Find your diamond
Find your jewelry
shape
carat
color
clarity

Need Help with $30k budget Oval/Pear E-Ring PLS!

bbkk

bbkk

Rough_Rock
Joined
Oct 30, 2013
Messages
14
Hello all,

I am a newbie and I've been reading in the forum and tried to learn as much as possible. But I'm getting a bit overwhelmed now. You guys seems to know so much and I think it'll be easier to just ask you experts! :tongue: Thank you very much in advance for your help!!

So here are what I have in mind now:

Shape: Oval/Pear. At first I wanted a cushion but after I went to GOG this past weekend I decided to have Oval/Pear because for the same carat weight they look much bigger than a cushion

Color: D - F (I'm personally very color sensitive, and call easily tell a F from E)

Clarity: VS2/SI1? I want to say "eye clean" but I think the term is a bit vague that it raises concerns. I'm more inclined to VS2, since i heard Oval shows inclusion more than other shape

Cut: Excellent? I know cut matters a lot but I'm not sure how the cutting of an oval/pear is evaluated, since many specs seem do not really make sense for these two shapes. Also I do not know how to assess the "bow tie" in those two shapes.=(

Budget: 30k (stone+setting, though not too strict - 1~2 k over would be fine)

Size: the largest I can get within my budget. How big do you think I can get? I hope it will be over 2 cts..

Fluorescence: I have not seen any stone with fluo in person so i can't say at this point if I like it or not (what do you guys think?)

Setting: I want a halo with micro pave -the very delicate look. Any recommendation of designers?

I've browsed Blue Nile, ERD and personally visited GOG last week. My husband (yes we got the cert before the ring; we want to choose the ring together =P ) GOG seems really nice and Matt has agreed to find me some stones. I also want to visit the diamond district some time (my hubby works 2 blocks away). I don't want to buy it online. I want to be able to see the stone in front me before I make a decision. Can you guys recommend some local jewelers in the NYC area?

Also, any comments on my specs, suggestions of stones are welcome!!

Really appreciate your help!!!
 
The some of best Ovals I've seen have been sourced by Jon at GOG. So I would just call them, tell them you want eyeclean and colorless and no bowtie, and great performance. Nicest they can find you for around 30k. They will source for you and call the stones in and do all the scans and tests and give you a lot of information. Plus, their customer service is known to be very good.

Performance and faceting are what you need to shop for with ovals. And honestly there aren't as many nice ovals as there are cushions or rounds so you may have to be a little more flexible on color (G) and clarity (doesn't matter as long as it is completely eyeclean).


That said, I've been drooling over this oval over at JA for a while, and if I had the money... it would be on my short list. http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/2.12-carat-d-color-vs1-clarity-sku-205003 you can put it on hold for no cost and no obligation and ask for an ASET. And it ticks all your boxes.
 
And since JA prefers to do three stones at a time when you ask for an ASET, this one would be my second pick: http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/2.04-carat-d-color-if-clarity-sku-209369


And this one would be my third choice: http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/2.01-carat-f-color-si1-clarity-sku-215632 especially as you wanted a cushion and this one is cushion-y.

Alternate selection: http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/2.34-carat-d-color-si1-clarity-sku-222132 Most bang for buck in terms of spread (face up dimensions). Plus it has a gorgeous open culet. Only questions is... ask the gemologist if it is eyeclean.
 
so let me ask you a question....

Have you put any thought to marquise. Those, on average, face up largest, and are similar in look to both pears and ovals.

just a though.

ETA also, ovals and pears and marquise actually hide inclusions, depending on the inclusion, better than other shapes, which is nice.
 
Oh and ovals do not show inclusions more than other shapes. Step cuts do. And most ovals are not step cut, they are brilliant cut (only seen two step cut ovals in all my life). Pears and marquise also do not show inclusions as much as other cuts.


Here is the only pear I liked: http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/pear-shaped/2.20-carat-e-color-vs1-clarity-sku-91190 I'd personally rather have any of the ovals over this pear as I don't think it's as nice a performer as the ovals.
 
JA has offices by appointment in NYC. So you could call and ask them to pull these stones for you and go see them in person.

