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New Guy E-Ring Help

japroffitt1

japroffitt1

Rough_Rock
Joined
Apr 21, 2012
Messages
25
Ok, So I am new here and just found the forum when I was researching diamonds online for my near future purchase of a diamond and ring. I have been looking for about two weeks but in the past couple of days I have really gotten serious and I think that I have nailed down my search criteria to help me find a beautiful diamond. I have a budget of up to $7,000 and my girlfriend is set on a halo setting from Eli Jewels that we saw at a local jeweler in the DC area, Mervis Diamond Importers. I think this is the link for the setting but it seems their website is down right now:
http://www.elijewels.com/collection/bridal-collections/beignet-collection.html?newsku=SR01987AA1R1065
It was a bit of a surprise to me that the ring it self is $3,775 in 18k white gold. It has 0.64 total carat weight of diamonds and is absolutely beautiful and what my gf really wants so I am pretty sure that is what I am going to buy. I have also checked around at other jewelers for the same ring and got price quotes that were slightly higher than Mervis and looked at similar rings from other designers and prices were in the same neighborhood.

So now to the Diamond! With the left over money of my budget which is right around $3,000 I want to get a beautiful round cut diamond. My criteria are color DEF and clarity VS1 VS2 SI1. The carat weight I would like to maximize but definitely want to stay above 0.60. And for cut I am using modified "Mara Specs" that I found in an older post.
Table: 55-58
Depth: 59.9-62
Crown Angle: 34-35
Pavilon Angle: 40.5-40.9
Polish and Symmetry: EX/EX of ID/ID
Those are the criteria I have used to search Mervis' inventory and online sites such as James Allen and Whiteflash. I would really prefer to buy from Mervis as they are local and their prices seem to be almost in line with the online vendors, obviously slightly higher. Here are the specs for a couple stones that Mervis has coming in from one of their other stores for me to see on Monday. All info below is from GIA report:

Carat: 0.63
Color: E
Clarity: VS2
Cut: Very Good
Polish: VG
Symm: VG
Table: 52
Depth: 62.6
Crown: 34
Pav: 40.8
HCA: 1.3
Price: $3,049

Carat:0.61
Color: F
Clarity: VS2
Cut: Good
Polish: VG
Symm: VG
Table: 61
Depth: 59.3
Crown: 34
Pav: 40.2
HCA: 2.1
Price: $2,525

Carat: 0.61
Color: G
Clarity: VS1
Cut: VG
Polish: Good
Symm: VG
Table: 60
Depth: 59.1
Crown: 34
Pav: 40.4
HCA: 1.3
Price: $2,888

The following diamond is one that they have at their overseas supplier and I have requested that they ship it in because it aligns with my specs the best, and depending on the inclusions I think may be the right diamond for me.

Carat: 0.67
Color: F
Clarity: SI1
Cut: Excellent
Polish: VG
Symm: VG
Table: 56
Depth: 60.5
Crown: 34.5
Pav: 40.6
HCA: 0.6
Price: $2,877

So that is where I am right now in the process. I hope to buy something within the next two weeks because they quoted me up to 4 weeks for the designer to make the ring to the diamonds specs and then to set it. Let me know what you pricescopers think! I am not completely opposed to buying a diamond online and would love to get a little more for my money and not have to pay tax but I want to atleast exhaust what local has to offer first.
 
If you can use an out of state address for shipping, Mervis will send you the completed ring and you can avoid tax. I looked there and we asked about that. You just have to set it up with them to do so and you may have to pay for the shipping. It would save you the tax though.
 
That is a beautiful setting and Eli makes fine quality rings! I am just not sure about not having that made in platinum, though, because a little yellow will peak through as the rhodium plating wears off and you have a lot of tiny prongs holding all that pave! I think you are correct about the price being consistent with others of it's type and quality.

As far as the diamond goes, the only way I'd buy from Mervis is if they price match one you find online, because you need to get the most out of that $3000.

