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Need help looking for 1.3-1.5 ct Round $7,500

jobudunks

Rough_Rock
Joined
Sep 3, 2016
Messages
8
I have found the perfect girl and now looking to find the perfect diamond and setting. We have been dating for 4 years now and she's been hinting that it's time. I think so too. :)

I have been checking this site and scouring the internet and brick and mortars for about 2 months now. Need some help... especially since I was wanting to propose on a trip to wine country on Oct 14th that I planned about 3 months ago. Will this even be possible to have ring in hand? :wall:

Her style is classic and simple. She doesn't wear jewelry much besides a little diamond necklace of her grandmas. I am thinking a cathedral petite pave
https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/14k-white-gold-petite-pave-cathedral-engagement-ring-item-49519
I have seen thinner at brick and mortars that I think she would love also

For the diamond, I was hoping for 1.4 (or something between 1.3 to 1.5) that sparkles as much as possible. I know to look for HCA less than 2 for this. For color, I was thinking I or J? Is a budget of $7,000 - $7,500 for the diamond and overall budget of $8,500 doable? Hope readers can help link some diamonds.

If I can find a loose diamond and a setting, would I buy them separately and go to a jeweler to have it set?

Thanks for any help!
Thomas
 

Gypsy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
40,225
Does she have a pinterest account?

I know women who live in jeans. And have the blingiest engagement rings I've ever seen. And not everyone likes rounds.

So I would advise you to first, snoop on her Pinterest account if she has one. If she does, link us, please.

And if she doesn't? TAKE HER WITH YOU to a brick and mortar and see what she wants SPECIFICALLY.

First and foremost, you should get on the same page as your intended. I know society puts a lot of pressure on men to be psychics and to come up with the perfect 'symbol' of their love by hunting down and buying the perfect ring in secret.

That's not reality. That's Disney.

The reality is you are spending a lot of money. Love doesn't need 'symbols'. You are contemplating marriage and marriage is about communication and partnership. This ring is an opportunity for collaboration.

So start with talking to your intended and going shopping with her. Find out what shape she wants. What style she likes ON HER HAND. And finally, what her ring size is.
 

girlguineapig

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Mar 23, 2014
Messages
142
I agree with Gypsy - are you sure you know what she wants? Worst case if you insist on surprising her, return shipping would be maybe $50 (James Allen pays for your return shipping).

Ideally you buy both the stone and the setting at the same website and they will ship it to you set already.

1.3-1.5 ct, I/J color is doable for $7,500. Here are some examples:
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3706895.htm?source=pricescope
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3712974.htm?source=pricescope
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.31-carat-j-color-vvs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2093996
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.30-carat-j-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2100713
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.30-carat-j-color-vvs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2049053
 

jobudunks

Rough_Rock
Joined
Sep 3, 2016
Messages
8
Thanks for the advise, Gypsy. She doesn't have a pinterest but has mentioned she would like a "thin band with diamonds on the side". I'll take your advise though and will report back.

Girlguineapig- Those are very clean diamonds! I'm looking for eye clean. Do you think I should go up in color but sacrifice a bit of clarity? I looked at a place last night that, for my price point, showed me a couple SI2 and I1 that didn't seem clean to my eye or stick out like that was the one... I was a bit disappointed but the ones you found look infinitely better.
 

ac117

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Apr 28, 2014
Messages
4,060
Hi! What color metal do you intend to put the diamond in? I color and above is usually a safe color to stay at without being able to see too much tint - I really wouldn't advise a J unless you/your intended have seen J color diamond and are fine with the warmth they show.

Here are a few more suggestions:
http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-8690506-1.31-carat-Round-diamond-H-color-VS2-Clarity.aspx?sku=8690506&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com - ask for IS/ASET
http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-8598648-1.38-carat-Round-diamond-I-color-VVS2-Clarity.aspx?sku=8598648&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com - ask for IS/ASET; this is the same diamond but more expensive and it looks nice but we need IS/ASET for high crown angle https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/R138-161364549)
http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-8653997-1.40-carat-Round-diamond-I-color-VS2-Clarity.aspx?sku=8653997&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com - if eye clean, this is the same diamond and you can see the image of the stone but more expensive https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/R140-462Z2086Z
http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-8723388-1.40-carat-Round-diamond-I-color-SI1-Clarity.aspx?sku=8723388&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com - ask for IS/ASET
http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-8615482-1.30-carat-Round-diamond-G-color-SI1-Clarity.aspx?sku=8615482&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com - if eyeclean
 

girlguineapig

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Mar 23, 2014
Messages
142
I didn't immediately see any higher color ones I liked in your budget. B2CJewels might have some but you have to request photos from them and it takes some time, plus you like the setting at JA.

Here's are some I color ones. The first one is a little bit above your budget and the others are smaller than you wanted. You could ask for a PriceScope discount from James Allen and maybe that would bring it down a bit. Ask if they are eyeclean as well.

