Need Help with engagement ring

[goatz]

Hello,

I know absolutely nothing about diamonds or jewellery and I am completely overwhelmed by all the options available. Any guidance at all would be greatly appreciated !!

I want the ring to be a surprise. I have a rough idea on the ring size. i doubt she would like anything too flashy, I think she would prefer something simple and classic. I think a Solitaire with a round diamond would be the right style. Perhaps Platinum, not sure about 4 or 6 prong.
I doubt a lab diamond would be noticed or a concern. No idea on what size would be best, I doubt she would like anything too big, but not too small either. She is short and skinny. I was thinking .80 - 1 carat.
looking to get the best I can for my money. i was thinking of about £3000 ($4000)

any tips welcome!!

 

[monipod]

I think you'll find the perfect ring with that budget. There are many ways to go about your search. I can only personally endorse using James Allen for diamond + setting route. The website is easy to use and the selection of lab stones is good. You may well find similar setups elsewhere and other people can weigh in.

As for .8 - 1ct stone, I think that's more than suitable for someone who is petite but you'll notice a huge cost difference between .8 and a whole carat. That's just how diamonds work lol If your fiancee isn't too fussed about size, you will find some brilliant bargains in the .8 to .9 size range. If your fiancee fancies the idea of having a full carat, then you'll pay that bit extra but still get something in your budget. Might not be DEF colour.

I doubt a lab diamond would be noticed or a concern.

I would really ask that question to your fiancee just in case. She should be told it's a lab stone, in case you decide to upgrade one day and her options become limited in not being able to sell a lab stone readily (may not be an issue in future anyway).

 

[goatz]

I think you'll find the perfect ring with that budget. There are many ways to go about your search. I can only personally endorse using James Allen for diamond + setting route. The website is easy to use and the selection of lab stones is good. You may well find similar setups elsewhere and other people can weigh in.

As for .8 - 1ct stone, I think that's more than suitable for someone who is petite but you'll notice a huge cost difference between .8 and a whole carat. That's just how diamonds work lol If your fiancee isn't too fussed about size, you will find some brilliant bargains in the .8 to .9 size range. If your fiancee fancies the idea of having a full carat, then you'll pay that bit extra but still get something in your budget. Might not be DEF colour.



I would really ask that question to your fiancee just in case. She should be told it's a lab stone, in case you decide to upgrade one day and her options become limited in not being able to sell a lab stone readily (may not be an issue in future anyway).

Thanks good tips.
I want it to be a surprise, and I don’t want to ask her about what ring she wants.
interesting about the lab diamond being difficult to sell. I had not considered that.
she is not fussy, and will be happy with what ever I get her. I just want to make sure I get the best i can for the money and I don’t get ripped off!
I have been looking at James Allen. is it best to go with true hearts cut for lab made?

 

[goatz]

Any tips on how to pick a diamond? the images All look similar to me. I have no idea which is better

All Diamonds - Magnified in 360° HD | JamesAllen.com

James Allen offers a wide selection of GIA, IGI and AGS certified conflict-free loose diamonds, all viewable in 360° HD. Take the guesswork out of buying a diamond.

www.jamesallen.com

 

[MillieLou]

I'm guessing you're in the UK from your use of £ ? The jeweller who just made my ring (Noah James Jewellery in Manchester) offers lab grown diamonds. I don't know anything about LGDs personally but they do great quality work and I'm sure they could give you details about the type of LGDs they use etc. Here's an example of a simple plat solitaire that would be well within your budget with a 1 carat LGD.

Celeste Round Brilliant Cut Solitaire Engagement Ring Platinum

Description The classic solitaire. A timeless design featuring an round brilliant cut stone set with talon claws on a tapering slight court band. Delicate and beautiful. This bespoke engagement ring is available set with your choice of ethically sourced mined diamond, lab-grown diamond or...

noahjamesjewellery.com

If you aren't local and don't want to work remotely, it may well be that there are similar custom jewellers offering LGDs in your area.

 

[molecule]

Hello,

I know absolutely nothing about diamonds or jewellery and I am completely overwhelmed by all the options available. Any guidance at all would be greatly appreciated !!

I want the ring to be a surprise. I have a rough idea on the ring size. i doubt she would like anything too flashy, I think she would prefer something simple and classic. I think a Solitaire with a round diamond would be the right style. Perhaps Platinum, not sure about 4 or 6 prong.
I doubt a lab diamond would be noticed or a concern. No idea on what size would be best, I doubt she would like anything too big, but not too small either. She is short and skinny. I was thinking .80 - 1 carat.
looking to get the best I can for my money. i was thinking of about £3000 ($4000)

any tips welcome!!

