Help with Diamond and Engagement Ring

[waterman13]

I plan on buying an engagement ring within the next week or two and would really like you guys help!

After reading tons of posts it made me realize how little I knew and how smart a lot of the posters on this board are.

I would really like a round cut diamond around 1 carat. My budget for the center stone however is $4500. I'm looking to get the most bang for the buck. As far as I'm concerned, I don't care about imperfections that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Its also OK to me if it isn't completely colorless.

I'm just looking for the best stone within my budget.

After looking on the internet a little, I found this stone -

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1379636.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

Any thoughts? I'm very open to all suggestions you are willing to give me. I really appreciate the help! I don't know how I could of made this purchase without you all!

 

[minmin001]

ask them if it's eye clean first and ask for idealscope image, they do one free quote and idealscope image for up to 3 stones at the same time for you and let you know which is a best pick. they are pretty honest about it since i've asked them to quote one stone before and they do not suggest me to buy it because it's not a good stone

 

[slg47]

it might have visible inclusions. I am not sure if JA will evaluate eye-cleanliness of SI2 stones--you could (and should) ask though! JA also has a great return policy so you could always get it sent out to you before you get it set to make sure you like it.

these also might be promising.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1376945.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1361988.asp

 

[yssie]

Just tossing out another idea, definite reflection of my own current obsession - how do you feel about antique stones, if you're up for something a bit different?

Jewels by Erica Grace has a couple of gorgeous stones up right now, right around your budget and size -
http://www.jewelsbyericagrace.com/antique_vintage_and_reproductions_rings

Two from Lang -
http://www.langantiques.com/products/item/10-1-4186
http://www.langantiques.com/products/item/10-1-1413

Some others that came up in a quick search, no idea of vendor(s) -
http://cgi.ebay.com/1-04-CT-MENS-DIAMOND-SOLITAIRE-RING-VS-HIGH-END-17-7_W0QQitemZ400205613024QQcategoryZ164342QQvarZQQcmdZViewItem#ht_718wt_905
http://cgi.ebay.com/1-09ct-OLD-EUROPEAN-CUT-DIAMOND-PLATINUM-RING-/400221613970?pt=US_Fine_Rings&hash=item5d2f112f92#ht_500wt_922
http://oakgem.com/Products/EGL_Certified_18k_Gold_0.92ct_Diamond_Sapphire_Ring_1688.aspx

 

[waterman13]

I'm not really a fan of the antique style, Thanks thought!

Minmin - what do you mean get a quote on the stone?

Do you mean the price could be potentially less than the advertised price? Or does that mean I could give them an option of three stones and like and ask them to check which one is the most eye clean?

I'll have to ask for the idealscope image.

I've read a lot about Florescence and I guess I'm partly scared about it because one stone I looked at in the store appeared milky becuase it had a strong florescence.

This stone -
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1361988.asp

has a "faint" florescence.

This stone -
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1376945.asp

has a medium blue florescence.

Are either of these something I should be worried about? Once again, I'm only worried about what it looks like to the naked eye. How do these two florescences affect the look of the stone to the naked eye?

 

[slg47]

I'm not really a fan of the antique style, Thanks thought!

Minmin - what do you mean get a quote on the stone?

Do you mean the price could be potentially less than the advertised price? Or does that mean I could give them an option of three stones and like and ask them to check which one is the most eye clean?

I'll have to ask for the idealscope image.

I've read a lot about Florescence and I guess I'm partly scared about it because one stone I looked at in the store appeared milky becuase it had a strong florescence.

This stone -
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1361988.asp

has a "faint" florescence.

This stone -
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1376945.asp

has a medium blue florescence.

Are either of these something I should be worried about? Once again, I'm only worried about what it looks like to the naked eye. How do these two florescences affect the look of the stone to the naked eye?

you will not see faint fluor in any lighting conditions. fluor will only affect the diamond's appearance in lighting environments with UV light (sunlight, disco) so in those lighting conditions you /may/ see some blueish tint (but probably not with med fluor). the milky or hazy appearance is very rare but if you are concerned you could always ask the gemologist.