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Is This A Good Deal For This Ring?

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skorpi0wn

Rough_Rock
Joined
Dec 4, 2007
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Hi

I am not an expert at all. I just kind of look around. I looked up on pricescope''s diamond search for a really nice .5 carat diamond. This is what I got.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1036513.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

It doesn''t sound like they give you much of a choice on diamonds from what I am seeing. Just because it is GIA certified does guarantee it will be nice. If you look around this site you can find similar settings as well. You can extrapolate from this info whether it is a good deal or not. You should read the diamond tutorial on this pricescope for more info. Hope I helped a little.


 
I think it is a pretty ring but I also think for a 1/2 ct diamond it is way overpriced. The diamond is GIA graded although it gives no info on cut and cut is king. So that being said if she really has to have that one then why not if you want to get a better deal then keep looking but your may not find something exactly the same. I have seen some like it but maybe nothing exactly the same. I guess my advice is if she is dead set on that ring and you can afford it then by all means make the lady happy! Good luck
 
Hi and welcome! I think it is waaay too much. I''ll do some digging to find you something similar. Mall stores tend to mark up prices tremendously, and for the center being 1/2 carat I think you can find something bigger for that money!
 
How about the band? I know she really loved that split-style band. Has anyone seen that band elsewhere? Or would it be appropriate to buy just the band from Helzberg and have the diamond set elsewhere?
 
I like the band, but one at Helzberg''s has the diamonds surrounding the center diamond instead of just on the sides. Sorry that I don''t know the terminology yet. I''m heading to the mall today. I''ll speak with a representative and see about buying just the setting from them and purchase a diamond online. That may be the way to go.

From what I''ve been reading, everyone seems to agree that it''s an expensive ring for only 1/2 carat.
 
This is a very similar setting with the ring of diamonds around the center, but without the split shank band. Knox will sell you just the setting, I believe they will set a diamond purchased elsewhere, and they do custom work. I''ve talked with them, and they seem really nice and responsive.

Here are a couple of others that are cute and similar to the style you posted:
one
two
three
 
Does she have her heart set on this exact setting? It seems that a halo is important to her, so maybe you could do something like this (no split shank)

http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Diamond-Settings/Halo-Prong-Ring-by-WF_941.htm

That setting would leave you with about $2,700 for the stone. This stone is $2768 with a bank wire and not only is it larger than the Helzburg stone, but it''s an ideal cut H&A stone that will sparkle like crazy!

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-471539.htm
 
Date: 12/4/2007 1:03:52 PM
Author: NewEnglandLady
Does she have her heart set on this exact setting? It seems that a halo is important to her, so maybe you could do something like this (no split shank)

http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Diamond-Settings/Halo-Prong-Ring-by-WF_941.htm

That setting would leave you with about $2,700 for the stone. This stone is $2768 with a bank wire and not only is it larger than the Helzburg stone, but it''s an ideal cut H&A stone that will sparkle like crazy!

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-471539.htm
Click to expand...
After trying on a few different rings she really has her heart set up on a split shank. I also think the halo on the ring you liked to is a little too busy. I love that stone however. As far as shape she really likes Asscher and Lucere but she liked the round cut on that Helzberg setting.

(Still reading tutorials on the 4c''s as I post).
 
I''d bag Helzberg and buy the diamond AND setting on-line. You''ll either pay significantly less for the same quality or get a much more beautiful and bigger ring for the same price.

I don''t mean to slam on Helzberg, but I have a story to tell about them. This was many years ago, but my husband originally bought my engagement ring from them. It was a 2 ring setting. The engagment ring had a round center stone with baguettes on each side and the wedding band had 3 baguettes on it. The center baguette on the wedding band was smaller than the other 2 baguettes. My (then fiance) noticed that one of the side baguettes was damaged when looking at the wedding band with the loop. I noticed that the center baguette in the wedding band was darker than the others and didn''t look as nice. Helzberg sent the wedding band away to have the damaged baguette replaced. I kept thinking about that dark center baguette decided to have my fiance return the ring and ask for a refund on everything (within the return period, obviously). I didn''t know much about diamonds then, but I later realized why that center baguette looked darker. Baguettes are very fragile and they couldn''t get away with using cheaper baguettes on the sides because they were bigger stones. The smaller center baguette they could use a lower quality on with less fear of breaking it when working with it. I did not ask them to replace the center baguette to match it to the others. Maybe they would have if I had asked. I don''t know. I just felt like overall, I''d rather buy from a jeweler that takes more pride in their jewelry than have obviously mismatched stones in a setting. (And it didn''t help that they were selling a setting with a damaged diamond in it that my husband had to discover himself!)

