need advice on best diamond for my budget

[jjaaww]

I have a budget of around 5,500 for the ring (setting and diamond). What would be the best diamond as far as cut, clarity, and color? Also, should I buy at a retail store or online. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[skphotoimages]

Check out www.goodoldgold.com I thought his site was a little confusing at first, but once you find the diamonds, I don''t think you can go wrong. And I think his prices are great. Look under "diamonds" then most likely "Hearts and Arrows" (if you want round), and then you look for the links on the left side of the page to choose size range, and then to see differnt diamonds. Happy Hunting!

 

[bcshoe]

Personally, buying online scares the heck out of me, because you are buying sight unseen! You should be able to see your diamond and ask lots of questions, and get an idea of the different rarity factors involved, and figure out what your preference is, not what someone says you should buy. Look at a wide variety of diamonds in all rarity facotrs, but always be aware that many diamonds are cut to retain weight, meaning they don''t have the most light return possible due to a lesser cut. Your diamond should "talk" to you. Go to a reputable jeweler who will spend lots of time with you and answer your questions and teach you something new as well! Depending on the cost of your setting, you could easily get a 1ct diamond with certain rarity factors. Good luck!

 

[squarediamondlove]

If that is your budget and you want to get a Hearts and Arrow diamond with great color and clarity diamond - Colorless and in the VS - VVS's, I would suggest going just below 1ct. to say .9-.99ct. It would save you cash an the difference would be hardly noticable if noticable at all.

If you are not as concerned about that you can try going with: try just well cut rounds about H-J color, Si clarity around 1.2 ct -1.5ct

Remember that buying online doesn't mean you are going to get the best price, but buying through a reputable vendor like WF or GOG does mean that you will get a very well or ideal cut stone that you may not get in a store. Here are some budget saving stones:

1.22 F Si
1.3 G Si
1.24 D Si1

 

[Zeppelin]

Whiteflash has a 0.905 A Cut Above diamond for $5100 with the Pricescope discount. http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/diamond_Details.aspx?itemcode=AGS-6640503

It''s an H/VS2 round brilliant. It has ideal symmetry and ideal polish and negligible fluorescence. It also scores "Excellent on the Holloway Cut Adviser (1.5). It has excellent light return, fire, and scintillation. It''s spread is "very good" (you hardly ever see anything higher than this on the HCA).

This is a pretty dang nice diamond if you are looking to maximize cut/clarity/color and spend most of your budget. You could put that in a simple white gold setting and stay under $5500.

Now, if you''re going for size, then it''s a whole different story. You said "best," though, and to me, that implies quality. Size really doesn''t factor in to diamond quality. The other 3 C''s are "quality"...size is just how big it is.

If you just want a big diamond -- there is a 1.66 I/I2 at Jewelry Zone for $4700.

If you are looking for the best diamond you can get over 1 carat (which is common), then you might try this one which is 1.06 and H/VS2. It''s $5385. http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/diamond_Details.aspx?itemcode=8826060

You really just have to figure out your tolerances for the 4 C''s and decide on your priorities.

For instance, I''ve decided that cut is the most important to me. I''ve also decided from this forum that I like Whiteflash. They have nearly an immaculate reputation on here. The only retailer on here that may have a better reputation is GOG.

So, I go to WF and look at their A Cut Above stones b/c they are the "best" cut stones they have. That is my priority. From there, I know my minimums for color and clarity. I want a stone that is at least an I in color and at least a VS2 in clarity. So, then I pull up all of the ACA stones that are I/VS2....then I figure out how much I can afford in that range. There is a big jump in the inventory between 0.75 carats and 1 carat...and the 1 carat stones are probably out of my league financially, so I''m going to probably go with about a 0.75 carat stone that is cut immaculately and has great clarity (VS2 -- anything above that and I personally feel like I''m paying for prestige not actual looks). The color could probably be better, but I''m willing to sacrifice a little of that to get a slightly bigger stone. I is still a pretty nice color. Some people on here think J is a good floor, too, but others will tell you it''s where you can start to notice yellowing. I might even end up with an H, but no higher than an H.

Anyway, that just shows you my thought process of how I found the "best" stone for me. And, I haven''t bought it yet...still saving. Hopefully it''ll still be there when I''m ready to buy it.

 

[Kim N]

If you can find an eye-clean SI1 or SI2, it would help maximize your budget. What color and clarity are you looking for?

Here's a WF Expert Selection G/SI2. If it's eye-clean, it could be a good deal. It's $5353 with the Pricescope discount. It was the largest one I could find under your budget and would still allow you to get the setting and stay under budget.

http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/diamond_Details.aspx?itemcode=GIA-13924082#

Use the "cut quality search" at the top of the page to find more diamonds, and click on the "Price" link twice to sort the price from low to high. ETA: To get a very well-cut diamond, enter Excellent to Excellent for the cut.

