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Looking for a great ring on a small budget.

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Saxdrc

Rough_Rock
Joined
Mar 25, 2015
Messages
7
Hello,

I'm new here...I hope I am posting this in the right place...

I have been researching and looking at diamonds for about 6 months now. I plan on proposing in early June, so I need to make a decision soonish.

My budget is about $1,200 total; for the setting and the diamond. I've been planning like $400 for setting and $800 for the diamond.
I really like this setting
http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-own-ring/surprise-diamond-solitaire-engagement-ring-14k-gold_33368?elem=img&track=product


For the diamond I want a round diamond with the best cut possible, eye clean, colorless or near colorless, and at least 1/3 carat. This is one that I like.
http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-own-ring/diamonds?stockno=LD05061566

Here are my questions:

1) how big is the difference between an ideal cut diamond and the blue nile "signature ideal," white flash "hearts and arrows," ritani "reserve ideal" etc...?
2) she has a size 6 finger. Is 1/3rd carat too small? If so what should I sacrifice to get a bigger stone?
3) I have been looking on blue nile, white flash, ritani, idjewelry, and James Allen. I like the setting on blue nile, but reallllllly wish I could see the diamonds so I could pick out an eye clean SI1 or SI2. What should I do?
 
OK, so... First try and get this discount. The extra 100 is a lot for your budget, so email yourself this somehow.
http://www.bluenile.com/inside-blue-nile/refer-a-friend

Secondly, in your budget size is going to be the most important part. I really do not to no you need to pay for a hearts and arrows stone. .3 CTS is small. If you just go for an ideally proportioned GIA XXX, you can get close to 5mm, which is respectable.

Also, at the size you're looking at, an I and even j will appear white.

Let me look on the website see what we can find n
 
There is absolutely nothing wrong with a smaller diamond, and you're off to a great start in your search. Do you think she may want to upgrade in the future? It may be worth going with smaller diamond but through a vendor with a nice upgrade policy if you think this might be something she wants later on.
 
I like the first one pfunk posted.
 
Any chance she might love a vintage ring? That is a total individual preference but I thought I would ask because you would likely get a bigger stone if that was important. Something like this is over budget but you could offer less: http://www.rubylane.com/item/1258335-obring001/Estate-1905-1915-Antique-Traub-Orange.. It is lovely but again vintage is not for everyone and you would need to be confident she would be happy. Traub rings are classic.
 
Thanks for the answers!

I'm not sure if we will upgrade in the future. She uses her hands/wears gloves a lot and wants a smaller ring. But, just in case, what online vendors have the bet policies for upgrading?

How detectable is the color in I/j diamonds? I went to a jewely store in the mall just to look and the J color she showed me looked pretty yellow, but it was big compared to what I'm looking at.

Should I avoid buying an si1 from blue nile since I can't see it before I buy it?

I don't really like the idea of a vintage ring.
 
Saxdrc|1427367648|3852593 said:
Thanks for the answers!

I'm not sure if we will upgrade in the future. She uses her hands/wears gloves a lot and wants a smaller ring. But, just in case, what online vendors have the bet policies for upgrading?

How detectable is the color in I/j diamonds? I went to a jewely store in the mall just to look and the J color she showed me looked pretty yellow, but it was big compared to what I'm looking at.

Should I avoid buying an si1 from blue nile since I can't see it before I buy it?

I don't really like the idea of a vintage ring.
Click to expand...

The j at the jewelry store, was it gia graded or did yo go to like a Zalss or Jared's
 
Niel|1427371719|3852604 said:
The j at the jewelry store, was it gia graded or did yo go to like a Zalss or Jared's
Click to expand...

It was one of those chain stores. I think kay? I don't know if it was GIA certified. So the store might call it a J color, but GIA would grade it lower?
 
Correct; in stores like Zales, Kay and the like, if the diamond is doesn't come with a GIA report, their store grading of a J coloured diamond is more likely to end up as a GIA M to P colouration. Therefore, you are probably all right with a true GIA J.
 
