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Looking for a diamond for under $4000

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tank

Rough_Rock
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Greetings from Australia,

I've just started my search for an e-ring and I was hoping for your expert opinions/guidance. I'm hoping to spend between $5000-$6000 (total).

This will (hopefully) be a complete surprise for my girlfriend and while I have some idea of what she likes, I can't exactly ask her and ring shopping together is out of the question.

I've decided on a platinum, channel set ring and the size will be about 9-10.

I've been to several local stores, but was unimpressed by what I was shown for my price range - especially when comparing to what I've seen online.

I have a couple of questions:

- With ring size 9-10, should I look for a slightly larger diamond? Yes this is highly subjective but I don't want a diamond that looks tiny on her hand.

- Should I also consider a slightly thicker setting (shank)? Would 2.8mm or 3.4mm too thick, or is this a highly personal thing?

- How "eye clean" is a GIA graded VS2 going to be? Some of the VS2 diamonds I've seen online have visible inclusions when magnified (for example on jamesallen.com).

- In a platinum setting, is it "safe" to go down a bit in colour (for example H or I)?


I don't expect you to go looking around at diamonds for me, but any advice or pointers would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,
Chris
 
tank|1330250790|3134812 said:
Greetings from Australia,

I've just started my search for an e-ring and I was hoping for your expert opinions/guidance. I'm hoping to spend between $5000-$6000 (total).

This will (hopefully) be a complete surprise for my girlfriend and while I have some idea of what she likes, I can't exactly ask her and ring shopping together is out of the question.

I've decided on a platinum, channel set ring and the size will be about 9-10.

If you want diamonds in the shank, you need to know her exact ring size. It may mess up the ring to have to resize it when there are diamonds on the shank.

I've been to several local stores, but was unimpressed by what I was shown for my price range - especially when comparing to what I've seen online.

I have a couple of questions:

- With ring size 9-10, should I look for a slightly larger diamond? Yes this is highly subjective but I don't want a diamond that looks tiny on her hand.

Sure, finger size does matter, along with what is customary in your area and social circle. Her finger could easily handle 2 cts., but that may be way out of the norm for where you live. So you need to balance all that out with your budget!

- Should I also consider a slightly thicker setting (shank)? Would 2.8mm or 3.4mm too thick, or is this a highly personal thing?

It is personal, but the trend at this time is for thinner shanks. There is the feeling that a thinner shank makes the diamond look larger. However, I do take finger size into account, so I might lean toward 2.5mm for her.

- How "eye clean" is a GIA graded VS2 going to be? Some of the VS2 diamonds I've seen online have visible inclusions when magnified (for example on jamesallen.com).

This is why pictures are essential in addition to a lab report. VS2 is usually eyeclean from the top, but not always from the sides. You do need a vendor who can look at the stone for you. Otherwise, you'd need to go to VS1 which is going to be eyeclean and almost loupe clean.

- In a platinum setting, is it "safe" to go down a bit in colour (for example H or I)?

Absolutely, as long as the stone is excellent cut. I personally would lean toward H, but I can be good, too.


I don't expect you to go looking around at diamonds for me, but any advice or pointers would be greatly appreciated.

I am sure many of us will be happy to help you search. I won't have time until later today, but I am sure others will come and help, too! Just be sure you stick with GIA Excellent Cut or AGS Ideal and that is the best starting point. Within GIA Excellent, some stones are better than others, and we can help you with that.

Many thanks,
Chris
Click to expand...
 
Considering your budget and her finger size I would look for an eyeclean SI1 or even SI2 I'd you can find one, I in color, excellent or ideal cut. And biggest carat weight you can get.
 
 
Agree DS!
 
Yea, I'm with DS and Amy, for your money the .75 to .80 stone is the spot to shop or the sweet spot persay. either way she can say "its .75ct diamond or its over .75ct" . That is one of the items in the social circle that might matter depending. All the stones so far are amazing.
 
Thank you so much for your replies.

DS - I had always thought we could get the ring resized if I got it slightly wrong and was going to get something slightly too big if anything. I hadn't even considered that you can't resize a ring with diamonds in the shank. Looks like I'm going to have to get a more accurate ring size measurement.
So far I've grabbed a couple of her rings and used the ring size finder at jamesallen.com to guess a 9-10. I'll try to get hold of one of those plastic tools for a more accurate measurement.

