Find your diamond
Find your jewelry
shape
carat
color
clarity

Need help getting an engagement ring!

V

VBE

Rough_Rock
Joined
Feb 2, 2015
Messages
42
Never shopped for this before and really not sure what I want to spend or what I am doing at all. No idea about what size to get, all I want is best bang for the buck and none of the tiny diamond stuff to make it look bigger. Probably something like 1 carat maybe..Thanks
 
Hey VBE,

Go up to the Knowledge tab at the top of the page and read through the guides - that will help you make a decision on what you would like.

The go to the Resources tab and look under the Diamonds Search link. You can play with the different characteristics and budget, which will help you understand what you can buy for your budget and how the trade-offs between characteristics interact.
 
Should I buy online or go to a dealer?
 
Online.

If you're looking for a 1 carat round brilliant diamond in a solitaire setting, the folks on here can really help suggest some stones/vendors.

You have to start with a budget though.
 
Lets say I want to spend 5-7k on the ring?
 
A 1ct round is only around 6.5mm in diameter which is quite small. Seems like you're opposed to a Halo design to help it look bigger. A 1ct center with halo could look like a 2-2.5ct.

But you really need to have certain things in mind. Do you want 14, 18k , platinum or something else? What type of setting? If you're buying this for your fiance then she probably has something in mind and that will help narrow down choices. Having $5-7k and looking for the best bang for the buck with "none of the tiny diamond stuff to make it look bigger" can be a recipe for disaster.
 
I wasn't sure from the OP if he meant he didn't want "illusion" or "composite" type rings (multiple small diamonds masquerading as a larger stone) or if he didn't want a halo or side diamonds on the setting. Those are VERY different things, and the first is much more common outside of PS than you'd think!!
A 1ct is a very nice size -- the diameter/shape of stone that are right for you depend upon your budget, social/cultural expectations, hand/finger size, personal preferences. The most important thing the folks here can help you with is finding a well-cut stone. A well-cut stone of ANY size will have better light performance, and therefore generally appears brighter (and therefore gives the sense of being bigger) than a poorly cut stone of the same weight. It will also prevent you from paying for carats you cannot see by steering you away from overly deep stones. The PS experts can also help you with specific choices if you come back with more info about your color/clarity/shape/setting preferences. Is the 5-7K budget for the entire ring, or just the diamond? If it is for the whole ring, the type of setting you choose makes a big difference. Simple solitaries in gold can be just a few hundred bucks, while designer platinum settings with melee or side diamonds could easily eat up your entire budget. Do you know what your GF wants/likes? Bring back more info and the kind PS folks will point you in the right direction!
 
 
solgen|1429216010|3863123 said:
A 1ct round is only around 6.5mm in diameter which is quite small. Seems like you're opposed to a Halo design to help it look bigger. A 1ct center with halo could look like a 2-2.5ct.

But you really need to have certain things in mind. Do you want 14, 18k , platinum or something else? What type of setting? If you're buying this for your fiance then she probably has something in mind and that will help narrow down choices. Having $5-7k and looking for the best bang for the buck with "none of the tiny diamond stuff to make it look bigger" can be a recipe for disaster.
Click to expand...
Thats a ridiculously jaded thing to say.

Many many people think a 1 ct is large.
 
solgen|1429216010|3863123 said:
A 1ct round is only around 6.5mm in diameter which is quite small. Seems like you're opposed to a Halo design to help it look bigger. A 1ct center with halo could look like a 2-2.5ct.
Click to expand...

I'm going to respectfully disagree with this assessment too. One carat is a very nice size for an engagement ring. And as enbec... pointed out, it's not clear whether the OP has ruled out halos, or just illusion and cluster settings.

VBE - I happen to love a simple solitaire setting - which, in addition to being a clean, sophisticated look, also has the advantage of letting you maximize what you spend on the diamond while minimizing what you spend on the setting. But since you're not buying for me... it is important to know whether your girlfriend has any preferences as to the style of the ring. Does she post on pinterest by any chance? A lot of guys get clues there. Have you discussed ring styles at all... or maybe done some "window shopping"? Is there a friend or family member she might have confided in?
 
This is a nice looking diamond. A simple band would be nice? Is 6.5k cheap for a engagement ring?
 
VBE|1429281191|3863498 said:
This is a nice looking diamond. A simple band would be nice? Is 6.5k cheap for a engagement ring?
Click to expand...
Gosh no. We have people on here that drop a lot of money on e rings so ita easy to feel like thats "normal" but in the real world not filled with diamond enthusiasts that's a lot of money

I would drop a little money and not get the most basic setting. Spending 4-5 hundred can really elevate the basic soli from looking like something that just holds the stone to a beautiful ring.
 
VBE|1429281191|3863498 said:
This is a nice looking diamond. A simple band would be nice? Is 6.5k cheap for a engagement ring?
Click to expand...

Heya VBE, I'm new here as well. I have the same budget for the ring as you do and I'm shopping as well. I am weary of going online as I'm a cynic by nature and I have to see it in person or I will freak out inside. That being said, 6.5k is not cheap by any means, and at the end of the day, the budget shouldn't reflect what you feel is appropriate for the engagement ring, but rather you get the diamond that you feel is perfect for your soon-to-be fiance.

Don't get caught up in having to spend more. Use your budget and find something that you love and know she'll love and forget about the name brand retailers and be weary of deals. Since I am avoiding shopping online I am looking into places that have online stores that I can drive to the physical location to look at the diamonds in person, and keep the diamonds in my price range online with me to see if I'm getting a fair deal.

What shape are you looking for? For 1.0 ct you could get a really cheap diamond that has no sparkle, dull, and looks like crap but you could be better off finding a 1.0 beautifully cut diamond with excellent specs and proportions that will knock the socks off of a mediocre cut 1.2 ct and make it look negligible in size.
 
If you're talking about the stone listed.... Thats a well cut stone, near colorless and eye clean. And a 1.3 is noticeably larger than a 1 ct. If she cares about size it's a nice compromise.

As for "seeing it in person" James Allen has free shipping both ways if you want to buy it get it home and live with it for a few weeks to make sure it's perfect they have 30 day free returns.

I do not know her values when it comes to rings, but if she likes solitaires and by "most bang for your buck" you meant a well cut stone that looks big, clear, and white... I would absolutely get a stone like the j listed above.

If you mean something else by "most bang for your buck" , do elaborate and we can find you something perfect in your budget, which is healthy :)
 
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Jewelry Blog
PriceScope-Concierge-Ad
Find prime cuts.
Top