Whiteflash does have a virtual inventory and they can order in any stone listed on their site and have it evaluated for you. I can take a look around and see what I can find for you if you'd like.

 

[Christina...]

This is just a bit outside the budget you want to spend on the stone itself...
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.901-h-vs2-round-diamond-ags-104057888072

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.850-g-vs1-round-diamond-ags-104057888062

http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/9329/

 

[Christina...]

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1467658.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1422508.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1437927.asp

this would be perfect
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1479310.asp

 

[farmer gal]

I know you said G, but I think this would be gorgeous, You would have to call for pricescope discount and there would be no taxes.

Diamond:
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.007-i-vs2-round-diamond-ags-bl-104057888010

 

[Christina...]

I know you said G, but I think this would be gorgeous, You would have to call for pricescope discount and there would be no taxes.

Diamond:
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.007-i-vs2-round-diamond-ags-bl-104057888010

Yum! And the flourescence will give that I a boost, and being a brilliant cut it will face up whiter than other fancy shapes. It's over a ct to boot!

What where your plans for the setting?

 

[kwyankeefan]

Wow!!! Thank you for all of the suggestions Christina . Thank you also farmer gal, I will have to look more into these stones. So exciting!!! For the setting I was thinking something like this:

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagemen...en-cathedral-diamond-engagement-ring-1627.htm

The good thing about this setting is that Whiteflash, James Allen, and even Blue Nile all have one very similar. My bride to be has described her dream engagement ring to be delicate and I think this is perfect. What do you think?

 

[slg47]

I personally don't like that setting because the band does not connect to the head. However I am sure WF could modify that for you.

 

[kwyankeefan]

I'm not exactly sure what you mean. How does it not connect to the band? Do you have any other suggestions for a band with a similar style? If anyone else has an opinion or suggestion please do not hesitate to chime in.

 

[emeraldnewbie]

I'm not exactly sure what you mean. How does it not connect to the band? Do you have any other suggestions for a band with a similar style? If anyone else has an opinion or suggestion please do not hesitate to chime in.

As the cathedral band goes to the top of the ring it stops short of actually connecting to the setting the diamond is in. Sorry I don't know the lingo very well. I think the head is the setting/prongs holding the diamond itself.

 

[kwyankeefan]

I understand that with a cathedral there is a gap at the top, but wouldn't the head still have to be connected to the band for the diamond to stay on? Are you saying that it will be easy for the diamond to break off (or not very secure)? My lady really likes the look of a cathedral setting. If anyone has any suggestions please chime in, because I definitely want to feel confident that my diamond will be secure.