Looking for a Marquis Engagement Ring for my special someone

[sound_fx]

Well, I am fairly new to this search, and did a bunch of reading, but I''m still not sure if I am doing it right. At least I know not to go to Zales.

Anyways, I''m trying to get a Marquis diamond, and I''m trying to get the whole ring for around $2,500.

Maybe I''m too demanding in my search, but from reading up, I think my basic requirements for the diamond are:
Cut: Ideal
Clarity: eye-clean?

I don''t think the color matters too much, as long as it is fairly large and shiny. I was hoping to get around the 1 carat range.

The girlfriend likes the ring designs that I can only seem to find at Zales, or other mall stores, so I was thinking of getting the ring at one of those stores, and then finding someone to set the diamond in it.

I''m awfully new, so I''ll answer as many questions as I can. Thanks for any help! I''m hoping to impress my lady by showing her that you can do better than Zales for cheap.

 

[ethandelacroix]

Hi Sound...

I too was in a search for a marquise diamond for my girlfriend.

Just from my month long search check out the internet sites recommended in this forum like WF, EA, Abazias. I think that you might have a challenge getting a 1 carat with ring for $2500. If you went smaller diamond and went with an I or J coulour and SI2 (eye clean)with a simple ring (no side stones) then it might be possible.

I am in contact with WF and so far so good. I hope to get my custom ring setup within the week. Give Traci a call she has been helpful and patient with me.

Good luck

 

[ethandelacroix]

Hi one last opinion...

Because of the shape of the marquise, even if it''s .8 Ct it looks bigger than a normal round or princess cut diamond.

 

[Lorelei]

Welcome Sound,

I would recommend you work with a vendor who has in house diamonds, or can source some suitable stones for you. Popular vendors include

www.winkjones.com

www.goodoldgold.com

www.whiteflash.com

www.jamesallen.com

www.engagementringsdirect.com

Have a look at their websites and see which you like, then contact them noting what you want and what you want to spend etc. Here is a chart which can be used as a guide only, fancy shapes can be unpredictable by the numbers, and if you get too reliant on them, you could miss out on some stunning diamonds. http://diamonds.pricescope.com/fnc3.asp

Also when choosing, photographs and ASET images of the diamonds are essential, some of the vendors above will be able to provide these for you, so you can get a good idea of what you are buying.

Don't go by vendor applied labels such as Ideal Cut, this is no guarantee of a well cut diamond, take each on it's own appearance and proportions.

Colour and clarity, I would look at F to H colour initially unless you want D or E particularly, and even some SI1 or SI2 clarity can be eyeclean, let your vendor know what your comfort level is concerning 'eyecleanliness' and they will let you know if a particular diamond is a match for you or not.

For the budget, you may not be able to get a GIA graded 1 carat, if you would consider I or J colour grades, this may get you the most carat weight for the budget, also a simple white gold setting would help you get the more diamond for the money.

 

[JulieN]

I think a 1 ct MQ plus the setting will be more than 2500. Probably do-able on the .75 to 1 ct side. On the low end, I think more like 3 to 4000.

 

[sound_fx]

All right! This is the kind of information I needed! I''m not discouraged about not getting 1ct.

I was already thinking that color of I or J looked fine. I looked at one of the threads that showed K colors that looked amazing enough. So, I was thinking that would be acceptable, unless the Marquis shape looks terrible in K.

I may have to stretch my budget a little higher, but I found something like this:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Marquise-Diamond-1139281.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

I will try to request a picture and report, and hopefully it will be nice. I haven''t checked those other sites yet, but I will, and keep posted what I think might be a good deal. Thanks again for so much good help already!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 8/17/2008 9:49:23 AM
Author: sound_fx
All right! This is the kind of information I needed! I''m not discouraged about not getting 1ct.

I was already thinking that color of I or J looked fine. I looked at one of the threads that showed K colors that looked amazing enough. So, I was thinking that would be acceptable, unless the Marquis shape looks terrible in K.

