Let''s go shopping! :)

[missyminx]

My FF's given me a shopping task: find myself an engagement ring by the end of the year.
I'm excited cos I get to choose what I want!
So I have US$25,000 to play with, not including setting.

Would you mind helping out? I'm not in a rush, so I can hold out for something really good!

I've got a few things that need your precious input:
1. I've tried 2ct vs 1.6-1.7ct solitaires with friends. My girlfriends think my size 5 fingers carry the 2ct well. My FF and I went jewellery-shopping today and I tried a 2ct on for him. He thought it looked rather flashy but agreed that it would be a size good enough without the need to upgrade later on. (I can imagine myself greyed and that would still be a nice size on a wrinkly grannified me) I tend to agree with my girlfriends and also that this size would not require a future upgrade. With my budget, I would be looking at FSI2 or GSI1 right? I am colour-sensitive and know this because I can see the warmth in my earstuds. So if you were in my shoes, would you go with the bigger size or better colour and clarity?

2. I've been around the brick and mortar retail stores and diamond dealers here, and a few mentioned that we're nearing the year end, so it will be increasingly difficult to find good stones and also that prices will be going up. Is the former true? Also, how much increase should one be expecting?

 

[jstarfireb]

Wow, that is quite the generous budget! Lucky you!

A G colored stone of that size should still face up icy white, even to the color-sensitive. That''s a great place to start. Are you looking for a round brilliant or a fancy shape?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 8/23/2008 11:47:39 AM
Author:missyminx
My FF's given me a shopping task: find myself an engagement ring by the end of the year.
I'm excited cos I get to choose what I want!
So I have US$25,000 to play with, not including setting.

Would you mind helping out? I'm not in a rush, so I can hold out for something really good!

I've got a few things that need your precious input:
1. I've tried 2ct vs 1.6-1.7ct solitaires with friends. My girlfriends think my size 5 fingers carry the 2ct well. My FF and I went jewellery-shopping today and I tried a 2ct on for him. He thought it looked rather flashy but agreed that it would be a size good enough without the need to upgrade later on. (I can imagine myself greyed and that would still be a nice size on a wrinkly grannified me) I tend to agree with my girlfriends and also that this size would not require a future upgrade. With my budget, I would be looking at FSI2 or GSI1 right? I am colour-sensitive and know this because I can see the warmth in my earstuds. So if you were in my shoes, would you go with the bigger size or better colour and clarity?

2. I've been around the brick and mortar retail stores and diamond dealers here, and a few mentioned that we're nearing the year end, so it will be increasingly difficult to find good stones and also that prices will be going up. Is the former true? Also, how much increase should one be expecting?

F G or H SI can be a good combo to begin with. Diamonds DO shrink, so going for the 2ct mark now might be a good idea! Prices have been rising but it is hard to predict what will happen, are you considering buying online or from a jeweller and what shape diamond?

 

[looking for ideas]

congratulations! 2cts covers a lot of a sz. 5 finger. I would definitly consider a g golored stone. My e-ring is a g and it looks very white! Get a g and the best cut and clarity diamond you can buy with your budget. Have fun!

 

[jstarfireb]

Date: 8/23/2008 3:44:40 PM
Author: looking for ideas
Get a g and the best cut and clarity diamond you can buy with your budget. Have fun!

I would modify this just a tad to say get an ideal cut stone of the size you want, and then look for the best color and clarity you can find. Cut is king!

Here is a very nice looking G/SI1 that is over your size criterion and under budget! Check to make sure it's eye-clean.

 

[missyminx]

Jstarfireb yes! I am looking for the best cut with the colour and clarity specifications. Shape-wise, it would have to be a round even though I find cushions very tempting.
Lorelei buying through the internet will be my first choice, followed by local diamond dealers. Internet retailers like WF/GOG provide more information than I can get through the dealers.
Looking for ideas thanks for sharing! My fingers are size 5 now, but they might turn size 6 after I have kids, so there will be diamond shrinkage!

