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Need some help with engagement ring

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DaveZR2

Rough_Rock
Joined
May 18, 2012
Messages
8
Hi,

In the past month I've started looking for an engagement ring for my g/f. I'm glad I found this forum before I did anything that I'd regret later. I've been trying to deal with a local jeweler that supposedly had a great reputation, but I've been getting super frustrated.

This is a picture my g/f gave me that is an idea of the ring that she wants. My budget is around 10k if that helps.

photo_73.jpg

From what I understand, this is a platinum setting with baguettes on the sides and a round-shaped center stone. Would you recommend sourcing this style of ring online instead of a local store? If so, where should I start? Any help is greatly appreciated.
 
I think that you are going to find that you can get a much better value and quality online. Many BM stores carry the same basic cut quality, and just switch up the color and clarity grades. You want a beautifully cut diamond, that's what gives diamonds their fantastic light performance. Many people have never seen a well cut diamond and have no idea what a diamonds light performance is supposed to look like. =) You've come to the right place. There are many wonderful PS vendors, any of which can create this ring for you! Do you have an idea of what your looking for as far as size color or clarity?
 
What carat weight are you looking for with the 10k budget and what metal do you want?
 
Thanks for the replies. The 10k was for the setting and the stone.

I'm thinking:
Platinum
1.5 carat
Vs2
H
 
SOrry you're budget is too low for that. It won't happen. Setting is 2-2.5k. That leave 8 k for the center. You aren't getting 1.5 carats of excellent or ideal cut (which is the single most important thing with diamonds) for 8k in a round brilliant. Either adjust your budget upward (probably not likey) or adjust your expectations down to reality.
 
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1395533.asp 1.3 carat for 9.5k

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1477570.asp 8.8k for 1.27 needs an idealscope this one. 2.1 on HCA but still worth an idealscope.

Plus 2k for the setting in platinum. (You wouldn't buy the setting from JA their baguette three stone isn't very nice, there are much nicer versions of that setting).

Just the diamond, if you want the best cut possible at VS2 is going to cost you nearly 10k at 1 carat or just over. http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.028-h-vs2-round-diamond-ags-104055873007 and http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1433023.asp and and http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1421584.asp

So yeah, you need to adjust your expectations.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1420743.asp This is lovely for 8k. And that leave you 2k for that setting. And Brian Gavin Diamonds or ERD can make you that setting, and a lovely version of it, for about 2k.
 
OK maybe I need to lower my expectations (or increase my budget).

A few questions:

When buying a ring like this online (setting and stone separate), who puts the ring together? Someone local, or the company you buy the setting from?

I noticed that a lot of the suggestions are SI1 instead of VS2. Does that make a difference to the naked eye? My VS2 spec was based on limited research.

You say the James Allen version of the setting is not very nice... I found this one: http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/-Platinum-Tapered-Baguette-Diamond-Engagement-Ring.html for $1650...it looks nice to me. Curious what you don't like about it?

Also, when you say "needs idealscope"...what does that mean?
 
Idealscope or FIrescope is a tool that measures light performance. http://www.lexusindia.in/products/gb-ideal-scope.aspx Good vendors have this tool and can take images of the diamond through it to demonstrate it's light performance.

Since the entire point of a diamond is to reflect light, and the entire point of faceting the diamond in RB faceting is to maximize that light return you want something that helps you pick out the stones with the best performance from the other stones.

Some vendors like BGD here: http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.028-h-vs2-round-diamond-ags-104055873007 If you look under the large picture you will see the red idealscope image. BGD offers an idealscope image upfront. Other vendors like James Allen will take Idealscope images for you, but you have to request it on a stone by stone basis (and they only allow you three per purchase so you want to use them well).

That James allen setting is basic serviceable and strong. But that head holding the stone is a peg head and it's not asthetically as lovely as it could be. And there are much lovelier versions of that style that have what we call an integrated basket. They are more high end and are much closer to the original version of that setting by Harry Winston or like the version Tiffany carries. It's just not the prettiest version, is all I am saying. And for a little bit more, you can get a much lovelier setting. The one that you posted has a MUCH nicer setting than the JA one. That's the main reason I'm pointing this out.

SI diamonds from vendors like JA or BGD that have them in stock and can look at them and inspect them for how clean they are to the naked eye can be a great savings. And not all VS2's are eyeclean either so, it's a step you have to do anyway. You have to ask the vendor to pull the stone and tell you if it's eyeclean, from what distance, and if there is anything visible from the sides (clarity is graded face up only so the sides of any diamond can show inclusions). But even if there is an inclusion visible from the side that usually is covered by the setting anyway.

