I'm looking for diamond advice

[anita]

Hello everyone.
My name is obviously Anita. My boyfriend and I are in the market for an engagement ring. Our budget is quite small unfortunately. We recently graduated from college so our savings accounts are rather limited. We have mutually agreed to spend about $2500 on the ring. I need a platinum setting as I have a bad reaction to gold. The cheapest platinum settings I have found are about $500-600. So I figure that leaves us with about $2000 for the stone. What would you do if you were in this situation? I don’t have my heart set on a shape yet. I do know what I don’t like. I don’t like pears, marquises, ovals, or princesses.

 

[Gypsy]

I would buy a sapphire ring. Or a vintage one. Both are going to give you the most bang for your buck. Especially if you want Platinum, a lot of vintage rings come in platinum, and because of the pricing realities of the pre-owned market, you get the setting thrown in for the price of the stone much of the time.

 

[Gypsy]

Lovely Platinum Vintage Setting: http://www.ebay.com/itm/270869342484?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
Lovely stone (GIA graded) that fits it: http://www.ebay.com/itm/140586057275?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 I would offer 2k for the stone.


Gorgeous sapphire: http://www.simplysapphires.com/blue/ceylon-blue-round-sapphire-1.60-carats-6.5x6.5x4.5mm
Setting: http://www.ebay.com/itm/370613561765?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

 

[anita]

Thank you gypsy. I'm mostly on a fact finding mission right now. My boyfriend asked me what I would like. Finding this forum is like a life saver because the more I looked the more confused I was getting.

I dont know if a sapphire is right for me. That one you posted is beautiful. I will definitely consider vintage stones though. I will send that link to the bf to give him an idea.

 

[tyty333]

If you are willing to go in the I/J color range and eye-clean SI1/SI2 range then you can get a well cut round in the
.6-.7ish range for about $2k. If you want higher color (G/H) you will probably move into the .5ish range.

I would contact IDJewelry. They do a great job at finding nice stones in a budget and their prices are very competitive.

Here is an example of what you could get from JA.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1473334.asp

If you like antique stones you could get something like this...
http://www.oldworlddiamonds.com/detail.php?ID=379&SHAPE=EU

Also keep a look out for stones on the pre-loved forum.

 

[Christina...]

I'd keep my eye out in the pre loved forum as well, you can often find preloved stones at a large discount. I think I would go for a round in your case, it faces up larger than other shapes besides, ovals, pears and marquis which you've already said that you don't like. And I'd stay away from princess and asschers because they face up smaller. Heres another one from JA, you would want to request an IS image. It's a 60/60 which will give you a nice face up size, but visually is a bit different than a typical ideal cut, but still beautiful.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1493707.asp
you may not be able to see it on your screen, but with your PS wire discount, this stone would be $1822.

 

[Christina...]

If you like old cuts, which are very popular around here right now, you may like something like this..
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9104/

The great thing about old cuts is that IMO they look fabulous in lower colors, saving you lot's of money!

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9062/

 

[distracts]

I too would recommend a vintage/pre-owned ring.

Here are a few:

http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Rings-Antique-Vintage/75ct-est-Antique-Old-European/22021747_BNDTZv#!i=1758643570&k=nHgPMZn - to die for! 2,785

http://www.langantiques.com/products/item/10-1-4629

http://www.langantiques.com/products/item/10-1-4953

http://www.rubylane.com/item/514555-rl-905/50-Carat-Center-Mine-Cut

http://www.rubylane.com/item/514555-rl-906/1-Carat-European-Cut-Diamond - okay this is almost a thousand over budget but soooo pretty!

http://www.rubylane.com/item/514555-rl-884/90-Carat-Vintage-Diamond-Platinum

Okay I pulled all the Ruby Lane ones from the same store. And I don't know if Lang's would be best for you guys since you are on a tight budget and they are often overpriced compared to other places. But you can see that there is a ton of really gorgeous stuff at prices that fit your budget.