Hi @nmg -
If size is your main concern, AND you still want a nice quality diamond, AND you like marquise diamonds - the stone listed above is the best choice. I mean - come on! - it's almost 10mm long, for pete's sake!
Stick that baby in a halo and you'll get a ring roughly 12.5mm long by 8mm wide. That is A BIG ring. It would also be a big, nice quality ring. In a halo, it will look nice and white, I can't see ANY inclusions in it (inclusions are very hard to spot in a marquise cut stone anyway), and a halo would be classic, contemporary, and not tizzy - while adding a LOT of bang for your buck.
And it's a solitaire.This is your stone.
This setting from BN is 1k outside your remaining budget if you went with the stone as listed. But perhaps your BF could buy the stone, and give you a good start on the setting, and you could pay for the remainder? If you look at this setting and scroll down to 'recently purchased' there's a photo of a one recently bought in this style. Such a pretty ring! And the stone in the setting would go very nicely with your center stone, for color and quality:
https://www.bluenile.com/build-your...ing_41115?elem=img&track=product&vtype=sample
This is NOT over a ct but because of its depth it faces up very similar to the 1.1 I posted. IS GORG and would be my choice and I’d use my savings to get a e/w soli as I feel e/w marquise halos to not be my jam. And beyond size it’s a coveted antique style and is a coveted high color and no problems with clarity
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...AMONDS&track=viewDiamondDetails&action=newTab
WOOOOOOOOOOW!!!!!!!
Ok you cannot imagine the day I've had! Diamond rings swirling around my head like crazy! I was kind of sneakily looking at this thread while I was at work... oh baby, so much eye candy! Sorry for not responding sooner but I was at work and then I got home and my mother-in-law was over so we had dinner and then boom boom boom it is only now that I really have a moment to myself to respond. Anyways. Sorry for the life story.
This morning (in my hasty peeks) I was in love with the platinum ebay one that Neil posted. And then also the blue nile marquise - hubba hubba!!! I keep hemming and hawing and using my ruler to draw out the millimetres on a paper... so hard to decide! I can see why my boyfriend has tasked me with this monumental decision!!
Ok so it looks like things disappear quickly when posted on price scope. The antique-y marquise that Neil posted is gone now... so I will focus on the ones that remain. Hmmmmm so tricky! I need to sleep on it. I don't think I'm the kind of person that can pull the trigger in ten seconds. Regardless, thank you thank you thank you so much for helping me search! It's like I have a whole bunch of fairy godmothers making my wedding dreams come true <3
Congratulations first and foremost! So happy for you that you can decide on what you want! I can hear your enthusiasm and energy! Well before we begin are you open to lower colored diamonds K, L ? Or are you colored sensitive and prefer a particular color? Do you like halo setting? Or a solitaire? Or 3 stone ring? I think showing us some pics of what you like would give us a direction. But wanted to give you an idea of what I saw online for diamonds:
Lower K color round ideal cut:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...color-si1-clarity-true-hearts-cut-sku-4639984
With this rose gold halo setting:
https://www.jamesallen.com/complete-ring/
AND under budget as James Allen has a 25% off setting sale!
You can also ask for the advantage pricing for PS members and see if JA will give you additional $ off.
-C4C
you are so cute!
Possibly the best thing you can do is decide to halo set, this makes a big visual difference. If you do this a .70 diamond or so can actually look like a good 2 carat ring size. If you don’t want to halo I have found at least one 1.15 carat diamond and a few that are close in size to that within your budget. I’ll post the links if you like but first, is s halo an option?
I think you should go with a vendor with a good upgrade policy. You are just happy to have a diamond right now, but the chance is very good that you will want bigger in the future.
How about something preloved? You’d definitely get more for your money.
This caught my eye,
https://loupetroop.com/listings/rin...er/antique-emerald-cut-diamond-solitaire-ring
This is pretty,
https://www.jewelsbygrace.com/1-02ctw-vintage-old-mine-cut-diamond-halo-ring
Good finger coverage,
https://www.jewelsbygrace.com/90ct-vintage-round-brilliant-diamond-solitaire
Halo,
https://www.jewelsbygrace.com/70ct-round-brilliant-leo-diamond-halo-solitaire
Also Diamonds by Lauren have several completed rings in your budget, this one is slightly over but is very blingy! Shows how adding a halo can increase the size.
http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/ind...on-cut-gia-split-shank-double-halo-ring-r5090
Ditto loving the enthusiasm!For that budget I’d say look in the warmer colour & lower clarity range and maybe think of halo or clusters to get the coverage. Pre-loved rings also a bargain hunters paradise!
