How to spend my birthday money?!?! Dreaming of lab diamonds!

[Skidiamond41]

Hello fellow Lab diamond lovers. I recently celebrated the big 4-0 and my husband had gifted me $1,500 to spend on a handbag while we were traveling in Italy over my birthday. Well I didn’t find anything I really wanted because to be honest I just really want jewelry and have a hard time spending that kind of money on a handbag. He told me after the trip I can use it on whatever I want. I have quite a few things on my jewelry wish list, most of which are over $1,500. I am trying to figure out what to do with the money… I wanted to put together a list to present to my husband of things I want with budgets for each item. We can afford to spend more and I am comfortable to spend more but I need to respect his comfort in spending (he’s a saver – big time saver). Since most things I really want are in the $3,000 - $4,500 range I figured I could utilize sites that use the SplitIt app where we can stretch payments out 3 to 12 months (he may be more comfortable if it’s a few hundred a month vs a large lump sum). I found three sites that sell Lab grown diamonds and/or Jewelry that utilize SplitIt: James Allen (3 months), Friendly Diamonds (up to 6 months) and GemsNY (up to 12 months).

Why am I posting here?? I am hoping yall could help me narrow down what I really want, suggestions on pricing and just to hash it out so I can go to him with all the research and he can ultimately decide what my 40th birthday present will be (if anything, maybe I just save it).

My wish list ranked from top down, #1 being most desired (all lab created diamonds):

1) A 3.3+ Ct Round diamond on a low profile solitaire setting (LOVE David Klass settings) (I currently have a 1.75 D SI2 (eye clean to me) mined diamond bought pre pricescope that is 8mm and is not very well cut but I still love it and would plan to wear it 50% of the time)
a. at least 9.5mm – 3.5+ct is desired
b. color D to I (as long as the lower colors are yellow tone (not grey, pink, blue, or brown toned) and face up white - I am not color sensitive) – G or better desired
c. Clarity SI1 or better (eye clean and no inclusions on the table) – VS2 or better desired
d. Super ideal cut
e. Would $3,000 for diamond and $800 be reasonable guestimate for budget?? (less would be better if buying from Ritani. I have seen some diamond options for under $2,500 but I would need to sacrifice on size and I don’t know if I want to do that. I think visiting a store for size reference would be a wise idea, my current engagement ring is sized 4.75. GemsNY I could maybe go higher cause they have the 12 month split option – no interest or fees)

2) 4CTW to 5CTW lab diamond tennis bracelet
a. James allen has these where I could split payments over 3 months.
b. Friendly Diamonds is most affordable and can split 3-6 months but I have no idea on the quality.
c. IDJ or Parks may be an option but no payment options there. Accruing interest to pay for it is not an option.
d. Any other options people can think of??

3) East west emerald cut lab diamond delicate eternity (or half eternity) band
a. I can’t find options on James Allen, Friendly Diamonds or GemsNY.
b. Nice option on Frank Darling and OK option on Ritani, but no payment plan option.
c. Any other options??

4) Don’t buy anything and save my money if husband says no.

5) Diamond Station necklace in yellow gold.
a. Ritani has one that comes in under $1,000 I think, I could then also buy another stacker band and a gold chain bracelet.

6) Other ideas????

Thanks in advance for everyone’s help. If he agrees to the diamond upgrade I will be back for help to find the perfect diamond!

 

[Inked]

OK, so we have the same husband. LOL. My husband is a super saver, and it doesn't matter how much we save he doesn't want to spend it. Like for me if I save X dollars over 6 months, I will want to spend 10% of it or something, and he still has an issue with it, so I totally get where you're coming from!

Personally, i would say try to get the ring. I feel like if you get any of the other things you'll still really want the ring the most. I feel like I tried to do this where I settled for something less and it didn't help, I still wanted the bigger thing the most. Especially because you will probably wear the ring the most.

See if you can bargain with your husband that it's for your 40th, your 10th wedding anniversary (or whatever your next big anniversary is) and valentines, and Christmas, and you'd rather have this one big thing than a bunch of little things.

