LaxThanatos
Rough_Rock
- Joined
- May 31, 2019
- Messages
- 4
First time poster but it feels like I've been reading and researching diamonds for months now to build the perfect engagement ring (within budget) for my girlfriend. I'm doing this build step-by-step similar to all these online websites and have started with a diamond, then a setting and end with the proposal. This will be my step 1 post, the diamond.
Firstly, GF and I window shopped for what she likes and settled on this incredibly vague-ish shopping list:
Diamond - Pear, ~.75ct CHECK
Setting - Platinum (contact dermatitis), Halo setting w/ Split Shank ~.25ct+ in little extra diamonds sz 4
Budget - 4k-ish
Step 1: Find The Diamond.
I did plenty of research on the 4C's, so many different resources to help narrow down what I wanted. Set a number of saved searches and alerts on diamond retailers for what I was looking for:
Carat: .75 or bigger
Cut: L/W 1.50-1.55, Table 58-63%, Depth 58-62%...honestly wanted something ~8.00mm x 5.00mm
Color: D-F
Clarity: VS2 or better
Polish/Symm: Excellent/Excellent
Fluorescence: Strong Blue or Less, GF loves Aquamarine and likes the blue glow
Cert: GIA preferably
In the last three months, I realized that if I wanted something that fit my criteria...I'd be paying $2500-3k or more and was a little disheartened and considered lowering my quality standard until this specific diamond popped up at the end of July and I bought it so fast since it fit ALL of my criteria at just a little over $2k:
THE Diamond (for now unless something causes me to decide I don't like it and should return it):
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD12645143?track=Detlink0#
GIA cert attached
Carat: .76
Cut: L/W 1.53, Table 63%, Depth 59.9%, 8.02mm x 5.24mm x 3.14mm
Color: D
Clarity: VVS1
Polish/Symm: Excellent/Excellent
Fluorescence: Strong Blue (made me concerned because the price was so low that it would be milky/hazy)
I have NO idea why this diamond was priced so low at $2184 and with their $100 off coupon I got the diamond pre-tax for $2084, lower than any diamond even close to these characteristics. The 360 video shows a slight bow-tie effect and I was nervous it would be worse in person.
I finally received it yesterday, I'll take some pictures when my GF isn't around and I have some nice sun. It sparkles very nicely under the sun, you can definitely see the light blue tint at certain angles under direct sunlight but it's crystal clear otherwise. I don't see any milky/hazy effects from the strong blue fluorescence and the bowtie effect isn't too noticeable that it would detract from the overall diamond. I was a little concerned it wouldn't sparkle as much due to the table to depth % ratio but I just walked around outside with it and I'm quite impressed with it. Could someone more experienced than me possibly explain why this diamond was listed at such a discounted price? I probably would have paid $2500 or more for it.
Remaining budget for setting: ~$2000, wish me luck haha
I will update this when I find a setting and show off the completed product before the proposal! Thank you everyone for the wealth of knowledge here on this forum!
Firstly, GF and I window shopped for what she likes and settled on this incredibly vague-ish shopping list:
Diamond - Pear, ~.75ct CHECK
Setting - Platinum (contact dermatitis), Halo setting w/ Split Shank ~.25ct+ in little extra diamonds sz 4
Budget - 4k-ish
Step 1: Find The Diamond.
I did plenty of research on the 4C's, so many different resources to help narrow down what I wanted. Set a number of saved searches and alerts on diamond retailers for what I was looking for:
Carat: .75 or bigger
Cut: L/W 1.50-1.55, Table 58-63%, Depth 58-62%...honestly wanted something ~8.00mm x 5.00mm
Color: D-F
Clarity: VS2 or better
Polish/Symm: Excellent/Excellent
Fluorescence: Strong Blue or Less, GF loves Aquamarine and likes the blue glow
Cert: GIA preferably
In the last three months, I realized that if I wanted something that fit my criteria...I'd be paying $2500-3k or more and was a little disheartened and considered lowering my quality standard until this specific diamond popped up at the end of July and I bought it so fast since it fit ALL of my criteria at just a little over $2k:
THE Diamond (for now unless something causes me to decide I don't like it and should return it):
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD12645143?track=Detlink0#
GIA cert attached
Carat: .76
Cut: L/W 1.53, Table 63%, Depth 59.9%, 8.02mm x 5.24mm x 3.14mm
Color: D
Clarity: VVS1
Polish/Symm: Excellent/Excellent
Fluorescence: Strong Blue (made me concerned because the price was so low that it would be milky/hazy)
I have NO idea why this diamond was priced so low at $2184 and with their $100 off coupon I got the diamond pre-tax for $2084, lower than any diamond even close to these characteristics. The 360 video shows a slight bow-tie effect and I was nervous it would be worse in person.
I finally received it yesterday, I'll take some pictures when my GF isn't around and I have some nice sun. It sparkles very nicely under the sun, you can definitely see the light blue tint at certain angles under direct sunlight but it's crystal clear otherwise. I don't see any milky/hazy effects from the strong blue fluorescence and the bowtie effect isn't too noticeable that it would detract from the overall diamond. I was a little concerned it wouldn't sparkle as much due to the table to depth % ratio but I just walked around outside with it and I'm quite impressed with it. Could someone more experienced than me possibly explain why this diamond was listed at such a discounted price? I probably would have paid $2500 or more for it.
Remaining budget for setting: ~$2000, wish me luck haha
I will update this when I find a setting and show off the completed product before the proposal! Thank you everyone for the wealth of knowledge here on this forum!
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