I am soooo lost....

[ShoppingForARing]

I'm a med student (no money).... I'm looking for an engagement ring for my gf...i'm looking between 1.05-1.22 ct. VERY SPARKLEY !!!!!....and my budget is 10,000 ring & diamond...solitaire white gold...where do i go about finding the diamond that sparkles..i have limited time...can't look at this forum in as much detail as i want...going this weekend ring shopping...what do i LOOK FOR???

so lost and frustrated...

 

[disneybride]

If I may ask, why the rush? Generally you begin your research a lot sooner than a few days before buying. It's a monumental purchase for so many reasons - and something she will keep with her for the rest of her life. Ring shopping is a huge commitment that needs proper time....if you rush it you're bound to pay a lot more for a lot less. I guarantee if you're going shopping to a B&M (mall) store you're going to get eaten alive because it seems like you are rather clueless about diamonds. Like it or not you HAVE to take the time to do your research. Start with the 4 C's - cut being the most important. You want excellent to ideal cut....then I assume size is next. You have a decent budget, you can get what you want IF you do your homework. Online shopping from a trusted vendor is the best way you can maximize your budget - but that requires some time.

 

[sonnyjane]

I agree, this is a huge purchase. If you were buying a car or a house, surely you would do more research than just going to visit one day and leaving with one (at least I would hope!) Please don''t rush on this or you will, as was just mentioned, end up paying too much money for not enough ring...

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/31/2008 2:31:42 AM
Author:ShoppingForARing
I''m a med student (no money).... I''m looking for an engagement ring for my gf...i''m looking between 1.05-1.22 ct. VERY SPARKLEY !!!!!....and my budget is 10,000 ring & diamond...solitaire white gold...where do i go about finding the diamond that sparkles..i have limited time...can''t look at this forum in as much detail as i want...going this weekend ring shopping...what do i LOOK FOR???

so lost and frustrated...

Welcome to Pricescope,

I agree with the others, please don''t be in a rush, it is too easy to buy in haste and spend a long time repenting...

If you want to buy from a brick and mortar jeweller, then ask to see some AGS0 and GIA Excellent cut grade, then feel free to post the details and proportions of each diamond here, then we can help you select if you like. Depending on your priorities, cut needs to be high on the list as it is this which makes a diamond beautiful, then maybe G or H colour and VS to SI clarity can be a good middleground.

Have you considered buying online?

 

[arjunajane]

I ditto the other ladies - it will be easier to not get your money worth if you really rush and don''t do any research at all.
I''m not saying you should read the whole site, but perhaps just 10mins for the knowledge section on the 4 c''s would be good?

It may help your budget and time constraints considerably to look online - Good Old Gold, Whiteflash, Winfields are just a couple of well regarded vendors that many here have bought off.

 

[Regular Guy]

Hey, Shopping,

I agree with the others.

Now...two suggestions:

Before you go shopping, or when you''re there, ask if they carry diamonds with either GIA or AGS papers. If not, go to the next shop.

If AGS, you can stay and buy what you like. (It should also say AGS 0, but it probably will).

If GIA, ask your shopkeep if they''ll kindly turn on their computer for you, and populate the fields in this little chart, with the data on the cert.

You want the resulting totals to between 0 - 2. That, plus you have to like the option you pick.

Then...buy and go home.

Have fun!

 

[dockman3]

First of all, welcome to Pricescope!

Second, 10k is a lot of money! You can easily get a great stone for that, especially with a simple solitaire. If you are going to shop this weekend, here''s a few things to keep in mind:

1) Cut is the most important of the 4 C''s!! If its a bad cut, it will look bad no matter what the other 3 C''s are.
2) Get a diamond that has been graded by either GIA or AGS. These are the best two labs and you should be safe with them.
3) You don''t need a D IF diamond to make it look good. Most people cannot tell the difference between a D IF and an eye clean G SI2. Just keep that in mind.
4) If you can take your time and don''t need to buy right now, then come back with the specs of any stone and we''ll let you know what we think. There''s a lot of info here and a lot of great people you can use to bounce ideas off.
5) Have fun with this! I loved ring shopping for my girl and finding that perfect combo of diamond and setting. Don''t buy the first thing you see and shop around a bit.

