Please help a poor grad student pick a diamond

[tbux22]

Hello all,

I am looking to purchase a diamond and would like to get the most bang for my buck.

Budget - 4000

Round Brilliant

The size doesn't matter although I would prefer at least a .50, I would just like the most brilliant, scintillating, fire, light returner possible.
I like the colorless diamonds.

Please help. I have read a great deal but it seems like the more I read the more information is coming at me which is making the decision 10 times harder.

Thank you

 

[madelise]

not 'poor'! that's around the average amount of $ people spend on an engagement ring around the US!

if i were you, and i wanted to stretch that $, i'd check consignments with JbEG (http://www.jewelsbyericagrace.com/).

anywho, there's a plethora of knowledge and tips you can get here on PS. you can search through all the other members' threads for reference. there's a bunch of wise folk here who can pull up examples for you, but i believe they'd need more info than what's listed.

- is the 4k budget just for the diamond, or for the whole ring? if the former, what is your budget for the setting?
- do you already have a setting in mind?
- what is your clarity 'sweet spot' that you'll be okay with having?

good luck : ]

 

[madelise]

and for your preference of colorless, do you mean you're adamant on a D-F?

I love this one. It's a 0.95 H, eye clean SI2 OEC on JbEG that I've been ogling. $4200.
http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.c...n-Cut/20930688_3dvwmS#!i=1662632246&k=H9f6vbS

 

[tbux22]

Thanks for your help.

4k is budget for the ring. I am not too fond on spending much on the setting, maybe when I get more money in the future. I figure I would spend the most I could on the diamond for now.

Clarity - I am fine with SI1 I guess.

I would strongly prefer it to be colorless. I took a look at an E and I liked it a lot

 

[madelise]

have you seen the colors IRL? next to each other? there's a lot of hype, especially at small B&M jewelers, to push for you to go colorless, when really, most people can't see a difference between a D and a G. and if they can, it's only because they're set next to each other to compare. Most threads/PS-ers here have posted that a G/VS2 is their "sweet spot". Then get the best cut possible. I found through the last 2 years of "studying", that I can go to an H or I without a second thought. Sure, I can spot them out if placed next to a D/E in a lineup, but without the lineup, I can't see the color at all (and my eyes are young, healthy and 15/20!) And even with the lineup, I have to stare for a little while! It's not an instant, "oh look, that one's not colorless" feel, at all. With the maximized cut quality, the crazy sparkling will null any slight slight slight color.

I just did a quick looksie @ Jame's Allens website and keyed in your budget, color and clarity choice, and clicked on the ideals and true h&a's.. looks like your budget is plenty healthy enough for your 0.5 play around.

 

[tbux22]

Thank you so much for your help. I will take a look again and try to sacrifice some color...

 

[yssie]

Some vendors to look at in no particular order, if you are looking to buy online

www.jamesallen.com (lower pricepoints on stones, less generous wrt upgrade/buyback/trade-in policies)
www.whiteflash.com (specialize in H&A, generous policies on H&A ACA and specially selected ES lines, PS stones are case by case, lots of setting choices on the website)
www.briangavindiamonds.com (specialize in H&A stones that come w/ generous policies, lots of setting choices on the website)
Crafted by Infinity H&A diamonds available at www.highperformancediamonds.com and www.niceice.com come with generous policies
www.goodoldgold.com (have both H&A and nice non-H&A options, policies described for each stone on the website, carry a number of designer settings)

 

[jrich]

I would contact Yekutiel at IDJ in NY. He has access to so many diamonds being in the center of the diamond district. It is awesome because you can tell him your specs you're looking for, and he'll pull a couple for you, send you videos, pics, anything you want. And he has tons of simple settings that are just gorgeous. I was on a budget too and got so much more than I would have imagined.

When I picked out my ring yesterday, I saw the most beautiful 1 carat G colored diamond in a tiffany knife edge setting that I modeled my ring off of. The G completely colorless with the white gold metal.

 

[tbux22]

Thank you guys so much for your help. I am looking at everything you guys suggest. I appreciate your help so much!

I went to see a ring today and was quoted 3850 for

.70 carats
GIA certified
E color
SI2
measurements of 5.64 - 5.69 x 3.58mm
Cut Grade: Very Good
Polish: Very Good,
Symmetry: Good,
Fluorescence: None.

It looked good and the service is great, but think there is more that I can get for that price

 

[vintagelover229]

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/2261/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8950/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8950/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8696/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8416/

These are also ideal cut diamonds but a different faceting pattern
F VVS2
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9168/

This one is beautiful too
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8243/


D color
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8755/

E color
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8839/

F
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8840/

I realize these are a bit over budget but they are beauties as all
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9164/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/6967/

This entire set is in budget
http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Rings-Antique-Vintage/71ct-center-Transitional-Cut/18182075_MCSP3h#!i=1398658227&k=rRLQTtr

This is an E colored center stone and is ~5300.00
http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Rings-Antique-Vintage/186ctw-Old-European-Cut/20825738_4F3q6v#!i=1653167875&k=r5qgqVh

You have lots of options in your budget. Here is a video done by Jonathan at GOG to help you with color comparison

This is probably the best video for you to view
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8hNlDgOEcs&feature=plcp&context=C36ad396UDOEgsToPDskJZ9jXKJ9YxsMZN4MXXwE2D

D vs G
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DJaELN6xgY&feature=plcp&context=C39d86a3UDOEgsToPDskIwO2uHxgHfhvK4dEAWygf4

G-J
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vI3Tkd3VQU&feature=plcp&context=C30585c3UDOEgsToPDskIbx_LmPr7DGbC_B3fPMBos

E to an I and a J
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzBGhkF5C4o&feature=plcp&context=C3d0ac34UDOEgsToPDskJGTNfny6hd1Xvct7847Hmu

 

[farmer gal]

I would give WF a call and see if this stone is eye clean, also place a hold on it if your interested

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2728091.htm

Setting:
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/6-prong-tiffany-style-solitaire-engagement-ring-582.htm

 

[tbux22]

Again, thank you guys so much for your help

 

[Amys Bling]

Hello all,

I am looking to purchase a diamond and would like to get the most bang for my buck.

Budget - 4000

Round Brilliant

The size doesn't matter although I would prefer at least a .50, I would just like the most brilliant, scintillating, fire, light returner possible.
I like the colorless diamonds.Please help. I have read a great deal but it seems like the more I read the more information is coming at me which is making the decision 10 times harder.

Thank you

If these things are your priority- I would look for an Ideal-Excellent Cut GIA or AGS0 stone in the E-F range- that is eyeclean and see what carat weight you can manage with your budget.

 

[tbux22]

Thank you Amy, I appreciate your advice

 

[tbux22]

Any advice on using the HCA tool? How much importance should I place on this tool?

I have been looking for diamonds and placing the specs in this tool

 

[partgypsy]

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1421720.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131
Has this one been shown yet (.76 G SI1). The pic looks good and James Allen has a good selection of ring mountings.

I also like the idea of looking at pre-owned rings, if you girlfriend doesn't have any issues with it. Although I love the antique style rings, they are a different look; you might want to focus on pre-owned ring which have grading reports for the center diamond.

Good luck! that is a healthy budget(plenty to work with)! When I was a grad student our budget was less than 1K.