Help with choosing a stone on a budget

[Sophie2788]

Hi everyone,
I have seeked help from you before when purchasing a diamond for my engagement ring, shortly after I received it we broke up and have since got back together and moved back to my home town, needless to say things are going well and we are ready to put a ring on it, I don't have that other ring anymore we planned on returning it however we lost it. So we are back at square 1
My previous ring was a .611 I VS2 whiteflash ACA
It was pretty however I felt it was not for me any way.
The reasons were,
1. The setting, I don't know what it was but it just wasn't right it was beautiful but it swallowed the diamond ? I dunno it was a petite pave 4 prong with F/G melee.
2. I wished my stone was bigger as soon as I saw it because of the setting maybe ? I've tried on .5 ct solitaires and they look huge on me but this one just looked so small
3. I could see colour in the I while I still loved that stone and mostly it was white in certain lighting the tint slightly bugged me

Now here is my dilemma I'm on a similar budget again ($3300)
My original plan was H or above VS2 or above and as big as I can get
But I've been working with 2 vendors ( I feel massive guilt for this as with each one I've been back and forth with stones & settings and on numerous occasions I've almost checked out with both)

My first vendor -
Whiteflash
Currently the only stone of interest to me is a .64 H VS2 expert selection set in a modified basic 6 prong (modified to 2.3mm shank) I've been working with sheerah again and she is amazing. She sends pics is helpful replies quickly even though for someone spending so little I've been a major pain to her I'm sure and she is still so lovely, I'd be thrilled to give her my business again as she deserves it
I like the whiteflash upgrade policy the best out of anyone on the net as I want to work my way up to a 1ct

Second vendor
BGD
Currently I'm eyeing an J Si1 .768 ct
It's got the size I don't think I'd be disappointed with that, the J worries me though? At this point I'm happy to have a ring on my finger regardless but I can't help but wonder if I'll be disappointed in the J ? The I was ok I could handle it it bugged me slightly but not much, I just knew if upgrade it as soon as I could. Again they have been lovely, a little slow to reply until your close to buying. I like BGD prongs better the WF, however their upgrade you need to go up in two C's so it kind of limits me especially because I'll probably never be rich. I just can't get over the size of that stone.

So do I do size and go down in colour & clarity and risk dissapointment with those, or
Do I go for the H vs2 only Expert selection and risk disappointment with size ? Either way I will upgrade with in a year but with whiteflash I can upgrade when ever I see a stone I like better and can afford the difference as it doesn't have to be a major jump, with BGD I can only upgrade when I have a couple of Thousand to get the stone I really want

There is one more thing BGD has a setting that makes me gaga it's the tiffany half round, I have considered getting a smaller stone and getting that setting but it leaves me with no room to upgrade as I'd want higher specs (H VS) I wish I could buy a diamond from WF and have BGD set it. I don't know what to do

 

[RockyRacoon]

Not trying to be difficult, but what about considering a third vendor?

.7ct, I, VS2
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/12221/

That is a Hearts & Arrows stone, with the preferred I-color, and still leaves over $800 in your budget for a really nice setting. They also have a great Upgrade policy, as this is one of their Lifetime Guarantee stones.

 

[teobdl]

Absolutely do not get a J if you didn't like color in an I. You will hate the J color even more.

H color is safe. And I suggest going down to SI1. I cannot think of a single good reason to not get an eye clean SI1 unless the recipient highly values clarity.

 

[msop04]

It was pretty however I felt it was not for me any way.
The reasons were,
1. The setting, I don't know what it was but it just wasn't right it was beautiful but it swallowed the diamond ? I dunno it was a petite pave 4 prong with F/G melee.
2. I wished my stone was bigger as soon as I saw it because of the setting maybe ? I've tried on .5 ct solitaires and they look huge on me but this one just looked so small
3. I could see colour in the I while I still loved that stone and mostly it was white in certain lighting the tint slightly bugged me

Now here is my dilemma I'm on a similar budget again ($3300)
My original plan was H or above VS2 or above and as big as I can get
But I've been working with 2 vendors ( I feel massive guilt for this as with each one I've been back and forth with stones & settings and on numerous occasions I've almost checked out with both)

My first vendor -
Whiteflash
Currently the only stone of interest to me is a .64 H VS2 expert selection set in a modified basic 6 prong (modified to 2.3mm shank) I've been working with sheerah again and she is amazing. She sends pics is helpful replies quickly even though for someone spending so little I've been a major pain to her I'm sure and she is still so lovely, I'd be thrilled to give her my business again as she deserves it
I like the whiteflash upgrade policy the best out of anyone on the net as I want to work my way up to a 1ct

If you feel that a petite 4 prong "swallowed it whole," I don't think it was a petite setting... That said, a 2.3 mm shank will look thicker when next to a half carat. I'd shoot for 1.8-2.0 mm, unless you're super hard on rings. Go back to where the 1/2 carat rings looked huge on you and get a setting similar to those.

If you didn't like the I color, do not get a J -- kinda self-explanatory, no?? Also, you said the I color bugged you... don't get another I unless it has MB to SB fluorescence.

 

[msop04]

Not trying to be difficult, but what about considering a third vendor?

.7ct, I, VS2
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/12221/

That is a Hearts & Arrows stone, with the preferred I-color, and still leaves over $800 in your budget for a really nice setting. They also have a great Upgrade policy, as this is one of their Lifetime Guarantee stones.

This is a super nice stone if the OP can get over the color... I must not be color sensitive bc I couldn't see yellow in a 2 ct I color.

 

[RockyRacoon]

Not trying to be difficult, but what about considering a third vendor?

.7ct, I, VS2
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/12221/

That is a Hearts & Arrows stone, with the preferred I-color, and still leaves over $800 in your budget for a really nice setting. They also have a great Upgrade policy, as this is one of their Lifetime Guarantee stones.

This is a super nice stone if the OP can get over the color... I must not be color sensitive bc I couldn't see yellow in a 2 ct I color.

If you do decide the I-color is too much for you, check out this option.

.707ct, H, VS2
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.707-h-vs2-round-diamond-ags-bl-104069795033

You'll get a Pricescope discount, so you should be able to pair that with a setting and be out-the-door at close to your budget!

 

[teobdl]

Is 3300 for diamond only or diamond + setting?

 

[Sophie2788]

Hi guys it's for diamond and setting, and yes I'm comfortable going for an I again, I was comfortable with it I still loved it just in some lights I sort of sighed I can't explain it. I'm really happy to have a ring period, now I'm going to order pre set bezel studs off BGD. & a cluster flower pendant off white flash so either way they both are getting some business off me, I would prefer to buy my E ring off either of these two vendors as well, which ever one loses out I will give them my business in regards to a wedding band & a dbty bracelet. The budget is $3300 for the whole lot at absolute max if I can keep it under I'm happy too. BGD has some pre order ideals popping up now so I'm keeping my eye on those as well I'm not in a huge rush I need it by end of July though, I'm actually at this point waiting just 2 weeks to see if that budget can be stretched about 2000 to see if I can just go a .8ish H VS in my dream setting, If I can do this I would buy stone off whiteflash ship to brian have it set and get my earrings from him as well

 

[Sophie2788]

Wow is it just me or is GOG stone a steal? I love it ! If the fiancée was not away id be buying it now, damn it!!

 

[Sophie2788]

Here is what I mean by the setting,
It wasn't the prongs it was the melee

I've blacked out the melee in one pic and to me it makes the stone look bigger or pop more or something, please excuse the shonky drawing I had to use an app on my phone lol