That''s all my advice for now. Let us know how it turned out!

 

[NewEnglandLady]

Buy this stone:
http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-1151324.htm#

in this setting:
http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Solitaire/6-Prong-tiffany-style_993.htm

And you''re done! You''ll have a 1.22 carat AGS Ideal stone in a classic solitaire setting for under $10K.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/31/2008 11:04:29 AM
Author: NewEnglandLady
Buy this stone:
http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-1151324.htm#

in this setting:
http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Solitaire/6-Prong-tiffany-style_993.htm

And you''re done! You''ll have a 1.22 carat AGS Ideal stone in a classic solitaire setting for under $10K.

VOILA! Indeed you would be, that could be a perfect combo! Nice pick NEL!

 

[dmus]

Boy you ladies are good. Just want to say you can''t go wrong by listening to them. They are goooooood! As they say; " Leave the shopping to them." Being the patient, you should be listening to these doctors.

 

[diamondMary]

The experience in buying a diamond ring for the person you love, should be the unbelievable. You should not rush to buy a ring because of time. You will see that once you actually go out to purchase a ring, it is not as easy as you might of thought. Enjoy the experience and have fun.

 

[ShoppingForARing]

When shopping for a diamond online, what do i look for in cut? What i understand so far is that i don't something too shallow nor too deep. so how do i know which spread is right for the carat weight?

so i should buy the diamond and setting separately?

how do i know i'm not getting ripped off for the setting? should i compare the prices to wf to see if i'm getting a good deal on the setting?

 

[dockman3]

Yes, you should definitely buy the diamond and setting separately. Most likely you will not get ripped off on the setting. You need to be more worried about getting ripped off on the diamond. The breakdown is going to be in the ballpark of 9000+ for the diamond and less than 1000 for the setting.

You are correct about looking at the depth, but its more than just the depth and steep or deep. You need to know and look at the:

table % (between 54-57)
depth % (60-62)
crown angle (34-35)
pavilion angle (40.6-41.0)
girdle (med-sl thick)
cutlet (none)

This will give you a good starting point for looking at the diamonds. By the way, this is all assuming a round brilliant diamond. The spread will be fine if you have all of the other measurements in the range I''ve stated here. Hopefully Lorelei will double check my numbers since sometimes my memory is a little fuzzy.

 

[ShoppingForARing]

can someone explain this picture to me...in regards to diamonds..what would a person want where would the x show up? what would the disadvantages be? etc?

 

[Regular Guy]

Date: 7/31/2008 4:23:50 PM
Author: ShoppingForARing
When shopping for a diamond online, what do i look for in cut? What i understand so far is that i don't something too shallow nor too deep. so how do i know which spread is right for the carat weight?

so i should buy the diamond and setting separately?

how do i know i'm not getting ripped off for the setting? should i compare the prices to wf to see if i'm getting a good deal on the setting?

1) Experiment with the search by cut option. I like G VS2 as a sweet spot, as do many. See where the diamonds that you bring up land. Check for excellent, right? Options that are marked for AGS0 candidates tend to correlate with the young people's rings. That maps onto AGS0.

2) Buying the diamond and setting separately...yes, incidentally...but it's still made significantly easier when done at one firm.

3) Today I looked for your criteria, found a diamond or two option at G0G...and finally tried to figure out their ring selection and pricing. Has anyone successfully shopped there before, on the web, only. You have to call them, right. This is a big advantage of WF, I agree.

 

[alexandrite_lover]

If I may, here are a few you should consider. They''re all stunning. I know that when hubby and I were in med school and engagement ring shopping, solitares are best- go for the biggest bang for your buck!

