I have a budget of 3k! Please help!

[josb0513]

Hello there.

I'm shopping from Canada Ontario with 3k in my hand trying to get "bang-for-the-buck" deal and make my lady cry.

Here are my desired specs
+ round diamond / 0.70 or larger carat / eyeclean (atleast J/SI2/Ideal cut)
+ 14-18k white gold


Luckly, I know what style of band my lady prefers.
1st choice
http://www.peoplesjewellers.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4480957

2nd choice
http://www.bluenile.ca/build-your-own-diamond-ring?offer_id=20374&forceStep=STYLE_STEP


I appreciate all your supports!

 

[farmer gal]

I would much prefer this by far I would not even consider your first choice

http://www.bluenile.ca/build-your-own-diamond-ring?offer_id=20374&forceStep=STYLE_STEP

http://www.bluenile.ca/diamond-search?track=link#diamonds_pid=LD02297276

Same price for a lot better diamond by far. Look for coupons too

 

[josb0513]

I would much prefer this by far I would not even consider your first choice

http://www.bluenile.ca/build-your-own-diamond-ring?offer_id=20374&forceStep=STYLE_STEP

http://www.bluenile.ca/diamond-search?track=link#diamonds_pid=LD02297276

Same price for a lot better diamond by far. Look for coupons too

Thanks for your input!
I will definitely consider this in my list. So far, I have only found 10% off coupon for bands only, or $100 off when I make purchase by visa card. Is there anything else out there?

 

[yssie]

2.5% cash back through ebates for Canada BN - too bad you're not in the US or it'd be 5%!

 

[Enerchi]

Depending where in Ontario you are, you can have your selection purchased in the US and then shipped to a border town and pick it up there. There is still the issue of claiming and duty, but even factoring all that in, plus the US $ exchange, you will come out ahead purchasing on a US site. It could help with stretching your budget a bit as well.

Also, a lot of PSers recommend looking at diamondbistro.com. For example - and not what you are showing as your reference point, but worth browsing.... - http://diamondbistro.com/category/216/Natural-Diamond-Center/listings/24727/See-GIA-cert-and-appraisal!-704-VVS2-F-ring.html

Give it a whirl!

 

[vintagelover229]

If your any where near Barrie I highly recommend checking out Bill Le Boeuf jewellers I've used him and he has a HUGE and beautiful selection of estate pieces that would be great for your budget.

http://www.billleboeufjewellers.com/category/estate_pieces/rings/


I have also bought from Diamondbistro but you have to be careful and really trust the seller. Most of my pieces have come from ebay/estate/diamondbistro but I really know my stuff and usually know the history of the seller (many of them are PSers).

I also highly recommend www.goodoldgold.com

Here is a perfect stone for your budget
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8816/

And a bunch of settings to choose from
http://www.goodoldgold.com/SettingsGallery/

I've bought 2 stones from GOG and I know more than one person in the GTA who have also bought from GOG and their service is amazing, their upgrade policies are amazing and they also have a 70% buy back policy (heaven forbid you need to sell it at some point) but that amount is almost unheard of!

Good luck!


ETA:
I know you were looking for a particular setting style (plain-traditional) but I found some really good deals from www.jewelsbyericagrace.com that I wanted to link you to (they are another amazing vendor to deal with).

Here is one that is 3400.00 and it comes with the band! It's .8 carats too!
http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Rings-Antique-diamonds/100ctw-Modern-Brilliant/20392970_VVnDrV#1613674795_gCTWrb8

This is another one that has the band with it but it's attached. I really love this set-but it looks a lot like mine (I only have the one band though)
http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Rings-Antique-diamonds/80ct-est-Early-Modern/19915034_k2CLLh#1567980319_p7g3q2z

This one is yellow gold (you could rhodium plate it to give it the silver/white gold finish but it would need plating often if you want to keep it that way) and is under budget and comes with the band!
http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Modern-and-Estate-Pieces/Princess-Cut-Round/13524472_E6Q7h#985316212_CWnsB

This is a halo (also comes with a band) but its beautiful!
http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Rings-Antique-diamonds/71ct-center-Transitional-Cut/18182075_MCSP3h#1398658227_rRLQTtr

This one is a bit smaller than the rest of them but it's more traditional looking
http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Rings-Antique-diamonds/51ct-Old-European-Cut-Diamond/19916483_NnKr66#1567527998_gWCMKZF

 

[kordeliapilgreen]

I like first one.

 

[Imdanny]

The GOG J SI1 linked to above is perfect. It looks to my untrained eye like a VS2. I'd buy that or something like it where you can see for yourself with pictures, etc. you're getting great clarity. What I would not do if I were you is buy an SI2 sight unseen, I wouldn't even go into that whole is it eye clean to the vendor's standard process. This is important- if it ends up not being eye clean everyone who sees it will know you got am included stone to get a bigger one. I've never liked visibly included diamonds.

This plus a simple gold setting would be excellent.

Good luck.

 

[josb0513]

Thanks everyone for your input!

I've shopped around yesterday and found this .70 E SI2 Very good cut for $2200 CAD. I saw it with my own eyes and it was eye clean to me.

Would you guys consider this diamond to be a good deal??

https://myapps.gia.edu/ReportCheckPortal/getReportData.do?&reportno=6127022235&weight=.70

 

[bagelboy]

Not a good deal in my opinion. I think you could do much better. At the top look for the tool tab, then click on the HCA tab. Then enter all your values on your diamond. The E SI-2 scores an 4.4 on the HCA. An ideal cut diamond will score between 0-2. Diamonds with higher scores are leaking light and not producing as much light return as they could have if they were cut better. This is why GIA graded this diamond as a Very Good cut and not an Excellent cut. I would only consider diamonds with a GIA excellent cut or an AGS ideal cut for starters, better color and better clarity will not give you more sparkle or light return. I would pass on this particular diamond. I would try James Allen.

 

[josb0513]

Not a good deal in my opinion. I think you could do much better. At the top look for the tool tab, then click on the HCA tab. Then enter all your values on your diamond. The E SI-2 scores an 4.4 on the HCA. An ideal cut diamond will score between 0-2. Diamonds with higher scores are leaking light and not producing as much light return as they could have if they were cut better. This is why GIA graded this diamond as a Very Good cut and not an Excellent cut. I would only consider diamonds with a GIA excellent cut or an AGS ideal cut for starters, better color and better clarity will not give you more sparkle or light return. I would pass on this particular diamond. I would try James Allen.

Thank you
If I had the same spec except the cut is excellent with strong blue fluorescence, will that make the diamond look bluish in daylight?