Newbie needs advise on buying a engagement ring

joecphoto · Jun 8, 2012

This site has been a great resource. I have a $3000-$5000 budget for a engagement ring. I would like a ring that looks good to everyday people. I'm not overly concerned about differences a export would notice. I want the ring to look good on my fiances finger. She has a small finger 4.5. I prefer to get the largest stone in my budget. Again I am a newbie and would appreciate any suggestions, correct me if I'm going about this wrong.
We are considering a halo. Is this a good choice or should we stick with a simpler design? Is blue nile or www.jamesallen.com a good place to buy?

joecphoto · Jun 8, 2012

My fiance's friends mom works at a wholesale diamond company in NYC. Is this a good deal? $3,100
Feb 06,2004 GIA report
round brilliant
6.29-6.37 x 3.71mm
.90 carat
G
SI2
dept 58.6%
Table 59%
Girdle: MED to STK,F
Culet:NON
Polish good
Symmetry: Good
Fluorescence: Strong Blue
Additional twinning

mogster · Jun 8, 2012

A quality halo costs more than a quality solitaire or other more simple design, leaving less money for the diamond. But it can be done!

What shape are you looking for?

You can get a Beverly K halo for ~$1,500: http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/search.php?DesignerID=48&Category=&Price=0-2000&Date=&keywords=halo&PriceLow=&PriceHigh=2000&DesignerID=48&Category=12&Submit.x=36&Submit.y=11&Submit=Search

Which leaves $3,500 for the diamond. Here is an option: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1479309.asp. It has an AGS cut grade of 000 (the best) and a good color/clarity combination. I would check with James Allen to see if it is eye clean to your standards. I think they will check up to three for your for free.

Some others:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1490769.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1398077.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1315227.asp

What is the cut grade on the GIA report you posted? Or better, what is the GIA report number?

joecphoto · Jun 8, 2012

We would be open to a more simple ring to get a bigger diamond. What would look larger on her finger, a smaller diamond in a halo or a larger diamond in a solitaire in my price range. She likes round.
Is it possible to get a 1-1.4 carat in my price range?
I would be open to a preowned, is that a better option?

Here is what her friends mom wants to sell us. .90 rock GIA 13151659
Here is the 18k ring she offered for $650 http://www.joecphoto.com/ring1
Ring with diamond on finger http://www.joecphoto.com/ring2
The total would be $3800.
Thanks for the advise!

mogster · Jun 8, 2012

It looks like there's no cut grade for this report (possibly because of the age), but based on polish and symmetry, the highest grade it could get would be 'very good'. I'd personally stick with 'excellent', which is not to say that the ring isn't a good deal or the right option for you. I'd check it out in person to see if it is to your liking.

If you got a simple solitaire setting for $450, that would leave enough for a 1 ct. K/SI2 diamond. I don't know if you'd want a diamond in that color range. There is nothing wrong with K, but it may be discernibly yellow, and that would come down to your personal preference. I would not recommend I1 clarity as it would very likely be visibly included.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/K-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1392283.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/K-SI2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1425772.asp

I think a halo would provide more hand presence than a solitaire. Without giving away too much, maybe you can ask one of her friends to ask if she'd prefer a solitaire or a halo because they are very different settings.

joecphoto · Jun 8, 2012

Today we went to a local jeweler. And I think she is leaning towards a princess cut halo. And a strong blue florescent is bad?
Here are the specs $3300 for the diamond and $4500 with the halo ring.

Good deal? Or better online?

EGL #egl3202934427
.97 cts
F
Princess 5.43 - 4.90 x 3.89mm
total dept 79.3%
table width 85%
crown height 8%
pavilion depth 62%
girdle thick medium, polished

Finish
polish Very good
symmetry Very good
culet
SI1
fluorescence none
The jeweler told me it was a ideal cut, but I don't see it on the certificate. Photo here http://joecphoto.com/ring3
Here is photos of ring http://joecphoto.com/ring5
http://joecphoto.com/ring4

mogster · Jun 8, 2012

I would not buy an EGL stone. Here's why: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/thers-something-about-paper-why-arent-you-mad.176233/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/thers-something-about-paper-why-arent-you-mad.176233/[/URL]

ETA: Fluorescence is not bad unless it causes the stone to look milky and that is very rare. It's even preferable in more tinted the stones as the fluorescence will make it look whiter.

rubybeth · Jun 8, 2012

EGL stones are generally not a good idea as the color and clarity gradings can be so far off as to be almost comical. I think one of our regular posters recently had an EGL stone graded by GIA or AGS (sorry, I don't remember which) and it as 5 color grades off. Yikes! Stick with GIA or AGS.

joecphoto · Jun 8, 2012

Thanks! Because of this forum I hesitated to put a deposit on the stone. She liked this ring http://joecphoto.com/ring5
She's open to thoughts or suggestions?

joecphoto · Jun 8, 2012

If we go with a halo. Would a round or princess cut look bigger with the same specs?

Christina... · Jun 8, 2012

It sounds like she would really prefer a halo to a larger solitaire. The one that you posted is very pretty, but I think that we can find you something similar with a better quality.

