I have been shopping for engagement ring for my girlfriend online and in person at retailers and wholesalers for several months. But I can't decide which diamond and setting to get. My budget is between $10-15K for the whole ring. I'd appreciate some help.
Since my girlfriend plans to wear the engagement daily, she does not want a large diamond that will get too much attention. So, we are thinking about getting a round brilliance diamond around 1 to 1.2 carat, G color, VS1, and ideal cut. We can open to get H color or VS2 to get better value for our money. But we have not found diamond with the combination we like yet. My current plan is to get a signature cut diamond from Blue Nile. The problem I have in picking the diamond is that the HCA score based on the GIA and GCAL reports are different since the measurements are slightly different. For example, for the diamond below, the HCA score based on the GIA report is 2.4 and the HCA score based on the GCAL report is 1.6.
http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-own-diamond-ring?&pid=LD02210209&builder=BYOR&forceStep=DIAMONDS_STEP#DIAMONDS_STEP|LD02210209
I understand the HCA score is sensitive to a slight change in measurements. I have seen other diamonds with a much different HCA scores based on the GIA report vs GCAL report. Sometimes, the HCA score based on te GIA is better; sometimes it is not. Should I use the GCAL measurements instead of the GIA measurements since the GCAL measurements do not seem to get rounded off in general?
For setting, she likes the authentic Tiffany 6-prong setting. But we have decided not to get the ring from Tiffany since they are overpriced. The closest we can find is the Blue Nile Petite Nouveau Solitaire Engagement Ring:
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-engagement-ring-setting-platinum_19009
Will the diamond sit too high so that it will protrude too much with this setting? My girlfriend has slim and long finger, will the 1.85mm ring width look too thin with a 1-carat diamond?
Thanks for your help.
Since my girlfriend plans to wear the engagement daily, she does not want a large diamond that will get too much attention. So, we are thinking about getting a round brilliance diamond around 1 to 1.2 carat, G color, VS1, and ideal cut. We can open to get H color or VS2 to get better value for our money. But we have not found diamond with the combination we like yet. My current plan is to get a signature cut diamond from Blue Nile. The problem I have in picking the diamond is that the HCA score based on the GIA and GCAL reports are different since the measurements are slightly different. For example, for the diamond below, the HCA score based on the GIA report is 2.4 and the HCA score based on the GCAL report is 1.6.
http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-own-diamond-ring?&pid=LD02210209&builder=BYOR&forceStep=DIAMONDS_STEP#DIAMONDS_STEP|LD02210209
I understand the HCA score is sensitive to a slight change in measurements. I have seen other diamonds with a much different HCA scores based on the GIA report vs GCAL report. Sometimes, the HCA score based on te GIA is better; sometimes it is not. Should I use the GCAL measurements instead of the GIA measurements since the GCAL measurements do not seem to get rounded off in general?
For setting, she likes the authentic Tiffany 6-prong setting. But we have decided not to get the ring from Tiffany since they are overpriced. The closest we can find is the Blue Nile Petite Nouveau Solitaire Engagement Ring:
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-engagement-ring-setting-platinum_19009
Will the diamond sit too high so that it will protrude too much with this setting? My girlfriend has slim and long finger, will the 1.85mm ring width look too thin with a 1-carat diamond?
Thanks for your help.
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