michaels_brilliant
Rough_Rock
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2009
- Messages
- 3
Hello all! This is my first post...I have been lurking around on the forum for a little while, but now I need some real input!
I am looking to propose in about a month. I have mild-to-moderate knowledge of diamonds, I have been researching and shopping for about 6 months now. Unfortunately, I have exhausted all the local retailers here in Cincinnati and have still not found what I am looking for! I got taken a while back when I bought the promise ring (idiot Zales salesman told me the diamond was certified...then never provided the certification after the sale!), so this time around I will be doing things the proper way.
My girlfriend has been wanting to get engaged forever...if she knew about this site she would most definitely be in the "Ladies in Waiting - Pre-Proposal Syndrome" forum nonstop! She is the one who worries that the ring will have to be resized after the proposal, for fear of being without it for a few days! This ring may not be the last diamond that we buy, but it will certainly be one that she will never let go of.
Okay, so down to business. I am looking for a princess cut in a round pave-set white gold setting. She really prefers thin bands as well. She is a size 7, but her hands are smaller than that number would lead you to believe. Also, she wants to be able to wear the wedding band separate from the engagement ring, so no solitaire enhancers.
Despite the bad experience with Zales, we have found that we really like the styles offered there...and so she picked out this ring and matching band. After doing my research, I decided that there was no way I would spend $1500 on a ring with center 3/8ths ct. I1, IGI certified and all!
Thus began my search. I started with the familiar (Blue Nile, Mondera) and branched out to other sites found through this forum and others (James Allen, Whiteflash, etc.). After a little searching, the little Zales ring that could started looking pretty sad, at least compared to settings like this James Allen or this Whiteflash.
My questions mainly focus on achieving excellent cut. How can you tell if a diamond is going to have brilliance, fire, scintillation? I am not a big fan of rainbow fire, but because she likes the smaller diamonds I want something with absolute drop-dead scintillation. What do you look for in the certification? Or perhaps you have to stick to independent testing or even retailer rating to judge this (without having the chance to view the stone in person)?
Also, I have no idea how to compromise when it comes to price vs quality. I have been searching for D-G color VVS1 to SI1 half-carats, very good to excellent polish and symmetry, L/W ratios under 1.10, and depths smaller than about 70% to maximize the size of the face. I have seen some terrible SI2s...could there actually be a somewhat eye-clean SI2? Is it okay to compromise with an H, or even an I? The pave rounds in the setting should be G-H...would one dare to go any lower than that?
Help! All I wanted was a great engagement ring...and now it is 3AM and I am still telling you of my troubles
Thanks for listening...
Michael
I am looking to propose in about a month. I have mild-to-moderate knowledge of diamonds, I have been researching and shopping for about 6 months now. Unfortunately, I have exhausted all the local retailers here in Cincinnati and have still not found what I am looking for! I got taken a while back when I bought the promise ring (idiot Zales salesman told me the diamond was certified...then never provided the certification after the sale!), so this time around I will be doing things the proper way.
My girlfriend has been wanting to get engaged forever...if she knew about this site she would most definitely be in the "Ladies in Waiting - Pre-Proposal Syndrome" forum nonstop! She is the one who worries that the ring will have to be resized after the proposal, for fear of being without it for a few days! This ring may not be the last diamond that we buy, but it will certainly be one that she will never let go of.
Okay, so down to business. I am looking for a princess cut in a round pave-set white gold setting. She really prefers thin bands as well. She is a size 7, but her hands are smaller than that number would lead you to believe. Also, she wants to be able to wear the wedding band separate from the engagement ring, so no solitaire enhancers.
Despite the bad experience with Zales, we have found that we really like the styles offered there...and so she picked out this ring and matching band. After doing my research, I decided that there was no way I would spend $1500 on a ring with center 3/8ths ct. I1, IGI certified and all!
Thus began my search. I started with the familiar (Blue Nile, Mondera) and branched out to other sites found through this forum and others (James Allen, Whiteflash, etc.). After a little searching, the little Zales ring that could started looking pretty sad, at least compared to settings like this James Allen or this Whiteflash.
My questions mainly focus on achieving excellent cut. How can you tell if a diamond is going to have brilliance, fire, scintillation? I am not a big fan of rainbow fire, but because she likes the smaller diamonds I want something with absolute drop-dead scintillation. What do you look for in the certification? Or perhaps you have to stick to independent testing or even retailer rating to judge this (without having the chance to view the stone in person)?
Also, I have no idea how to compromise when it comes to price vs quality. I have been searching for D-G color VVS1 to SI1 half-carats, very good to excellent polish and symmetry, L/W ratios under 1.10, and depths smaller than about 70% to maximize the size of the face. I have seen some terrible SI2s...could there actually be a somewhat eye-clean SI2? Is it okay to compromise with an H, or even an I? The pave rounds in the setting should be G-H...would one dare to go any lower than that?
Help! All I wanted was a great engagement ring...and now it is 3AM and I am still telling you of my troubles
Thanks for listening...
Michael
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