Please help a noob find a nice engagement ring

[noshtick85]

I''m a young professional who makes a modest salary and is starting grad school this fall. I have been saving for a while and researching a lot as of late. This site & forum seems to be a place where I can not only get assistance but also calm some of my fears of not making a responsible purchase. While I''m pretty educated on the Four C''s, I am starting to notice more in-depth aspects of a diamond that I know nothing about (e.g. how different measures of the cut like the table and depth affect different shapes in various different ways). I have spent a lot of time on Blue-Nile but I''m starting to become weary of the site because I cannot view the diamond before purchasing it. It almost makes me feel as if I would be rolling the dice if I ordered a ring from there.

This is what I''m looking for:

Budget: 4,000 max w/ setting included (most likely white gold due to budget)
Shape: Princess, Emerald (Length to width ratio less than 1.25), or Asscher
Carat: .9 to 1.0, I''m willing to go a bit smaller if you think I can get a very nice ring at that level
Cut: Very Good
Color: D>H
Clarity: Not sure. I want a quality stone within my budget.

I will continue to scour these boards and learn as I go but any tips, examples or possible purchases from other online vendors, or general guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[AmberGretchen]

noshtick - that''s a bit of a broad spread for the type of cut you are looking for. Do you know if your intended likes the look of step cuts (emeralds, asschers) vs. brilliant cuts (princess)? Are you sure she likes the look of square stones vs. round or oval? Have you considered a cushion cut?

In terms of maximizing your budget, a simple solitaire will be the most cost-effective, but you''d want to be sure that''s something she would like, and that she wouldn''t prefer a more elaborate setting or an antique-style look.

In terms of finding a stone where you can see pictures before buying (and I totally agree with you - it would drive me nuts to not be able to do that!), try Good Old Gold - they have a really excellent reputation on here for helping people find really nice fancy-shaped diamonds, and they should have much more complete information on their stones vs. Blue Nile.

 

[alkaloids]

I''m in pretty much your same boat, though I''m looking for a more rectangular EC.

I also saw at a store yesterday a rectangular princess cut, and that was pretty stunning. Do you want to get the step-cut stones because of the larger flashes, or do you (she?) really want the sparkle?

It should be pretty straightforward to get that size set with that budget, I think. These *perfect* EC''s are pretty hard to find, though...

 

[AmberGretchen]

For what its worth, I love the look of emerald cut diamonds in halos made with round stones. This is what I would do with your budget:

0.92 F VS2 GOG Emerald Cut

Whiteflash Amphora Halo Setting

I think this would be a STUNNING ring

 

[alkaloids]

Date: 4/23/2009 2:32:08 PM
Author: AmberGretchen
For what its worth, I love the look of emerald cut diamonds in halos made with round stones. This is what I would do with your budget:


0.92 F VS2 GOG Emerald Cut


Whiteflash Amphora Halo Setting


I think this would be a STUNNING ring

I was looking at that diamond, too... It''s in my top 2 choices currently, though I think it looks like it may be a bit asymmetric. Maybe I shouldn''t tell you, though, since you may wind up finding mine and stealing it!

 

[noshtick85]

AmberGretchen - my girlfriend really likes the square stones and she has shown interest in the three that I mentioned before. The fact that they are all different in their own right is probably another reason why my anxiety has gone up a lot as of late. Also, I know that she wants a solitaire setting from speaking to her about it several times.

I found Good Old Gold through this site earlier this morning and will continue to check it. Have you ever sent in a request to find a certain diamond? I noticed that it was an option on the site.

Thanks. Please keep it coming, this is already helpful.

 

[noshtick85]

Date: 4/23/2009 2:29:15 PM
Author: alkaloids
I''m in pretty much your same boat, though I''m looking for a more rectangular EC.


I also saw at a store yesterday a rectangular princess cut, and that was pretty stunning. Do you want to get the step-cut stones because of the larger flashes, or do you (she?) really want the sparkle?


It should be pretty straightforward to get that size set with that budget, I think. These *perfect* EC''s are pretty hard to find, though...

alkaloids - She hasn''t exactly told me if she is interested in the larger flashes versus the sparkle but if I had to guess I would say the sparkle. Does that mean I should be looking more towards PC?

 

[Maisie]

http://www.highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=view-id-diamond-infinity&id=98

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/18k-White-Gold-2-2mm-Pave-Set-Diamond-Ring.html or

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/Common-Prong-Engagement-Ring.html