Need Help Buying Round Diamond/Engagement Ring

[wsuparsley28]

Hi,

This is my first time buying a diamond, and have been looking through the forums for quite some time. Now that I have enough money saved up, I figured now was the time to get serious and pick out a diamond. I was wondering if I could get some help with picking out a round diamond for an engagement ring. i was looking to spend anywhere from 5-6000, although I may go a little higher if the right diamond were to arise. I was hoping to get an SI1 or better, H color, .75-1 ct, and am looking for more quality rather than size. I guess I was hoping to get something in the .9 ct range, as my hopes were that this would free my budget up more for the setting.

Here are two diamonds I was possibly looking at although they are slightly above the budget. If I were to go with something like these, I would probably just get a very simple solitaire setting.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.027-h-vs2-round-diamond-ags-bl-104061006007

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/10259/#script

As far as the setting, I was going to go for something like this:

http://www.kay.com/en/kaystore/engagement---wedding/diamond-engagement-ring-1-1-3-ct-tw-round-cut-14k-white-gold-990657001--1/100006/100006.100008.100015

This is ultimately the ring I wanted. But my plan was to buy a loose diamond and maybe purchase the setting from Kays since I have yet to see a truely nice Leo stone. I'd get this setting if I could get a diamond for around 5,000. If not, I'd like to find something similar to it. Again, any help or recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[wsuparsley28]

Here are a couple more diamonds I was considering:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/10399/

http://www.ebay.com/itm/200868771376?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Thought I'm a little skeptical about the one on ebay, I put the parameters on the HCA tool and it said it was a 1.2. Again, any comments would be appreciated.

 

[WillyDiamond]

If you buy from BGD I don't see why they cannot supply a simple solataire setting for you and give you one stop shopping. I personally would not buy from BGD and bring it to Kays. I think that is apples and oranges in terms of quality. Perhaps others can show you a setting at BGD or other PS vendors. Call Lesley at BGD and she will help you. Good luck.
PS. Stay away from ebay

 

[wsuparsley28]

Really the main reason I was going to buy a setting from a place like Kay is because my girlfriend doesn't like the idea of buying a ring online; or rather, she wants to be able to tell people that I got it from an actual place vs I bought it on line. I thought there diamonds were not only poor quality, but they were way over price. Any recommendations on diamond?

 

[JulieN]

Well I would probably get the cheaper I SI1 that GOG has so you can get the setting, too, instead of a solitaire, if that's what she wants.

Any vendor will be able to make or get that setting. Maybe A Jaffe (designer) has one like that...

eta: i looked, Jaffe doesn't. You don't think that setting will look a bit thick, especially after you add a wedding band?

 

[wsuparsley28]

I honestly didn't even think about that. I just thought it look like it was something simple and I liked the design. But that probably would be quite a bit when adding on a wedding band...

I suppose I could just get a solitaire and overtime may be get a new setting. Does anyone else have any recommendations on diamonds and/or settings?

 

[JulieN]

I like the GOG SI1 if you want a carat and still have enough for a pave setting. Anything from BGD Signature or Blue is going to be awesome.

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.02-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-152587
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.01-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-195554

 

[Dancing Fire]

Here are a couple more diamonds I was considering:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/10399/

that is a beautiful stone...

 

[wsuparsley28]

I like the GOG SI1 if you want a carat and still have enough for a pave setting. Anything from BGD Signature or Blue is going to be awesome.

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.02-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-152587
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.01-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-195554

Would these two be better than the diamonds I was looking at originally?

 

[Christina...]

I like the GOG SI1 if you want a carat and still have enough for a pave setting. Anything from BGD Signature or Blue is going to be awesome.

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.02-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-152587
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.01-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-195554

Would these two be better than the diamonds I was looking at originally?

They are nice stones, but I don't think that they are 'better'. I really like the GOG I SI1

 

[wsuparsley28]

Here are two more diamonds that I would like to get opinions on. I'm not sure if I'm going to give her a 1 ct diamond in a solitaire setting or a .9 ct and a setting with some side diamonds.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9656/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9812/

 

[JulieN]

Would these two be better than the diamonds I was looking at originally?

They are cheaper. Hopefully just as nice, have to be checked if eye-clean and get an Ideal Scope picture.

 

[04diamond<3]

I like the GOG SI1 if you want a carat and still have enough for a pave setting. Anything from BGD Signature or Blue is going to be awesome.

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.02-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-152587
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.01-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-195554

Would these two be better than the diamonds I was looking at originally?

I'd ask for idealscopes on these two after putting them on hold. Most of the ones you found from GOG have just too much leakage in the center.

 

[wsuparsley28]

I have placed the diamonds on hold and am waiting on the information. In the mean time, does anyone have an recommendations on what I can do for a setting? I looked at James Allen's settings and I do not really care for any of them. Is there somewhere I should order from and have a local jeweler set it? Or just take the loose diamond somewhere and buy the setting?

 

[JulieN]

post a picture of a setting you like.

 

[SMC]

I have placed the diamonds on hold and am waiting on the information. In the mean time, does anyone have an recommendations on what I can do for a setting? I looked at James Allen's settings and I do not really care for any of them. Is there somewhere I should order from and have a local jeweler set it? Or just take the loose diamond somewhere and buy the setting?

I looked at the Kay's setting you posted and it looks a bit like the James Allen setting I ordered:
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/engagement-rings/pave/14k-white-gold-single-twist-pave-shank-contemporary-solitaire-item-6859

Here's a real-life picture of the setting:


I ended up returning the setting because I find pave scratchy (my fingers are really close together I guess). I'm just suggesting it because it's often easier to get the stone and setting from the same place. I completely understand if that setting is not your cup of tea though.

 

[SMC]

I have placed the diamonds on hold and am waiting on the information. In the mean time, does anyone have an recommendations on what I can do for a setting? I looked at James Allen's settings and I do not really care for any of them. Is there somewhere I should order from and have a local jeweler set it? Or just take the loose diamond somewhere and buy the setting?

I looked at the Kay's setting you posted and it looks a bit like the James Allen setting I ordered:
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/engagement-rings/pave/14k-white-gold-single-twist-pave-shank-contemporary-solitaire-item-6859

Here's a real-life picture of the setting:


I ended up returning the setting because I find pave scratchy (my fingers are really close together I guess). I'm just suggesting it because it's often easier to get the stone and setting from the same place. I completely understand if that setting is not your cup of tea though.

So - there are plenty of recommended vendors on PS for settings too. It depends on how much you're willing to spend. Pearlman's has a large selection of settings that you can look at online from a variety of different designers. You just ship them your stone and they'll set it for you. They also provide insurance on the stone during setting.

 

[wsuparsley28]

Here are the two Idealscopes. Here are their comments:

"The gemologist has given us some great feedback; they've informed me that both of your diamonds are very bright and offer great fire, brilliance, and scintillation. Both of them are completely eye clean, possess a true "I" color, and have gorgeous cuts. You cannot go wrong with either option and they both come highly recommended"

 

[JulieN]

Yep, gorgeous Ideal Scopes, both of them.

 

[04diamond<3]

I agree, they both look great! You could really toss a coin since everything is identical!

 

[SMC]

Wow, how nice! Pick the cheaper one? Remember to ask for the Pricescope discount.