Second, you need to look at GIA Excellent cut only, just scratch everything else (unless it is AGS Ideal cut)! We would tell you that some GIA Excellents are better than others and to avoid some of those. But I would far rather see you drop to G color and get a very well cut stone because the cut is the most important factor in a stone's beauty! And really, I would encourage you to drop to G color anyway, because that setting is going to look better with a larger diamond than a .60. None of those stones above are worth considering except the last one. All diamonds are going to look pretty in jewelry store lighting, but some of those are going to have major leakage and not be attractive as others in all lighting. Please use the guidelines you already have!

I will try to find you a few examples of well cut stones in your budget.

Oh, and when you list stones, a very important thing is the diameter measurement. You listed a stone that had a depth greater than 62 and I am betting it faces up small for it's weight. That is the last thing you want! Also, change that pavilion angle guideline to 40.6-41.0.
 
Okay, I found two excellent examples just a little above your price target, but they are going to get you more size and both are very excellent cuts. Both are F color...I couldn't find any G's that I loved.

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2728091.htm (.78 F SI1, 5.91mm, $3873 pricescope/wire
price)

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1484299.asp (.72 F SI1, 5.82mm, $3200 w/pricescope discount)

With all SI1 stones, you must ask the jeweler/vendor if the stones are eyeclean.
 
The dimensions in the same order are:

5.51 - 5.54 x 3.46

5.49 - 5.51 x 3.26

5.51 x 5.53 x 3.26

5.66 - 5.71 x 3.44
 
diamondseeker2006|1335019435|3177116 said:
Okay, I found two excellent examples just a little above your price target, but they are going to get you more size and both are very excellent cuts. Both are F color...I couldn't find any G's that I loved.

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2728091.htm (.78 F SI1, 5.91mm, $3873 pricescope/wire
price)

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1484299.asp (.72 F SI1, 5.82mm, $3200 w/pricescope discount)

With all SI1 stones, you must ask the jeweler/vendor if the stones are eyeclean.
Click to expand...

These are excellent choices! :love: It's going to make a beautiful ring!
 
[quote="japroffitt1

Carat: 0.67
Color: F
Clarity: SI1
Cut: Excellent
Polish: VG
Symm: VG
Table: 56
Depth: 60.5
Crown: 34.5
Pav: 40.6
HCA: 0.6
Price: $2,877

So that is where I am right now in the process. I hope to buy something within the next two weeks because they quoted me up to 4 weeks for the designer to make the ring to the diamonds specs and then to set it. Let me know what you pricescopers think! I am not completely opposed to buying a diamond online and would love to get a little more for my money and not have to pay tax but I want to atleast exhaust what local has to offer first.[/quote]


going by the specs your last stone looks best.
 
diamondseeker2006|1335019435|3177116 said:
Okay, I found two excellent examples just a little above your price target, but they are going to get you more size and both are very excellent cuts. Both are F color...I couldn't find any G's that I loved.

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2728091.htm (.78 F SI1, 5.91mm, $3873 pricescope/wire
price)

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1484299.asp (.72 F SI1, 5.82mm, $3200 w/pricescope discount)

With all SI1 stones, you must ask the jeweler/vendor if the stones are eyeclean.
Click to expand...

Diamondseeker, I just did an independent search of the net this morning and the second diamond you linked ended up being my top contender. When I finished the search I came back to the thread to compare it to the two you linked and what do you know it was one of them. I am talking about the .72 at James Allen. It seems like it is right for me and I think I am going to go ahead and order it since their return policy is very lenient at 60 days. I like that it faces up pretty large for its weight, it is larger than many .74 and .75s that I looked at and I like that it is F color. I really want to stay at D-F and would only want to drop to G if I had to. Thanks for you help and any more suggestions would be great.
 
Can anyone out there give me the run down on ordering from online? I assume I should call and talk to someone that is viewing the diamond and be sure that it is eyeclean and they can describe the inclusions for me. Is there anything else I should ask? WIll James Allen provide further pictures or analyses like Good Old Gold does? I am new to this so any info would be greatly appreciated.
 