Already made ring: 370073221309

or

Stones alone:

(eBay) Item number: 320279311256
(eBay) Item number: 320279309760
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4467/

Or, if you want an antique stone:

This is one of my favs: http://www.oldworlddiamonds.com/inv_details.php?ID=518&SHAPE=EU&PAGE=32&SORT=PRICE
http://www.oldworlddiamonds.com/inv_details.php?ID=2772&SHAPE=EU&PAGE=31&SORT=PRICE
http://www.oldworlddiamonds.com/inv_details.php?ID=835&SHAPE=C&PAGE=6&SORT=PRICE
http://www.oldworlddiamonds.com/inv_details.php?ID=1767&SHAPE=C&PAGE=5&SORT=PRICE
http://www.priorityviewing.com/fc_loosediamond.tpl?action=details&_sku=FC-A10568
http://www.priorityviewing.com/fc_loosediamond.tpl?action=details&_sku=FC-A17060
http://www.priorityviewing.com/fc_loosediamond.tpl?action=details&_sku=FC-N03050C

I know that whatever you pick will be perfect!

Best of luck~ Alex

 

[Kelli]

I totally agree that this is something that shouldn''t be rushed!! However, if you absolutely must have the ring RIGHT NOW, you should get exactly what new england lady said. If you don''t want to do the research yourself, buy an ACA because you won''t have to worry about the stats, they will be perfect. Can''t go wrong with vs clarity, and H color should look super white in a cut that good.

 

[NeverEndingUpgrade]

Here are some nice ones too, other shapes as well. Just have Jonathan pop one into a solitaire setting and you''re good to go!

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4737/
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4600/
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3575/
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3865/
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4375/

On the ones that say to call for price, just click on reserve diamond, and you will see prices.

 

[ShoppingForARing]

Thank you all....more help is needed..i''m nervous...

so I''m leaning towards a solitaire round brilliant but what is the difference in appearance between an

antique round and a "current"? round?? pros cons?

 

[phoenixgirl]

Diamond that sparkles, limited time, how about Tiffany''s?

Otherwise, I''d buy one of the following for a no-brainer sparkler:

*an AGS0 stone
*a H&A stone from a reputable vendor
*a GIA excellent stone which matches up with a good HCA score

BlueNile is my recommendation if you want point and click, fast turn-around. You can get a sparkler that isn''t one of their signature rounds (and save $), but if you''re not willing to educate yourself, I''d get a G-I VS2-SI1 signature ideal, as big as you can get including setting within your price range.

If it were I, I''d search the forum search engine and see what you get (this was the top choice that came up when I ran your stats and my color/clarity recommendations: 1.20 G VS2 H&A, lifetime upgrade policy.

And I''d definitely go for the modern cut if you want a sparkler. Older cuts can have romance but aren''t known for their precision or attention to light return.

Best wishes!

 

[alexandrite_lover]

Posted: 7/31/2008 11:38:11 PM

ShoppingForARing

Thank you all....more help is needed..i''m nervous...so I''m leaning towards a solitaire round brilliant but what is the difference in appearance between an antique round and a "current"? round?? pros cons?

Nervous is good! That shows this means a lot to you

.

Old (antique) stones have chunkier and fewer facets, and henceforth they look like disco balls. All the women in my family have ended up with older stones, because they are stunning. The one who got a modern RB ended up trading hers in

. And due to the fact you have stated you want a rounder stone, I would think you want a European or Transition cut (some listed below).

http://www.oldworlddiamonds.com/inv_details.php?ID=518&SHAPE=EU&PAGE=32&SORT=PRICE
http://www.priorityviewing.com/fc_loosediamond.tpl?action=details&_sku=FC-A10568
http://www.oldworlddiamonds.com/inv_details.php?ID=2772&SHAPE=EU&PAGE=31&SORT=PRICE

Antique stones are one-of-a-kind and you become attacher to your chunky-monkey precious

.

Some of the others (hint-hint: Surfgirl, Pixley, etc!) might be the best to have chime in on this

.

Alex

 

[arjunajane]

Date: 7/31/2008 11:38:11 PM
Author: ShoppingForARing
Thank you all....more help is needed..i''m nervous...

so I''m leaning towards a solitaire round brilliant but what is the difference in appearance between an

antique round and a ''current''? round?? pros cons?

in my opinion, if you don''t have much time an ideal cut modern round brlliant will be the way to go.
Other cuts such as fancies and old cuts are more "hit and miss" - as modern RB''s are pretty much the only cut that we can currently buy "by the numbers" (and with the help of light return images), that could be a safer bet for you.