You would have the stone set by either vendor. In this case JA doesn't work with outside settings so you would send your diamond if you bought from them, to BGD who makes the setting for them to set it (or ERD if they are making it) But BGD will set their diamonds in outside settings so if you bought from them, you could have the setting sent to them.

I would have a lovely three stone made for your stone in platinum by either BGD or ERD. Just ask for a HW style three stone with tapered baguettes in platinum with single claw prongs and and integrated head (the HW style has one but just to be clear). Okay?
 
Integrated head. Here's what I mean.

Compare the structure holding the stone here from the profile and similar shots: http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/three-stone/grace-3-stone-pears-18k-white-gold-5557w18 See how graceful and beautiful that is? Compare that to the V's of that peg head. And here's another integrated head, also graceful: http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/three-stone/pear-sidestones-18k-white-gold-5362w18

This is a peg head: http://www.bluenile.com/14k-white-gold-engagement-ring-setting_21011 straight on. JA setting is this head.

The profile is the view your lady will most often have of her ring. It should be as lovely as possible.
 
You're getting excellent advice here!

I feel like many of the Veteran PS'ers are being really repetitive and redundant in what they're explaining...every day. :wink2: =) And that's a nice thing because on other forums I'm on (watches, cars) people will tell you to use the search button and end the thread.

I assume there are stickies and basic tutorials to explain most of the things I see Gypsy explaining to every new member (I'm trying to remember if I asked what an Idealscope image was...but I think I researched it on my own)?? But luckily EVERYONE that really frequents this forum is super patient and nice! :wavey:
 
I agree...most forums I use the members will tell you to search for something rather than repeat something they have said. I definitely appreciate the advice and time spent. I will try to keep the questions to a minimum!
 
You are just fine. There are enough of us that we can answer all of your questions. Though I would encourage you to read this tutorial (and all of it's links) https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/diamond-cut as it will help you. And use the knowledge tab at the top to research topics.

But we are happy to answer your questions and would rather answer something we've answered 100 times before than have someone be too worried to ask something important and make a bad choice as a result.

Thank you Titan for your words.
 
Dave - that site is a a manufacturer site - many of the approved PS vendors work with them and are able to order from them. I don't have personal experience so hopefully someone here can chime in on the quality.
 
The only experience I have with Unique Settings is that I ordered one of their rings but it had to be returned because of porosity issues. I decided I didn't want another setting from there and moved on.

I do belive a lot of PS'ers have bought rings from them with no issues though.
 
Gypsy|1337391856|3198865 said:
.

The profile is the view your lady will most often have of her ring. It should be as lovely as possible.
Click to expand...


This is absolutely true! I love my ring and get compliments on it all the time, BUT I really don't love the profile AT ALL (Ritani Bella Vita). It wasn't something that I thought of when looking at rings, but now that I have the ring on my finger everyday, I sure do wish I loved the profile as much as I do other aspects of the ring!

Like Gypsy said ..... the profile is the view your lady will have most often!
 
Hi all,

I think this is the setting I would like to get. It's the only one I've seen so far that I like.

http://www.dvatche.com/index.php?page=collection&catID=3,12&id=99&startRow=0

I'm wondering if anyone has any idea what range of carat weights can be put into this setting without looking too small or too big (probably more concerned with the "too small" side of things). Any opinions are welcome and appreciated.
 
Vatche will most likely scale the ring to your diamond, as most manufacturers do. Some have a petite and larger version to fit the appropriate size of diamond. A number of the PS approved merchants sell Vatche, btw.

For the diamond you posted, it gets an HCA of 1 - you can access the tool at the top right under Tools --> HCA. Can you get a picture and idealscope to see the inclusions and light performance? (BTW - I see it's available on 2 NY based websites - so IDJewelry will be able to access the diamond, price match, let you know if it's eyeclean and get you idealscopes).
some other ones that score well to explore - e.g. get idealscopes for:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1462182.asp - 1.53 J SI2 $8700 with PS wire discount
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1463673.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1489285.asp - this one doesn't have the GIA cert available - you'll need the angles off the diagram - the strong blue fluor interests me

You only get three idealscopes - so I would get some consensus from more of an RB expert to narrow down the 3 you choose.
 
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