How have I done on selection?

[wowzers]

Do you know what size her finger is. You should take a look at the engagement ring photo thread and real life perspective thread to get a sense of what carat size looks like on different finger sizes. I would hate for you to buy a diamond and be surprised at its size when it shows up (big or small).

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/diamond-size-comparison.83517/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/diamond-size-comparison.83517/[/URL]

Well, her right hand ring is 4.75. I have heard a good guide is that if she is right-handed, to assume the left finger is approximately .5 smaller. So I'm shooting for 4.5 and hoping worst case scenario I need to get it slightly re-sized DOWN. I'd rather go too big from the start since re-sizing does not require adding more metal. Does that sound like a fair approach? I'd like to keep it a surprise, so no idea how to collect ring size any other way.

Also, what are the thoughts on ct size now, knowing her ring size? She is slightly below average height at 5'5", relatively petite, too, if that helps.

Thanks again for all of the help!

So, I'm 5'3 and I wear a size 3.75 ring. My stone is a 2 ct round brilliant and I don't think it seems big or flashy. There are people on PS with smaller ring sizes and larger rocks and people with bigger ring sizes and smaller rocks. There really is no rule dictating a carat to finger size ratio. I really think you should take a look at the store and get a sales associate with a similar sized finger to try on the rings for you (if you don't bring your gf) to get an idea of the look that you're going for.

This thread may help you: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/show-me-size-4-5-solitaires-please-and-thanks.123706/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/show-me-size-4-5-solitaires-please-and-thanks.123706/[/URL]

Hrmm, I happen to think every one of those diamonds are way, way too big for all of the hands in that thread, with the exception of Kelli (maybe because she just has really nice hands, too). I actually believe my girlfriend would agree.

I don't mind whiteflash, it just seems BN has a much broader selection for my price range (I wonder if that is a good thing?). Here is another I noticed that may be a good deal, however the Fluoro Blue concerned me a bit. It is $2,400 alone. What do you think?

http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-cert-viewer?cert_pid=LD03125054&cert_num=1&cert_zoom=false

 

[Richo55555]

I have bought from BN and used online chat and asked if stones were eye clean from the top. My preference is for big eye clean. I like G/H colour and will go as low as S1 if eye clean. I like laser inscribed and look at the GIA certificate and prefer flaws not on the window and prefer them spread if looking for a cost effective stone. Use their live chat. They were the most cost effective at my time of purchase.

Remember over time most girls get diamond shrinkage. It appears large at first then you wish stone was larger. I strongly recommend as large as the budget will allow from the start. Consider WG instead of platinium.

Good luck.

 

[kmarla]

I just want to share a quick story. When I got engaged 30 years ago, my future husband also thought I was quite modest in what I wanted for an e-ring and he knew I wasn’t very materialistic. He presented me with a cute little .01 RB diamond ring. Today it would look like a teeny little promise ring but we didn’t really have promise rings then. I loved my husband and wore that ring with a big smile, but inside I felt sad and a little embarrassed because all my friends had at least .5 carat rings. We both had very good incomes so it wasn’t a money issue at all and he/we could easily have afforded a .5 carat ring or larger. Fast forward one year later and during a silly argument about something little my hurt poured out and I mentioned the ring and why was it so tiny, didn’t he think I deserved a little better? So I guess I was a little more materialistic than I thought. For our 1st anniversary my husband bought me a beautiful .5 carat RB ring and I wore that ring proudly for 29 years until I just received a 30th anniversary upgrade. The moral of this story is that my husband didn’t appreciate how important that engagement ring (whatever the size) is and how most of us girls dream about it. He readily admitted he just wanted to get a bargain and didn’t ask anyone for advice. On my part I felt too shy to really share what I wanted, but I really just wanted to be like my friends, and have a diamond that was not bigger and not smaller. By the way, this story aside, my husband is a wonderful priceless guy so I did very well on the husband front 
You’re already well ahead of the game in seeking out advice and support. You said you had a good income and didn’t want to seem cheap. Cheap is very relative and it all depends on what you can afford, which only you know. It’s been mentioned already but a safe guide is to find out approx. what size diamonds her friends have. Ask your local jewelry stores what is the most popular size they now sell for engagement rings. Download one of those diamond sizing charts that show you how big a .5, .75, 1 carat diamond are in real life. The most popular size around here now is around 1 carat, slightly more or less (depending on whether it’s a fancy cut or RB), which looks lovely and elegant, but is certainly not huge or tasteless at all. Good luck!

