New...and need help

[firstbase32]

Hey guys i just found this website yesterday so I''m pretty much as new as you can get. My girlfriend and I have been dating for 5 years and I think it''s about time to pop the question. We are both college students so my budget is pretty small. I have at most $1000 to spend on a ring. She would like a princess cut diamond and somewhere around 1/2C. I have talked to people at work and they say that will be pretty tough. I was wondering how tough you guys think it would be to find a good ring that she will be proud to show off for that...or if i should switch to a round diamond since it would be cheaper. Thanks for any help, it is GREATLY appreciated!

 

[JulieN]

.5 ct princess is smaller than .5 ct round
but is cheaper

1000: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=53&item=315372
1070: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=53&item=315371

So, what you are asking is not impossible.

 

[belle]

welcome to ps firstbase and congratulations on your upcoming engagement!

if your gf wants a princess cut, you must get her a princess cut!

getting what she wants is more important than what is cheaper.

you can use the ''pricescope your diamond'' feature above to get a list of diamonds in your price range. try to stick to ags or gia graded diamonds, since they tend to be more strict on color/clarity grading.

 

[mrssalvo]

i think you be able to find a nice stone for you budget. Ditto what belle said about sticking to the princess if that''s what she wants. You also might look into purchasing from a vendor who has a good upgrade policy. That way in a few years when budget permits you can get her a larger stone if either of you wish too.

 

[JulieN]

I thought you had 1K for the diamond. If it is for the whole thing, 829 http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?pid=LD00488540&filter_id=0 +225 http://www.bluenile.com/product_details.asp?oid=3074&page=1&col=1&row=2&pos=4&set_shape=

Good luck!

 

[firstbase32]

She knows she''s not getting something huge write now because for one we''re both attending a private Christian college majoring in youth ministry and children''s ministry so we''re not going to be making a ton of dough right out of school...so 10 years or so i would have no problem by then getting her the ring she deserves.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=131&item=315371

Would this be a great one for me you guys think? I know a guy in the area who can cut me a deal but I want to show him something that I want before and the price range so I don''t get the shaft.

 

[firstbase32]

I can go around $1,000....a little above if it called for it

 

[JulieN]

F SI1 on right

 

[belle]

those look great julie

firstbase, make sure you are getting a well cut stone from your friend. the diamonds julie posted are better than most anything you will find on the market. don't assume that a certain depth/table will guarantee a comparable good looking diamond.

 

[JulieN]

not much to say...the G is more square?

actually, they're both very fine cuts, table is a little bigger than I would like, and the inclusions look eye-clean.



If you know a guy and want to brave it out there, stick to GIA/AGS certed stones. No very thin girdle: thin to slightly thick, thick is ok, but less preferable.

Polish/symm should be ideal, ex, or very good. "Good" is actually quite poor.

Depth, I'd say no more than 77, try to aim for a max of 75, though.

Table 62-68..max 70

After that, use your eyes. Anything sparkles under those spotlights, and things just look BETTER in person than they do on a computer screen

(even if they're worse performers,) so try to get it into indirect light.

 

[JulieN]

One more thing: James Allen has a buy back and upgrade policy.

Three Year Buy Back - If for any reason you need to sell your diamond, we will buy back your loose diamond purchase for 75% of the original purchase price. Diamond must be in original condition and accompanied by original laboratory grading document. In a market that usually only pays 40-50 cents on the dollar, this policy can save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars down the line.

Five Year Trade-Up Policy - If for any reason you would like to exchange a loose diamond purchased from us for an item of equal or greater value, we will give you a credit equal to 80-100% of the original purchase price of your item. Diamonds from our Signature Collection can be exchanged at 100% credit, all other diamonds can be exchanged for 80% credit. Diamond must be in original condition and accompanied by original laboratory grading document.

Just wondering if the other guy will do that for you?

 

[JulieN]

firstbase, one MORE thing.

check out the "two princesses" video http://diamondscope.pricescope.com/, second row, third column, which shows an average princess and an AGS ideal princess (the BN one I posted is such a diamond) side by side.

If you can get your hands on an AGS-0 princess, that would be great. However, they do carry a price premium over a similar GIA stone.

As it is, you're going to want a first-rate cut princess, because they don't perform as well as rounds.

Hope this isn't too much at once.