Please help this newbie

[diamonewbie]

Thanks for reading this, first of all. I have recently met the women I believe is truly meant for me, and I want to show her by giving her the best ring I can.

I've read up on niceice.com's site and tried to edgeyoukait myself as much as possible. Here are my constraints: I can't spend more than about $4k total, she likes the diamond round, solitaire, and preferably platinum as well. And of course, the bigger the diamond, the better.

I am debating on giving her white gold instead so that I can spend more on the diamond. From what I've read on this site, I can sacrifice color up to around I. I guess I'm wondering how big I can get the diamond for what I'm willing to spend and still have a nice rock. I'd like to get 1.0 carats (or more), but from the bit of online looking that I've done so far, that appears out of my price range. I've read the platinum vs. white gold debate/s, so no need to elaborate on this topic here, unless you wish to. It appears that platinum can be purchased online for only ~$400 more than gold anyway, so I'll probably just do that. Will a 6-prong be necessary, as platinum is stronger than gold? Will it cover the diamond too much?

Any insight you experts can give would be much appreciated. Thanks...I can't wait to give this to her!!!

 

[glitz&glam]

Hi diamonewbie,

Congratulations on finding that special woman!

If the diamond is really well cut, as with an AGS0 Triple Ideal, you can go to an I or even a J color. Choose an eye clean SI1 or SI2 to save some more money and you can get a nice sized diamond your fiancée will be thrilled with. You can get around one carat for your price range with these parameters.

For more information do a search on the “price stats” link at the top of the page.

Best of luck to you in your diamond search.

 

[diamonewbie]

Thanks!

 

[msb2ncsu]

You can get a "Tiffany" style solitaire pretty cheap and they are a timeless look. This particular one is about $350 at Whiteflash and should be about the same at the other retailers...

That would leave you with $3650 as a stone budget and you can most definitely find a 1.0+ ct stone to fit your needs with that. Do some PriceScope scouring and send out the mass-mailer from pricescope to see what the various vendors come back to you with.

 

[diamonewbie]

Wow, thanks for the replies! This is helping tremendously. I can't wait to delve deeper into this diamond search. