Need to buy an Engagment Ring.. hopefully by this week!

[hihiorange2]

Our condo is interim closing is approaching and I wanted to take her to condo inspection as a Fiancee

I graduated from University for a couple of years and my savings have all gone to the down payment.. so I am on a very tight budget for the ring.. my ideal price range is around mid 60k....she preferred "pave settings" and I hope to go for one that is around 0.7 to 0.9 carats round diamond with excellent to ideal cut..

I have been reading some articles and used some HCA tools to help me pick out some..


My friend got one at adiamor but her bf had the diamond shipped to US and picked it up there (i live in Canada)
other than that person, the other people around me have been ordering from bluenile and all the feedback have been positives..

though i understand that james Allen, WF are probably better choice than bluenile and offer more settings...yet I am somewhat concern about the shipping to Canada part..(i might have to pay extra.. )

Here are the two that i choose so far, please kindly comment on these...

http://www.bluenile.ca/build-your-o...tep=DIAMONDS_STEP&builder=BYOR&pid=LD02167398 I liked this one but it seems to have some clarity issues on the GIA report?

http://www.bluenile.ca/build-your-o...tep=DIAMONDS_STEP|builder=BYOR|pid=LD02032387


http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1391329.asp this one from James Allen actually looks good and plus the $900 pave settings fit in perfectly!

Thanks soo much for all the help in advance.. i am welcome and very open to other suggestions as well!!

 

[stone-cold11]

Clarity issue? Inclusions at VS level and better will never be a problem.

Numbers for the 2 BN stones look promising but probably appeal to different taste, but that is all the information you can get from them. The 0.80c is a more balance cut, while the 0.77c has a larger table and lower half size, some people will be able to tell the difference and gravitate to one or the other.

The JA stone look promising so far, ask for the idealscope and Hearts' image.

 

[Amys Bling]

hihiorange- I think you meant that your budget is around mid 6K... when I saw that you said you have a tight budget and then 60K I almost choked on my food, lol!

Does your GF have any color or clarity preferences?

Some to look at- keep in mind many pave settingg will cost around 1,000-1,500 range depending.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1391350.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1391340.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VVS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1391321.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1391336.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-IF-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1383420.asp

 

[hihiorange2]

hihiorange- I think you meant that your budget is around mid 6K... when I saw that you said you have a tight budget and then 60K I almost choked on my food, lol!

Does your GF have any color or clarity preferences?

Some to look at- keep in mind many pave settingg will cost around 1,000-1,500 range depending.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1391350.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1391340.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VVS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1391321.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1391336.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-IF-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1383420.asp

Hi Amy, LOL yes, i meant mid 6k as my budget ahhahaha fat fingers..

My gf at this moment does not have any preference… regarding to all other Cs..
all she did was played around the scale and looked briefly looked at the description of the 4Cs on the bluenile website…
Trust me, Carat is still everything for her in terms of diamond knowledge…

Obviously, her attitude will change once she start comparing hers with her other engaged friend’s ring (her friends have oaded bfs).. which I don’t want this to happen..at least i can give her one relatively close to 1 carat yet with fire

Color I would like to have at least G and Clarity not lower than VS levels, preferably VS1…

Thank you soo much for your reply!!!!
as I am at work now and can’t really look at your recommendation in details (hopefully I can do it during lunch. .)

 

[hihiorange2]

Clarity issue? Inclusions at VS level and better will never be a problem.

Numbers for the 2 BN stones look promising but probably appeal to different taste, but that is all the information you can get from them. The 0.80c is a more balance cut, while the 0.77c has a larger table and lower half size, some people will be able to tell the difference and gravitate to one or the other.

The JA stone look promising so far, ask for the idealscope and Hearts' image.

the 0.8c one is already gone .. my concern is in the GIA report clarity characteristics, it has all crystal, cloud, needle, Pinpoint...seems a little too much?

 

[stone-cold11]

still the same, if it is a VS1, it means the worst inclusion is only VS1, you will not be able to see it with the naked eye. Even if equipment, most of the time you will not see it unless you know what to look for.

How do you know if a VS1 has only one type of inclusions is better? If may have more of the same inclusions. So the number of types of inclusions present is irrelevant.

 

[hihiorange2]

still the same, if it is a VS1, it means the worst inclusion is only VS1, you will not be able to see it with the naked eye. Even if equipment, most of the time you will not see it unless you know what to look for.

How do you know if a VS1 has only one type of inclusions is better? If may have more of the same inclusions. So the number of types of inclusions present is irrelevant.