 

[wowzers]

Thanks for the replies, very helpful, especially regarding BN live chat.

Just a general question, but what combo of the 4 C's do you get the most bang for your buck? I guess specifically when we talk about diamonds it seems like a lot of the diamond's flaws can only be seen under a microscope or maybe in regards to color when compared to another diamond that is more colorless. Do you guys recommend any specific parameters? Even if my budget were 20k I think that would still be important to know, because if a .5 ct, Ideal Cut, Color D, VS1 is going to look nearly identical to a .75 ct, Ideal Cut, Color J, SI1, I would opt for the latter due to the size (since size seems to be the most important feature to a female according to this thread).

 

[tyty333]

For me, who is not that color sensitive, I would go down to eye clean SI1. For an engagement ring I would probably go down
to an I. Maybe even a J if I could get a lot more size out of it.

 

[Kelli]

Hey thanks for the compliment on my nice hands I haven't been on in quite a while so it was funny to see my name mentioned. I wanted to chime in with a similar story to kmarla's. My husband and I started dating when he was still in high school. At the time I never wore any jewelry aside from plain silver bands, and still to this day my style is not the least bit flashy or blingy. For this reason he assumed I wanted a small understated diamond, but as many girls have already mentioned, the engagement ring has been built up in our heads as the one time it's ok to really splurge. I felt funny asking for more, but I had waited eight years to get engaged- supported him through school and remained patient until he got a well-paying job- and I'm thankful I let him know I wanted a drool-worthy ring. I agree it's frivolous to a point and certainly a first world issue- sometimes I even feel a little sheepish sporting a diamond at all. But to be quite honest, I've been wearing this thing for over five years and I still stare giddily at it day in and day out.
My point is that when it comes to engagement rings, very VERY few girls are disappointed with something bigger than they imagined. If money's not an issue, I'd aim for around a carat. And personally, no need to go for colorless and flawless. Mine's an H VS2, but had I known more about diamonds when I bought it, I'd have gone for lower color and anything eye-clean. Just stick with a fantastic cut and it's hard to go wrong.
You really are already ahead of the game by joining this forum and I'm sure your future wife will appreciate it. Good luck!

 

[Kelli]

Also, I got myself a half-carat M SI1 for a pendant after pricescope got me hooked on diamonds, and I loved it so much I'm setting it into a ring for my right hand so I can stare at that one too. The price difference compared to the color difference is gargantuan! I know an M colored diamond isn't for everyone, but the thing sparkles like no one's business and I have to put them side by side to see much of a difference at all. Even then it's not a bad difference, just kind of like having two slightly different shades of white paper next to each other. Neither is bad, one just happens to be a little lighter than the other. I actually kind of like the vanilla-ish color the M has in certain lighting.
Now I've rambled on and remember why I took a break from this forum. Just saying don't be afraid of the lower colors. J is still considered near colorless and will get you much more size for your money.

 

[SMC]

Thanks for the replies, very helpful, especially regarding BN live chat.

Just a general question, but what combo of the 4 C's do you get the most bang for your buck? I guess specifically when we talk about diamonds it seems like a lot of the diamond's flaws can only be seen under a microscope or maybe in regards to color when compared to another diamond that is more colorless. Do you guys recommend any specific parameters? Even if my budget were 20k I think that would still be important to know, because if a .5 ct, Ideal Cut, Color D, VS1 is going to look nearly identical to a .75 ct, Ideal Cut, Color J, SI1, I would opt for the latter due to the size (since size seems to be the most important feature to a female according to this thread).

Cut is most important. Everyone on Pricescope will agree to that.

After that, it's a toss-up between color and size (carat). Some people value one way more than the other, but most of us try to find a happy medium. I think that medium is the G and H colors. If you want bigger but still near colorless, you drop to the I or J territory. And if you want bigger still, K-L-M. For an engagement ring, I personally think that you will be ok with an I or above because Tiffany's will sell down to I color and I know that some people consider Tiffany's as some kind of standard. If the setting you've chosen has side stones, you don't want your center stone to be more than a color or so off compared to the side stones (unless the stones are pave in which case you have more leeway).

