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Need help finding an engagement ring

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2_be_engaged

Rough_Rock
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Aug 13, 2008
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I need help finding a good engagement ring. My fiance and I are students still, therefore, our budget is limited. His budget's roughly $3k (CAD).

I'm looking for a round solitaire ring, 18k white gold. Don't want the clarity to be less than very slightly included. I want the diamond to be at least 0.5 carat or higher.


Are there any suggestions for good stores online or stores in Toronto to visit? Unfortunately, we have limited time, as the tentative date for engagement is August 23.

Any help would be appreciated.

Sorry, just to clarify:

Color: H or higher
Clarity: VS2 or higher
Carat: 0.5 or higher
Cut: very good or higher
Diamond type: round
Ring: 18k white gold
Price - up to: $3000 (including stone and ring)
 
Your timing is fine. Also a "store in Toronto" implies higher markups, costlier prices and probably not your best options even if the pricing was remotely competitive.

Just notate on here your shape preference and if you have any ideas on color/clarity. There will be many that will help get you in the right direction.

Marty
CEO/Pres
DBS Diamonds
 
I think you can easily do this within budget! Just a few suggestions right off the bat...cut is the most important factor that determines a diamond's beauty, so look for ideal cut stones. I would also consider SI clarity, which can have the exact same appearance as a VS, VVS, or even IF stone. You just have to find one that's "eye clean" to your standards.

I honestly don't know the exchange rate between American and Canadian dollars. But here's a suggestion I have that's under 3k USD:
0.708 I VS2
"Legato" solitaire

With the 5% PS discount on ACA stones (when you pay by bank wire), this should make it under budget, at least in US dollars. Hope that helps!

ETA: Buying stones of this kind of cut quality online will be less expensive than buying at a store. You can find cheaper stones at a store, but they won't be as well cut, and they won't sparkle as much because of that! I would check out Whiteflash, Good Old Gold, and James Allen for starters; they all have many satisfied customers around here.
 
I don't mind buying online. My preference would be for the pre-made (or whatever) the terminology might be, as it'll be less of a hassle than finding a stone and a ring separately.

My fiance-2-be has suggested the following and is looking for opinions:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4633/

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-VS2-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-936480.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

jstarfireb, I like what you've suggested. I'm assuming the stone and the ring are separate, correct?

Could this be done within a week's time?



I liked something similar in a store, but turned out to be relatively bad quality, so changed my mind:
http://www.diamond.com/AST/Diamond/Diamond_Primary/PRD~P_RDS_022335/P_RDS_022335.jsp#
 
They both look good on the HCA, the JA stone is a little spreadier and won''t qualify as AGS or GIA ideal, so might be cheaper for that. I would ask JA for an idealscope on that one. The GOG is probably fiery-er.

As for the timetable, only the vendor can answer that. It''s awfully short but miracles have ocured in the past.

Good luck!
 
Here''s what I''m thinking...

Diamond:
http://www.bluenile.ca/round-diamond-1-carat-or-less-signature-ideal-cut-h-colour-vvs1-clarity_LD00192483?filter_id=1

Ring:
http://www.bluenile.ca/diamond-engagement-ring-setting-white-gold_4506?filter_id=1


any comments?
 
If you want VVS clarity, the above diamond looks good, classic setting also!
 
Looks like a winner!
The only draw back to BN is that they don't have an upgrade policy. If you went down a little on clarity you could get a larger stone, but .5ct is a nice size!

ETA: This 0.61 has almost the same specs but is VS1 for 2355CAD. This G VS2 is nice too. 2459CAD.
 
I''m a little confused. Should I then consider smaller rock which might be a VVS or a bigger VS rock?

Also, I''m not sure if the ring itself is alright or passes as ''too plain''.
 
The word is "classic", it''s hard to go wrong with a simple solitare. As for the size/clarity decision, don''t get a larger stone if the lower clarity is going to bother you. You won''t be able to see the inclusions in a VVs or VS without a loupe, and many PSer''s don''t like to pay for quality they can''t see.

It''s a personal decision, go with what makes you more comfortable, especially if this a tradition for you.
 
I think another reason the solitaire is a good bet is that the settings are relatively inexpensive so you can let your SO select a new setting if she does feel it is too plain when you get wedding bands (without loosing too much money on the initial setting). Plus, this gives you more time to save for a setting instead of having to spend half your budget now on a sidestone setting.

And, I agree 100% with mercoledi. Solitaires are classic and beautiful!
 
The diamonds you''re considering are very nice, but I would seriously consider going down in clarity. As stonehunter mentioned, you won''t be able to tell the difference between an eye clean SI1 and an IF diamond. I think you''re on the right track looking at G-H color, but also consider I color. It won''t look yellow in an ideal cut stone.

I linked you to the Legato sleek line setting because it''s my favorite, but WF has a less expensive 4-prong setting that stonehunter linked to for $250 USD in 14k white gold. If you would like that setting, I''d suggest this diamond from WF to stay in budget but get the largest ideal cut stone possible:
0.81 H SI1

This is of course still in USD, and I tried to get as close to $3000 as possible including the PS discount, but I don''t know if you need to look higher or lower in USD because of the exchange rate (I know nothing about these things!).
 
Date: 8/16/2008 9:21:52 PM
Author: jstarfireb
The diamonds you''re considering are very nice, but I would seriously consider going down in clarity. As stonehunter mentioned, you won''t be able to tell the difference between an eye clean SI1 and an IF diamond. I think you''re on the right track looking at G-H color, but also consider I color. It won''t look yellow in an ideal cut stone.

I linked you to the Legato sleek line setting because it''s my favorite, but WF has a less expensive 4-prong setting that stonehunter linked to for $250 USD in 14k white gold. If you would like that setting, I''d suggest this diamond from WF to stay in budget but get the largest ideal cut stone possible:
0.81 H SI1

This is of course still in USD, and I tried to get as close to $3000 as possible including the PS discount, but I don''t know if you need to look higher or lower in USD because of the exchange rate (I know nothing about these things!).
Click to expand...
I think the OP wants to stay at VS or higher Jstar and SH, nice selections though!
 
Do you want to stick with 0.5 ct
 
My sister has the 4 prong setting from blue nile and it is really nice, the diamond sits low which I love. She has a 0.67 carat diamond in it and it looks very nice proportion-wise.

This diamond looks nice 0.62 carat from blue nile.
 
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