Okay, so I''ve been ring shopping for about 3 weeks now and the more stores I visit and the more internet sites I surf and the more information I read, the more confused I get. I have a pretty good idea of what I want to buy, it is just finding that ring for the price that I think is fair from a place that I feel comfortable buying from! Any help/advice anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated as this stress isn''t really needed! 
Some of my questions:
1. Cut is one of my biggest concerns as from what I read this is really the most important of the "c''s". It seems really hard to find the "cut paramters" in stores and consequently I''ve been looking at whatever their premium diamonds happen to be as I really feel like I want the ideal cut. That of course means the premium prices which I don''t feel like I should pay necessarily. In my searching online, I turned this up...are these accurate/based in any kind of reality? If I buy a ring with these proportions, can I be guaranteed a premium cut diamond?
"AGS Ideal Cut" Proportions:
Table Diameter: 52.4-57.5%
Crown Angle: 33.7-35.8 degrees
Pavillion Angle: 40.15-41.20 degrees
Girdle: Thin to slightly thick
Cutlet: None to medium
Total Depth: 59.0-61.8%
2. One of my biggest concerns with buying a ring online is the lack of any sort of store warranty or guarantee. Of course, depending on the store what is covered automatically and what is covered in the extended warranty (and the warranty period) varies, but in the long run do these really pay for themselves? One of the cust. service people for a big internet company played it down saying to have a ring checked annually (which is all that is really necessary...?) will cost only maybe $40. Should this be a concern for me?
3. I''ve been to one local jeweler that I liked okay, although their "warranty" was expressed to me verbally which didn''t make me feel as good. Any advice on choosing a local jeweler? This would be the way I would probably prefer to go as I figure I will get the best prices, but I don''t want to sacrifice service.
4. A lot of the discussions on the forums seem to be on buying the diamonds over the internet and then having them set by a local jeweler. Is this the way to do it? I''ve only been looking at the completed rings online. Pros/Cons?
5. The ring I''m looking for: 3 stone, white gold, simple band with a "pinched" or "bow-tie" look, i.e. the band comes in slightly just before meeting the stones; center stone ~.75 ct (G-H, Ideal Cut, S1+); side stones .25-.3 ct (similar characteristics). I''d like to spend between 4K and 4.5K. Is that completely unrealistic? We also want to get a band to go with it at some point which I know might be a little challenging. One of the curved bands, perhaps?
That''s a lot...any help with any of the questions would be GREATLY appreciated!
Thanks...
Some of my questions:
1. Cut is one of my biggest concerns as from what I read this is really the most important of the "c''s". It seems really hard to find the "cut paramters" in stores and consequently I''ve been looking at whatever their premium diamonds happen to be as I really feel like I want the ideal cut. That of course means the premium prices which I don''t feel like I should pay necessarily. In my searching online, I turned this up...are these accurate/based in any kind of reality? If I buy a ring with these proportions, can I be guaranteed a premium cut diamond?
"AGS Ideal Cut" Proportions:
Table Diameter: 52.4-57.5%
Crown Angle: 33.7-35.8 degrees
Pavillion Angle: 40.15-41.20 degrees
Girdle: Thin to slightly thick
Cutlet: None to medium
Total Depth: 59.0-61.8%
2. One of my biggest concerns with buying a ring online is the lack of any sort of store warranty or guarantee. Of course, depending on the store what is covered automatically and what is covered in the extended warranty (and the warranty period) varies, but in the long run do these really pay for themselves? One of the cust. service people for a big internet company played it down saying to have a ring checked annually (which is all that is really necessary...?) will cost only maybe $40. Should this be a concern for me?
3. I''ve been to one local jeweler that I liked okay, although their "warranty" was expressed to me verbally which didn''t make me feel as good. Any advice on choosing a local jeweler? This would be the way I would probably prefer to go as I figure I will get the best prices, but I don''t want to sacrifice service.
4. A lot of the discussions on the forums seem to be on buying the diamonds over the internet and then having them set by a local jeweler. Is this the way to do it? I''ve only been looking at the completed rings online. Pros/Cons?
5. The ring I''m looking for: 3 stone, white gold, simple band with a "pinched" or "bow-tie" look, i.e. the band comes in slightly just before meeting the stones; center stone ~.75 ct (G-H, Ideal Cut, S1+); side stones .25-.3 ct (similar characteristics). I''d like to spend between 4K and 4.5K. Is that completely unrealistic? We also want to get a band to go with it at some point which I know might be a little challenging. One of the curved bands, perhaps?
That''s a lot...any help with any of the questions would be GREATLY appreciated!
Thanks...
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