Find your diamond
Find your jewelry
shape
carat
color
clarity

NEED HELP Choosing the right diamond/ring under $6K

O

Oliveb23

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 24, 2011
Messages
19
I have been shopping for a diamond and can't seem to make up my mind. I have gone into local jewelers to see some diamonds, mostly not so great to so over priced I can't think straight. I am interested in a diamond that pops/shines/catches light most importantly. Her ring is about a size 5, she has a smaller hand, so I have been thinking the 1 - 1.2 range maybe?!?! Most likely a round cut diamond, but have also looked at radiant as well just want to make sure that it will fit her hand size well. A simply ring setting nothing bulky. Also have been shopping Brain Galvin mostly online. basically perusing the site and looking at all the different options and feeling overwhelmed. I want to travel down there if necessary but (I live in Ohio) but for $400 plane ticket I feel with the right help I might be able to do this without going there.

As for the Diamonds I have been searching. I have looked at some of the Blue collections from BG and they seem like the ideal cut and better price then the H&A, but do I need those in order to get that Pop? Would a .7 size look small on a size 5 ring with a simpler setting? Any suggestions from experts is appreciated, I am not looking to spend over $5k on the diamond, but you never know if something is that much better.

As for the setting I am at a loss. I have seen some ideas she likes that are not as formal more modern and sleek, simple. The stone being the main focus of the ring not the thing band with little diamonds all around it.

I am looking to make this purchase within the next 3 months or so. Have prices gone up dramatically within the past year or so? Will they continue to rise?

Thanks a lot for the help and let me know what other details I can provide, but really I am just looking for some recommendations so I don't feel so overwhelmed
 
Here are a few options...
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-104051366016
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=BLAGS-104052029001 /* BGD blue */
in one of these settings...
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5540
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5664


more
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1380096.asp
settings...

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/diamond-solitaire-rings.html
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/18k-White-Gold-Double-Claw-Prong,-Surprise-Diamond-Engagement-Ring.html

Diamond prices took a big jump about a month ago. Hopefully they wont be going up anytime soon. A point 7 will not look small
on a size 5 finger (but small is relaitive).

Does she like bezel set stones (metal going around the diamond)?
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5365 the band on this one is a little to wide but you get the idea
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5437

Edit - Whiteflash has a lot in your price range. If you can up your budget a little you can get closer to a 1 if thats what you
are interested in.
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2650815.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2645959.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2657807.htm /* .80 G */

a little more modern
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5380
http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/jewelry-designers/sholdt-jewelry/rings/21ZZ1/
http://www.dimendscaasi.com/engagement/new/default.asp first picture in second row is nice so is the tension ring at the bottom
 
I am going to throw some options out from WF and BGD both have excellent trade up value if you ever decide to

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2650814.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/rounded-open-cathedral-diamond-engagement-ring-626.htm

Radiants from WF

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut-loose-diamond-373349.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut-loose-diamond-373352.htm

You could go with the same simple setting, or play it up, they have a lot of settings to choose from.


BGD Blue

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=BLAGS-104052029001

setting

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5484

He also has a lot of solitaire settings within budget

There are alot of Quadex diamonds to choose from, it depends on your color preference :twirl:
 
Thank you very much for all your insight and sharing those with me I am going to review and let you know what I think!! Thanks!
 
Wow thanks for the help. The more I look and read I start to feel that selecting a diamond in the H-I Color that is excellent or ideal cut would be the way to go. But will I be compromising much if I select something that is VS1 color I? Should I be sticking with excellent cut and VVS only and in the g-h range? How far can I stray away before I loose the pop I am looking for? I see so many options in those ranges and I tend to lean toward the bigger ring I am a man after all.

0.82 I IF True Hearts AGS
$4,920

0.83 D SI1 True Hearts AGS
$4,240

0.84 I VVS1 Ideal AGS
$4,070

0.92 I VS2 Ideal GIA
$4,680
(from james allen website)

Would I really see a difference in these if someone showed me a ring on their finger? If I was picking one based on those specs I would go with the .92 probably, but thats me being a guy and saying its the biggest in the same price range.

0.806 G VVS2 AGS – Ideal $4,942

0.920 I VS1 GIA – Excellent $4,604

0.900 G VS1 GIA – Excellent $5,293

0.860 G VS1 GIA – Excellent $4,547

0.900 I VVS2 GIA – Very Good $4,754

(All BG Diamonds)


Once again when looking at these and I know there is a lot more specs to really determine the best, but I would say what is the best one for the price? Which one would you look at if someone gave you those options? My pick is probably the .900 VVS2 based on size, but am I compromising the pop/eye catchyness of it again?

Thanks again for all the support and insight I really do appreciate it!!
 
you can't really tell any difference with naked eye with VS2 clarity or above. so I'd stick with VS2 or even SI1 (ask them if it's eye clean) so you can give bigger or higher color diamond. I have a SI1 and I can't see anything through my naked eye.
 
