Need Your HELP Finding a Round Diamond

[Andr3w]

Hello,

I hope everyone is enjoying their 4th of July weekend. I have a been a lurker on this forum for all most a month now and would like some help finding the perfect e-ring within my budget and that will make my girlfriend happy. I just want to say thank you and appreciate all the help and feedback everyone provides.

I don't know much outside the 4 Cs so please take it easy on me. Here is what I'm looking for so please let me know if it is possible.

Shape: Round
Carat: .7-.9 (pref .8 or larger)
Color: I or better
Cut: excellent/ideal (Cut is king.. Thanks Gypsy)
Clarity: S1 or better (as long as it is eye clean)

Settings: Halo with diamonds on the band
I have been looking at these settings from JA. However, the ring sizes are 3-5. My girlfriend's ring size is 5.5-6. Will getting a size 5 ring be possible and just having it resized or do i need to look for a larger ring.
https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/halo/platinum-petite-diamond-halo-engagement-ring-item-41150
https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/halo/platinum-pave-halo-and-shank-diamond-engagement-ring-round-center-item-17442


Budget: 4500-5000 (includes setting)

The ring my girlfriend and I checked out at Costco is something that she is happy with already but I was hopping I could do better. It was something like this.
http://www.costco.com/Round-Brilliant-1.35-ctw-VS2-Clarity%2c-I-Color-Diamond-Platinum-%22Jackie%22-Ring.product.100114269.html

I would prefer to get the ring and setting at the same place to make things easier for me.

Thanks again.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Okay, go with the second setting. The sizes are in a box and you scroll down and 5.5 and 6 are there. But you need to know the correct size because resizing is risky with a pave shank (it can loosen the stones).

I'll look for some diamonds up to $3800.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Okay, this is about the best I SI1 that I saw (be sure to ask if it is eyeclean):

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.86-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1867960

I prefer this one if you could swing it:

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.89-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1857465

Not seeing a great VS2.

 

[Andr3w]

Thank you for the suggestions. I can definitely do the second one if you think it is that much better. My girlfriend does prefer quality and she will feel better knowing her diamond is an VS1 > S1. lol even though I have been teacher her that an eye clean S1 diamond is just as good as the higher quality diamonds to the naked eye.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I wish I could have found a VS2 for you, but there was not one as good as these. The .89 appears to maybe be a little better cut and down the road, I think you'd never regret going with the better clarity. But I don't want to make anyone feel they have to go over budget if it is a problem.

 

[Gypsy]

How about this combo:
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/gunievere-pave-diamond-engagement-ring-2099.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3667386.htm

I STRONGLY prefer WF's pave quality to JA's.

 

[Andr3w]

I sadly missed the 15% off from James Allen's summer sale. However, i'm not sure if it applied to loose diamonds so maybe it's not that big of a deal since they still have the $100 off for signing up with the newsletter.

James Allan diamonds - i have put both of them on hold. First diamond is eye clean from about 8-10 inches.

Gyspy - I'm not sure if my girlfriend will like a square halo but i will definitely ask her. Btw, she prefers platinum. What do you think of these?
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/ritani-1rz1323-halo-diamond-engagement-ring-3880.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/halo-prong-diamond-engagement-ring-34.htm

Question - The diamonds on these settings are much higher color quality. Will this be a problem/noticeable? Do i need to lower the carat size and up the color?

I will be able to up my budget to $5000 - $5,500.

 

[Gypsy]

Read these and make a decision yourself:


Why pave is fragile: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/which-online-retailer-for-a-custom-setting.203660/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/which-online-retailer-for-a-custom-setting.203660/[/URL]
Why we recommend handforging for pave: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/what-do-you-all-think-of-this-stone.219137/page-2#post-3981481#p3981481']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/what-do-you-all-think-of-this-stone.219137/page-2#post-3981481#p3981481[/URL]