HELP!!!

[linh996]

My boyfriend and I are starting the process of looking to purchase a ring. I was under the impression that if I went to Tiffany''s I should be fine. I knew that they would be a bit more than other retailers becasue of the name but I was fine with that. I know about the 4 C''s but after reading some of the posts there are things I never knew to look for such as angles, percentages, etc.) My question is what can I expect to find for app. 10k? I live in the Northern Virginia area. I am more interersted in the quality of the stone vs the size. Please give me whatever advice or info that you will find useful in my search. Thanks a bunch!

 

[DoubleB]

Welcome to a world you never knew even existed!!!

As you''ll see soon, people here are very friendly and helpful.

I think you should start by reading the tutorials. There is one you can find if you go to the knowledge drop down menu at the top of the PS page.

There is also a great, in depth tutorial at www.gooldoldgold.com. As you''ll see, GOG (as its known around here) is a favorite and trusted vendor of the people who hang out here and "Rhino" (GOG''s proprietor) is a frequent contributor (and a great guy to do business with and talk to, eithe via this site or by telephone).

Good luck in your hunt - have fun and don''t stress (like I did before I found PS!)

Double b

 

[mrssalvo]

10K is a very very nice budget. what are you looking for? what size, shape stone? what kind of setting?

 

[linh996]

Thank you for the reply! I dont think I was really stressed about it,until I came here lol. I see that I have quite a bit of reading to catch up on

Thanks again.

 

[jcrow]

i don''t know if this appeals to you or not, but i do know you would be able to afford much more of a diamond if you don''t go to Tiffany''s. also- with that $ amount you can do a great deal depending which of the C''s is important or not important to you. On Pricescope''s homepage, you can type in a few things and see what the results are for the money with which you wish to spend.

Also, is this the money you are to spend on only the stone? or the whole setting plus the wedding band?

The different cuts of diamond - round, asscher, princess, etc.- all are different amounts of money as well.

 

[ame]

Welcome to a whole new can of worms!

I think you will fare very well for $10K, what a great budget!

I think you should look elsewhere so you don't limit yourself to mediocre quality and a smaller stone. My (poor) experiences with Tiffany's taught me that it's nothing more than Walmart quality in a fancy blue box. Try some of the vendors on this site, GOG, Whiteflash, etc. You will get a great ring and a fantastic stone.

 

[thelittleguy]

10,000 + Pricescope family + Good Old Gold = An engagement ring that will knock the socks off anyone you know

 

[linh996]

Like I stated before I have only really been looking on Tiffany''s website and with that being said I like the Etoile collection. After looking at the rings on here, I really love how the radiant cut diamond looks. Again, I would prefer a better quality ring vs the size so the ring doesnt have to be huge. I would like maybe 1-2 carats. As far as color somewhere between D-F and VVS1. Although some of the rings on here werent VVS1 and they were beautiful. Thanks again.

 

[linh996]

The only reason I leaned more towards Tiffany is because I hear they have higher standards in their selections of diamonds. Since I really dont know what I am looking at, I am really fearful that I am going to get ripped off. btw Is there any bargaining power there? With that being said the budget is 10-12k for everything including the band. I would be happy with a stunning diamond and a plain old platinum band right now

 

[jcrow]

my advice to you is to research the heck out of diamonds through this site. then see diamonds in person. I started out with the same budget, wanting exactly what you wanted- Tiffany''s colorless near flawless diamond. I did research here. I found that WhiteFlash was nearby and that i could see them in person even though they were an online vendor. i was shown about 10 diamonds and was able to pick one that i liked. I found out that i didn''t need such flawlessness. I was very happy in the SI1 range. (NEVER though i would be!) I also realized i didn''t mind a warmer diamond. (NEVER thought i''d say that either!) had i not seen dimonds in person, i wouldn''t have ever known.

sometimes you need to forget about the specs say- and go with which diamond your heart and eyes desire.

 

[lakerkobe]

For $10K my brother-in-law bought my sister a platinum solitairre with a RB .95 ct diamond. It is a nice ring (I don't know all the specs but I believe it is H in color). It looks nice.

For $3500 I bought a nice semi-bezel platinum setting and a .92 ct diamond. The diamond is G in color and SI2 in clarity with no eye-visible inclusions.

Side by side the diamonds look nearly identical in size and color/clarity... but I didn't pay the HUGE mark-up for the Tiffany Box. Instead... we're taking $5000 and paying for our Jamaican honeymoon. And we're still $1500 on the plus side compared to them.

Tiffany is a joke in my opinion. But 'tis true... it's just an opinion.

 

[lakerkobe]

Here is a picture of it...

 

[jcrow]

ok - now you really sound like me. that''s our budget too. and i only want a beautiful diamond on a plain band.

i too went to Tiffany''s. However----and i NEVER thought this was possible----after going to WhiteFlash, i no longer thought the Tiffany diamonds were superior. WF''s diamonds out performed tiffany''s by far!!!

By no means am i saying go with WF-though i highly recommend them-- but tiffany''s is not your only choice out there. nor IMO, is it the best.

 

[mrssalvo]

I did a quick search on the home page with the specs you want and a whole bunch pop up. you can get a 1 carat in for around $5000. There are many vendors here who can help you. Good Old Gold, which was mentioned before. Also, Wink Jones at Winfields comes to mind. Both of these guys are honest and reputable and can really help educate you on fancy shapes. I find nothing wrong with Tiffany''s or any name brand as long as you know you are paying for it. You definitely can find diamonds just as beautiful, if not more so, at places other than Tiff''s.

 

[blueroses]

Agree with all of the others here: READ THE TUTORIAL!!!