The most important thing to that "pop" you are looking for is the cut. You are safe with pretty much any BGD stone you pick.
You will be safe with any Whiteflash ACA stone and pretty much any of there Expert Selection branded stones. However,
all the James Allen stones have to be evaluated individually. You can use the HCA tool to determine if a stone is worth
further investigation or not. Look for stones that score under 2. (1.2 is not better than 1.9 - just look for under 2)

https://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca

For best bang for your buck you need to look for eye-clean SI1 stones. The vendor can verify this for you. Make sure you
ask them what distance they are using to determine eye-clean. People have different sensitivies to color. Middle of the
range is usually a G but a well cut H/I will also be beautiful. So, I think you should be looking for SI1 H or I colored stone.

color video...
http://www.vimeo.com/3288695

Edit - you could ask them if this one is eye-clean. It would get you over the 1 carat mark.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1247699.asp
Personally, since they are all in the same price range I would go with one of the BGD stones.
 
 
also, place like whiteflash, briangavin, james allen etc all offers pricescope discount.
Briangavin will give 5% wire transfer discount on the diamond and whiteflash and james allen also have discount on the diamond + wire transfer discount
 
Thanks again for all the help. Quick question about certification, I know I really should only be looking at the GIA and AGS certified diamonds, but I was wondering about an IGI certified diamond. I have a local friend of a friend with a IGI diamond 1.02 carat here are the specs:


Description of Article : ONE PLATINUM MOUNTING (RING), WEIGHING IN TOTAL APPROX. 4.75 DWT., STAMPED "PLAT LSC 1.02", CONTAINING ONE NATURAL DIAMOND, DETAILED DESCRIPTION BELOW:
Shape and Cutting Style : SQUARE MODIFIED BRILLIANT CUT*
Measurements : 5.53 x 5.46 x 4.17 MM.
Weight : 1.02 CARATS
Finish
Polish : GOOD
Symmetry : GOOD
Clarity Grade : VS(2)
Color Grade : NEAR COLORLESS(H)
Fluorescence : NONE

They are looking to get some money back from it and I can make a pretty good offer. Is it worth buying if it looks good to me or am I wasting my time? I mean I can go to jewelry store look at it with an untrained eye, if I think it looks ok to my amateur standards then take it to an independent appraiser and see what its worth. Seems like some work for me but if I could get it for under $4K worth it? Would anyone have a rough guess as to what they would possibly pay for this diamond site unseen?
 
Oliveb23|1308149120|2946565 said:
Thanks again for all the help. Quick question about certification, I know I really should only be looking at the GIA and AGS certified diamonds, but I was wondering about an IGI certified diamond. I have a local friend of a friend with a IGI diamond 1.02 carat here are the specs:


Description of Article : ONE PLATINUM MOUNTING (RING), WEIGHING IN TOTAL APPROX. 4.75 DWT., STAMPED "PLAT LSC 1.02", CONTAINING ONE NATURAL DIAMOND, DETAILED DESCRIPTION BELOW:
Shape and Cutting Style : SQUARE MODIFIED BRILLIANT CUT*
Measurements : 5.53 x 5.46 x 4.17 MM.
Weight : 1.02 CARATS
Finish
Polish : GOOD
Symmetry : GOOD
Clarity Grade : VS(2)
Color Grade : NEAR COLORLESS(H)
Fluorescence : NONE

They are looking to get some money back from it and I can make a pretty good offer. Is it worth buying if it looks good to me or am I wasting my time? I mean I can go to jewelry store look at it with an untrained eye, if I think it looks ok to my amateur standards then take it to an independent appraiser and see what its worth. Seems like some work for me but if I could get it for under $4K worth it? Would anyone have a rough guess as to what they would possibly pay for this diamond site unseen?
Click to expand...

I thought she wanted a round diamond?

there is just not enough information about this diamond to tell anything, unfortunately.
 
This stone should be way less than $4k (IMO). IGI color range will be lower than AGS/GIA (same for clarity). I think you are wasting
your time but thats my 2 cents. You are looking for a stone that really pops...this stone may look good to you on inital viewing
but under different lighting conditions it probably wont stand up to the stones we have been pointing out to you. If she wants
a square stone we can show you some princess cut stones that will pop (AGS grades princess cuts). For polish on stones we look
for VG and above...this stone may not have been worth the time for the polisher to do any better? You do know that princess
shape stones face up smaller than rounds of the same carat weight?

Here are some pretty stones...
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-2594763.htm
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8124/
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/7872/
 
Thank you sorry for the confusion, I did not plan on the princess but when i saw it I was impressed. I did not realize that it would look smaller then a round though either. I just thought I would put that out there and see what you all thought, but from the sounds of it I should skip that and keep looking at the ones you suggested. Thanks again for the help, I know I am not giving the best decsription and detail but these are very helpful responses!!
 
Shape: Princess
Carat: 1.320
Color: F
Clarity: SI2
Lab Cut Grade: Excellent
Measurements: 6.05x5.91x4.30
Depth %: 72.60
Table %: 69.00
Pavilion %: 50
Girdle: Medium-Thick
Polish: Ideal
Symmetry: Excellent
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Ratio: 1:1.02

I am looking at this one from BGD now and I can't use the HCA tool because it has no crown # for me to input. Is there any advice someone may have for how to determine the quality of this diamond more?

I keep going back and forth between Princess and Round. It is really up in the air for me at this point, it will most likely come down to best deal for best quality on whichever diamond I can find, but I am open to suggestions on both types.

The other thing for me is getting the setting correct, with these two different types of diamonds I still see a simple setting.

Thanks again and I can't wait to post final pics!
 
Keep in mind that a princess will look smaller than a round of the same weight. I think you could even go down in clarity to an eyeclean SI1 to get more bang for your buck. I personally like I colored stones, but color sensitivity is different for everyone.

*When I refer to clarity/color grades I'm talking about GIA/AGS standards.
 
I would see how your GF feels about princess before you go that way. People either love or hate them. (personally I would NEVER want a princess) If you are going to do this you want to make sure you make her happy :bigsmile: .


Just my 2 cents
 
HCA is only for round stones. I didnt see this one at Brian Gavins. Princess cut stones cant really be evaluated by the numbers.
You really need pictures/asets/ideal scopes to tell whether they are decent stones or not. If you can give me a link to the
stone or post the images we can take a look.

Edit - changed BN to Brian Gaving (doh). I wouldnt think a 1.32 would be in a $6k budget. Would love to see it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Jewelry Blog
PriceScope-Concierge-Ad
Find prime cuts.
Top