Need engagement ring advice - please help

[scottydtnip]

I''m looking to get engaged within the year. I''ve found the perfect woman, now I need the perfect ring!! I have no idea where to start. I''ve never been into jewelry much, so I''m not sure where to look. I''ve searched online, but I haven''t found anything that has what she wants.

I''ve managed to get this information out of her. She wants:

Round cut diamond, .5 to 1 carat. Antique style setting with side stones. White gold.

Can anyone please tell me where to look to find something like this? I''ve found places that have some of her desires, but not all. Any help is MUCH appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[marcy]

Welcome to Pricescope. Congratulations on finding the perfect woman. I guess the first question everyone will want to know - what is your budget? After we know that we can make suggestions for the diamond and the ring.

 

[scottydtnip]

Wow.. thanks for the quick reply.

My budget is under $3000.

 

[chrono]

The best thing to do is to buy the center diamond separately, then get the setting with the side diamonds. To get the best out of your budget, I''d get a 0.6 ct to 0.7 ct I/J SI1 eye clean centerstone; that would run you close to around $1K to $1.5K. That should leave you another $1.5K for the side diamonds and setting. You shouldn''t have any problems getting the sidestones and setting because those are easy and common enough to find.

PS
I''m going to ask Andrei/Ali to move this to RT where you''ll get more responses.

 

[scottydtnip]

Thanks for the help...

Any suggestions where to go for these?

I live in Chicago if that''s any help.

 

[marcy]

Here are some quick suggestions:

With the size of diamond you are getting I would maybe spend about $2K on the diamond and the rest on the ring but that''s just me. As many will tell you here, cut is king so get the best cut diamond, then highest color eye clean diamond you can afford.

If this is eye clean it would be a good deal and a beautiful diamond
http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-912943.htm#

This one would be really nice and has a higher clarity
http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-1-carat-or-less-very-good-cut-h-color-vs2-clarity_LD00911169#grading_report

This ring is under $1000 so you could get more diamond
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-wedding-ring-white-gold_5410?metal_filter=white&setting_filter=sidestone&sort_select=LTHP&show_all_pages=1&filter_id=1&set_shape=

This ring is a little over $1100
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-engagement-ring-setting-white-gold_6708?metal_filter=white&setting_filter=sidestone&sort_select=LTHP&show_all_pages=1&filter_id=1&set_shape=

This ring is about $1500
http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Diamond-Settings/The--Imperial--Engagment-Ring_1107.htm