Please help pick out a 20 year anniversary ring

[bbr]

So my 20th anniversary is coming up next month and I want to get my wife a new engagement ring. Her current ring is a .7x ct round (with a noticeable inclusion) in a yellow gold setting.

We are in a much better financial position and I'd like to get her something nice and elegant but not gaudy. I'm thinking 1-1.5ct, eye clean, nice color, round or princess (she has some princess cut earrings in a platinum setting that she likes). And a setting that is not plain, but not too complicated. Maybe similar to this....

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/14k-white-gold-stone-heart-diamond-engagement-ring-item-41041

I don't have a strict budget in mind, but I guess in the $5-10k range would be a good start.

Anyone have an opinion on this?

 

[AdaBeta27]

I think round brilliant has more staying power than princess. Princess is usually chosen by young women. Also, the corners are prone to chipping or breaking. You are free to like what you like and choose what pleases you, though.

(eta: There are hearts & arrows cushions, too, if she likes square-ish stones. Brian Gavin has a line of them. Brellia is another brand.)

Size-wise for RB, I'd say look at anything 1.25 and up to whatever you want to spend. A 1.2 or 1.25ct diamond will have around a 7mm diameter, and that is nice upgrade in size. 1.5ct is one of those targets that a lot of upgraders go for, so the competition is keen. It's also a weight where you have to watch out for diamonds that were cut to hit the 1.5ct mark, not be peak performers. You may need to look slightly above and below that ct. weight to find something fast.

Color, G or even H will be white. J will be tinted, and I is the point where most people start noticing a bit of creaminess in the color.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/preferred-specs-cheat-sheet-for-rounds.88548/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/preferred-specs-cheat-sheet-for-rounds.88548/[/URL] and Todd Gray's NiceIce site have some brief pointers on what most of Pricescope prefers in a hearts & arrows modern round brilliant.

 

[tyty333]

Does she currently have a round? Is there anyway that you can figure out which she would prefer? I tend to think if she has a
round than stick with a round but there's not a lot of logic behind that.

To be honest, I like that that setting is "different" but it really doesnt seem to do much for the stones...it's not particulary
pretty, it's just well, different, which to me isn't good enough to buy it. We need something that is pretty and different!

I like these better...
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/14k-white-gold-rope-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-52624
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/14k-white-gold-petite-flower-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-50125 lovely basket...there are more with lovely baskets
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/18k-white-gold-wrapped-hearts-bombay-engagement-ring-item-22565
same feel as one you picked but has nicer, more feminine lines.
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/14k-white-gold-twisted-shank-contemporary-solitaire-item-6854 nice for a princess

You can request up to 3 total asets (for princess) /idealscope (for round) images. Get PSers opinions before you request
(dont want to waste any on stones that we can tell dont have good light return).

Nice AGS000 stone
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.30-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-574899

For round stones you can use the HCA tool to eliminate stones. Stones that score 2 or under are promising.
https://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca

Princess stones
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/1.31-carat-g-color-vs1-clarity-sku-603529 table a little large
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/1.54-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-sku-568588
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/1.38-carat-g-color-vs1-clarity-sku-644617

 

[bbr]

Thanks for the help! Of those settings I like this one the best....

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/18k-white-gold-wrapped-hearts-bombay-engagement-ring-item-22565

She has a 6 prong setting now and it looks to hide the stone too much (although it is safer!).

I will look at some stones and see if I can pick out a few for you to critique.

If anyone else has suggestions please chime in. I need all the help I can get!

 

[EvangelineG]

Ack. Just typed out a post and it somehow disappeared.

The gist was- how about buying the diamond and letting her pick her own setting? Or telling her about the plan and choosing it together?

Maybe less fun for you presentation-wise but potentially more fun for her, and then she ends up with the ring of her dreams.

 

[Californiadreaming]

Hi - I have come on here not as any kind of expert but because a) I am also celebrating my 20th anniversary in early November and my husband and I have just purchased a new ring and were working with the same budget and b) because I wanted to share my thoughts on the process...

Although it is incredibly romantic and generous of you to choose a stone and setting and surprise her, I agree with Evangeline that this is (I'm guessing?) a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you wife to have the ring of her dreams.

