oval_seeker
Rough_Rock
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2017
- Messages
- 30
Hi All! First time poster here! My boyfriend and I have recently started browsing for engagement rings. The budget is up to 15k but ideally around the 12k range.
I know I am looking for an oval shaped diamond and we have done quite a bit of research around the web as to what we should be ideally looking for in an oval. I am tall and have long fingers, size 6.5. Finger coverage is important to me!
I've narrowed it down to two options that I have been equally interested in for many months. My taste is pretty simplistic so the idea of a big juicy solitaire has always been dreamy to me. In order to get the finger coverage I think I need, we'd be looking for something around 1.75-2 carats (or something with equivalent spread), on the other hand, I would be just has happy with an oval set in a very nice, clean, dainty halo setting with a pave band. In this case, we'd be looking for something roughly around the 1.5 carat range to leave money for a nice halo.
My question is, is our budget just too tight to find a nice diamond in the size we'd need to be happy with a solitaire? I don't want to be unrealistic and put pressure on my bf to get to the magical "2 carat" range when we really don't have the budget for the right color/clarity that we need? It seems that the jump in price from a 1.5 to a 2 is huge, so are we are better off looking for a nice quality 1.4-1.5ct stone and adding a halo or will we end up roughly spending the same? The more I look around the more confused I get! Either way I am planning to set in yellow gold, will this give us a bit more room to go lower on color even for a solitaire? Are halos too trendy? Will I regret going with this style?
One final question, my boyfriend has a family friend in the jewelry business who has offered to take him loose diamond shopping in the diamond district in Chicago (not NYC!) He is convinced she is going to find him a better deal that he can get online. The PS consensus seems to be that much better deals can be had online, does this change if you have family ties to a jeweler, are markups that high that he is going to save a ton on the stone going through her? He has not yet gotten any prices quoted from her. We are not in a huge hurry and have a month or two to source the stone yet.
Any and all input, suggestions, or recommended diamonds appreciated greatly!
I know I am looking for an oval shaped diamond and we have done quite a bit of research around the web as to what we should be ideally looking for in an oval. I am tall and have long fingers, size 6.5. Finger coverage is important to me!
I've narrowed it down to two options that I have been equally interested in for many months. My taste is pretty simplistic so the idea of a big juicy solitaire has always been dreamy to me. In order to get the finger coverage I think I need, we'd be looking for something around 1.75-2 carats (or something with equivalent spread), on the other hand, I would be just has happy with an oval set in a very nice, clean, dainty halo setting with a pave band. In this case, we'd be looking for something roughly around the 1.5 carat range to leave money for a nice halo.
My question is, is our budget just too tight to find a nice diamond in the size we'd need to be happy with a solitaire? I don't want to be unrealistic and put pressure on my bf to get to the magical "2 carat" range when we really don't have the budget for the right color/clarity that we need? It seems that the jump in price from a 1.5 to a 2 is huge, so are we are better off looking for a nice quality 1.4-1.5ct stone and adding a halo or will we end up roughly spending the same? The more I look around the more confused I get! Either way I am planning to set in yellow gold, will this give us a bit more room to go lower on color even for a solitaire? Are halos too trendy? Will I regret going with this style?
One final question, my boyfriend has a family friend in the jewelry business who has offered to take him loose diamond shopping in the diamond district in Chicago (not NYC!) He is convinced she is going to find him a better deal that he can get online. The PS consensus seems to be that much better deals can be had online, does this change if you have family ties to a jeweler, are markups that high that he is going to save a ton on the stone going through her? He has not yet gotten any prices quoted from her. We are not in a huge hurry and have a month or two to source the stone yet.
Any and all input, suggestions, or recommended diamonds appreciated greatly!