This is an amazing princess cut, and it's a great color/clarity as well
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond

and this for a setting?
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/aurora-diamond-engagement-ring-for-princess-cut-diamonds-by-vatche-1761.htm

or
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/isabella-diamond-engagement-ring-678.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/grace-diamond-engagement-ring-by-vatche-256.htm

These are all much better quality settings, which you really want since the ring is going to be worn on a daily basis I assume. With an almost 3/4ct stone, these would all give a very respectable amount of finger coverage as well. The stone is an ACA, so they don't make them any better than that. WhiteFlash is a fantastic vendor, they also offer a wire discount to PS members, you may not be able to see the PS price on your screen, so if not let me know and I"ll go back and post it for you, but all will come in just under your 5k budget, and you will get an additional $75 off of your first purchase, have a lifetime upgrade policy and I believe a buy back policy as well, but you will need to check out the specifics on their site.

diamondseeker2006 · Jun 8, 2012

round will look bigger but get what she likes best

mogster · Jun 8, 2012

joecphoto said:
If we go with a halo. Would a round or princess cut look bigger with the same specs?

Round -- a well-cut 1 ct. round is 6.5 mm x 6.5 mm (or 33.17 mm²) and a well-cut princess is 5.5 mm x 5.5 mm (or 30.25 mm²). However, a 1 ct. round will be more expensive than a 1 ct. princess of the same specs. I would imagine that the price is about the same per mm².

Beverly K has good quality halo rings for very reasonable prices. You don't want to get a cheap one where the melee diamonds will start falling out. Personally, I'd contact Good Old Gold (they carry Beverly K) and tell them my budget. I'd ask for halo options and then for them to show me the biggest eye-clean diamonds I could get in the near-colorless range with the remainder of the budget.

I'd also contact ID Jewelry (and do tell them that you're a PS-er) because they're very good at maximizing budgets. Again, tell them your budget, show them a picture of the setting, and see what the biggest stones they can find for you is with the remainder.

And then post the results here and we can help you decide.

Christina... · Jun 8, 2012

joecphoto|1339198413|3212165 said:
If we go with a halo. Would a round or princess cut look bigger with the same specs?

oops, I think you posted this while I was searching, but yes, like DS said a round faces up larger than a princess. Princess actually face up smaller than many other shapes. You may find this chart helpful.
http://pics.bluenile.com/assets/chrome/pdf/diamond_carat_size_0810.pdf

hmr_mama · Jun 8, 2012

If I were in your position I would peruse this website with your girlfriend:
http://www.gabrielny.com/engaged/styles/engaged/1?style=Halo&default_head_shape=PR

and then I would call Good Old Gold:
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamondResults.php?shape=256&optSym=11&inHouse=3&resultsColumns=268435535

and talk to Jon. Tell him your budget and then tell him the item numbers for the styles you liked on the Gabriel and Co. website. See what he can come up with for you.

What an exciting time for you and your girlfriend! You are doing the right thing by coming here.

E B · Jun 8, 2012

I'd ask about this stone (photo, ASET). If you like it, they can help you find a setting in budget.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9488/

joecphoto · Jun 8, 2012

She told me you decide, your paying for it. I said its your ring, your decision. She likes the halo and would be happy with either a round or princess. She prefers the largest looking eye clean diamond in our budget. If I spent a little more, would I get something significantly larger?
We are wedding photographers so we see lots of rings. I want something that looks expensive and will make a good impression.
Thanks everyone

Christina... · Jun 8, 2012

IMO the biggest bang for your buck is going to be a RB with a halo. I think plain shank halos are amazing and it helps free up some of the budget for more size plus still gets her the halo that she would really like. Let me pull something up for you....just a minute.

Christina... · Jun 8, 2012

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1484785.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1489175.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1483395.asp

setting....
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/-18k-White-Gold-Pave-Set-Diamond-Engagement-Ring.html
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/18k-white-gold-pave-halo-and-shank-diamond-engagement-ring-17305w.html

any of these will give her more finger coverage than the ones previously posted and they are great diamond choices, just under a ct but larger than a full ct princess.

joecphoto · Jun 16, 2012

Crazy work week, now back to my search. Went to a couple of stores looking at some more diamonds. My girlfriend decided she likes Round as large eye clean as we can afford for around 5k and a solitaire ring. She rather get a larger stone and buy a nicer ring down the road. Is blue nile a good place to buy? They seem to have a very large selection.
EGL USA good or bad?

Found a stone a bit out of our price range locally. The owner purchased the diamond from a customer.

$5900
gia#2125533280
6.92-6.97 x 4.43
round
1.32
vs2
cut good
dept 63.9
table 59
crown ang 37
crown h15.5
polish good
symmetry good
florescence none

joecphoto · Jun 16, 2012

http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-...tep=DIAMONDS_STEP|builder=BYOR|pid=LD02575517

http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-...tep=DIAMONDS_STEP|builder=BYOR|pid=LD02587714

http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-..._STEP&select_this_style_top=Select+this+style

Dancing Fire · Jun 17, 2012

joecphoto|1339866973|3217742 said:
Crazy work week, now back to my search. Went to a couple of stores looking at some more diamonds. My girlfriend decided she likes Round as large eye clean as we can afford for around 5k and a solitaire ring. She rather get a larger stone and buy a nicer ring down the road. Is blue nile a good place to buy? They seem to have a very large selection.
EGL USA good or bad?

Found a stone a bit out of our price range locally. The owner purchased the diamond from a customer.

$5900
gia#2125533280
6.92-6.97 x 4.43
round
1.32
vs2
cut good
dept 63.9
table 59
crown ang 37
crown h15.5
polish good
symmetry good
florescence none

not a well cut stone...

joecphoto · Jun 20, 2012

Thanks everyone for your help!
My girlfriend really likes this style http://www.joecphoto.com/ring6
Sorry for the bad quality. What size stone you think?
Any suggestions? Hard on a 5k budget?

What do think about this stone?
GIA 2101802185 https://myapps.gia.edu/ReportCheckPortal/getReportData.do?&reportno=2101802185&weight=1.01
What would be a good price?

Newbie needs advise on buying a engagement ring

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