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Looking for an E-Ring for my sister

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Branson

Rough_Rock
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Apr 16, 2007
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Hello!

My sister has asked me to help her find a beautiful engagement ring as she doesn''t have a lot of time to find one. I used to have a lot of time, but my baby can decide to come into this world anytime now, and I''m afraid that I can''t find a beautiful e-ring for her in time for the ceremony, which will be held on July 4th this year. She trusts me completely, which scares and honors me at the same time. I''ve read some info here and there, but I still feel so very much ignorant in the world of diamonds. It takes years of dedication and education, right? I need your help so very much!!!! Thanks for reading this far! :-)

Her budget is about 12K - 13K.
She wants to have a beautifully cut stone with a nice carat weight around 1.6c - 2c, a lovely color (not the fancy kind) between E and G, a good clarity grade either VS2 or SI1. She wants to purchase the setting from the same vendor. She hopes that this vendor is trustworthy, has a good reputation, and has a good policy...

I''ve been looking at so many stones and settings for the past few months, and now my eyes are horribly tired. I hope that you could help me find some nice stones for her to pick from. Your help will be greatly appreciated!

Thankssssssssss!!!!
 
interesting dynamic (why are you looking?)...
and challenging budget, with respect to the defined specs ($17K would help the job a lot as a start, but...)

you could ask WF to help you look at this one, and start from there...

eta...and OK, here's one more from Union Diamond you'd need to ask them about (both these you'll want to see, for example, if they earn either AGS0...or have other positively reedeming qualities)...

Regards,
 
Date: 5/25/2007 4:19:19 PM
Author: Chrono
I take it the budget includes the setting? Just a plain 4 or 6 prong WG setting?

How about this from JA?
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131&item=1020350
This options's interesting. I find HCA chokes on it (am I entering it right?) suggesting the girdle is too thin...but GIA says it is a medium girdle. Also, not sure if the IS helps it...but it's interesting.

All three of these options from Chrono and me have big blue flor. As an alternative, to meet your specs, the Price Stats option is where I'd go next...probably to EGL options, though possibly GIA.
 
OK, one more, looking very good, though more blue (this time medium), from BN, 1.69 G SI 1, $12,865.
 
What kind of setting she''s looking for is vital information. Do you have any ideas in mind. Just post ones you''ve liked. We''ll see if we can find something that is similar, if we can''t find the exact setting she wants.

Does the budget include setting?
 
I''m either blind or you didn''t mention which cut you''re looking for! I''m guessing you''re looking at round brilliants...?

This one is H/VS2, just under 1.6, and just over budget with the bank wire price ($13130.75):
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/2349/

These two are similar in size and price to the one above, but F/VS2:
http://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/Round-Ideal-Cut-cut-diamond-283322.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/Round-Ideal-Cut-cut-diamond-231888.htm

This one''s 1.5/F/S11, a bit under budget to save money for the setting:
http://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/Round-Ideal-Cut-cut-diamond-231887.htm#
 
You can find a nice oval around the weight, color and clarity you want for under 12K which would still leave you with 1000 or more for the setting. Oval Marquise and Pears are your best bet for size and budget. Rounds are expensive-- so you might have to sacrife something... princesses, emeralds, radiants aren't spready.

http://www.jamesallen.com/search_results.asp?pageSize=&currect_page=2&page_num=0&cid=131&tab=&pid=&sortfield=&sortway=&catfilter=&sbmt=1&y=17&shape=OV&color=%27E%27%2C+%27F%27%2C+%27G%27%2C+%27H%27&carat_from=1.4&totabledepth=64&x=87&carat_to=1.7&totablesize=61&clarity=%27VS2%27%2C+%27SI1%27&fromtabledepth=58&fromtablesize=53&price=
 
It''s true that for this kind of expense, you could do well to give consideration to which kind of setting, absolutely.

Alternately, wrap up the BN option above with this simple solitaire ring from them for $13,165 out the door.

If possible, check out the others first, though.

Regards,
 
Hi!

I feel so terribly sorry for not writing everything more clearly. Please don''t be mad at me.

The 12K-13K budget is for the big stone only. She has a budget of about $1,500 for the platinum setting. She likes the rings with sidestones. I found this one at Whiteflash http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Diamond-Settings/Platinum-Cathedral-Pave-Ring_929.htm# . What do you think of this setting? I took her to the best B&M in the area to look at several stones and some of which have med to strong blue fluorescence. I found the blue flo very intersting, but my sister didn''t seem to be really into them. So, she has requested a diamond without flo. Oh, I almost forgot that she would like her stone to be round brilliant.

I will show her your findings. Thanks a bunch!!!!

Regular Guy: interesting dynamic (why are you looking?)...
You''ve probably been wondering why her boyfriend is not the one looking for the e-ring? I guess my sister and her boyfriend had a discussion and they decided to ask to me to help them.

Will be back soon. I will post some of the findings that I found for her to ask for your opinions on those specs and prices.
 
Date: 5/29/2007 5:55:09 PM
Author: Branson
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131&item=860731


http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-231902.htm I like this one a lot, but this one seems to have a lot of bad inclusions.


http://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/Round-Ideal-Cut-cut-diamond-283322.htm


http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131&item=875855


These are over her current budget. But what do you think of these? Which one would you choose?

No offense, but if these options are over her budget, isn''t it a mute point which we would choose?
 
No offense taken.

I was thinking that I could add some $ to her budget as a wedding gift. But, I''ve just talked to my sister, and she doesn''t want me to do that. So, I''ll have to stick to her budget.
 
Date: 5/29/2007 6:20:08 PM
Author: Branson
No offense taken.


