new at this - need help

[heatrate]

I''m in the market for an engagement ring. I am currently in Calgary but originally from Toronto. I''m not sure if geography plays a role in terms of market pricing for diamonds but I imagine Toronto or NY would be cheaper. Please correct me if I am mistaken. So.. my gf is from NY and my sister lives in NY so I have access to the NY diamond district through her. In any case I''ve been browsing through this website and have begun to educate myself.

My budget for the engagement ring is 8-9k (includes the center stone, setting and smaller diamonds in the setting).

Based on recommendations from people on this forum I emailed Martin at USA Certified Diamonds. I take it he is located in the Greater Toronto Area. In any case I gave him a brief description of what I am looking for since I don''t exactly know yet.

He gave me the following specs:

RD1.06E, VS1, EXGIA 7,563 8,017 60.8 56.0 95 MB EX EX6.62 x 6.64 x 4.03 79201 8277

It appears that the diamond is 1.06 carat and is of VS1 clarity. Beyond that I don''t know how to read this. Can anyone help me out?

Ideally what I am looking for is 1-1.05 carat stone with the best characteristics as possible for my budget. I have attached a picture of the setting my gf likes. This one is a Tacori setting but I imagine I can get a jeweler to make it.

I appreciate the help.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 10/10/2009 4:51:26 PM
Author:heatrate
I'm in the market for an engagement ring. I am currently in Calgary but originally from Toronto. I'm not sure if geography plays a role in terms of market pricing for diamonds but I imagine Toronto or NY would be cheaper. Please correct me if I am mistaken. So.. my gf is from NY and my sister lives in NY so I have access to the NY diamond district through her. In any case I've been browsing through this website and have begun to educate myself.

My budget for the engagement ring is 8-9k (includes the center stone, setting and smaller diamonds in the setting).

Based on recommendations from people on this forum I emailed Martin at USA Certified Diamonds. I take it he is located in the Greater Toronto Area. In any case I gave him a brief description of what I am looking for since I don't exactly know yet.

He gave me the following specs:

RD1.06 = carat weight E, VS1, EXGIA = ( GIA Excellent cut grade) 7,563 8,017 60.8 = depth 56.0 = table 95 MB = medium blue fluorescence EX EX = polish and symmetry 6.62 x 6.64 x 4.03 = diameter.

It appears that the diamond is 1.06 carat and is of VS1 clarity. Beyond that I don't know how to read this. Can anyone help me out?

Ideally what I am looking for is 1-1.05 carat stone with the best characteristics as possible for my budget. I have attached a picture of the setting my gf likes. This one is a Tacori setting but I imagine I can get a jeweler to make it.

I appreciate the help.

Welcome!

Hopefully that helps you translate the above info, there are more details needed please if you can ask Martin, can you get from the grading report the -

crown and pavilion angles and the star and lower girdle facet percentages too please. Also if Martin can get an Idealscope image for this diamond that would also be helpful.

The NY diamond district can be a minefield for the novice so be very careful if you shop there. If you prefer to buy from there rather than online, here are some vendors located there that have a good reputation here.

www.exceldiamonds.com

www.jamesallen.com have offices there

http://www.idjewelryonline.com/

www.engagementringsdirect.com

All of the above are in the diamond district.

www.goodoldgold.com ( are in Long Island if you don't mind a journey).

With all of the above vendors you will need an appointment.

 

[heatrate]

Thanks for the feedback. I have been away on business the last couple of weeks. I have requested this information from Martin. Do you think it is possible to have everything done by Dec 6th? I''m under some time pressure and was wondering if people have feedback on how long it takes to get the stone and the setting once I know what you want. My gf''s finger size is 4 3/4... which I heard is kind of small and so it may take longer to get the setting. Is this necessarily true? I will post the diamond specs once I have them to get your feedback. Appreciate the help. Thank you.