 

[jjaaww]

how do you get the pricescope discount?

 

[Kim N]

Date: 12/9/2005 4:43:48 PM
Author: jjaaww
how do you get the pricescope discount?

Just tell Whiteflash you found them on Pricescope and ask what the Pricescope discount is for the particular stone you want to buy. Give them a call once you''ve narrowed down your selection.

 

[Regular Guy]

Jjaaww,

I think Zeppelin and Kim have it right, and Kim's 1.15 is a nice option to consider I didn't catch. If the VS2 is not working for you, this SI1 is another to consider. Kaleidoscope has it somewhat reversed, though, as while prices are pretty reliably low on the web, vendors have access to a wide range of stones on-line, but they, too, frequently won't know how well cut they are and, particularly for EGL stones, won't know well about their other features of color and clarity) until seen by them, and they won't see them until they are called in by them. Notes at the link under my signature may clarify.

 

[squarediamondlove]

Date: 12/9/2005 6:09:21 PM
Author: Regular Guy
Kaleidoscope has it somewhat reversed, though, as while prices are pretty reliably low on the web, vendors have access to a wide range of stones on-line, but they, too, frequently won''t know how well cut they are and, particularly for EGL stones, won''t know well about their other features of color and clarity) until seen by them, and they won''t see them until they are called in by them. Notes at the link under my signature may clarify.

Hi Regular Guy,

Correct me if I am wrong please,
I guess what I meant to say is that once they are called in by a vendor and the vendor now has access to the diamond, they can tell you, the buyer, how good the stone looks. Credible vendors like WF or GOG will try and work with you on finding a very well cut diamond (if you express to them that cut is your priority), providing you with Serin, idealscope images or brilliantscope analysis, where jewelery stores are less enthusiastic.

As far as prices go, I''ve noticed that prices on the web are not always lower than with certain other jewelers I have come across. As a general rule the web is cheaper, but not always. I''m just going off the prices listed, since I am not sure if you can bargain for a better price with vendors?

Again, correct me if I am wrong, since this is just an impression I have formulated.

 

[Regular Guy]

Date: 12/9/2005 6:30:53 PM
Author: Kaleidoscopic


Hi Regular Guy,

Correct me if I am wrong please,
I guess what I meant to say is that once they are called in by a vendor and the vendor now has access to the diamond, they can tell you, the buyer, how good the stone looks. Credible vendors like WF or GOG will try and work with you on finding a very well cut diamond (if you express to them that cut is your priority), providing you with Serin, idealscope images or brilliantscope analysis, where jewelery stores are less enthusiastic.

As far as prices go, I've noticed that prices on the web are not always lower than with certain other jewelers I have come across. As a general rule the web is cheaper, but not always. I'm just going off the prices listed, since I am not sure if you can bargain for a better price with vendors?

Well, I think this is correct, and so I largely agree with your update. I get confused, personally, about EGL. Generally, I think what you see is what you get, and so for prices on the ones you posted earlier...you just have to wonder what you could expect for them. Somewhat recently, options from them have tested out to match the represented color and clarity, so if you're willing to spend the extra time with them (EGL options), there may be values to be had there.

Interesting, too. I've noticed this, just when James Allen, from what I can tell, has stopped even offering EGL options.

Re pricing...I do agree, and although you can reliably get typically good prices on the web, I'm surprised to frequently see competitive pricing from B&Ms, which will work in a local person's favor, when this happens.

 

[gailrmv]

In your budget you should be able to get a great ring! Personally I''d recommend getting the best cut diamond you can and next focus on the size.
I''d get it set in a simple solitaire, which should cost between $300 and $1200 in plat, which is my personal preference for the durability of plat. You could also get a nice soliatire setting for $200 in white gold or gold! That way you have put your $ into getting the best stone you possibly can. Then if you and your fiance desire a fancier setting it could be done later for an anniversary etc.
I''m biased, since this is what I did (upgraded to a nice plat solitaire from wg), and since I love love love solitaires!
Good luck!

 

[just_looking!]

Might be worth braving the shops just to get an idea of how colour sensitive you and your fiancee to be are and whether seeing colour bothers you? Some people can see colour and like the warmth of a J whereas others would be much happier with an E.

It''s also worth noting that well cut rounds mask colour when face up so you need to compare like with like! And just to be confusing some people prefer to have blue fluorescence too (can mask the yellow tint in daylight)!

Also, other types of cut such as radiant, princess, emerald, asscher also show colour to a different extent. Sorry to get you confused!!

This is also true for ''blemishes'' - some cuts mask feathers, crystals etc. more than others and a well cut stone will trick your eyes into seeing flashes rather than focussing on the graders.

We bought my engagement ring completely online but we did a bit of shopping first.