That's what I would do (all of them, the four ovals, the pear and the marquise), and go see what I think of them in person.
 
Gypsy|1383189834|3547940 said:
JA has offices by appointment in NYC. So you could call and ask them to pull these stones for you and go see them in person.

That's what I would do (all of them, the four ovals, the pear and the marquise), and go see what I think of them in person.
Click to expand...


Thank you very much Gypsy! The 2.12ct Oval is stunning! I love it! Though I need to stretch Mu budget a bit for it and a nice setting.

One question about getting the diamond: Matt at GOG said any diamond I see online I can send him a link and he might be able to find me the exact stone and beat the price. Do you think this is a good way to go or should I just make appointment with JA directly?

Thanks!
 
Niel|1383189406|3547937 said:
just on the off chance you would consider a marquise, this is a beauty. D VS too, and hits the 2ct mark (look at jsut about 12mmx6.5mm) and leaves you enough for a hand forged custom Harry Winston style halo, which i assume is what youre looking at... done from say a Victor Canera (who just about everyone here would recommend for ahigh quality HW replica halo)

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/marquise-cut/2.05-carat-d-color-vs2-clarity-sku-30587
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion Niel! But I'm not a big fan of the marquise - it is a bit too pointy for me (pear is the most I can go on that) =(

But I do LOVE your link to the HW halo setting!!! That's exactly the type of setting I'm looking for!! Do you know how much that setting usually cost? Also, do you have other designers in mind that design similar settings?

Thanks!
 
bbkk|1383193100|3547967 said:
Gypsy|1383189834|3547940 said:
JA has offices by appointment in NYC. So you could call and ask them to pull these stones for you and go see them in person.

That's what I would do (all of them, the four ovals, the pear and the marquise), and go see what I think of them in person.
Click to expand...


Thank you very much Gypsy! The 2.12ct Oval is stunning! I love it! Though I need to stretch Mu budget a bit for it and a nice setting.

One question about getting the diamond: Matt at GOG said any diamond I see online I can send him a link and he might be able to find me the exact stone and beat the price. Do you think this is a good way to go or should I just make appointment with JA directly?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I love love love that stone. Please promise that if you get it you come back with pictures.

That said, if you go with JA have them do ASETs on all three I posted and pick the brightest one.

I can't comment on whether or not you should go with JA or have GOG try to call in the same stones as it places me in a difficult position t do so. I'm going to have to leave that up to you.

That setting by Victor is about 5500. Steven Kirsch can make you one like it, with the same hand forged process, for less usually. And he's RIGHT in NY so you can meet with him in person. My own halo is by Steven, so for me that would be a no-brainier.
 
bbkk|1383193559|3547970 said:
Niel|1383189406|3547937 said:
just on the off chance you would consider a marquise, this is a beauty. D VS too, and hits the 2ct mark (look at jsut about 12mmx6.5mm) and leaves you enough for a hand forged custom Harry Winston style halo, which i assume is what youre looking at... done from say a Victor Canera (who just about everyone here would recommend for ahigh quality HW replica halo)

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/marquise-cut/2.05-carat-d-color-vs2-clarity-sku-30587
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion Niel! But I'm not a big fan of the marquise - it is a bit too pointy for me (pear is the most I can go on that) =(

But I do LOVE your link to the HW halo setting!!! That's exactly the type of setting I'm looking for!! Do you know how much that setting usually cost? Also, do you have other designers in mind that design similar settings?

Thanks!
Click to expand...


Understandable. I used to think that too, until i saw one on my finger, then i never looked back :lol: , just a suggestion to see one if you hadnt yet. If you have, then never mind me ;)
 
Gypsy|1383198575|3547993 said:
That setting by Victor is about 5500. Steven Kirsch can make you one like it, with the same hand forged process, for less usually. And he's RIGHT in NY so you can meet with him in person. My own halo is by Steven, so for me that would be a no-brainier.
Click to expand...

Wow 5500 is a bit too much for me for the setting...though I really like it! Thanks for suggesting Steven Kirsch, I found this on their website and I love it!!

http://www.stevenkirsch.com/catalog/product/view/id/86/s/r0118/category/3/

I have requested a quote on it but not sure if that is within my budget. :oops:
 
Gypsy|1383188965|3547932 said:
Oh and ovals do not show inclusions more than other shapes. Step cuts do. And most ovals are not step cut, they are brilliant cut (only seen two step cut ovals in all my life). Pears and marquise also do not show inclusions as much as other cuts.
Click to expand...