 

[chicklet]

Hi Heatrate, i''m from Edmonton and we have a jeweler here doing a trunk show of Tacori''s entire collection Nov 5-8. Maybe there will be some good deals or there will be one at a store in Calgary in the near future.

http://www.crowleysjewellers.com/cms/

 

[DavR]

Once you find a diamond you like it seems that all of the online vendors overnight them, so your biggest hurdle is the actual ring. Since it is around the start of the holiday season I was told to allow ~4 weeks for custom settings. Your best bet is to talk with whatever vendor you will be getting the actual ring from to see how much time you have to procure the diamond and get everything made within your time frame.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 10/26/2009 9:31:58 PM
Author: heatrate
Thanks for the feedback. I have been away on business the last couple of weeks. I have requested this information from Martin. Do you think it is possible to have everything done by Dec 6th? I''m under some time pressure and was wondering if people have feedback on how long it takes to get the stone and the setting once I know what you want. My gf''s finger size is 4 3/4... which I heard is kind of small and so it may take longer to get the setting. Is this necessarily true? I will post the diamond specs once I have them to get your feedback. Appreciate the help. Thank you.

Yes, just make sure the vendor knows your time constraints.

 

[heatrate]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. Well I''ve been browsing around and I may just go with a bluenile ring since I dont have a car in Calgary and its tough to get around to actually shop. I think bluenile should have the ring ready before Dec 6th. I am going to go with the prong-set setting: http://www.bluenile.ca/diamond-engagement-ring-setting_8019.

I''ve been using the HCA tool to narrow in on a diamond. I was wondering if anyone can please comment on the following GIA specs:

Shape: Round Brilliant
Measurements: 6.05 - 6.54 x 4.02 mm
Weight: 1.05
Colour: F
Clarity: VS2 (has a tiny cloud in the crown just left of center and 2 tiny pinpoints in the pavilion roughly half way from the center to the edge on opposite sides of the stone)
Crown angle: 34.5
Pavilion angle: 40.8
Table: 57%
Depth: 61.7%
Girdle: medium to slightly thick (3.5%)
Culet: none
Cut Grade: Excellent
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: none
Price: $8,071 Canadian Dollars
HCA score: 1.4 (Ex, Ex, Ex, Very-Good for Spread)

I know Bluenile does not provide Idealscope images so I guess I am some what limited in deciding whether this diamond has the best characteristics (i.e. shine, brilliance, sparkle) for the dollar in my budget - I dont want to spend anymore than 8k CAD. Appreciate all the help. I thank you very much for your help to date. Thank you.

 

[Lorelei]

BN does not supply IS images but this diamond is about as safe as you can get numberswise without one, no guarantee of course but by rights it should be a lovely diamond.

 

[stone-cold11]

Numbers look good and safe.

 

[canuk-gal]

Date: 10/31/2009 7:04:38 AM
Author: Lorelei
BN does not supply IS images but this diamond is about as safe as you can get numberswise without one, no guarantee of course but by rights it should be a lovely diamond.

HI:

Does Martin supply images--can''t remember seeing anything from him in past.....

Jewels by Maxime in Calgary is a Tacori supplier--in fact their entire collection will be in Calgary Nov 19-22nd. I just checked their website.....

The C-Train should get you close to Chinook where the trunk show is......

As an aside, I recommend Fleetwood Jewellers; it is a Brick and Morter in Calgary where I buy many jewels and diamonds from. They are in SW by Heritage.

cheers--Sharon

 

[heatrate]

Well folks after all the research I went with an eRing from Bluenile.

Here are the specs:

size: 1.15 ct
colour: E
clarity: vs2
Cut: ideal
pavilion angle: 40.8
crown: 34.5
table 57%
depth 61%
culet: none
polish/symmetry: excellent
HCA score: 1.3
ring size: 5

I went with the white gold prong with 10 side stone setting from bluenile since it closely resembled one of the settings my fiance had mentioned she really fancied. The proposal date is on the 3rd of December... planning all the details now.

I have attached some pictures.

 

[heatrate]

another shot

 

[heatrate]

pic 3

 

[heatrate]

pic 4..

I want to thank everyone here for your much valued help. I am sure I will be visiting this website often in the years to come as for some odd reason I have acquired the taste of diamonds. I''m a typical guy and a nob when it comes to jewels but having spent so much time looking at various stones I have come to like diamonds. Maybe I will strike it rich and can become a diamond collector.

 

[stone-cold11]

Good luck on the proposal.

 

[yssie]

Looks fabulous, good luck!!