I would be very careful about their quality. I would ask if the diamonds in the setting are ideal cut and if they are G or higher. Then have everything they claim verified by an independent appraiser. Good luck!
 
I finally was able to speak to someone at Helzberg this weekend. The specs on the stone are as follows.

.43 carat, H-I color, SI1 clarity

Sounds like this ring is a bit overpriced. However, on the tag they put that it retails for $6400. Hmmmm. Sounds like a sales technique to me.

Anyway, the gf still loves the ring, but I think she really wants an Asscher, Radiant, or Lucere cut instead. I''ll keep shopping using some of the links above.

Thanks for all the help thusfar.
 
She really liked the Union Square ring from Danny K. However, I can't find someone in Orlando that sells Danny K and I'm sure they are fairly expensive. Does anyone know of a similar style that I can order online or purchase in the Orlando area? Oh, and she likes prong set diamonds in the band over pave.

skorpi0wn_DK4.jpg
 
Date: 12/10/2007 11:50:18 AM
Author: dolphingirl22
What is your price range? I found this 1ct X factor for $3600

http://www.whiteflash.com/xfactor/X-Factor-cut-diamond-373453.htm

with the setting thats right around 5K. their settings are 10% off right now, and I beleive they have another discount for PS members.
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My budget is around $4000, but willing to go up to $6000 if I find exactly what she''s wants. As far as carats, we''ve really only tried on .50 carat diamonds and they look great because she has smaller hands. I know carat doesn''t directly relate to size, but would this diamond be too big?
 
Did she try on half carat round diamonds? fancy shapes will face up smaller than rounds. for example:

a half ct ACA round is 5.12 X 5.16
that x factor is 5.67 X 5.53

so the X factor won''t look a whole lot bigger than the round.

Hope this helps. I think the X factor would be beautiful in that setting.
 
Date: 12/10/2007 12:12:02 PM
Author: dolphingirl22
Did she try on half carat round diamonds? fancy shapes will face up smaller than rounds. for example:

a half ct ACA round is 5.12 X 5.16
that x factor is 5.67 X 5.53

so the X factor won''t look a whole lot bigger than the round.

Hope this helps. I think the X factor would be beautiful in that setting.
Click to expand...
Come to think of it, she tried on mostly 3/4 carat asscher and radiant cuts. They looked beautiful on her hand. I''ll spend some more time on whiteflash checking things out. Thanks for the help. I''ll let you know if I go with this one.
 
It sounds overpriced to me. My fiance bought my engagement ring online and got nearly a carat for the center diamond, and the same amount of pave diamonds in the band, and I think he paid about that price, maybe a tad less (he didn''t tell me the price, but my estimate is about that).

I also hate when those mall stores "estimate" the weight of the center diamond (.45 - .58). You don''t know what you''ll really get and you don''t know what kind of cut you''ll get.

IMO - you''ll get a better deal - and a better diamond - online.
 
Date: 12/10/2007 12:12:02 PM
Author: dolphingirl22
Did she try on half carat round diamonds? fancy shapes will face up smaller than rounds. for example:

a half ct ACA round is 5.12 X 5.16
that x factor is 5.67 X 5.53

so the X factor won''t look a whole lot bigger than the round.

Hope this helps. I think the X factor would be beautiful in that setting.
Click to expand...
DolphinGirl. Do you have any experience with the X-Factor diamonds? I''m worried that a lower quality diamond (to stay within my budget) will show imperfections to the naked eye at such a large carat size? Any truth to that?
 
I don''t have experience with the x-factor. I just saw that one was within your budget. I would suggest calling whiteflash and ask them if it is eye clean. Or maybe start a seperate post asking for opinions on that diamond. I just looked at the picture and thought it looked good.
 
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