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.36-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2043407
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.26-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1841278
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.21-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1966505
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3684606.htm?source=pricescope
 

teobdl

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
May 8, 2013
Messages
986
I definitely agree with Gypsy's advice to go with her to find something that she likes... ideally do it by the end of this weekend. Then ASAP post on here to have people find the best for your money, and within one day you'll be able to call up certain diamonds for further review, and then purchase right away.

Your timeline is short but James Allen can put a ring together for you very quickly once you have made a selection. Even faster might be someone like WhiteFlash or Brian Gavin, who has in-house inventory and images on hand, but it will be more expensive.

Edit: if I were you, i'd get either the 1.26 ct JA True hearts or the White Flash diamond posted just above me.
 

LadyMCh

Shiny_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jun 30, 2016
Messages
318
jobudunks|1475075046|4081634 said:
Thanks for the advise, Gypsy. She doesn't have a pinterest but has mentioned she would like a "thin band with diamonds on the side". I'll take your advise though and will report back.

Girlguineapig- Those are very clean diamonds! I'm looking for eye clean. Do you think I should go up in color but sacrifice a bit of clarity? I looked at a place last night that, for my price point, showed me a couple SI2 and I1 that didn't seem clean to my eye or stick out like that was the one... I was a bit disappointed but the ones you found look infinitely better.


Brick & Mortars are going to be more expensive b/c they have to pay for overhead (rent, electricity, etc). That's why, at your price point, they were only able to show you NOT eye clean diamonds- SI2 & I. I would most definitely NOT drop to I in clarity. There are rare SI2s that can be found that are eye clean, and a lot of SI1 are eye clean, but I is never eye clean.
 

jobudunks

Rough_Rock
Joined
Sep 3, 2016
Messages
8
Re: Need help looking for 1.3-1.5 ct Round $7,500 *Princess

Hi Gypsy, I am so glad I took your advise

We spent the last couple of hours looking and she is absolutely in love with this setting in a princess cut:
http://www.adiamor.com/Engagement-Rings/Diamond-Accented/French-Cut-Basket-Setting-Diamonds-3-4-down/1694

I know nothing about princess cuts so I'll start researching ASAP... but what should I look at keeping the budget where it is? How big of a diamond would look amazing with this setting?

Thanks!
 

Gypsy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
40,225
Okay so, we're not going for that setting. We'll go for the same style, but from a different vendor.

Let's focus on the princess.

Princesses, at the same carat weight, are much smaller than rounds.

How much stretch do you have for your budget, comfortably? Is it possible to bump total budget to 10k? Including setting?
 

Gypsy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
40,225
 

Gypsy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
40,225
Alternately, and this would be my recommendation. Buy that diamond, and have Daniel K custom make that same setting style for your lady. It will cost less than customizing the JA settings and will be the kind of quality that can stand up to every day wear and tear. Something I can't say about the Ardimor setting.

You would modify that setting the following ways:
1. The shank should be 1.8mm.
 

Gypsy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
40,225

jobudunks

Rough_Rock
Joined
Sep 3, 2016
Messages
8
Thanks for the help so far! I am comfortable to go up to $9,000, all-in. Do you think this is manageable for a 1.5 ct princess in a similar setting that she really liked? I was hoping to get this done for a trip on Oct 14th. I'm thinking that is way too tight now... Is it worth getting a diamond and then looking local for a setting or is that even too tight?

It would be nice to see a couple more to review. I'll then ask for ASET.
 

jobudunks

Rough_Rock
Joined
Sep 3, 2016
Messages
8
Can the board help me see some princess cuts around $7,500? Thanks so much!
 

jobudunks

Rough_Rock
Joined
Sep 3, 2016
Messages
8
I have 3 to choose from now. Is the next step to call and ask for an aset test and see which performs best? Sorry, I'm new to this.
 

Gypsy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
40,225
Yes, they can't get them on all stones though. So let me review your contenders.

Re-post the links for the 3 here:
 

jobudunks

Rough_Rock
Joined
Sep 3, 2016
Messages
8
Do you think any of these 3 will be winners? If not, would really appreciate another look at some others.

Suggested by istase2000
https://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/1.51-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-sku-372646

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/1.51-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-sku-1986430

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/1.50-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-sku-822527

The one you suggested looks really nice. I'm not sure I can push the budget... unless it is by far better.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/1.52-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-sku-2078942

What does everyone think about these?
 

Gypsy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
40,225
jobudunks|1475470008|4083103 said:
Do you think any of these 3 will be winners? If not, would really appreciate another look at some others.

Suggested by istase2000
https://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/1.51-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-sku-372646

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/1.51-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-sku-1986430

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/1.50-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-sku-822527

The one you suggested looks really nice. I'm not sure I can push the budget... unless it is by far better.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/1.52-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-sku-2078942

What does everyone think about these?

They all have potential.
 
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