There are many gemstones that look somewhat similar to diamond and could be a great option if coverage is absolutely your number one priority? Thinking of pale/white garnets or Spinel....
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I think everyone else has covered off the advice I’d give so I’ll just add, would there be an option of you chipping in towards your ring? I know it’s not remotely romantic (except I think it is cos you’re doing this as joint symbol of your commitment to each other) but it could help you achieve the size you’re after. Otherwise go preloved! I got a 7mm spread solitaire for $3400 by going preloved/vintage which I couldn’t manage otherwise.
Just posting another pre-loved ring for consideration, if they are an option: https://loupetroop.com/listings/rin...t-oec-diamond-engagement-ring-18k-wg-5-dot-75
This one has an antique cut old European diamond; not sure if @nmg is open to those or not. But it looks to be a lovely ring in budget, and a polish and replaying at the jeweler would have this looking gorgeous.
If size is your main concern
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/162510174240
Designer platinum with an ideal agl diamond nearly a ct
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/121732470011
Now this woman isn’t exactly the best at eBay
She lists the ctw of this at 1.13 but that’s actually just the side stones if you read the appraisal. She also told me she wouldn’t go below 4k but here we are at 3600. Might take some working on her but could maybe get her down.
They apprear from the photos an appraisals to be tycoon or some other modified emerald cut the center is 1ct
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/142757072366
That Diamonds by Lauren double halo certainly has finger coverage!!! Wow! And, it only needs to be sized down one size.
.
This Simon G ring is really pretty.
AGS * I notice I hadn’t a type I mean AGS not agl.
For bling for the buck, what about a setting like this
https://www.jamesallen.com/engageme...k-double-halo-pave-engagement-ring-item-17845
Which is on sale, with funds left over for a ~.7ct round
Would be a LOT of visual impact for the price.
Ditto! Beautiful ring and amazing finger coverage!
Really great thread everyone, lots of excellent suggestions for the OP, I know she'll end up with something fantastic!
I think we need to post that app that shows how big the ring will look on her finger. I can never remember what it is called.
Also, look at James Allen rings on eBay. Sometimes there are great bargains that come with GIA and JA papers.
Hi @nmg -
If size is your main concern, AND you still want a nice quality diamond, AND you like marquise diamonds - the stone listed above is the best choice. I mean - come on! - it's almost 10mm long, for pete's sake!
Stick that baby in a halo and you'll get a ring roughly 12.5mm long by 8mm wide. That is A BIG ring. It would also be a big, nice quality ring. In a halo, it will look nice and white, I can't see ANY inclusions in it (inclusions are very hard to spot in a marquise cut stone anyway), and a halo would be classic, contemporary, and not tizzy - while adding a LOT of bang for your buck.
And it's a solitaire.This is your stone.
This setting from BN is 1k outside your remaining budget if you went with the stone as listed. But perhaps your BF could buy the stone, and give you a good start on the setting, and you could pay for the remainder? If you look at this setting and scroll down to 'recently purchased' there's a photo of a one recently bought in this style. Such a pretty ring! And the stone in the setting would go very nicely with your center stone, for color and quality:
https://www.bluenile.com/build-your...ing_41115?elem=img&track=product&vtype=sample
I like the way you think.
T'would be Blingasauras.
This is NOT over a ct but because of its depth it faces up very similar to the 1.1 I posted. IS GORG and would be my choice and I’d use my savings to get a e/w soli as I feel e/w marquise halos to not be my jam. And beyond size it’s a coveted antique style and is a coveted high color and no problems with clarity
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...AMONDS&track=viewDiamondDetails&action=newTab
That's a pretty one Niel![]()
I think either of those Marquise stones are perfect, both are really nice size. My suggestion would be to contact ID Jewelry and see if he can get one of those stones. then see what kind of price he could get on a Stuller halo setting like this:
https://www.stuller.com/products/bu...dationSource=CategoryBrowse#/mounting-options
i think you'll get the most out of your budget by going to IDJ
So many good options listed, I very much like the Marquie @Niel posted!
I love the idea of setting a Marquis EW, it would give such great finger coverage and you would get that WOW factor.