I have loved the whole process of thinking and looking this past year. My dh is not interested in the actual stone or ring but has gotten a thrill out of my excitement! I now, hopefully, have a ring I absolutely love - I will see on Friday when we pick it up!

So consider telling her your plans and let her enjoy the process of finding and creating something beautiful. When my dh said to me last year he wanted to spend $8-10k on a new ring for me the thrill was as great as him presenting me with a ring!

 

[Sphene]

I agree I am coming up to my 30th anniversary and I would be slightly disappointed/upset (I know this sounds ungrateful and unromantic) if my other half chose my ring and diamond has he knows how much I know about diamonds and knows I would want the best I could find.

The search knowing he wanted to spend a lot of money on me would be the most exciting thing to me and I have made him return rings in the past bad me.

 

[bbr]

Opinions on these.....


http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.42-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-519253

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.40-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-645805

This is the one tyty333 suggested...

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.30-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-574899



Am I on the right track here or is there something that I'm not looking at correctly. There are very few ideal cut stones compared to excellent cut stones. Does that make a huge difference?

Thanks!!

 

[bbr]

Also, for those suggesting that I include her in the process, I don't think that would go over well. She has a hard time making decisions (she's still trying to pick a solid surface counter top 6 months after I refinished the cabinets). And she'd freak at the amount of money I'm contemplating spending here. Presenting the ring I chose for her would be much better. That's why I need everyone's help!

 

[LLJsmom]

Also, for those suggesting that I include her in the process, I don't think that would go over well. She has a hard time making decisions (she's still trying to pick a solid surface counter top 6 months after I refinished the cabinets). And she'd freak at the amount of money I'm contemplating spending here. Presenting the ring I chose for her would be much better. That's why I need everyone's help!

In that case, if she is an "opportunity cost" kind of girl, you are doing much better to get her the complete ring and present it to her as a "fait accompli". Good for you. I would pick as large a stone as your budget can accommodate and spend less on her setting. The last setting you chose is lovely. It will be fun giving her a heart attack when she sees the huge rock you bought her. I have a friend who loves my ring but has so much trouble spending the money on it. But she loves staring at it. I think your wife will LOVE it, even if she thinks you are crazy, initially. Good man.

 

[Californiadreaming]

Hey bbr - I'm also quite indecisive and cautious which is why my husband told me a year prior to the purchase! Yes I have dithered and changed my mind but I've enjoyed it all immensely and to be honest I don't think my husband would have got it 'right'. However you know your wife best and you are doing such a sweet thing for her! I can't help with the stones as I'm not not expert enough but good luck!

 

[AdaBeta27]

One strong point in favor of getting her involved in selecting the diamond is that you can find out what she can compromise on. For me, it's clarity. I don't need 100% eye-clean under all circumstances, 24/7. I just need whatever the inclusion is to hide well, require a bit of study to find, and not adversely impact performance.

Maybe your wife would be fine with a lower color like a I or J or even a K. Not if she likes colorless, but if size is more important and she likes the warmer colors against her skin tone, a J or K may be great. I like L and M. They are definitely in the pale yellow range. There are lots of people on PS who say L and M are great for antique diamonds but not for modern H&A RBs. But I have one that's probably an L, recut by Brian Gavin, and it faces up very white and bright. I posted pictures in another thread. The tint is still there, but to me it's an attractive, not dingy, tint. (One thing to keep in mind is that as the stones get larger in ct wt, they will also concentrate tint more, so a 2ct J or M is going to look more tinted than a 1ct J or M, for sure.)

Someone linked princess stones. Did you note that the diameter of say, 1.3ct princess, is only 6mm? I think she'd be more impressed with the larger face-up size of 1.3ct RB, unless you use a bezel or half bezel setting. I have a 6mm square brilliant stone in a bezel that makes it look huge. I wanted a contemporary look, though.

6 prongs vs. 4: 6 are much more secure. If you choose 4, then you need heavy prongs. The problem with 4 is that the stone can slide out if you break or bend one prong.

 

[AdaBeta27]

I haven't bought from them, but I.D. Jewelry and B2CJewels have both found some gorgeous diamonds for tight budgets. But regardless of who you buy from, sometimes the exact combo of 4Cs plus the 5th C, cost, just isn't available and you have to wait for one to come up.

