Help with beauty on a budget for a lovely young couple

[boerumbiddy]

I am part of the family committee looking for an engagement ring for my best friend's daughter's boyfriend to give her -- by Christmas, he hopes. He has everything (kindness, intelligence and wit) except money! The budget is very tight; he originally planned to spend about $2000 in all, but his future in-laws are so pleased with the plan that they would contribute up to another $1000 to the total. What the daughter would like is:
1. A white gold setting sort of like this but with a rounded shank and just three small round stones down each side:
https://www.pricescope.com/jewelry/engagement-rings/petite-pave-diamond-engagement-ring-in-platinum-14-ct-tw-2393
2. A sparkly center diamond of at least half a carat but smaller than a full carat.
3. A round brilliant, higher colors probably okay, inclusions okay if they are not obtrusive.
They are very happy to use vendors like James Allen, Whiteflash, etc., but the choice is overwhelming. Can somebody point us to some stones (preferably with setting from the same dealer) that would be as sparkly as the young lady in question? She is more interested in the sentiment than the size, but it would be nice if it were bigger than half a carat.

 

[telephone89]

My JA is stuck on CAD so I'm not sure the exact price in USD for this setting, but I think it would leave ~2500$ to find a nice stone
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/14k-white-gold-petite-diamond-accent-engagement-ring-item-50124

 

[boerumbiddy]

Yes, I saw that one, and like it very much but they would prefer a traditional rounded shank, and this one is very squared off. Also it would be better if the little diamonds were all the same size.

 

[telephone89]

I would think JA is able to round off the shank more, but the diamond sizes wouldn't work for that ring.

Maybe something like this, and ask them to only use 3 diamonds?
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/14k-white-gold-james-allen-exclusive-engagement-ring-item-49518

eta - if you look at the 'recently purchased' rings, they all look much softer and not so squared off. So keep that in mind too.

 

[tyty333]

Edit ...just noticed you wanted a rounded shank so this one may not work...
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/14k-white-gold-petite-diamond-accent-engagement-ring-item-50124

This setting only has 3 stones on each side but it's probably not what you are looking for.
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/side-stones/14k-white-gold-common-prong-six-round-diamond-engagement-ring-item-745

stones - when you said higher color are you talking DEF or IJK? We usually refer to higher colors as DEF and lower colors as IJK.
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.71-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-745727
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.64-carat-g-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-550569
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.64-carat-f-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-550558

 

[boerumbiddy]

Sorry, folks, I strayed over to the sparkly side from Colored Stones and don't have my terminology perfect yet. By "higher color" I meant more color and higher in the alphabet. "I" will probably work just fine. That larger James Allen stone is a definite possibility! Also, thanks for suggesting that James Allen can modify its settings to some degree.
And thank you all for the quick responses.

 

[boerumbiddy]

Excitement and young love mean that events have overtaken this thread. I suggested a trip to ID Jewelry "just to look," and the young man found something he thinks she will love. Final decision tomorrow. It is supposed to be "excellent everything," the price seems right, thank heavens they went there rather than some other places! And thank you, Pricescope! Will post details if it works out.

 

[boerumbiddy]

Don't know all the details yet but they were going to pull the trigger today. Around .80 ct., excellent/maybe ideal cut, with a setting recommended by I.D. Jewelry, well within the tight budget. My friend, mother of the future bride, is picky about everything, and she is just thrilled with the advice she got from I.D.J. I will probably get to see the ring at Thanksgiving. So much fun shopping with Other People's Money!