I didn't know much about diamonds and I got this information from this page:

https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/oval-cut-diamond

I'll be very happy though, if it indeed is wrong! :D
 
bbkk|1383226290|3548082 said:
Gypsy|1383188965|3547932 said:
Oh and ovals do not show inclusions more than other shapes. Step cuts do. And most ovals are not step cut, they are brilliant cut (only seen two step cut ovals in all my life). Pears and marquise also do not show inclusions as much as other cuts.
Click to expand...

I didn't know much about diamonds and I got this information from this page:

https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/oval-cut-diamond

I'll be very happy though, if it indeed is wrong! :D
Click to expand...


Yeah, that sucker needs updating big time. Ignore it.
 
Thank you for the links Gypsy! I have emailed them to get a quote.

I got a quote from Steven for this setting - it's even more expensive than the HW one.. ;( But it is SO CUTE and I LOVE it! Do you think I can find anything CAST or CAD like this one?

http://www.stevenkirsch.com/catalog/product/view/id/86/s/r0118/category/3/

Also, Matt at GOG just emailed me saying that if I'm not ready to buy the diamond yet, he cannot bring the diamonds for me to view, citing huge expenses of doing so (I told him that I'm not in a hurry and prob will take 2~3 months exploring). He also said he can only hold an diamond for a week or so, therefore it is pointless to obtain stones for me now since I'm still shopping around. :(sad I wonder how usually this thing works. Can you please give me some advice? There are many stores out there and I want to see around before making a decision. Sorry i'm very new to the jewelry industry do not know what is the norm. I often read about posts here saying stores sourcing diamonds for people. How exactly does that work? They always buy right after seeing the pictures? What do people usually do?

Thanks a million for your help Gypsy!!!!
 
You have to understand that you are shopping for a large fancy. The good ones of those are rare.
If you aren't ready to buy within 2 weeks then... they can't tie up good stock waiting on you.

If you have the funds to buy with, here's what I would do:

Call JA and make an appointment to see all three ovals and the one pear in person. Buy the one you like the most. They have a ridiculously amazing return policy that is no questions asked full refund for 60 days. GOG doesn't offer that.

Take the stone you like the best home and live with it, play with it and see how it is in different light, learn its personality and see how you like it. Also in this time period, shop around some more and compare everything else to the stone you have bought. If you see something you like better, return it and buy that. If you don't see something you like better you have your stone.

As for settings. Yes, ERD can make something very similar to the Steven Kirsch setting you liked, you can email them with the pictures. I personally wouldn't want pave on the underside of my halo like that, but would do the petals in metal only, and that would save you a lot of money as well.


If you don't have the funds, then... it's a waiting game.
 
Thanks Gypsy.

We have the funds ready but the problem is that I don't have much time until December. I can only do online searches at this moment and can't really visit the stores. Perhaps I should wait till Dec to start searching again.

Thank you for the great advice! It's a brilliant idea! When I finally get time I will surely do that!! Thank you so much!! :appl:
 
Gypsy|1383188965|3547932 said:
Oh and ovals do not show inclusions more than other shapes. Step cuts do. And most ovals are not step cut, they are brilliant cut (only seen two step cut ovals in all my life). Pears and marquise also do not show inclusions as much as other cuts.


Here is the only pear I liked: http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/pear-shaped/2.20-carat-e-color-vs1-clarity-sku-91190 I'd personally rather have any of the ovals over this pear as I don't think it's as nice a performer as the ovals.
Click to expand...

lol, the 2.2 E VS1 was my fav. too...love those chubby pears...here are some more on JA...the 2.74 F SI1 is very large and on budget:


http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/pear-shaped/?CaratFrom=1.81&CaratTo=10.00&Color=D,F,E,G&PriceFrom=400&PriceTo=999000&Sort=Carat%20asc,%20DefaultOrder&TabSelected=3&ps=15&DiamondID=214351,235274,91190,174595,215164
 
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