Overwhelmed by choice...

[pfb]

Thanks to this forum, I've learned a ton about diamonds in the past week or so.

Unfortunately, I'm not any closer to making a final decision

and I was hoping for some recommendations on stones!

I'd like to stay under $4,500 (settng is ~$1200), but would go up to $5,500 for the right stone.

About a carat, maybe a smidge smaller or up to 1.3 or so. GREAT cut with lots of fire, of course!

I'll also be setting it in a tension-set Gelin Abaci setting if that has any bearing on the girdle or location of inclusions...

Thinking of this setting:

 

[^]

Have you tried the Search by Cut tool? This will show you stones in your price range. We''ll also need to know a general idea of color and clarity grade. If you don''t know what your preferences are, take a trip to a B&M to get some idea. Keep in mind that a superior cut will face up whiter than what you see in the mall. I''m assuming you want a Round Brilliant?

^

 

[ladykemma]

does the budget include the setting too?

 

[mrssalvo]

I would recommend talking with Gelin Abaci on what stone specs they prefer. I think I read somewhere that they will not set stones with lower than VS clarity but I could be wrong. I''d check on it though. Then you can do a search on the home page with your desired specs and see where that leaves you.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Oh, wow, I just did a whole post with links and it didn''t go through!

Here are a few:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/2161/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/2131/

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-2433965.htm (will have a 5% pricescope/wire discount)

If G&A requires a VS clarity, then you''ll have to go down in size and/or color or up your budget. Is this a setting that she has indicated she likes?

 

[pfb]

Budget is for the stone only... I''ll call GA today and see if I can get the skinny on stone specs.

Any more sweetheart stones out there?

 

[pfb]

Is this a setting that she has indicated she likes?

It''s a surprise... The ring has to be custom made to the exact finger size for the specific stone, but most Gelin Abaci dealers will "loan" you a demo ring for the presentation, then order the exact ring, so if she prefers a different style, no problem.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

That is a great way to do it with the dummy ring! I asked because I have the idea that more men like the G&A rings than the women. If you look through the 60+ pages of e-rings posted on the thread at the top of the Show Me the Ring forum, you won't see many women choosing those tension rings. I think they are great in a men's ring, though. Is the engagement a total surprise or can you ask her to look online and show you some settings she likes. Everyone's taste differs so greatly, and most tell you that no guy can safely pick an e-ring setting without some input from the girl. Many men wanting a complete surprise will just set the stone in a temporary $150-200 tiffany setting for the suprise and then let her choose the setting she loves after.

 

[ladykemma]

does the manufacturer of the setting make you buy from their selection of stones?

added - does that setting look asymetrical to you? looks "off" to me. i would want bilateral symmetry.

dimend scaasi requires that you buy the stone from them.

 

[ladykemma]

ok i went and looked at the that manufacturer's settings. what is bothering me about that setting is --it's too busy.

the "way cool" factor is that the tension set needs to be the center of attention, the star. the diamonds on the side are distracting.

(like totally not minding my own business here) I would want the one of the plain ones 4 mm wide with the solitaire diamond hovering in the air. and a plain wedding band to go with.

i would pick, a plain plain plain tension set with a strong blue fluorescent ideal cut stone. but then again I'm a chemist with a weird mind