Please help me find my diamond...

[georgetteoden]

I wouldn''t have thought to ask this of you folks, except that someone suggested it on Cruiserhead''s post. So maybe you can help me too! Thank you in advance!

I''m supposed to come up with my wedding ring by April 26. (We''re not doing an engagement ring, just one ring for each.) Originally I was liking eternity bands, but nothing was really thrilling me. If for financial reasons I needed to return to the eternity band concept, there is a no-stone casting of an antique ring that I love on MarleneHarris and it''s only $400, so my fiance would do backflips. (I made the mistake of mentioning it so I think he''s got his hopes up.) What I really would love to wear is more like the engagement ring, as a wedding ring, so that''s what I''m shooting for. Budget is kind of wiggly, he won''t give me a firm number, so I''m trying to stay around $3000-4000 which I know he would be all right with. I''d rather not push! If that''s just retarded, I''ll get the band now and wait for a nice anniversary ring

I love antiques, and antique stones are no exception, so that''s my preference but not a must-have.

No interest in a round, princess, marquis, radiant, or heart-shaped diamond, or in a colored stone as the center stone.

Been looking for several months (before finding ps) and "narrowed" it down to Asschers, emeralds, pears, ovals and cushions. (I''m the despair of the jeweler who made a friend''s ring because I don''t have a favorite.)

For budgetary reasons, I just need eyeclean, meaning when set, face up, no visible inclusions from about 8" away with 20/20 vision (I''m 35 so most of my friends will also be looking at it up close.) Whether that''s a VS2 or an SI2 I don''t care.

My size preference is around 1.5 carats but that''s probably not realistic, so I can do as low as just under a carat before it starts looking "small."

Because of my budget I don''t think I can afford an Asscher or emerald around the size I''d like, and I know old Asschers are rare and emeralds nonexistent. So that brings me to cushions/ovals/pears. I know ovals and pears won''t be old either, oh well.

I love warm stones so anything from H-I down to M-N-O would be fine (depending on the tone).

I don''t care for the crushed-ice look. I like the chunky facets of old cushions, which of course makes them more glassy like Asschers and emeralds. So I''m pretty happy to consider cushions, but I''m more looking at pears and ovals. Of those two, I like pears better.

Argh-- the list goes on. I add to my worries by considering the difficulty of finding appropriate side stones (should I decide on a setting with side stones)-- one gentleman told me it was hard to find warm small pears, if I wanted pears on the side of a pear. So another question I have is, what goes best on the sides of different shapes? Is it hard to find warm-colored small unusual shapes? What is considered an unusual shape for side stones? I do think it would look weird to have an L stone in the middle and G''s on the sides, don''t you?

Though if need be, I could be quite happy with some of the antique-y looking solitaire settings, too. Nothing too sleek or modern.

All comments, suggestions, and "look at this one"''s are SO WELCOME. This site has been a sanity-saver for me.

Have a great weekend all!!!

 

[supersash]

I think a pear won''t look big enough for you, in your price range, but an emerald might be more pleasing!!!

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3189/
.90 ct, H color, VS1, $3772 PEAR

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Pear-Diamond-892181.asp
1 ct, J color, VS2, $2850 PEAR

This one is over budget---but I like it
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Emerald-Diamond-1067849.asp
1.22 ct, H color, VS2 $4580 emerald



I''m not a pro, I just like looking for diamonds--the real pros will chime in soon

 

[supersash]

There''s alot on WF, which is a favorite around here. Check them out, and post some that you like, and the others will chime in.

 

[Lorelei]

Georgette welcome!

My suggestion would be to contact Jon at www.goodoldgold.com He has an excellent rep with fancy shapes and sometimes has diamonds in stock in the lower colours. I would tell him what you are looking for and your budget and let him offer you some suggestions, or source some stones for you.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 1/19/2008 5:32:08 AM
Author: Lorelei
Georgette welcome!

My suggestion would be to contact Jon at www.goodoldgold.com He has an excellent rep with fancy shapes and sometimes has diamonds in stock in the lower colours. I would tell him what you are looking for and your budget and let him offer you some suggestions, or source some stones for you.