@nmg For a brand new ring, I love @tuckie 's suggestion of this double halo and *this* is the stone I'd put in it. Gorgeous, plenty white especially in a halo and you can't get a better white inclusion off to the side and the cut is beautiful!!! https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...j-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4399089
https://www.jamesallen.com/engageme...k-double-halo-pave-engagement-ring-item-17845
This total puts you at $3225, but you could get $100 off JA with a referral coupon and ask for a PS discount and/or get 3% off for a wire discount!
Also, if you use JA, make sure to ask for "Advantage Pricing"
https://www.idonowidont.com/buying
Have you checked this site out? All pre loved but some great deals on rings and loose diamonds
I like this marquise by @Niel its a different cut that some of the others with larger facets. Quite a beauty. https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...AMONDS&track=viewDiamondDetails&action=newTab
This one at JA is on par with the first BN stone posted by Niel in terms of performance, but it trades a little spread for higher color and clarity.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/marquise-cut/0.74-carat-f-color-si1-clarity-sku-3630100
If it was me, I'd put these both on hold and request ASET images if you want a marquise. Lots of other non-marquise options have been posted.
JA does not have a halo for a marquise that is affordable, so maybe one of these settings? You come in just under (or a tiny bit over) with the 25% off setting sale. You could also reach out to IDJewelery to see if they have any setting that would work.
https://www.jamesallen.com/engageme...ld-marquise-shape-three-stone-ring-item-59119
https://www.jamesallen.com/engageme...old-triple-diamond-engagement-ring-item-50122
https://www.jamesallen.com/engageme...ite-pave-cathedral-engagement-ring-item-49519
@nmg, instead of drawing, you can go to www.diamdb.com - it's an app where you can see how the stone will look on your finger (through input of stone measurements and ring size, with the screen adjusted to it's true to life size).
Good luck!
So two of the things I’d suggested here have sold. That marquise has been for sale forever and that three stone has also been for sale for some time. My suggestion is to not let things sit if you like them as seems like lurkers will be particularly interested in this thread. Or maybe that three stone just expired- I’ll check back on that.
To answer your question about the Simon g ring - i don’t think it is flashy or particularly “weird” I think it look very low key sparkle becuase it’s very band like. Also who cares if it looks dated in 5 years if you’ve loved it the whole time? You could always replace the setting with a new one. I think stack this with a pave band and maybe a cool high carat gold and boom; effortless bling
I’m still looking for you I have one I like but have to hear back if the listing expired or just sold.
I completely agree don’t jump on anything until it gives you feels but when you do just be aware someone else might be watching- that’s all
Fair enough if your boyfriend wants this to come from himThis is an option. My boyfriend doesn't want me to - it's really important to him that I receive this gift from him before we combine our bank accounts. I agree with you though, doing things together is super romantic! <3 So I think there is a possibility. OH WOW 7mm spread? Tell me about your ring! I would love to see it... I am very open to preloved.
Fair enough if your boyfriend wants this to come from himeveryone has their own feelings in these situations so what's fine for me isn't for someone else and that's all good!
OK it took me about 6 months of dedicated searching to get lucky.
I wanted to get 1 carat at least since I've got 6.5 fingers and I'd tried a 1 carat MRB on at a local store and liked the size. Budget was variable but I wanted to be under $8-10k NZD. I had to go online as nothing local was decent with the exception of a very few bespoke jewellers and we didn't have the budget for that. I didn't actually know what I wanted cut-wise to start with other than I didn't like modern round brilliants, princesses, pears, emerald cuts or marquises. And I couldn't get an asscher since my sis has one. And I didn't like halos.
Of course since finding PS, I've seen plenty of exceptions to the things I thought I didn't like
So start with what actually looks good on your hand. Initially I pinned the hell out of everything I saw that I thought 'oh that's nice'. I pretty quickly worked out from that that I liked vintage old cuts and art deco settings.
Start browsing from there. I would run the same search every day on Etsy and sometimes on Ebay with the settings to recently listed or most recent so it would show up the new listings. Then I'd just watch them or bookmark ones that looked good so I could get a sense of the likely price/colour etc. When I found the one I couldn't stop looking at (which is EGL certed and has a lower crown angle than OECs should but I just loved the faceting), I knew that it was a good price for the specs. I contacted the shop owner and got them to send me pictures of it in other real world lighting situations so I could see if it was ok.