James Allen will provide ASET you just have to ask. I think it takes a little while to get them, maybe a few days. Just call and ask. I would do this quickly sine the stone has been posted here, often lurkers will snatch up and buy a stone that's been posted and then you will loose it :(
 
I would call JA and have them review the diamond to make sure it is eyeclean and provide idealscope images :twirl: That diamond looks great!
 
They have put the diamond on hold for me pending the idealscope images. It will be on hold until 24 hours after I receive the images. They also mentioned that I could have up to 3 diamonds compared in a phone consultation with a gemologist. Obviously right now this is my first choice on their site, but has anyone seen any others that I should also include? I will continue to look but you all probably have a keener eye than I do at this point.

Also, what questions should I ask during the phone consultation? The main information I will be seeking is about the inclusions and whether it is eyeclean.

Thanks for the help so far.
 
It looks like you have some great advice on the diamond but I'm gonna talk about your setting. That style of setting is actually very common and the one you have chosen is on the high end of the price range for these types of settings. I would suggest looking for similar settings (I'll post a few) that cost less so you can add more to the diamond budget.
http://www.gabrielny.com/engaged/style/ER8267W44JJ

http://www.gabrielny.com/engaged/style/ER6824W83JJ

http://www.gabrielny.com/engaged/style/ER7181W83JJ

http://www.gabrielny.com/engaged/style/ER7505W44JJ
There are more settings of this style on the Gabriel and Co website and I would suggest contacting ID jewelry as they can get these setting for less then the prices listed on the website

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagemen...ace-diamond-engagement-ring-by-vatche-256.htm

Happy Diamond Hunting :-)
 
Mrs. W 514|1335151455|3178176 said:
It looks like you have some great advice on the diamond but I'm gonna talk about your setting. That style of setting is actually very common and the one you have chosen is on the high end of the price range for these types of settings. I would suggest looking for similar settings (I'll post a few) that cost less so you can add more to the diamond budget.
http://www.gabrielny.com/engaged/style/ER8267W44JJ

http://www.gabrielny.com/engaged/style/ER6824W83JJ

http://www.gabrielny.com/engaged/style/ER7181W83JJ

http://www.gabrielny.com/engaged/style/ER7505W44JJ
There are more settings of this style on the Gabriel and Co website and I would suggest contacting ID jewelry as they can get these setting for less then the prices listed on the website

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagemen...ace-diamond-engagement-ring-by-vatche-256.htm

Happy Diamond Hunting :-)
Click to expand...

It is actually a pretty distinct halo because it has two rows of paved diamonds encircling the center stone. The second row is also angled out so it gives a very pleasant appearance. The halos you linked are all a single halo and set flat below the center stone. Also, I am pretty sure my girlfriend wants nothing to do with a bezel either around the center stone or the halo. The setting I have chosen also has significantly more carat weight of diamonds and is in 18k for the price I quoted rather than some of the 14k you linked. I believe it is a fair price for the ring. I agree that I would rather pay less for the setting and more for the diamond but if it is what my girlfriend really wants and I agree that it is beautiful when seen in person, then I am more than happy to go with it. It is one of the largest halos I have seen and it is very very sparkly in person, much more so than any other I have viewed.
 
I agree with you. If she has her heart set on that halo and you can afford it I would also go with it:) Anything less might be a disappointment to her. Some people love the overall ring, and some would like a larger centerstone in a simple solitaire, your girlfriend wants the overall ring, nothing wrong with that, to each their own :wink2:
 
I am still awaiting the idealscope images of the James Allen diamond above, but in my continued search I came across this diamond:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1433490.asp
Does anyone know what the symbol beside the maple leaf means on the certificate? I asked the webchat on James Allen's website and they guy was not sure. I have also put it on hold and requested idealscope images.
 
I think I figured out what the symbol is:
gia.png

I looked at the report online through the GIA report check and it says:
[MAPLE LEAF OUTLINE SYMBOL], [IGI2 symbol] M2B58970

So I think this diamond must have been graded by IGI, but when I tried the report look up on their site it could not find anything. I would be very interested in seeing the report if I could find it.
 
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