Ditto.

 

[phoenixgirl]

Can you push the budget a little for this?

1.19 H VS2 cushion

Or what about this 1.03 E SI1 oval? It measures longer than the cushion though a bit narrower.

 

[georgetteoden]

Pushing the budget is (sadly) not an option. I have since learned that I was already pushing it when I posted.

I liked that emerald a lot (it looked Asscher-ish to my untutored eye, except for the line in the center] and also the oval. I am meeting with a local custom jeweler this evening. I will report back.

Thanks all!!!

Georgette

 

[georgetteoden]

Here''s one that appeals... but I am an amateur, please help me learn!

. Report: GIA
. Shape: Pear
. Carat: 1.53
. Depth %: 62
. Table %: 58
. Girdle: M-TK
. Measurements: 9.39-6.47X4.01
. Polish: Good
. Symmetry: Good
. Culet: None
. Fluorescence: None
. Price: $3346

No photo or other data available. They (a reputable vendor from this site) are calling me back, they don''t have the diamond in stock. They said they wouldn''t call in the diamond yet, but would look at the certificate, and if it seems like a nice stone, then they''ll ask for it... and at that point, the saleslady''s words were "If it''s a pretty stone but you don''t buy it, then we will charge you for bringing it in." Is this right? It seems fair, sort of, but still intimidates me. She wasn''t able to tell me how much bringing it in would cost, either. I''m scared to run up a bill for just research and looking around! On the other hand, a 1.5 carat pear is big for the price... which probably means it''s not that good, right? Help!

 

[Lorelei]

If you do a search and search only for in house diamonds, that might bring up some options. That way, the vendors own the diamonds as part of their inventory, so they can help you with it without calling it in and related charges if applicable. The fly in the ointment here, is that fancy shapes can be hard to source in this way, I just had a look and only found 2 pears.

Do we have the colour and clarity for this pear? That might explain the price.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

I think speaking directly with your jeweler is an important first step. He or she will be honest about what your budget will get you carat-wise...and you''ll also, hopefully, be able to see some stones for yourself and not just read reports about them online.

But also, be sure to ask what their personal "up grade" policy is...just in case, down the road, you two are more flexible and able to afford more.

Oh..and be sure to get your FI to nail down a budget. It will make shopping far, far, far more easy!

 

[kelpie]

I would look at estate pieces, you''ll find many lovely things in your budget. Never purchased from them, but I love the selection at here: new york estate jewelry and here: hampton estate buyers

 

[Hest88]

I 2nd the idea of looking for vintage rings. It sounds like his budget is pretty tight for the kind of stone you''re thinking of, and you have both the stone and the setting that will have to fit into that budget. If you don''t want to settle for a smaller stone or a badly cut stone then you might be able to find a vintage ring that will work--but I think you''ll still have to compromise on the stone size or put some of your own money into it. Alternatively, you can do what you were thinking of and purchase a nice, sparkly band and save the larger stone for an anniversary purchase.

 

[georgetteoden]

OK-- the pear I mentioned earlier-- I can''t believe I didn''t post the color and clarity SORRY!

It''s an L, VS2. And yes, the consistent message I''ve gotten from GOG, WF, et al (except JA) is that fancies are not stocked.

I met with a local jeweler tonight, too. He doesn''t usually keep any inventory, but has a ring on consignment. Platinum, a 2.07 pear in a simple basket setting, with a smaller (.3) pear on each side. The center stone is I SI1 and the side stones are more like G-H, SI2. I didn''t want to act like I cared, so I didn''t ask for a cert or anything else, but it was quite pretty (esp. since I wasn''t comparing it to anything besides the matching necklace, which was too long/skinny for my taste.) He said he didn''t know what the owner wanted for it since he hadn''t done the research yet, but would let me know. I''m quite confident it will be out of my budget, but it shore was purty to play with It had a moderate bowtie, but no black occlusions, just some hardly-visible white feathers? along the lines of some facets. So anyway.. continuing to look.

I''m still tempted by the 1.19 cushion someone referred me to above.

thanks all,
G