New here, question about ring shopping.

[33nayurd]

DH and I went to shop for a diamond ring today at the mall. It felt like no one wanted our business or something! At 2 of the places the sales clerk seemed annoyed that we were even there. Finally we went to the "expensive place" and they were nice & all but we were quoted double what we were told on the same ring last year. Now I am considering buying online. Our budget is $1500-$1700 total (setting & rock) and I am looking for a .50 carat (give or take) with decent specs. Not the most perfect diamond ever & I am willing to go smaller for better quality. I figure we''ll have about $1000 for the diamond and the rest will be for the setting. I plan on getting a setting and having it engraved then buying the diamond separately and having the ring put together since I cannot find a setting with engraving I like. Has anyone done this? How did it go? Any advice? Am I within reasonable parameters as far as price? Where should I look? Thank you!

 

[yssie]

0.6 J VS2 http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/whiteflash-aca-cut-diamond-2183234.htm
wg solitaire setting http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/styles/solitaire/6-prong-tiffany-style-diamond-solitaire_993.htm

 

[33nayurd]

Thanks!

 

[33nayurd]

The expensive place had a .46 I SI1 (didn''t mention cut) and they said it was on sale for $1700 - it felt like a bit much. It also looked "steely". What does that mean? It wasn''t firey at all just gray looking.

 

[Chase035]

Bunch of options at your disposal:

.48 F VS2 H&A (if you are color sensitive)
http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/whiteflash-aca-cut-diamond-14116.htm

.52 H SI1 H&A
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1213090.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

 

[Dreamer_D]

What is your desired color and clarity?

 

[E B]

This one looks nice, and I think it's a good safe combo in terms of color and clarity (if eye-clean) balanced with budget:

.562 H, SI1 Brian Gavin Signature H&A $1125 (wire)

You might ask if having their simple white gold solitaire setting engraved is in budget so you don't have to go two different places to have your ring put together.

 

[CharmyPoo]

Great options given above.

I think shopping online is a wonderful choice. I personally don''t have the time to go to store to store and listen to the sales pitch and mis-information. I find that the PS vendors are extremly responsive via email (great for my schedule) and aren''t as pushy as the average jewelry store. There is a higher chance that you get a high quality diamond at a good price with these vendors.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 3/8/2010 12:46:25 AM
Author: E B
This one looks nice, and I think it's a good safe combo in terms of color and clarity (if eye-clean) balanced with budget:

.562 H, SI1 Brian Gavin Signature H&A $1125 (wire)

You might ask if having their simple white gold solitaire setting engraved is in budget so you don't have to go two different places to have your ring put together.

sorry,that one has been sold.

 

[33nayurd]

Color preference would be G/H/I, as far as clarity goes is there a huge difference between VS1 & SI1 to the naked eye?

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 3/8/2010 10:35:25 AM
Author: 33nayurd
Color preference would be G/H/I, as far as clarity goes is there a huge difference between VS1 & SI1 to the naked eye?

maybe to a young pair of eyes,but not to my old pair.

 

[33nayurd]

Thanks! I was hoping that was the case.

As far as a stone looking really gray, what is that about, what causes it? What specs should I be looking for to avoid that when shopping online? I would prefer something with some warmth.

 

[E B]

Date: 3/8/2010 1:30:20 AM
Author: Dancing Fire

Date: 3/8/2010 12:46:25 AM

Author: E B

This one looks nice, and I think it's a good safe combo in terms of color and clarity (if eye-clean) balanced with budget:


.562 H, SI1 Brian Gavin Signature H&A $1125 (wire)


You might ask if having their simple white gold solitaire setting engraved is in budget so you don't have to go two different places to have your ring put together.

sorry,that one has been sold.

It doesn't show that it's been sold on my computer. Are we looking at the same diamond?

 

[33nayurd]

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1275696.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

Does something like this look good?

Or go a little smaller for this:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1289523.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 3/8/2010 12:23:18 PM
Author: 33nayurd
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1275696.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

Does something like this look good?

Or go a little smaller for this:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1289523.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

clickable

When you say "warmth" how serious are you? If you like a nice warm white, go with an I/J. Any higher and the diamond will have an icy look to it.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I don''t like the images of the first JA stone, and the second doesn''t have any images attached. Thos diamonds are both at the lowest end of your budget. What do you *really* want to spend on a diamond? There have been some nice suggestions further up in this thread.

 

[stone-cold11]

something is not right with the Idealscope image of the I stone compared to the loupe image.

no image yet for the other stone, but looks promising.

 

[33nayurd]

Thanks for making them clickable!


The total price includes the setting which will be engraved so that takes up $500 or more of the budget. The price of the diamond would be $1000-1200 - tops.

The second stone AGS profile looks good and not very included. Maybe I am putting too much emphasis on that part?