Does she want the ring to be a surprise? My now-husband felt similarly to you and while the ring was extremely sentimental, it did not fit my aesthetics. I still bear some resentment as it felt like he did not take my taste into account for a ring meant to be worn daily for the rest of my life.

will be happy with what ever I get her

I felt like I had to be grateful for whatever I got.

 

[lovedogs]

Does she want the ring to be a surprise? My now-husband felt similarly to you and while the ring was extremely sentimental, it did not fit my aesthetics. I still bear some resentment as it felt like he did not take my taste into account for a ring meant to be worn daily for the rest of my life.



I felt like I had to be grateful for whatever I got.

This! Please ask her what she wants.

 

[MillieLou]

Yes - at least make sure she is happy with a lab diamond, and ideally also her preferred metal colour and shape. People do feel strongly about these things, even those you think may not be "into jewellery". Quietly enlisting the help of one of her friends / family (if they are discreet) can be a good way to find out her preferences if you don't want to ask directly.

 

[DejaWiz]

I will echo what the others have touched on: please be sure that an LGD will be not only acceptable, but desirable. My wife and I both hold the mindset that "a diamond is a diamond", but many do not share that viewpoint, which is perfectly fine.

Alas, if an LGD is the preferred route, then your budget is more than adequate to go well above and beyond what you are targeting.

I also recommend James Allen, since they are the only seller that I know of whom includes their LGDs in their upgrade program.

For your budget, here is one example of what can be attained. I have taken the 20% VAT into account:

Review Completed Jewel

Discover our unique collection of gemstone engagement rings recently designed by our customers. Get inspired by their gemstone creations and start sparkling!

www.jamesallen.com

If you would like to check out another option, I have read many positive testimonials about 77 Diamonds based in London.

 

[goatz]

Quick question. James Allen has no hassle returns so what’s stopping me buying a ring and if she doesn’t like it or it doesn’t fit returning it?

 

[DejaWiz]

Quick question. James Allen has no hassle returns so what’s stopping me buying a ring and if she doesn’t like it or it doesn’t fit returning it?

Nothing, really. You won't get any international taxes, fees, customs, or shipping charges refunded since those are government and post/carrier charges separate from JA.

 

[lovedogs]

Quick question. James Allen has no hassle returns so what’s stopping me buying a ring and if she doesn’t like it or it doesn’t fit returning it?

Imho, many women wouldn't be comfortable voicing their dissatisfaction with a ring. It feels sentimental and important, so it can be tricky to immediately say "yes I'll marry you, but I'm not a fan of this ring...."

 

[molecule]

Imho, many women wouldn't be comfortable voicing their dissatisfaction with a ring. It feels sentimental and important, so it can be tricky to immediately say "yes I'll marry you, but I'm not a fan of this ring...."

For me, there is also a message it sends. To me, picking out a ring together and us both compromising would have been "this is how I want our life together to start, as equals where we both value each other's options".

If her option is "I would love for you to pick it out", then that's great. If her opinion is "X is something I want and don't wish to compromise on but I'll let you pick out Y and Z", that's wonderful. If her opinion is "I want to pick out the whole thing and I don't care what you want even if you're paying" then I'd be running for the hills.

 

[lovedogs]

For me, there is also a message it sends. To me, picking out a ring together and us both compromising would have been "this is how I want our life together to start, as equals where we both value each other's options".

If her option is "I would love for you to pick it out", then that's great. If her opinion is "X is something I want and don't wish to compromise on but I'll let you pick out Y and Z", that's wonderful. If her opinion is "I want to pick out the whole thing and I don't care what you want even if you're paying" then I'd be running for the hills.

Agreed! Conversely, I've seen men have the attitude that what *they* want in their GFs ring is more important than what she wants, which I think is a red flag.

 

[rockysalamander]

If you don't want to ask her directly, can you get a close friend of hers, mom or sister to do some recon for you? You'd be surprised how much they can find out for you. I think the big questions are (1) is a lab diamond ok (emphasis on a real lab diamond and not a CZ or moissanite, which some people are confused about), (2) what shape(s) diamond, (3) what color metal, (4) in case she does not want a diamond, what color would she want (sapphires come in most colors). If she says a sapphire, is a lab stone ok? (5) basic ring type.

 

[oncrutchesrightnow]

If the two of you want a surprise proposal where she does not know anything about the ring ahead of time, then I recommend not getting a lab diamond. Even though she might have told you to go ahead and pick something out without her, sometimes people have opinions they did not know they had. An earth diamond round brilliant solitaire falls into the category “simple engagement ring” in most people’s minds. You can get a nice quality 0.80 ct earth diamond for that $$$. A round brilliant set in a 2mm white gold setting with four prongs will let you put all the money into the diamond and keep the setting generically classic.