Thank you for your explanation.... just various type of inclusions scared me off abit..

i tried to sneak online to look at Amy's suggestions..
Again, i still liked the one i picked before and one of hers.. wondering which one is better..seems like the 0.82 one has a better HCA score..

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1391329.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VVS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1391321.asp

 

[IbrahimSS]

I can't help but proceed all my posts with I'm not an expert. I just bought a diamond and was helped out by the community here so I'm trying to give back by helping to reply.

I'd stick to some of the vendors from the search engine on this site. James Allen, Good Old Gold, and White Flash being examples. I've seen mixed reviews on Blue Nile and I don't really feel like they provide you with enough information to make an educated decision on their stock of diamonds. The vendors on this site provide you with reports, idealscope images, and generally speaking proven customer service.

I bought my (my girlfriend's really) stone from Good Old Gold. So far they have been a pleasure to work with. I also had help from the people at James Allen who were rather friendly as well. I worked with White Flash but I found them a bit more pushy.

I also worked with the guys at Southern Wholesale Jewelers who are not affiliates of this site as far as I can tell. My experience with them so far as been very, very good. Prices were great, and they were honest and knowledgeable. I'd say however that I don't think their site is as good as the ones from the search engine here.

 

[stone-cold11]

Thank you for your explanation.... just various type of inclusions scared me off abit..

i tried to sneak online to look at Amy's suggestions..
Again, i still liked the one i picked before and one of hers.. wondering which one is better..seems like the 0.82 one has a better HCA score..

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1391329.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VVS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1391321.asp

About the same from the infor available so far. I would wait for the idealscope and hearts image before deciding on which stone is better.

 

[farmer gal]

I wanted to throw this diamond out at you it is an SI1, but it looks like a pretty spotless SI1. I think it really looks like a dandy for a great price.

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2645107.htm

I'm not sure what they would charge you living in canada, it sounds like free shipping, I would call and find out.

http://www.whiteflash.com/about-diamonds/faq/free-shipping.htm

If you are at all interested in the diamond I would call and place it on hold.

Settings

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/rounded-open-cathedral-diamond-engagement-ring-626.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/petite-open-cathedral-diamond-engagement-ring-1539.htm

or you can get the set to avoid shipping again

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/wedding-sets/petite-open-cathedral-diamond-wedding-set-1540.htm

 

[hihiorange2]

Thank you for your explanation.... just various type of inclusions scared me off abit..

i tried to sneak online to look at Amy's suggestions..
Again, i still liked the one i picked before and one of hers.. wondering which one is better..seems like the 0.82 one has a better HCA score..

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1391329.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VVS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1391321.asp

About the same from the infor available so far. I would wait for the idealscope and hearts image before deciding on which stone is better.

I have already requested by e-mail, hopefully can have it by today

 

[hihiorange2]

Yeaa, finally the idealscope and H&A pictures are IN..

Here are my Last two choice.. please help me make a decision..

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1391329.asp

Idealscope for 1329: http://i55.tinypic.com/2ds0e1u.jpg
H&A for 1329: http://i51.tinypic.com/11qgsb4.jpg

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VVS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1391321.asp

Idealscope for 1321: http://i51.tinypic.com/2ci7kg2.jpg
H&A for 1329: http://i55.tinypic.com/24fxu8y.jpg

Thanks a million for everyone's help

 

[TristanC]

Yeaa, finally the idealscope and H&A pictures are IN..

Here are my Last two choice.. please help me make a decision..

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1391329.asp

Idealscope for 1329: http://i55.tinypic.com/2ds0e1u.jpg
H&A for 1329: http://i51.tinypic.com/11qgsb4.jpg

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VVS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1391321.asp

Idealscope for 1321: http://i51.tinypic.com/2ci7kg2.jpg
H&A for 1329: http://i55.tinypic.com/24fxu8y.jpg

Thanks a million for everyone's help

I'd pick the first one. 0.82.

 

[stone-cold11]

Ditto.

 

[hihiorange2]

ahah, i'd expect a longer feed back from Stone!.. j/k!!

Thanks ! i guess for JA, i should mention all the PS discount as well as band discount when i place my order!

 

[stone-cold11]

yap. Mentioned it to them. Sometimes they assumed you are not from PS.

 

[hihiorange2]

Thank you everyone for your assistance!!!

Order is placed!! and i asked the sales rep for PS discount!! it was nice 200+ dollars off.. which allows me to choose a nicer setting

will wrap up the whole experience once everything is done smoothly!!

 

[stone-cold11]

There is also another discount for wire-transfer. Did you use that too?

Good luck.