(On a side note, I have a J because I am not color sensitive.)

I think clarity is the least important. It's either eye clean (meaning you can spot the inclusions without magnification from 8-10" away from your face) or it's not. You just want it to be eye clean, so that could possibly mean dropping down to an SI2 or even I1 if the inclusions can be covered with a prong. In general, eye clean S12s and I1s are hard to come by, but eye clean SI1s are not that rare. PSers recommend buying from a place where there you can get pictures (not Blue Nile) just so you can verify yourself if it's eye clean. James Allen is recommended because they have gemologists on staff who will tell you whether or not stones are eye clean (and they are honest, they won't lie to you to make a sale).

Finally, you know your gf better than anyone else on this forum, so if you think she thinks bigger diamonds are tacky, then don't get her a big one. I still recommend looking at different size stones in the jewelry store so you can get an idea of what look/size you think she will prefer.

 

[Richo55555]

I agree JA pictures are really good. On another point is to make sure you are comparing the same cert diamonds ie. GIA & GIA. Eg. the same colour can be totally different with less recognized certified diamonds. Variation can be two of three colours.

My other point like everyone else ..... go biggest you can afford. Your soon wife, will wear it every day for a long time. Over time, the cost of rings seems to go up so if you get now you will save.......sounds like its on sale so I got it but did I need those expensive shoes
This is money spent you will enjoy-look at everyday.
As you both move through your careers you will move than likely increase your income and lifestyle so get a terrific engagement ring.

I do understand you are also at the beginning and have a house, car and furniture to buy but later it is likely you will have a family and you will have other priorities.

Good Luck - looking forward to hearing how excited she is and seeing pictures of the lovely ring.

 

[heididdl]

Go Richoooooo that is the perfect way to put it diamond shrinkage

 

[heididdl]

Most of the world outside of PS sport rings that are in the I-J s12 I1 .... Those bought maybe at Zales, Sears (is actually one of the largest retailers of diamonds.)

I nice solid G-H S1 eye clean stone is more than adaquet. I have a 3.66 emerald cut GIA excellent cut stone and it is an H s1i and it is gorgous.

I also got engaged with a very flawed 1 carat pear shape and waited 25 years to get my dream ring.

I still feel that 1 carat or even .90 (prices go up significantly after 1 carat mark).....is so key

p.s. I'm 5 1 100 lbs and have size 5 fingers and my ring is so happy on my finger. yes my hands are old I'm 54 lol

 

[backwardsandinheels]

Check out Good Old Gold's 2-part video on diamond color. A well cut GHIJKL can look pretty good, you'll see. Maybe KL in yellow gold if it bothers you...

 

[wowzers]

I actually decided on a diamond. It was an eye clean I SI1 .7 ct at an ideal cut (passed the HCA at 1.4). The cut had Excellent in every category from the GIA report, and had no fluoro.

Most of the same sized diamonds were in the $2,300 range, but for some reason this one was listed at $1,900. I called and live chatted with BN and felt comfortable this was a great buy. Not sure how salesy the IM and phone contacts were attempting to be, but they both reacted with a little shock when they saw this diamond at this price. I listed about 5 for the guy on IM and he said this one is undoubtedly the best buy of the lot, which was an interesting thing to say since all of the others were more expensive. I would have expected a salesman to sell me on the pricier ones obviously. I went with a Platinum setting.

Bigger would have been cool, but honestly if she isn't happy with it I will be more than happy to send it back during the return period. I still believe her preference would not be 1ct.+, but if that turns out to not be true and I need to return it, that won't be the worst thing in the world.

 

[SMC]

I actually decided on a diamond. It was an eye clean I SI1 .7 ct at an ideal cut (passed the HCA at 1.4). The cut had Excellent in every category from the GIA report.

Most of the same sized diamonds were in the $2,300 range, but for some reason this one was listed at $1,900. I called and live chatted with BN and felt comfortable this was a great buy. They had another at the same price that was a G in color but was not eye clean. I went with a Platinum setting.

Bigger would have been cool, but honestly if she isn't happy with it I will be more than happy to send it back during the return period. I still believe her preference would not be 1ct.+, but if that turns out to not be true and I need to return it, that won't be the worst thing in the world.

Yay, congrats! Post pictures of the ring when you get it!