Eye-clean clarity of SI and above is not going to have ANY visual impact on the stone, so read up on that b/c you really don''t need VVS1 to have a gorgeous, excellent-quality stone.

D-F is all well and good if you find that you are color-sensitive.....go and check this out in person.....a well cut G or H may satisfy you and look lovely and WHITE.

The most important C of all is CUT

You won''t get a BAD performing diamond at Tiffany, but it is a well-publicized myth that their stones are somehow different and better. Another PSer recently was looking for stones at T&Co and after getting their stats and running them through the HCA he was surprised to see that the score wasn''t all that hot! If you want to save yourself the legwork and don''t mind spending more, you could get a very pretty ring from T&Co. (I''d go for G, VS-range to maximize your budget.)

BUT....if you do more research, you can get a lot more (and I mean cut quality, not just size!) for your money!!

GOOD LUCK and let us help you--we''re nuts around here and like to do all we can.

But item #1: Go read the PS tutorial NOW!!

 

[linh996]

lakerkobe- your ring is beautiful! After PS, I am more openminded now to other retailers and not so stuck on Tiffanys. Is whiteflash showroom only in TX?

 

[decodelighted]

I'm familiar with the 10K search and, with what I know now from Pricescope, I'd never in a million years "do" Tiffany's. And I'm a Tiffany's fan. I wear a Tiffany's tank watch I bought myself for my 30th b-day ... and a Tiffany open heart pendant -- 1st jewelry present from my FF. But for e-rings: NOT ANYMORE. (Lemmie just say that Kaleigh's Tiff rings are awesome & a lovely, lovely gesture from her DH)

I'm not as much of a cut-nut as some around here .. and for 10K, one option is to go for size. 1.5 H & I & J, very good but not ideal cut stones are in this range. Have you picked shapes that most appeal to you?

ETA: I think a p-scoper named "capitol bill" is in your area and a Pricescope vendor. His site seems to be under repair right now, but says contact them in the meantime?? One thought ...

 

[linh996]

blueroses - What do I need to run an HCA test (btw what is that). ... I know its probably in the tutorial but I have a lot more to read

 

[blueroses]

Linh, it is so much to take in--I'm still really a newbie at heart, don't worry!!

It's short for the Holloway Cut Advisor. Check it out:
http://www.pricescope.com/cutadviser.asp

Edited b/c last time I checked worry was not spelled w/ an "ie"!!

 

[jcrow]

Date: 9/9/2005 3:35:26 PM
Author: decodelighted


I''m not as much of a cut-nut as some around here .. and for 10K, one option is to go for size. 1.5 H & I & J, very good but not ideal cut stones are in this range. Have you picked shapes that most appeal to you?

the dimonds i looked at were well cut and in the 2 carat range- though i am looking for a round. several diamonds that i looked at were even ACA''s though they were low in color and clarity.

as far as i know, WF is in Houston only. and it wasn''t really a showroom. it was several working offices. Brian took out lots of diamonds from the vault and we looked at them for 3 hours. i learned so much! IMO it''s worth the trip from VA. however, there maybe other online vendors closer to you.

 

[mrssalvo]

the hca is for rounds. i think our poster wants a radiant??

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 9/9/2005 3:07:38 PM
Author: linh996 I really love how the radiant cut diamond looks. Again, I would prefer a better quality ring vs the size so the ring doesnt have to be huge. I would like maybe 1-2 carats. As far as color somewhere between D-F and VVS1. Although some of the rings on here werent VVS1 and they were beautiful. Thanks again.

 

[blueroses]

I wasn''t sure b/c she had also mentioned liking the Etoile setting which only comes w/ a RB (as far as I know?)

 

[mrssalvo]

ahhh, well maybe after she''s done reading the tutorials she have a better idea of what she''s looking for..

 

[blueroses]

Date: 9/9/2005 4:06:43 PM
Author: mrssalvo
ahhh, well maybe after she''s done reading the tutorials she have a better idea of what she''s looking for..

Hopefully......then again, knowledge is a dangerous thing in the PS world!!!

I''m sure many a PSer has tossed and turned with something like this dancing in their head:

(asscher....no, round....no, EC......jubilee....or princess?? Pave! Prong-set....halo!.....no halo.......dobule prongs!......bezel......)

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 9/9/2005 4:18:50 PM
Author: blueroses
I'm sure many a PSer has tossed and turned with something like this dancing in their head:

(asscher....no, round....no, EC......jubilee....or princess?? Pave! Prong-set....halo!.....no halo.......dobule prongs!......bezel......)

ROTFL...sooo true, that's exactly the dream I have about settings

 

[decodelighted]

Date: 9/9/2005 4:18:50 PM
Author: blueroses

Date: 9/9/2005 4:06:43 PM

Author: mrssalvo

ahhh, well maybe after she''s done reading the tutorials she have a better idea of what she''s looking for..

Hopefully......then again, knowledge is a dangerous thing in the PS world!!!

I''m sure many a PSer has tossed and turned with something like this dancing in their head:

(asscher....no, round....no, EC......jubilee....or princess?? Pave! Prong-set....halo!.....no halo.......dobule prongs!......bezel......)

LMAO

That sounds like me, Blueroses! I remember Mara once detailed a dream about a halo-ed .70 stone for, like, $800?? I''m shopping in her dreams from now on!!

 

[linh996]

I did mention earlier that I liked the etoile from Tiffanys which is a round brilliant. But then again, I have never tried it on my finger. so who knows I might not even like it on. But after seeing some sample rings on here I would like to get a radiant or asscher... who knows what I want at this point (lol)