I've noticed that thinner shanks seem to be the fashion right now. Good point about making the center stone look larger. I will keep this in mind. 2.5mm seems like a good number. I've seen rings up to 3.5mm and this just seems too wide to me, especially when there will be a wedding ring next to it someday.

I suppose I am mostly concerned about being eye clean from the top. When I looked at a friend's e-ring for the first time the first thing I noticed was a big inclusion staring back at me. I want to avoid this at all costs!

Amy - thanks for your feedback. Sounds like 0.80 is the magic number. I think I'll aim for an eye clean SI1.

Ravinmad - thanks very much for the suggestions. I'll have a look at each in detail and will plug the numbers into the HCA tool. Would you say anything under 2 would be worth considering?


Thanks again,
Chris
 
2 and under is a excellent start. HCA is a tool to help weed out a good share of weak or less then ideal stones. Its is a easy way to do a first round pick or select finalist for your engagement ring pageant. :D
 
tank|1330300747|3135231 said:
Thank you so much for your replies.

DS - I had always thought we could get the ring resized if I got it slightly wrong and was going to get something slightly too big if anything. I hadn't even considered that you can't resize a ring with diamonds in the shank. Looks like I'm going to have to get a more accurate ring size measurement.
So far I've grabbed a couple of her rings and used the ring size finder at jamesallen.com to guess a 9-10. I'll try to get hold of one of those plastic tools for a more accurate measurement.

I've noticed that thinner shanks seem to be the fashion right now. Good point about making the center stone look larger. I will keep this in mind. 2.5mm seems like a good number. I've seen rings up to 3.5mm and this just seems too wide to me, especially when there will be a wedding ring next to it someday.

I suppose I am mostly concerned about being eye clean from the top. When I looked at a friend's e-ring for the first time the first thing I noticed was a big inclusion staring back at me. I want to avoid this at all costs!

Amy - thanks for your feedback. Sounds like 0.80 is the magic number. I think I'll aim for an eye clean SI1.

Ravinmad - thanks very much for the suggestions. I'll have a look at each in detail and will plug the numbers into the HCA tool. Would you say anything under 2 would be worth considering?


Thanks again,
Chris
Click to expand...

Chris, you can have a ring with diamonds on the shank resized, but sometimes it can cause problems with loosened stones and that kind of thing. I would want to try to get the size correct. If it is summer where you are, her fingers are likely at their largest, and the ring will fit well now and maybe be a little looser in the winter. Just never resize in the winter! Plus, once you wear a wedding band with the e-ring, the thickness of the two rings together usually makes them fit more snugly.

Both of Amy's linked stones were VS2, so why would you need to look at SI1's? I do think SI1 is a bit dangerous for you since it would be very complicated to exchange if you didn't think the diamond was eyeclean enough for you.
 
Hi diamondseeker2006,

Sorry that was a typo - should have been "I think I'll aim for a VS2".

Very good tips about ring size thanks. We're coming to the end of summer here.
Good to know that you can still resize a channel set ring, but I will do my best to avoid having to do so.

Thanks for the tip Ravinmad. I'll run all the diamonds I find through the HCA tool.

I'll keep diamond hunting (it's really quite interesting)!
 
I'm really liking this (suggested by Amy):
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1407807.asp

The price, size and cut are right. I can see a few small inclusions using the Virtual Loupe - do you think these would be noticable with the naked eye?

My main concern is the colour (sorry "color" for my American friends ;)) ).
I've read that an I will face up nice and white in platinum, but could possibly look warm when viewed from the side.

Also, if I go with a channel setting that has G or H princess cuts will the center stone look less white?

Thanks again!
 
I think you are okay with G-H-I color. The hard thing about I color is that those at the high end of the range will be pretty white and those near the low end will show some tint. A friend of mine just got an I color with fluorescence and I couldn't tell it apart from an H stone.

Brian Gavin does have a stone now that has fluor., but it is a little smaller than the other ones:

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.732-i-vs1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104055878134

They recently had these on sale, so I would ask about a bottom line price.
 
Hi everyone,

It's been a couple of weeks and I thought I would post an update.

