Please help a poor college student!

[cbr]

Hello Everyone!

I have been reading the forums for a bit and have found a lot of great info and just had to register. Let me give a little background, I got my bachelors degree in May, managed to get out with only $20,000 in loans. I will be attending dental school in the fall where I estimate accruing an additional $150,000 in loans! As you can see I don''t have too much disposable income at the time.

However, I would still like to give my GF a ring she will love and be proud to show off, once I start working I will gladly "upgrade" the diamond.

I found, what I think is, a beautiful setting at BlueNile
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-engagement-ring-setting-white-gold_6908?filter_id=1&collection_id=236

If anyone knows of something similar in 14k white gold that could help free up some money for a better diamond. I want something with a lot of little accent diamond and like the pave setting but would consider others.

As far as a diamond goes, I want a minimum of .5 carat. My GF has a relatively small finger (4.5) so I think a .5 carat should still look OK, but I would love something bigger, seems like .75 is the max in my budget. I want a diamond that looks beautiful so want to stick with an excellent cut diamond, might consider Very Good cut. As far as clarity all I want is eye clean, however, some small noticeable inclusions are fine if the price is right and they aren''t too distracting. Color anything from G-J is good, would consider K or even L.

Total budget for this ring (Diamond and Setting)needs to be under $2000, even that is stretching it, under $1500 would be ideal!

Overall, I am just looking for a diamond that sparkles and brings a smile to her face! So if anyone could point me to some places to look, or even a particular stone it would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

ps Sorry for the long post.

 

[Mrs W]

How about this setting...its cheaper and I think its nicer and its 18k instead of 14k
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/18k-White-Gold-2-2mm-Pave-Set-Diamond-Ring.html

Some nice diamonds:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1239045.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1239039.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1236869.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1249353.asp

Get IS on the J

 

[D&T]

Love the setting that Mrs.W mentioned,

Here is an expert selection from WHiteflash too. You can always set it a nice solitaire, until you can upgrade later - great upgrade policy

http://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/Round-Ideal-Cut-cut-diamond-1987273.htm#

http://www.whiteflash.com/golden-wardrobe/Gold_Details.aspx?ItemCode=ST6PW&CategID=13

goodoldgold
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/6073/


remember from these vendors you will also get a pricescope discount.

 

[jet2ks]

Breann and D&T have given you some great options.

Date: 8/3/2009 1:02:10 AM
Author:cbr

However, I would still like to give my GF a ring she will love and be proud to show off, once I start working I will gladly ''upgrade'' the diamond.

Keep this in mind when deciding who to purchase from, as vendors have varying upgrade policies. Make sure to read the information carefully and ask questions before purchasing to avoid a misunderstanding later.

 

[litebrite]

If you know you''re going to upgrade to something in the future, you could also look at old mine cuts and antique cuts that might offer a larger spread. They are still beautiful and throw incredible fire.

This way she has an AGS 0, 2+ ct to look forward to in the future and she''ll have a lovely antique right hand ring

 

[D&T]

instead of assuming a round diamond. I guess the other question to ask you is, do you know what shape of stone she would like? if you look at Goodoldgold''s website there are so many different shapes of diamond.

 

[swl]

Even though you are a poor student now, i am sure you will be a rich dentist in the future, lol so why not get her something simple for now and when you start making money you can give her a solitaire? I think with your budget, a 1 carat 5 stone ring will look very substantial on her 4.5 finger. In my opinion, if you compare a .5 carat diamond to a 1 carat 5 stone band in real life, you will definitely notice the 5 stone band way more eye catching.

1 carat/ 5 stone : http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-ring-white-gold_5392?sort=LTHP&show_all_pages=0

.75 carat/3 stone: http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-ring-white-gold_5420?sort=LTHP&show_all_pages=0

or maybe an eternity band?

1 carat:http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-eternity-ring-white-gold_7314?metal_filter=white&sort=LTHP&show_all_pages=1

 

[cbr]

Mrs W, that was actually one of the other settings I was considering, it looks beautiful. The one on Bluenile tapers toward the top which I think might make the small center stone appear bigger.

As far as upgrading I''m not too concerned about specific policies. As I don''t plan on selling back whichever diamond I do buy. I will just buy a whole new diamond and have the old one set in something she can wear on her right hand.

Thanks for narrowing the search down a bit, those diamonds look very nice.

For shape I have inside info that she would like round or princess. Carat for carat I think I can get a bigger/better round diamond for the price. Please correct me if I am wrong.