I may have to stretch my budget a little higher, but I found something like this:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Marquise-Diamond-1139281.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

I will try to request a picture and report, and hopefully it will be nice. I haven''t checked those other sites yet, but I will, and keep posted what I think might be a good deal. Thanks again for so much good help already!

You are welcome! Remember pictures of the diamonds are really essential, most vendors will readily send you some on request.

 

[ethandelacroix]

Hi Sound,

Looking at the diamond there are some positives which is it is the size that you want. Researching marquise diamonds ensure that you are happy with the l x w ratio of your diamond. This diamond to me is nice because it has a 1.89x1 ratio which is beautiful. In terms of the other measurements you would have to trust the seller.

The only thing I would look into is the amount of fluorescence that this diamond has. From what I have been reading on this forum if you have a diamond that is a J colour some fluorescence would be good because it makes the diamond look even whiter though it is a J.

Also ask for the actual diamond picture. James Allen is good at that because you are able to see the stone at 9x and 40x. As you said in your first post you have to make sure that it is eye clean (or whatever that means to you.)

If you wanted something different, what I did was went with a smaller diamond and went with a halo/bezel around it which made it look bigger and special.

Use the search button for marquise halo settings. There are threads out there, and I''m sure that all the on line diamond stores have stock settings.

Keep looking and you will find what she will love.

 

[JulieN]

MQ shapes will concentrate color in the tips, so H or more would probably be good, I and J need to be checked. Rounds have better light performance, so they don''t show color as much.

I think this is a nice MQ: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Marquise-Diamond-1180851.asp

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 8/17/2008 6:32:50 PM
Author: JulieN
MQ shapes will concentrate color in the tips, so H or more would probably be good, I and J need to be checked. Rounds have better light performance, so they don''t show color as much.

I think this is a nice MQ: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Marquise-Diamond-1180851.asp

It should be, but from personal experience a GIA H may show a very slight tint in the tip of these type of shapes if you are looking for it, get vendor advice on each diamond.

 

[sound_fx]

Sorry for the long delay in posts, trying to keep it a secret from my girlfriend.

Ok, I decided to go with the one listed from James Allen, and I will be finding a setting locally that is within my price budget.

I requested the GIA report and saw a 40x image of the diamond, and looked nice to me. I''ll be getting it tomorrow, and probably try to get it verified by someone else to see if it is what the paper really says. Does any jeweler does this? I was thinking of going to Robbins Bros. for this (and probably look at settings).

Thanks once again for all the help!

 

[jstarfireb]

I would caution you against the first one you listed from JA, because it appears to have a bowtie effect. I think the one Julie posted was a lot nicer from the picture, even though it''s IGI certed.

 

[JulieN]

Date: 8/21/2008 10:09:43 PM
Author: sound_fx
Sorry for the long delay in posts, trying to keep it a secret from my girlfriend.

Ok, I decided to go with the one listed from James Allen, and I will be finding a setting locally that is within my price budget.

I requested the GIA report and saw a 40x image of the diamond, and looked nice to me. I''ll be getting it tomorrow, and probably try to get it verified by someone else to see if it is what the paper really says. Does any jeweler does this? I was thinking of going to Robbins Bros. for this (and probably look at settings).

Thanks once again for all the help!

There is some difference between these two statements:
1. verified to see if it matches the paper
2. get an opinion on the GIA opinion


To do 1, which is just making sure JA sent you the correct stone, Robbins Bros or whatever is probably ok. Plus, you''ll get to see more stones and have your Internet stone in-hand to compare.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 8/21/2008 10:09:43 PM
Author: sound_fx
Sorry for the long delay in posts, trying to keep it a secret from my girlfriend.

Ok, I decided to go with the one listed from James Allen, and I will be finding a setting locally that is within my price budget.

I requested the GIA report and saw a 40x image of the diamond, and looked nice to me. I''ll be getting it tomorrow, and probably try to get it verified by someone else to see if it is what the paper really says. Does any jeweler does this? I was thinking of going to Robbins Bros. for this (and probably look at settings).

Thanks once again for all the help!

If you want verification, then you can choose an appraiser from this list to make sure you are completely happy with your purchase.

http://www.pricescope.com/appr_list.aspx