A few things have changed since my first post:

- I bought a ring measuring tool and am now after a 7.5 size ring, not a 9-10 (glad I sorted that out!).
- I've increased my budget. I can now go as high as $5000 for the diamond. I need to stay under $7500 total for the diamond, setting, shipping and duty in Australia.
- I agree that I should aim for an 0.8 carat diamond (or bigger).
- I'm now considering white gold instead of platinum and putting some of the savings towards a bigger/better diamond.
- I'm no longer set on a channel set ring (I read that people think these are old fashioned and done to death now).

Reading the above it seems like I could be further away from making a purchase than ever...

I was looking at WF earlier today and came across this diamond:
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2772498.htm

It's got the size (just under 0.9 carats, 6.17x6.20mm), I can't see any inclusions and it scores 1.5 (ex ex ex vg) with the HCA tool.

It's an ideal cut (AGS0) so should face up nice n white from what I've read, but I'm still concerned about the color.
I know it's completely subjective and there are a lot of different factors, but do you think an I in white gold will knock my lady off her feet? How does an AGS I compare to a GIA I?

In regards to the setting, I've had some help from my future sister-in-law. She suggested that "chunky" was the way to go.
Staying with WF, I quite like this setting (again, highly subjective):
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/cathedral-channel-set-diamond-engagement-ring-1223.htm

I would love to hear your thoughts and feedback.

Thanks,
Chris
 
I just purchased a ring recently on the same budget ($4000-$5000 for the stone). I ended up settling closer to $4,000 and getting a .85/True Hearts/J/VS1

A couple of stones that were in the final group that I was choosing from:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1458696.asp
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2763632.htm

Here is what my .85 J looks like in an 18k white gold size 7 band:

2012-03-12%2018.08.52.jpg

Maybe I am just not color sensitive, but I have no problem going to a "J" color.

Good luck!
 
brs1804 said:
I just purchased a ring recently on the same budget ($4000-$5000 for the stone). I ended up settling closer to $4,000 and getting a .85/True Hearts/J/VS1

A couple of stones that were in the final group that I was choosing from:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1458696.asp
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2763632.htm

Here is what my .85 J looks like in an 18k white gold size 7 band:

2012-03-12%2018.08.52.jpg

Maybe I am just not color sensitive, but I have no problem going to a "J" color.

Good luck!
Click to expand...


Beautiful ring!!
 
brs1804|1331907562|3149969 said:
I just purchased a ring recently on the same budget ($4000-$5000 for the stone). I ended up settling closer to $4,000 and getting a .85/True Hearts/J/VS1

A couple of stones that were in the final group that I was choosing from:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1458696.asp
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2763632.htm

Here is what my .85 J looks like in an 18k white gold size 7 band:

2012-03-12%2018.08.52.jpg

Maybe I am just not color sensitive, but I have no problem going to a "J" color.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Hi brs1804,
Your ring is stunning! Congrats.
Can I ask if your diamond has an fluorescence?
 
Thank you!

The florescence in this stone is graded as negligible.
 
I understand that ".75" has cachet in some circles, but I have to say, I strongly dislike stones in the .75-.80 range because you go over the massive (55% or more price jump) at .7 and get a lot less weight per dollar.

I got my fiancee a .68 carat stone, and while stones just under .7 are hard to find ('cause cutters want to hit that price jump) I think they're worth looking for - compared to a .75 or .80 you can afford higher color and/or higher clarity and have money left over, while losing as little as a quarter of a mm in diameter.

I honestly haven't seen a stone I consider a better value than the one I got for $2,100 for anything less than $6,000.

Edit: I now see that you've increased your budget...at 5,000 I think the "big as you can" advice is much better than at 4,000.

I like the Whiteflash stone you posted a LOT!!!
 
Glad you got her real ring size :)
 
Hi all,

Time for another update. I have purchased a diamond!

It's the one from in my previous post above:
0.891 carat, VS1, I color, super ideal H&A. Scores 1.5 with the HCA tool.
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2772498.htm

I'm very happy with the size (6.17 x 6.20 x 3.82 mm).

Liza at Whiteflash has been great to deal with and sent me some additional photos:

Glam_edited.jpg

Culet_edited.jpg

Thank you all for your advice and feedback - really appreciate it.

Chris
 
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