Need help with choosing an oval diamond please.

[uky_girl]

Hi!

This is my first post, though I've been a lurker for a while.I'm now in pretty desperate need of advice.

Due to a recent unfortunate mishap with my original e-ring (that's honestly still too traumatic to talk about, insurance claim has been made), I'm getting a 10th anniversary "upgrade." I want to go with something totally different and have pretty much decided that an oval diamond is for me. Also, I want a platinum setting (to avoid all those trips for rhodium plating- never seems to last on me- used to need 3 or 4 dips per year, maybe it's my skin chemistry?).

This is the setting my husband and I like (it's Scott Kay):

http://www.scottkay.com/product/m1650r510ww/

Since I had a traditional round brilliant (.74, VS2) previously, I also want a different stone. We've pretty much settled on an oval diamond. We were thinking of a carat (VS2, 8mm X 5.5mm dimensions- I want a lot of finger coverage). I also want it to be clear and sparkly (I'm pretty OCD).

Can someone help me know what to ask for in a stone? I have a great local jeweler now, but I've also honestly been looking at Blue Nile online to save money. Our budget is $8,000 firm, and the setting is $3,800...

Thanks so much for any advice!

 

[chrono]

If looking for fancies, unless your eyes are trained or have seen a lot of ovals to know what is good/poor, I generally do not recommend buying from places that do not provide photographs, videos or use some sort of tools to tell you how sparkly the diamond is. Although BN has a good return policy, shipping back and forth until the right stone is ordered will a big PITA. Unlike rounds, there is no cut grading for ovals. There are also no number crunching or formula that will tell you (and I) whether the stone is well cut or not. Places that will provide you these information (pictures, video, generous return policy with no questions asked) include Good Old Gold, James Allen and I know there's more but cannot name them off the top of my head at the moment.