When I upgrade (which will be a few years away as I really love my ring and we're spending our money on other things like house stuff and travel), I'll do the same but I'll also add in all the other old cut specialists who I know about now. I didn't even consider contacting "real" vendors cos I thought I was spending way too little to be worth their time. I really enjoyed the search process and I love that I got what feels like a great deal. It adds a little frisson of additional happiness whenever I look at my ring.
This is the ring I got and although it's definitely not technically perfect, it's really sparkly, is bright white (I've compared to a GIA E and it's barely more tinted), has the spread I wanted and most importantly has a fat little set of petals under the table.
![]()
Just echoing what has already been said, but if you want size and like marquise, I think that is a great way to get size on a budget. If you like halos, that ups your finger coverage as well. Just as a quick example, I'm including a picture of my marquise ring in a halo. The center diamond is a bit over 0.5 ct, and I'm a size 4.5 finger. I'm pretty happy with the finger coverage, and in my humble opinion, I think it looks bigger than a 0.5 ct. The entire thing actually came in under $2000. The amazing PSers here helped me find the beautiful stone and figure out the perfect setting.
![]()
I completely agree don’t jump on anything until it gives you feels but when you do just be aware someone else might be watching- that’s all
And they probably are.
Have a try on this weekend Metali then once you know exactly what you want, we can go to work on your behalf and find you your dream ring.
I always believe that which is for you won't pass you by.![]()
Just echoing what has already been said, but if you want size and like marquise, I think that is a great way to get size on a budget. If you like halos, that ups your finger coverage as well. Just as a quick example, I'm including a picture of my marquise ring in a halo. The center diamond is a bit over 0.5 ct, and I'm a size 4.5 finger. I'm pretty happy with the finger coverage, and in my humble opinion, I think it looks bigger than a 0.5 ct. The entire thing actually came in under $2000. The amazing PSers here helped me find the beautiful stone and figure out the perfect setting.
![]()
I have one ring that is a .57 center stone in the James Allen floral halo with the plain shank (I think it’s only about $700 for the setting with the sale....the setting is stunning. It blows my 1.27 carat solitaire out of the water size wise, and it really rivals my almost 3 carat OEC. The total cost was about $2,700 for that ring and it’s probably my favorite. So if you like larger halos as I do you may think about that. It does not look like a cluster ring, the halo isn’t that large just later than the tiny halo rings you see!
Fair enough if your boyfriend wants this to come from himeveryone has their own feelings in these situations so what's fine for me isn't for someone else and that's all good!
OK it took me about 6 months of dedicated searching to get lucky.
I wanted to get 1 carat at least since I've got 6.5 fingers and I'd tried a 1 carat MRB on at a local store and liked the size. Budget was variable but I wanted to be under $8-10k NZD. I had to go online as nothing local was decent with the exception of a very few bespoke jewellers and we didn't have the budget for that. I didn't actually know what I wanted cut-wise to start with other than I didn't like modern round brilliants, princesses, pears, emerald cuts or marquises. And I couldn't get an asscher since my sis has one. And I didn't like halos.
Of course since finding PS, I've seen plenty of exceptions to the things I thought I didn't like
So start with what actually looks good on your hand. Initially I pinned the hell out of everything I saw that I thought 'oh that's nice'. I pretty quickly worked out from that that I liked vintage old cuts and art deco settings.
Start browsing from there. I would run the same search every day on Etsy and sometimes on Ebay with the settings to recently listed or most recent so it would show up the new listings. Then I'd just watch them or bookmark ones that looked good so I could get a sense of the likely price/colour etc. When I found the one I couldn't stop looking at (which is EGL certed and has a lower crown angle than OECs should but I just loved the faceting), I knew that it was a good price for the specs. I contacted the shop owner and got them to send me pictures of it in other real world lighting situations so I could see if it was ok.
When I upgrade (which will be a few years away as I really love my ring and we're spending our money on other things like house stuff and travel), I'll do the same but I'll also add in all the other old cut specialists who I know about now. I didn't even consider contacting "real" vendors cos I thought I was spending way too little to be worth their time. I really enjoyed the search process and I love that I got what feels like a great deal. It adds a little frisson of additional happiness whenever I look at my ring.
This is the ring I got and although it's definitely not technically perfect, it's really sparkly, is bright white (I've compared to a GIA E and it's barely more tinted), has the spread I wanted and most importantly has a fat little set of petals under the table.
![]()
I feel like 3 stone rounds are the best bling for buck look. I love large sidestones - dissenting pricescope opinion but it looks elegant to my eye.