 

[Travelgal]

This is going to sound shallow and just my personal opinion for your budget. Princess stones are cut deeper and therefore a 1.5 carat princess will look smaller than a 1.5 carat round. The "face up size" is smaller because of the depth of the stone. That's not to say princess stones are not beautiful or "lesser" than round stones, but in your case I would (personally) pick a round. A 1.2 well cut stone will be a big difference than what she's currently wearing. I just went through a similar exercise with my dad (he had same budget as you) and my mom was thrilled with the final product. If you get her an amazing center stone, she can always reset it if she doesn't like the setting.

 

[bbr]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I'd really rather not focus on budget. I was just giving a range as a guide. I'd rather focus on value. After looking at a bunch of diamonds (my eyes are sore!), I think a 1.5ct stone would be the max I'd want. Anything larger than that just looks too big and "showy" to me. We are not "I want to impress other people" type. However, I do want this to be a nice piece for her. So here is what I have decided so far.....

I've decided on a round stone.
I'll go with this setting....http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/18k-white-gold-wrapped-hearts-bombay-engagement-ring-item-22565
I'll go with a 1.25-1.5ct stone (can be slightly larger if value is there)

My questions are.......
For value....

Is an ideal cut that much better than an excellent cut?
Generally is VS2 eye clean?
H and above is colorless to the eye?
Stick with the "cheat sheet" numbers for best results?
Anything else I should look out for?

 

[lovemybling]

Just a quick comment on the setting you are looking at, it looks really nice when you look at the professional photo from James Allen but it you look at the photos of actual rings they have put together (look below the big picture to the bottom right) the actual rings look like sort of blob-y metal to me. I think you can find a better setting, I would even rather have a plain solitaire over that.

though I do like the twisted metal bands or even one like this http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/14k-white-gold-etched-profile-solitaire-item-9201

which looks plain look straight down but has a lovely profile


Just a personal preference

Good Luck

 

[VRBeauty]

Here's another James Allen setting with a heart motif in the basket - I thin this one is especially elegant, and the double prongs provide added protection for the diamond:

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagemen...es-allen-exclusive-engagement-ring-item-49510

 

[tyty333]

Opinions on these.....


http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.42-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-519253

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.40-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-645805
This one has almost perfect numbers. I hate the video though (that glassey look). I would ask JA about the stone. See if they
can get an idealscope image for you.

This is the one tyty333 suggested...

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.30-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-574899



Am I on the right track here or is there something that I'm not looking at correctly. There are very few ideal cut stones compared to excellent cut stones. Does that make a huge difference?

Thanks!!

 

[bbr]

Opinions on these.....


http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.42-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-519253

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.40-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-645805
This one has almost perfect numbers. I hate the video though (that glassey look). I would ask JA about the stone. See if they
can get an idealscope image for you.

This is the one tyty333 suggested...

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.30-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-574899



Am I on the right track here or is there something that I'm not looking at correctly. There are very few ideal cut stones compared to excellent cut stones. Does that make a huge difference?

Thanks!!

No idealscope image available for that one as it's not in house. This was their comment on it.....

Looks like a really nice option, but the Very Good symmetry vs. Excellent would skew the Idealscope image anyway. Excellent symmetry/Polish/Cut will yield the most favorable results

 

[diamondseeker2006]

While I agree that excellent on all three is safest, that is the weirdest reply. They do not know that the vg symmetry would "skew" the idealscope image!!! Good grief. Please don't even ask them diamond questions because you just never know if anything they say is accurate.

I do not have a big problem with the 1.4 H stone. I think those of us who love perfectly cut diamonds probably would not pick it. We might pick a diamond with cut in the top 1-3%. That one may be in the top 5-10% (just a wild guess). It is probably vastly better than most diamonds on most people around you.

Here is a top cut quality diamond. Look at it's images closely and it will help you as you look at other diamonds.

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3565132.htm

Oh, and I agree with whoever said that setting looks pretty bad in the actual ring images. Please reconsider that one.

 

[Queenie60]

I feel that you should allow her to chose her own ring! Then you can be sure that she likes what she gets! It's more exciting that way. My husband allows me to chose all of my jewelry and I am always happy with what I have!