I think I can go with a G and with a good cut it's going to be perfect. I was looking at that diamond too and will call them on Monday to check.

 

[marcy]

I agree with a G SI eye clean diamond ideal cut - it''s the best of all worlds. BTW - that is a very nice budget.

Woo hoo!

 

[arjunajane]

Date: 8/23/2008 3:53:20 PM
Author: jstarfireb

Date: 8/23/2008 3:44:40 PM
Author: looking for ideas
Get a g and the best cut and clarity diamond you can buy with your budget. Have fun!

I would modify this just a tad to say get an ideal cut stone of the size you want, and then look for the best color and clarity you can find. Cut is king!

Here is a very nice looking G/SI1 that is over your size criterion and under budget! Check to make sure it''s eye-clean.

To be fair, Isn''t that what she/he said?

Missyminx, what an exciting decision to get to make ! I would recommend emailing Whiteflash.com, Good Old Gold, and Winfields - all contact info here http://www.pricescope.com/dealers.asp.

These vendors will be able to offer you the best cut stones around, just let them know your budget and colour/clarity specs . There is not heaps of inventory in this size range, but you are in good hands with these vendors.

Make sure you let us know how you go !

 

[Cleo]

Date: 8/23/2008 3:53:20 PM
Author: jstarfireb

I would modify this just a tad to say get an ideal cut stone of the size you want, and then look for the best color and clarity you can find. Cut is king!

Here is a very nice looking G/SI1 that is over your size criterion and under budget! Check to make sure it''s eye-clean.

That is a *stunning* diamond - nice find! x x x

 

[:)]

Date: 8/23/2008 3:53:20 PM
Author: jstarfireb

I would modify this just a tad to say get an ideal cut stone of the size you want, and then look for the best color and clarity you can find. Cut is king!

Here is a very nice looking G/SI1 that is over your size criterion and under budget! Check to make sure it''s eye-clean.

That stone concerns me - need to ask WF why AGS lists dimensions as out of round (the diameter listed makes it rouvalish). The sarin does not seem to confirm this so I would want to know why the discrepancy. Also need to ask about the very thin portion of the girdle. On a stone that size, would be very wary of a VT portion. AGS measures at the peaks and valleys.

 

[jstarfireb]

Date: 8/24/2008 2:14:29 AM
Author: arjunajane

Date: 8/23/2008 3:53:20 PM

Author: jstarfireb

Date: 8/23/2008 3:44:40 PM

Author: looking for ideas

Get a g and the best cut and clarity diamond you can buy with your budget. Have fun!

I would modify this just a tad to say get an ideal cut stone of the size you want, and then look for the best color and clarity you can find. Cut is king!


Here is a very nice looking G/SI1 that is over your size criterion and under budget! Check to make sure it''s eye-clean.

To be fair, Isn''t that what she/he said?

Perhaps, but it sounded like that poster was focusing more on the color as opposed to cut, and I wanted to drive the "cut is king" point home. Just semantics...no biggie.

To - I did notice that after I posted the stone (and I took a second look at the AGS report to make sure it was correct), but the picture doesn''t look ovalish at all. Perhaps at that large diameter, what looks like a big difference by numbers isn''t visible to the eye?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 8/24/2008 6:05:52 PM
Author: jstarfireb

To - I did notice that after I posted the stone (and I took a second look at the AGS report to make sure it was correct), but the picture doesn't look ovalish at all. Perhaps at that large diameter, what looks like a big difference by numbers isn't visible to the eye?

Good catch L ! I would think it is a typo on the report.

 

[kcoursolle]

I think the WF stone looks great and 5k under budget! Perhaps you can also get a killer leon setting and wedding band made with the extra. I agree with the others that G/SI is a great combo that is still icey white.

 

[honey22]

That stone looks very nice indeed. I would double check the measurements, but i agree, that it;s likely to be a typo. It''s also got strong blue fluoro - yummy!!!!

I would however double check the eyecleanliness, I would hazard a guess that it wouldn''t be totally eyeclean with all the inclusions located under the table, but you never know, it''s worth a try right?!