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vanman1013

Rough_Rock
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Sep 4, 2006
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I have just started looking for an engagement ring for my girlfriend. I thought I''d just walk into a store, find a decent looking ring and take it home. Well, as all of you know that was a bad idea. I''ve looked at the FAQ''s on this site and now know the basics. I''m looking to spend about $2000 for ring and diamond. I''m looking to buy by the end of the month, going to visit her in Europe and planning to propose. I''m not looking for anything too big, probably about 1/2-1 carat, the best color I can for the price, and I''m not sure what the best cut style would be (I''ve heard princess cut is popular, but I''m not sure what she would like) so I''m open to anything that looks good.

Any help is greatly appreciated
 
I can see you're new to this site as I am, but not so new to the ring-shopping game. My boyfriend thought we'd just pop into a jewelry store and find the perfect ring too, that was last November and we just found the style that fits me perfectly this Saturday!

If you're looking for a ring around $2000 and plan on getting a solitaire you could probably get the size you're looking for (up to 1 carat). However, cut color and clarity are a big deal because you may have a big stone that looks like a big hunk of junk. So you might want to consider a smaller stone.

Also something to consider, if you're looking for a ring with sidestones with a .5 center stone and good color and clarity you might have a hard time finding it because you end up spending more money on the sidestones and then have to fork additional funds for the center stone. To give you an idea, when my BF and I went to the jewelers we had a budget of 2500 - 3000, in order to get a stone and ring for that amount we would be looking at spending close to 3,000 on the stone alone that was E or F color and about a 1/2 carat. First figure out what you want to spend your money on, a big stone that looks big or a stone that sparkles and doesn't matter how big it is because it catches your eye at all angles.

We were going to go with the smaller stone that sparkles and try not to spend too much money on the sidestones (although that was something I really wanted.) So we had to find something that was beautiful but included everything that I liked. Princess cut was my choice stone, however in person I ended up liking the round more because of it's sparkle. Remember, the size doesn't always matter especially when you're just starting out!

Another tip, if you have diamonds and other stones from your family or her family or other jewelery pieces that she no longer wears they can be used to create your very own ring for cheaper and it's something no one else would have. This ended up being the path my BF and I chose because we will be using a family heirloom diamond for the center of my engagement ring, saving us a couple of thousand dollars and making it a very personal and sentimental ring!!!

Sorry for gabbing so long...good luck!
 
I''d buy the absolute highest quality *cut* round you can afford around an H color VS2 (though some would say SI1 as well) and stick it in the cheapest setting you can find and then later on when you choose wedding rings etc you maybe can upgrade the setting to something SHE likes and you already know you''ve picked the best diamond in your range.
 
I'm pretty sure she would like a smaller diamond that is better quality. She is very easy going and actually doesn't want anything that is too big. So I was thinking of a solitaire ring, with about 1/2 carat diamond. I was hoping to get the best quality diamond that's about this size.
 
Is S1 ok? From what I''ve read VS2 is the lowest quality you''d want. I don''t know, i''ve been reading about it for about a day now, so by all means if lower clarity is just as good I''m ready to listen
 
Date: 9/4/2006 4:47:44 PM
Author: vanman1013
Is S1 ok? From what I''ve read VS2 is the lowest quality you''d want. I don''t know, i''ve been reading about it for about a day now, so by all means if lower clarity is just as good I''m ready to listen
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Everyone''s sensitive to different things... some are sensitive to size, some are sensitive to color, some are sensitive to clarity but most here are sensitive to cut LOL so cut first... then you order the other things to your preference. I''d choose a large stone over a high color stone but my comfort zone for clarity is VS2. Others it is SI1. I''d go to J or K in color though, without blinking, in fact I *prefer* the antiquey look of the warmer stones, but again, its a preference thing. I''d take a 1 carat K over a 1/2 carat D in a heartbeat AND I''d probably save money on it LOL Even if both were VS2. Especially in the smaller stones...
 
ok, so this is more expensive then I originally expected, but after looking $2000 is a little low. what do you think of this:


http://sacramento.craigslist.org/jwl/202025367.html
 
I personally wouldn''t go lower than H VS2. I tried on earrings the other day and I could see the yellow in the J and K stones. If the ring is an antique, I can handle lower colors, but not in a solitaire type e-ring. But there are plenty of people around with J and K stones who love them, so there are plenty of opinions!