It''s hard to tell how some of them would look in person when the AGS on some of them look very spotty??? Does that matter? I mean can you even see it with the naked eye?

As far as color, I just don''t want it to look gray, some of the higher color rated ones I have seen have a steely look to them. So would H-i Be a good range to avoid that?

I guess I am just nervous about buying something I haven''t really seen. I sound so picky but this is for my wedding set and I want something I''ll love, even if it''s on the smaller side!

 

[stone-cold11]

For the color, depends on which lab graded the stone and how good the cut is. If the stone you viewed is badly cut and/or graded by some no name lab/in-house graded, it will show more color than a well cut correctly GIA/AGS graded stone.

For clarity, ask JA if the stone is eye-clean, that should take care of that, clarity plot or the loupe image is useless as a basis to judge if a stone is eye-clean.

 

[Dreamer_D]

You don''t sound picky at all.

Clarity needs to be assessed on a stone by stone basis when considering SI1 diamonds, and to an extent with VS2 diamonds as well. The vendor can confirm for you if the diamond is "eye clean" or not. You cannot judge this from calrity plots unfortunately.

H-I is a very good choice for you if you do not like the steely look. I would even recommend J, which has a nice winter white appearance. None of these grades will look yellow at all if graded by GIA or AGS.

Some to consider:

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-1040371730108
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-1040381680088
http://www.whiteflash.com/round/round-cut-diamond-2231219.htm# (not an H&A)
http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/whiteflash-aca-cut-diamond-292607.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/whiteflash-aca-cut-diamond-2183234.htm
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/7044/

 

[E B]

I'm wondering if the "steely" look you're describing had more to do with the jewelry store lighting than the actual color of the diamonds. I know that certain light found in certain jewelry stores can make diamonds look gray.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 3/8/2010 1:05:48 PM
Author: E B
I''m wondering if the ''steely'' look you''re describing had more to do with the jewelry store lighting than the actual color of the diamonds. I know that certain light found in certain jewelry stores can make diamonds look gray.

Yes, I think you are probably right.

 

[33nayurd]

The store did have florescent lighting...she was showing 2 & one looked nice and bright & the other looked really dark (the "on sale" one).

Thank you for all your help - finding the right diamond is crazy making!!! I will check all of those out and when I have it narrowed it I''mm call to ask about the "eye clean" status!

Thanks again!

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 3/8/2010 11:14:42 AM
Author: E B

Date: 3/8/2010 1:30:20 AM
Author: Dancing Fire

Date: 3/8/2010 12:46:25 AM

Author: E B

This one looks nice, and I think it''s a good safe combo in terms of color and clarity (if eye-clean) balanced with budget:


.562 H, SI1 Brian Gavin Signature H&A $1125 (wire)


You might ask if having their simple white gold solitaire setting engraved is in budget so you don''t have to go two different places to have your ring put together.

sorry,that one has been sold.

It doesn''t show that it''s been sold on my computer. Are we looking at the same diamond?

trust me

that one has been sold.

 

[stone-cold11]

Date: 3/9/2010 12:22:21 AM
Author: Dancing Fire

Date: 3/8/2010 11:14:42 AM

Author: E B

Date: 3/8/2010 1:30:20 AM
Author: Dancing Fire

Date: 3/8/2010 12:46:25 AM

Author: E B

This one looks nice, and I think it''s a good safe combo in terms of color and clarity (if eye-clean) balanced with budget:

.562 H, SI1 Brian Gavin Signature H&A $1125 (wire)

You might ask if having their simple white gold solitaire setting engraved is in budget so you don''t have to go two different places to have your ring put together.

sorry,that one has been sold.

It doesn''t show that it''s been sold on my computer. Are we looking at the same diamond?

trust me

that one has been sold.

Because DF bought it...

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 3/9/2010 3:20:17 AM
Author: Stone-cold11

Date: 3/9/2010 12:22:21 AM
Author: Dancing Fire

Date: 3/8/2010 11:14:42 AM

Author: E B

Date: 3/8/2010 1:30:20 AM
Author: Dancing Fire

Date: 3/8/2010 12:46:25 AM

Author: E B

This one looks nice, and I think it''s a good safe combo in terms of color and clarity (if eye-clean) balanced with budget:

.562 H, SI1 Brian Gavin Signature H&A $1125 (wire)

You might ask if having their simple white gold solitaire setting engraved is in budget so you don''t have to go two different places to have your ring put together.

sorry,that one has been sold.

It doesn''t show that it''s been sold on my computer. Are we looking at the same diamond?

trust me

that one has been sold.

Because DF bought it...

I know he has been on the prowl.....When do I get it DF???

 

[33nayurd]

Well, I ended up buying this one: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1289523.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

Got it by fex ex today and it is gorgeous!!! So clear and bright and sparkly...I love it!!!

Thank you all for your help in pointing me in the right direction!