The top stones from the vendors mentioned are cut for maximum light return and performance.

Older stones are extemely pretty, but also need to be taken on a stone by stone basis and, imo, you may be better to see them in real life unless you know alot about what you''re looking for/at.

Also, do you know if your girl has expressed an interest in old cuts? They are really pretty, but also an individual taste.

HTH

 

[Paul-Antwerp]

Date: 7/31/2008 7:42:40 AM
Author: Regular Guy
Hey, Shopping,

I agree with the others.

Now...two suggestions:

Before you go shopping, or when you''re there, ask if they carry diamonds with either GIA or AGS papers. If not, go to the next shop.

If AGS, you can stay and buy what you like. (It should also say AGS 0, but it probably will).

If GIA, ask your shopkeep if they''ll kindly turn on their computer for you, and populate the fields in this little chart, with the data on the cert.

You want the resulting totals to between 0 - 2. That, plus you have to like the option you pick.

Then...buy and go home.

Have fun!

Ira,

May I congratulate you on probably the most concise and effective advise to a shopper with time-constraints?

Still, it will take some time to go from shop-to-shop (more chances of success with small independents than in mall-stores?), but following this advise will lead you to a great stone.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 8/1/2008 1:46:21 AM
Author: arjunajane

Date: 7/31/2008 11:38:11 PM
Author: ShoppingForARing
Thank you all....more help is needed..i''m nervous...

so I''m leaning towards a solitaire round brilliant but what is the difference in appearance between an

antique round and a ''current''? round?? pros cons?

in my opinion, if you don''t have much time an ideal cut modern round brlliant will be the way to go.
Other cuts such as fancies and old cuts are more ''hit and miss'' - as modern RB''s are pretty much the only cut that we can currently buy ''by the numbers'' (and with the help of light return images), that could be a safer bet for you.

The top stones from the vendors mentioned are cut for maximum light return and performance.

Older stones are extemely pretty, but also need to be taken on a stone by stone basis and, imo, you may be better to see them in real life unless you know alot about what you''re looking for/at.

Also, do you know if your girl has expressed an interest in old cuts? They are really pretty, but also an individual taste.

HTH

Ditto aj''s whole post.

 

[Regular Guy]

Date: 8/1/2008 6:16:47 AM
Author: Paul-Antwerp

Date: 7/31/2008 7:42:40 AM
Author: Regular Guy
Hey, Shopping,

I agree with the others.

Now...two suggestions:

Before you go shopping, or when you''re there, ask if they carry diamonds with either GIA or AGS papers. If not, go to the next shop.

If AGS, you can stay and buy what you like. (It should also say AGS 0, but it probably will).

If GIA, ask your shopkeep if they''ll kindly turn on their computer for you, and populate the fields in this little chart, with the data on the cert.

You want the resulting totals to between 0 - 2. That, plus you have to like the option you pick.

Then...buy and go home.

Have fun!

Ira,

May I congratulate you on probably the most concise and effective advise to a shopper with time-constraints?

Still, it will take some time to go from shop-to-shop (more chances of success with small independents than in mall-stores?), but following this advise will lead you to a great stone.

Paul, thanks, though I should accept thanks with a nod to the author of the HCA tool, do you think?

The suggestion presupposes:

a) not a predisposition to shop on line, which we''re seeing here may not prove out...but let''s allow for that
b) recognition that Garry''s hand held version of the HCA isn''t hurrying along...probably in concert with his seeing AGS and perhaps others plowing through with patents, regardless of his investment
c) the reasonable guess that:
i: stores have computers, and
ii: won''t mind using them to make a sale
iii: which, unfortunately, is not something to assume is reasonable, maybe, but which certainly makes sense, and should be tried.

Frankly, as I''ve noted in previous threads, when my own and very well regarded appraiser was not going to grade my purchase for cut at all, I asked them to crank the HCA up, populate the fields, and include it with the appraisal. She complied, with eye brows raised, and also frankly, shortly after this, she was not with their firm...but it seemed to make sense to me to do.