Please help! Suggestions for a tight budget

[ms.candice]

Hi, I am new to this website and happened upon if after deciding to inform myself about diamonds. A brief background, my bf had recently purchased an e-ring for me from Zales.com and we ended up returning it because they wanted to charge us a ton just to switch out the band from yg to wg, re-set the diamond and then resize the ring; not to mention the stone was cloudy. So, i''m back to square one in search for a ring, and it never occured to me to look for a diamond seperate from the setting until I found this site. We are not wanting to spend very much (around 1k to 1200 for the diamond) b/c we are broke college students, plus we are paying for the wedding ourselves. Also, I will have to buy a setting and am assuming I will have to pay a setting fee? I would like the total ring to be around 1300-1500 tops. I need help in finding a decent diamond, around .5 carat that can really shine. I originally was looking at Princess cut until I found the x-factor on WF. I know nothing about a quality diamond and am hesitant about buying a diamond online again, sight unseen, but maybe with some expert advise this can be done. Here are a few examples of ones I have found that I like, but dont know if they have the "sparkle" factors:
https://www.whiteflash.com/xfactor/X-Factor-cut-diamond-37.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/aca_princess/A-Cut-Above-Princess-cut-diamond-284247.htm
Also, does anyone have an opinion on diamonds from Angara.com? Ive found quite a few from them, but not sure how their diamonds rate with those on WF.
~Thanks

 

[sera]

If you go with an X-Factor or an ACA... you will DEFINITELY have sparkle! You can look in the Show Me The Ring thread and see other members here who have them, and from what I hear... they are awesome!

 

[ms.candice]

Sorry, I dont know what aca is. How can I tell if its aca, is there a certain search to do for this?
Also, i dont know if its important or not, but i plan to use a cathedral setting.

 

[sera]

The princess you searched for (if you look on the link or on the page)... it is "A Cut Above" Princess cut... meaning the stones in that category are selected because they are very well cut giving you a beautiful diamond! So you won''t be disappointed with it

 

[BigDiamonds]

Both of those that you picked looked really nice!

I personally like the X-factor a bit better than the princess, partly because it''s a little different than what you usually see. Also, it eliminates the worries about the fragile princess corners.

Good luck!

I think you are going to be AMAZED at the quality of diamond that you can get online for the same money you spent at the other jeweler!

 

[sera]

Whiteflash also has a setting for it for $250 in white gold.

--->link

And really, with the X-Factor or A Cut Above Princess... you are getting an above average diamond... so your .50 diamond is gonna look a heckuva lot better than someone''s crappily cut 1 carat!

 

[sera]

Date: 9/11/2007 9:55:38 PM
Author: BigDiamonds
Both of those that you picked looked really nice!

I personally like the X-factor a bit better than the princess, partly because it''s a little different than what you usually see. Also, it eliminates the worries about the fragile princess corners.


Good luck!

I think you are going to be AMAZED at the quality of diamond that you can get online for the same money you spent at the other jeweler!

I agree... I like the looks of the X-Factor better and it doesn''t have those fragile corners... but go with what you L

VE, ms.candice.

 

[sera]

Here is a thread with some pictures of an X-Factor around the size you''re looking at.

 

[ms.candice]

I do really like the x-factor b/c it does look more unique. If I dont end up getting the setting from the same place as the diamond, what is the easiest way to do this? Do I have the diamond mailed to me then I mail it to the company i''m buying the setting from, or do I have them both sent to me and then take it somewhere locally to have the diamond set? Also, if I buy the setting and diamond separately online does the company i buy the setting from normally charge to set the diamond, and if so, what is an average price to pay for this? Sorry for all the questions!