help someone on serious budget

[shohusoh]

I was hoping people could give me some help here, as I am new to buying rings. I''ve been studying things on this site as much as I can. I''m looking to spend under 2,000 for a ring, preferebly closer to 1500 or so. I figure go inexpensive now while I''m young, then upgrade later.

I''m looking for something that sparkles, I''m not so concerned with size.

round
cut ideal (or dirt cheap diamonds signature series)
size .42 or up
color H or I
clarity VS2 and below


any opinions? I hear so many opinions on color and clarity, its all so confusing. Help would be appreciated, thanks

 

[Sasori]

U can try running a search under pricescope, should show the stones avail with PS vendor.

 

[ame]

Definitely search. If you go best on cut you can go lower on color. Id go H, SI1 or SI2. It can help mask the imperfection. Also consider stones with faint to no higher than medium blue flour. it will make it look whiter.

 

[lmurden]

Go for the best cut you can and get an I color and VS2 clarity! You can't go wrong. Try Blue Niles or White Flash website they are very interactive. Don't forget to take into account the cost of the settings. Hope this helps!

 

[engageme]

I just went to www.bluenile.com and searched for a pre-made engagment ring for you; here is what I found:

18K Solitaire Ring w/ 1/2 Ct. Round w/ I/SI2 for $995
18K solitare Ring w/3/4 Ct. Round w/ I/SI2 for $2000
Platinum Solitaire Ring w 1/2 Ct. Round w/ H/VS2 for $1550

Go to the web site, under "Shop by Products" click the "Engagement Rings".
on the next page click "Pre-Set Engagement Rings" and it gives you all the options.

Hope this helps.....

Joe

 

[pearcrazy]

Did you see this .623 round signature series diamond at DCD? http://www.dirtcheapdiamonds.com/diamond_detail.cfm?did=6946069

It's I color and VS2 clarity for $1483. A simple light 6 prong 14K gold tiffany style setting will run you around $100 on their site and keep you right around $1600 total.

 

[pearcrazy]

Looking at settings over there. There's a gorgeous .25 carat sidestone total weight setting in 14K white gold for $499. http://www.dirtcheapdiamonds.com/engagement-detail.cfm?did=393400

You could get her an absolutely breathtaking ring and stay right at $2000. Not bad!!

 

[Todd07]

Think about this way
- Spend all (99%) of your budget on the stone
- Have it delivered in the simple solitare setting that most vendors offer for <$100
This way you are all set for your first upgrade without having to replace the diamond. In 1 yr or whenever you can afford it, upgrade to a nice setting, maybe adding a couple of side stones.

I like this way because it extends the life of your original diamond.

Since you have a tight budget, think about your 4C trade offs. General advice from the forum is:
Cut is King. Look for a stone with a good HCA rating and a good idealscope picture.
VS2 - SI2 is the best value range for Clarity. Just make sure it's an eye clean stone
H-J is the best value for Color
Size - maximize within your budget.

I just searched using the https://www.pricescope.com/sift.asp link to find the best very well cut value choices (VS2-SI2; H-J). I found a dozen choices between 0.5 to 0.7 C with prices between 1k to 1.7k All had an HCA below 2 and should be really nice.

 

[shohusoh]

thanks for the advice everyone

 

[quaeritur]

Here are a few to get you started...

0.50 H SI1 - this one scores a 0.4 and quadruple excellent on the HCA, wow! $1170
0.674 I SI1 $1453
0.60 G VS2 $1995

[edited to add: many vendors offer excellent lifetime trade-up policies as well. To my knowledge, Blue Nile doesn't. Just something to ask about if you know you'll want to upgrade eventually]

 

[wanderlost]

I don't know how this is even possible.....


but there's a killer

.61
D!
SI1

HCA=0.6

here for just a hair over your budget at $2086.


But an even BETTER idea...could besomething really creative - a 2-stone engagement ring (and then upgrade to a killer middle stone later -

there appear to be two really nice stones -
.47 / I / SI1 (HCA=0.6) - $937
.48 / I / VS2 (HCA=0.6) - $951

at the bottom of the page...

I'm a little temped myself to snag these

, but it'd make for a really cool

one of a kind ring (under your budget) & both of them could be incorporated as side stones with another very nice one in the future!

[it could be that one of the diamonds stands for you, one for her & the third one (later) is how you've become one & grown together (as it would be slightly larger) in the past XX years of being married!)

kinda cool