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Help Needed with Engagement Ring

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hundley1832

Rough_Rock
Joined
May 27, 2013
Messages
18
Hey guys, first time poster here looking for some help as I am shopping for an engagement ring for my girlfriend. I know she wants a princess cut with a halo and I have been shopping quite a bit comparing prices, etc. However, I am still new at all of this. One particular question I have is, if I were to get a princess cut ring with no halo (I have found some brand new ones at good prices on Craigslist), how hard would it be to get a halo put on it? I'm assuming it would be possible, however I would like to know an estimated price range of what I should expect. If anyone could help me out, or give me some tips on where else I should be looking, I would greatly appreciate it!

Thank you!
 
You should get a new setting for it.
 
you can find halos in a variety of price ranges. what is your budget? What are they asking for the ring on cregslist?
 
Here is a picture of the ring (I hope it works)...he is asking $1,750. Says it is brand new, never been worn, and willing to meet at a jewelry store to validate everything. I am not 100% sure on my price range, I am still in grad school but will be graduating next May making fairly decent money (I hope!). I would probably say $4,000 max.



3k93l63j95e55j15mbd5h6584364e2dcd1fee.jpg
 
Notice it also says clarity enhanced.

Run.
 
ecf8503|1369705472|3454804 said:
Notice it also says clarity enhanced.

Run.
Click to expand...

yikes. definitely.
 
Ok, I'm new at this. What exactly does that mean? I'm assuming it's a bad thing haha
 
Not a stone I would choose for an engagement ring. This diamond has been clarity enhanced to look better than it did originally. Such stones require a bit more special care else the filling will be affected.
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/clarity-enhanced-diamonds.159356/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/clarity-enhanced-diamonds.159356/[/URL]
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/anyone-had-their-diamond-clarity-enhanced-photos-please.183628/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/anyone-had-their-diamond-clarity-enhanced-photos-please.183628/[/URL]
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/would-you-buy-a-clarity-enhanced-diamond.139277/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/would-you-buy-a-clarity-enhanced-diamond.139277/[/URL]
 
Thanks for the help! That's the kind of help i was looking for. That being said, any suggestions on good places to look for engagement rings online? I have several jewelry stores around me that I am looking at, but have heard of people having good luck with sites like BlueNile.
 
I would prefer to purchase from a place that has pictures of the actual stone (not a generic sample picture) and will provide an ASET. Short of that, a princess cut diamond with an AGS lab report is just as good since they are already tested for proven light performance, not needing anymore research or legwork for you to do.
 
Thanks for the info Chrono. One other question I have (sorry, like I said, this is all new to me) would be, do you think it would be better (from a price standpoint, quality, time, etc) to buy a loose diamond and have it put into a setting, or go ahead and buy the whole ring already put together (probably not the right jewelry lingo, but I think you get the point). I can't seem to see a big price difference, but I didn't know if it would end up being a lot more money and hassle once everything is assembled. Thanks!
 
It would definitely be better to have the same vendor set your stone as any problems/chipping will be accounted for.
Do you like something like this? http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/halo/14k-white-gold-pave-halo-diamond-engagement-ring-princess-center-item-6790
A nice ps-er should be able to recommend some stones for you and then request an ASET.
As a general rule of thumb, you want your stone certified by AGS or GIA - I'm not sure if the ones you were looking at on craigslist are certified?
 
The thing with the one you posted is you don't know the light performance of the center stone.
I would recommend choosing 3 stones from james allen within your budget and getting an ASET (this will show if the stone has leakage or not) I'm not a princess expert so maybe someone could make some suggestions
you can also ask for Pricescope discount
 
A halo setting will definitely enhance the size of a princess cut stone. I do urge you to get a good quality stone such as the one Julie just linked. You get what you pay for, and it would be better to have a fine quality stone in a smaller size than a big one that was clarity enhanced. Diamonds should be bought loose and then choose a setting for it. I do agree that it is best to buy both at the same place when possible. Stick to G or H color and maybe VS2 to SI1 for clarity.

Here are a couple more:

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-2862806.htm ($2980)

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-2894991.htm ($2849)
 
I second talking to Id Jewelry. Let them know you belong to Pricescope. They have Gaberial settings which are reasonably
priced and good quality. Lots of halos too.

Www.idjewelryonline.com
 
Awesome. Thanks everyone for the help! I will check Idjewelry out for sure. Thanks again! I will be sure to come back with any other questions I have along the way!
 
hundley1832|1369780167|3455308 said:
Awesome. Thanks everyone for the help! I will check Idjewelry out for sure. Thanks again! I will be sure to come back with any other questions I have along the way!
Click to expand...

and please come back with the finished product!
 
These ps know quite a bit about diamonds so you definetely came to the right place. Listen to their advice and your lady will be beyond thrilled and you will never ever second guess your purchase.
 
I bought things like phone on craigslist, but I didn't buy jewelry on Craigslist, I think it's better to buy engagement rings on physical store so that you can see the real thing. Share you ring if you get it.
 
Dont buy diamonds on CL... as all things on CL are worse then they appear you dont want to spend good $$ on a crappy stone.

Call IDJewelry. I just purchased from them (on 5/24) and got an amazing deal. The stone looks amazing and my local jeweler that had been trying to sell me on one of his (he is a well known jeweler in our area) is doing a 2nd appraisal for insurance and said outright at first look that the stone is excellent and he couldnt come anywhere near the price I paid.

Tell IDJ what you want and Im certain they will more then meet your expectations
 
Thanks for the info. I am planning on staying away from Craigslist and the CE diamonds. As far as IDjewelry goes...is it comparable to BlueNile? Is one better than the other in your opinion? I have heard some good things about BlueNile but had never heard of IDjewelry until I came on here. It seems that everyone is pleased with it though. Any thoughts?
 
hundley1832|1369864149|3455899 said:
Thanks for the info. I am planning on staying away from Craigslist and the CE diamonds. As far as IDjewelry goes...is it comparable to BlueNile? Is one better than the other in your opinion? I have heard some good things about BlueNile but had never heard of IDjewelry until I came on here. It seems that everyone is pleased with it though. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...


Blue nile will sell you the stone, but they wont give you a picture of the stone usually, or idealscope images of the stone, so you can tell if its a well performing stone.

IDJ will give you all the information you need to pick a really good stone, help you find stone in your budget, and work with you to get the best thing you can for your budget...
 
Thanks for the info Niel. One other question about CE diamonds. I spoke with a gemologist (I believe thats what she was) today at a local jewelry store who explained to me a little more about CE was. She seemed to think that diamonds that are CE's by laser vs a fracture filled method are still pretty good diamonds. Is this the case? Or, should I stay away from the CE diamonds all together. I guess, as a novice, the price of these diamonds is hard to pass up, but if it is going to be a bad buy then I don't want anything to do with it. Any thoughts?
 
Just for fun...here is the CE diamond I was looking at. This picture goes along with the estimate that was posted previously in this thread.

3kf3m83jf5le5kf5h4d5hf7344716607e1577.jpg
 
I still say avoid it. I know the size is appealing, but i just dont think its the quality one would want in an engagement ring, IMHO
 
Niel|1369875882|3456021 said:
I still say avoid it. I know the size is appealing, but i just dont think its the quality one would want in an engagement ring, IMHO
Click to expand...
Agreed
 
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