Last month I got an IGI 3 carat G color VS2 9.3mm for $2900 after tax from Ritani so I think you can DEFINITELY get a diamond you want if you look.

I just had 2 platinum settings, a 14k necklace and an 18k pendant made with David, and i would TOTALLY just ask Amy how much she estimates for the setting, they're so nice about it. My materials were all over (plat, 14k and 18k) so i am not sure what your setting would be but I think you should just email and ask, you can say not even a CAD just a quick price estimate. The only reason i was able to buy so many things is I sold some things I dont wear LOL

Good luck!

 

[Kim N]

To give you an idea of pricing, 3.5ct+ G VS on Ritani will be $3500-$4500. A 3.5ct+ D VS HPHT will be $6000+. I would recommend the latter for you because your current diamond is a D, and this would also guarantee no brown or grey tint.

 

[Skidiamond41]

Thank you both!!! I’m not certain my husband would ever agree to $6,000, but ya never know!!

I’ll need to head over to my local jewelry store and try on some sizes and colors. I hate wasting people’s time though when I know personally I won’t buy there. But I need to try on sizes, I saw on paper a stone that comes in at 9.4mm and stats are within recommended angles and % for like $2,500 but no image. It’s a tad smaller than I think I’d like but I haven’t tried on any 3+Ct sizes yet and I have smaller fingers. I’ll have the convo with my husband this weekend. See where it goes.

Our 15th anniversary is in December, so it may be fun where I buy the stone for my birthday and he works with DK on a setting for our anniversary…. I’m doing a heck of a lot of planning for something that may not happen, o-well!

 

[DejaWiz]

For getting 9.5mm minimum, you can expand your search to include well cut and proportioned diamonds at the 3.1-3.15 carat mark and higher...that will give you a lot more candidates to pick from.

Here is a 3.15 that hits 9.52mm (example purposes only, as it appears to be a little cloudy in some spots):

Loupe360

loupe360.com

 

[dkata]

I’ve got this week my 3.4 ct. lab-diamond from Ritani, the price was 4.500 €. Unfortunately I don’t know the USD price, because I’m located in Europe, and see the prices only in EUR, but I think it should be at max. 5000 USD with the actual currency rate.

I have an own thread for the search of this stone.

I just want to say with all of this, that a stone of 9.5 mm is absolutely possible under 6.000 USD.

 

[chere]

Happy birthday! We have similar list for birthday gifts. Your #1 is at the bottom of my list. My ER is branded and I had to make do with CZs for years. I’m more than ready to add pieces to my collection. I wouldn’t spend it all on one piece again.

Last year I got a 4ctw tennis bracelet from Costco and 3ctw emerald cut eternity band from Blue Nile for around $4,500USD. I waited for sales and I lucked out.

I'm looking at a lab station necklace from Charles and Colvard.

And I like earrings. I had studs, huggies and pearls on my list.

 

[Candygrl]

OK, so we have the same husband. LOL. My husband is a super saver, and it doesn't matter how much we save he doesn't want to spend it. Like for me if I save X dollars over 6 months, I will want to spend 10% of it or something, and he still has an issue with it, so I totally get where you're coming from!

Personally, i would say try to get the ring. I feel like if you get any of the other things you'll still really want the ring the most. I feel like I tried to do this where I settled for something less and it didn't help, I still wanted the bigger thing the most. Especially because you will probably wear the ring the most.

See if you can bargain with your husband that it's for your 40th, your 10th wedding anniversary (or whatever your next big anniversary is) and valentines, and Christmas, and you'd rather have this one big thing than a bunch of little things.

Last month I got an IGI 3 carat G color VS2 9.3mm for $2900 after tax from Ritani so I think you can DEFINITELY get a diamond you want if you look.

I just had 2 platinum settings, a 14k necklace and an 18k pendant made with David, and i would TOTALLY just ask Amy how much she estimates for the setting, they're so nice about it. My materials were all over (plat, 14k and 18k) so i am not sure what your setting would be but I think you should just email and ask, you can say not even a CAD just a quick price estimate. The only reason i was able to buy so many things is I sold some things I dont wear LOL

Good luck!

Did you post this diamond? I would love to see it.