I was thinking that I could add some $ to her budget as a wedding gift. But, I''ve just talked to my sister, and she doesn''t want me to do that. So, I''ll have to stick to her budget.


Ahhh that makes more sense. Nice thought on your part, but I agree that it''d be a little too much like my brother buying my ering!
 
Date: 5/29/2007 5:14:05 PM
Author: Branson
So, she has requested a diamond without flo....
...so...that's how it has to be.

As suggested above...this one found on the Price Stats list....($11,438 based on Pricescope discount). You'd definitely want WF to call it in and check it out for you as a first step.

...edited to add...with that one just below budget...here's one just above, at $14,195 and 1.71 E VS2...

there's more here. Poke around. Sort by price, to optimize.

Regards,
 
Date: 5/29/2007 6:28:13 PM
Author: neatfreak

Date: 5/29/2007 6:20:08 PM
Author: Branson
No offense taken.


I was thinking that I could add some $ to her budget as a wedding gift. But, I''ve just talked to my sister, and she doesn''t want me to do that. So, I''ll have to stick to her budget.


Ahhh that makes more sense. Nice thought on your part, but I agree that it''d be a little too much like my brother buying my ering!
That''s so thoughtful of you, but I think neatfreak is probably right. It might come off a little odd. WF has some other lovely things she could wear to the wedding though. The WF diamond bangle is gorgeous and there are some pretty pendants as well. I think this would be appropriate for a gift from a brother.
 
adding on...

$12,669 wire price for F SI 1 GIA

$12,808, wire price for G SI 1 GIA 1.7 carats



....and note...all 4 of the above were pulled from the segment of the charts labeled A1A, from Dave's charts, designed to help identify those among the very best cut diamonds.
 
Thanks!!! :-)

I''ve just emailed whiteflash to get more info on those stones. Hope they''ll reply soon.

About the $ and gift thing:

:-) I''ll just get something else for her then or maybe just leave it in the red envelope so she and her future husband can do whatever they want to do with it.

I''m sorry if I''ve misled some of you with the name Branson. It''s a name of a very beautiful town that I like very much. I''m a female.
1.gif
 
Hi! I''ve received info from both JamesAllen and Whiteflash.

Here are the two stones I''m considering. I''d like to know what you think of these and which one you would choose. Thanks!

#1 http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?find=1&cid=130&item=860731

Sarin Report:
1.5 ct
Diameter: ~ 7.49 mm
Crown Angle: 32.8
Pav Angle: 40.3
Culet: 0%
Table: 54.5%
Depth: 59.5%
Girdle: 0.9 - 1.8% Thin to Med
Star/Upper: 59.1:40.9%
Proportion: Excellent

#2 http://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/Round-Ideal-Cut-cut-diamond-231888.htm

Sarin Report:
1.55 ct
Diameter: ~7.34
Crown Angle: 35.1
Pav Angle: 40.8
Culet: 0.02 mm
Table: 57.4%
Depth: 62.6%
Girdle: 1.8 - 3.0% Sl Thick to Thick
Star/Upper: 59:41

Please let me know what you think.
 
JA costs less and has better spread. Do you have an Aset or Ideal Scope for it?
 
Hi Gypsy! I had to rezise the image in order to attach it to this post.

Here it is.

Jamesallen 860731 IS 5000817id smaller size.jpg
 
That's sized down, huh? LOL. Okay so, the WF looks better to me from the Ideal Scope. But whether or not it looks a thousand dollars better... I don't know.

Maybe someone else will chime in.
 
Date: 5/30/2007 3:57:39 PM
Author: Branson
Hi Gypsy! I had to rezise the image in order to attach it to this post.

Here it is.
too shallow
 
Date: 5/30/2007 4:12:41 PM
Author: JulieN

Date: 5/30/2007 3:57:39 PM
Author: Branson
Hi Gypsy! I had to rezise the image in order to attach it to this post.

Here it is.
too shallow
I agree, I''m not loving the crown angle on the JA stone and the ideal scope image confirms that it''s shallow. The WF stone is a tad deep on the other hand and is facing up about .1mm smaller than it should. It''s probably a better performer than the JA stone though and if those two were your only options, I''d pick that one.

Actually though, I think I''d just drop down in color a grade or two and keep looking for a better stone.
 
The IS image that Jim sent me doesn''t look as clear as the one from Whiteflash. One more thing, Jim said that the inclusions are not visible from the top, but they are very easily seen from the sides, which makes me a little nervous. The thousand difference seems to be a lot, too.
 
Date: 5/30/2007 4:46:35 PM
Author: Branson
The IS image that Jim sent me doesn''t look as clear as the one from Whiteflash. One more thing, Jim said that the inclusions are not visible from the top, but they are very easily seen from the sides, which makes me a little nervous. The thousand difference seems to be a lot, too.

I personally would go with the WF in a heartbeat. I don''t think the JA will have the nice contrast the WF will.
 
Thanks!

I thought G and SI would look nice, too, but my sister is still leaning towards the F color and VS2.

I''ve just talked to her about these two stones and she said that she would think about them tonight. Thanks, guys, for all of the input!!! Have really helped me a lot!!!
 
Date: 5/30/2007 4:52:21 PM
Author: Branson
Thanks!


I thought G and SI would look nice, too, but my sister is still leaning towards the F color and VS2.


I''ve just talked to her about these two stones and she said that she would think about them tonight. Thanks, guys, for all of the input!!! Have really helped me a lot!!!

To be honest, if she''s not in a hurry, I would wait for a better G SI1 from WF. G''s are so white she would never know the difference and an SI1 will save her a bit of $ and put her closer to her original budget.
 
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