At that type of size, I'd prefer to put the money into a larger diamond or a setting to really display the diamond. When we got engaged the budget we spent around $1,500 USD and I ended up with a vintage 0.47 carat with tapered baguettes. I concentrated way too much on the colour and clarity - things I can't see but the salespeople told me mattered, and not enough on what I can actually see, the size of the diamond and style of the setting. I forget what colour and clarity my diamond is and thought I noticed it was "yellow" when I first got it, but I was looking at it on white printer paper :roll:

A 1/3 carat diamond isn't small and there's nothing wrong with that size but when you don't have a huge budget to play with I'd suggest taking time to really think about what you both want from the ring, not just want the salespeople tell you. I tried on a 1/3 carat recently (a friend got engaged!) and it was in the most beautiful setting! It was much smaller than my ring but nicer, the setting made it look amazing!!
 
Rhea|1427376366|3852633 said:
At that type of size, I'd prefer to put the money into a larger diamond or a setting to really display the diamond. When we got engaged the budget we spent around $1,500 USD and I ended up with a vintage 0.47 carat with tapered baguettes. I concentrated way too much on the colour and clarity - things I can't see but the salespeople told me mattered, and not enough on what I can actually see, the size of the diamond and style of the setting. I forget what colour and clarity my diamond is and thought I noticed it was "yellow" when I first got it, but I was looking at it on white printer paper :roll:

A 1/3 carat diamond isn't small and there's nothing wrong with that size but when you don't have a huge budget to play with I'd suggest taking time to really think about what you both want from the ring, not just want the salespeople tell you. I tried on a 1/3 carat recently (a friend got engaged!) and it was in the most beautiful setting! It was much smaller than my ring but nicer, the setting made it look amazing!!
Click to expand...

I'll fully agree there ia nothing wrong with a 1/3 ct diamond. But I contend it is small. Nothing wrong with small, either, but the difference in size from 1/3 to 1/2 is very noticeable, where a jump down in color a bit is less so
 
Op, This might help, on the left is .5 CTS, the right .3 CTS finger size 6

uploadfromtaptalk1427380281552.jpg
 
Small diamonds can be very beautiful! I was just playing around with one this morning that is destined for a bracelet. It is an ideal cut (CBI) 0.26c G SI2- shown here with a size 5.5 finger for scale.

2015-03-26_09.jpg

It is only 4.16mm, but it is cut so well that I can see the arrows with my naked eye in strong lighting and it has edge to edge sparkle which maximizes the size that it does have. So cut is one area that I wouldn't compromise, especially in a small size.

Clarity I would compromise on. This guy is an SI2, but there is no way I can pick out the inclusions with my naked eye at this size, especially with the wonderful cut giving so much light return. But if I was going down in clarity it would be important to me to shop somewhere where I could get photos/videos of the diamond and an expert's hands-on opinion of its eye cleanliness and durability- which means Blue Nile wouldn't work for me.

Colour might be another good area to compromise, depending on your personal tastes, and I think shopping somewhere with a great upgrade policy would be future friendly.

I really like Rhea's advice about taking time to think about what you both want from the ring. What will make it special for her? Setting does really matter with smaller diamonds; things like blobby prongs and clunky metalwork can overwhelm them, but the right setting can be incredible.
 
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.46-carat-f-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-477441

More diamond size now, worry about the elaborate setting later. GIA Triple Ex, F color, a little pepper but nothing too egregious, decent HCA score of 1.5

I think you can get a super simple solitaire ring from $180: http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/14k-white-gold-2mm-knife-edge-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-7115

Use a discount or promo code (or Pricescope discount) and you might get to $1200, or slightly over.

You definitely want to see pictures of your diamond before buying.
 
Honestly you might want to contact ID Jewelry in NY. They do online and have a storefront on 47th St. Many PSers have been very happy with them. They are also well known for working on a budget. You might even want to go the route of a non certed stone from a trusted vendor such as ID. Basically you save the money of having it certed which could be helpful with your budget. That's what I would do.
 
Although they have a site I wouldn't use it for these purposes. Call them and let them know you're from pricescope. Tell them what you're looking for and see what they can come up with. Anything you get from them have reviewed here before you purchase. You're still fine with a lower color, H or I GIA standards will be very white, and eye clean. That may be an SI1 or SI2 but as long as it's eye clean it'll get your more size for the budget.

Usually all you need for insurance is a receipt. Honestly though it might not be worth insurance premiums on a $1200 ring. I personally don't insure items under 2k in value. That's up to you though. Many here use jewelers mutual.
 
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