Here is a nice one right at $2000 and you could get a simple white gold tiffany setting for a couple hundred.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/2200/
 
that''s a really nice diamond, thanks
 
Date: 9/4/2006 5:23:29 PM
Author: vanman1013
ok, so this is more expensive then I originally expected, but after looking $2000 is a little low. what do you think of this:


http://sacramento.craigslist.org/jwl/202025367.html
Click to expand...
You really don''t want a 1.5 ct. stone for $4000...it would be pretty awful! It has I1 clarity which I just wouldn''t consider for an engagement ring, and there is no cut information. You could go down to I color and SI1 clarity in an ideal cut stone if you really wanted to, but I wouldn''t recommend lower than that. Here''s a .70 I SI1 for about $2500:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/2267/
 
Did somebody hack into your computer and log in as you?
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Because you made it clear that 0.5 was the biggest you wanted to go and that VS2 clarity was the lowest, and then you suddenly suggested a 1.5 I1 secondhand stone for twice your budget? Don''t fall for the seductive call of the "bargain"! Get what you planned on, or change your criteria to reflect a new budget, but don''t just buy some used ring because it seems like a steal. "Here honey, I know you wanted a small, modest diamond but I got you this honking 1.5 carat stone because, well, somebody had to buy it!"

In an ideal cut, a few color or clarity grades isn''t going to make a difference visually. F vs. I, for example. Sure, some people might detect a hint more of a color in the I if they look for it, but it''s very difficult to see in a mounted stone that''s moving with somebody''s hand.

1/2 carat rounds:

0.55 G VS2 for @ $1500

0.52 E SI1 for @ $1600

More bang for your buck:

0.74 ACA J SI2 for @ $2000 (with PS discount)

0.60 G VS2 for @ $1900

Other shapes:

0.53 E VS2 radiant for @ $1300

0.52 D VS1 princess for $1650
 
You are right. Thank You after looking it seems like you are suppose to get something bigger, .5 is big enough. Right?
I was looking at this at Shane Company, looks good to me.
 
I certainly would look at the .60-.70 range to get a little more size. But I wouldn''t recommend buying from Shane Company unless the stone is certified (by AGS or GIA) and you run the numbers by us on here so we can tell you if the cut is any good. You might want to do a search for reports on that jeweler on here, because I''m not too sure if that is a good place to be looking.

Really, you need to read through the knowledge section on this site and take a look at the 4 C''s section of the Good Old Gold site which has a lot of pictures on color, clarity, cut, etc.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/4Cs/
 
i read the 4c''s at goodoldgold, and realized that those prices at shane are a little low. So I''m going to keep looking. This is the one that I thought looked pretty good:

http://www.shaneco.com/catalog/my_setting.asp?BID=937507


Too good to be true?
 
With your budget, I would absolutely go down to SI1 and I would consider an SI2. Both can be very eye clean and they offer great ways to save money and get more size. Don't sacrifice cut! Get the best cut you can. Look for diamonds graded GIA and AGS, as these are most reliable.

Check out this thread of all SI diamonds and see for yourself how great they can be:

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/lets-post-our-si-stones-here.36489/
 
is bluenile a good source?
 
That princess diamond from the Shane page had no info on the certification at all. It was also very small.

Yes. Blue Nile is okay, but understand you are really picking a stone from paper only because they bascially have a database of stones which are not physically there. They often are a little higher than some of the others, but you could probably find a nice stone there. Look for stones that are AGS0 or GIA excellent. I''ll take a look and see if I can find some to compare to the ones already listed.
 
those are slightly above my budget, but the first one is real nice. thanks
 
Is a 1/2 carat diamond too small for a solitaire ring? Or is it just a personal opinion?
 
Date: 9/5/2006 2:39:49 AM
Author: vanman1013
Is a 1/2 carat diamond too small for a solitaire ring? Or is it just a personal opinion?
Click to expand...
it depends. if you make 30,000 a year, then no it is not too small. if you make >100,000 a year, then yes it is too small. also it depends on where you live. what city are you in?

i happily am married with a quarter carat. he bought us a house instead.
 
Half a carat is a respectable size. Not huge, but I wouldn''t definitely call it small.
If you think she''ll appreciate a finer quality stone, I suggest you go with G or H and VS2 or SI1 clarity. Personally, I love lower colors, but a lot of people seem to be bothered by that.
Here''s one I really like that fits your budget : http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/2354/
 
We live in Northern California. During the school year the bay area and over summer sacramento. We are not yet sure where we will end up though. I''m under 30,000/yr, being a student and all, so I think I may go w/ a 1/2 carat and save some $$.
 
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