Newbie diamond ring buying advice

[jam615]

Hello everyone, I came across this forum and its just what I was looking for! I am looking to buy a ring to propose to my girlfriend and I am kind of confused with all the options. Is there a good article or blog thread to read up on the different aspects of a diamond, which matter more (i.e. one should pay for) and which not so much?

Secondly, my girlfriend really likes diamond
http://www.tiffany.com/engagement/rings/tiffany-harmony-1853/1carats-29463379

From what I have heard Tiffany has a massive markup versus other sellers. So what are some other options to buy a similar diamond?

Thanks so much for helping me think through this purchase!

 

[Bron357]

The diamond gurus will arrive sooner or later (I’m not one of them) but yes, you pay a handsome premium for the Tiffany name. There are a number of PS recommended vendors who offer a similar style ring mount to Tiffany ones.
It is usually most cost effective and to get the best diamond for your money, to buy the diamond separately and then have it set into a ring mount of your choosing.
What you need to do is work out your budget either total or just for the diamond.
Diamonds are priced according to carat, cut, clarity and colour.
Assuming you want the biggest you can afford, normally the cut is ranked next. If a diamond isn’t cut well it simply doesn’t sparkle as well as it might. Colour can be subjective. Usually people can’t see “colour” aka yellow, grey or brownish tone until H or I colour, so unless for cultural reasons, D,E,F and G colour is overkill.
Then clarity. Clarity is assessed at x10 but of course that’s not what your unaided eye can readily see so while IF is flawless even a great SI diamond can be eye clean to the observer. Also the flaw might be on the edge, a prong can easily cover that.
With carat weight though there is this magical increase in price once certain “milestone carat weights” are reached ie a .1.03 carat diamond might be hundreds, even a thousand dollars more expensive than a .97 carat, yet your eye wouldn’t be able to “see” the size difference. So if you want a 1 carat it’s better to consider those just under, likewise 1.5 carat or 2 carats, buy a size just under those carats and you’ll get better value for money.

 

[tyty333]

Good info Bron357!

Does your GF love the Tiffany name or just love the way that stone and setting look? What is your budget? This will dictate whether buying from
Tiffanys is even an option. If your GF loves the Tiffany "branding" you might want to stick with a Tiffany stone.

I will post a few well cut stones and settings that are similar so you can see what the non-Tiffany price would be.

1 carat H or I
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3970280.htm (I/ eye clean SI1) $6173
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3986324.htm (H/eye clean SI1) $6557
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3986325.htm (G/eye clean SI1) $7171
Possible settings - there are others...these are just a few options.
https://www.whiteflash.com/engageme...ni-1rz7241-solitaire-engagement-ring-3991.htm $426
https://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/fine-line-solitaire-engagement-ring-480.htm $1159

1.5 carat stones (use same settings posted above)
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3965450.htm (I/VS2) $12011
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3988015.htm (G/VS2) $16378
They do not have any H ACAs right now but do have some Expert Selection and Premium Select stones in H.

 

[sledge]

Here are some more choices from Brian Gavin. These are all hearts & arrows, which means they are cream of the crop when it comes to cut.

In case you aren't aware, getting a .92 carat stone is considerably cheaper than say a 1.02 carat stone. Hitting "magic numbers" like 1, 1.5 or 2 carats can be costly when actual weights that are close can yield a larger $ savings.

Do you have any specs on the diamond you wanted? Color, size, clarity?

0.91ct G, SI1, H&A
https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/...ls/0.910-g-si1-round-diamond-ags-104098251018

1.052ct H, VS2, H&A
https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/...1.052-h-vs2-round-diamond-ags-bl-104097387037

1.038ct H, VS2, H&A
https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/...ls/1.038-h-vs2-round-diamond-ags-104097235018

 

[Dancing Fire]

Here are some more choices from Brian Gavin. These are all hearts & arrows, which means they are cream of the crop when it comes to cut.

Do you have any specs on the diamond you wanted? Color, size, clarity?

1.038ct H, VS2, H&A
https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/...ls/1.038-h-vs2-round-diamond-ags-104097235018

Looks like a winner to me!..

 

[doberman]

If your soon to be fiancée is stuck on a particular ring sometimes it's better to just get that ring rather than having a setting made to replicate it. It seems like those often fall short of expectations.

But if you want the best diamond for your money, the choices above are good ones. It's all about what you and your gf choose to prioritize.

 

[farrahlyn]

BG also has a really nice setting that is similar:

https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/melissa-platinum-5366p

also similar but the cathedral part is concave vs the convex curvature of the tiffany one:
https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/elegance-platinum-5415p

 

[LLJsmom]

What city are you in? Take time with this process. I know some girls initially may be stuck on the Tiffany thing and may always be. That is ok. But if you and your girl are open to seeing other beautifully cut diamonds (some better cut) priced much more competitively consider oneline vendors. Whiteflash, Brian Gavin, CBI, Good Old Gold, Victor Canera. These are are super ideal vendors. I will always recommend the super ideal cuts, even if some others think it is not necessary. It’s a personal preference. However you may be able to view these depending on the city you are in. Seeing them in real life will help you and she decide whether Tiffany is worth the price.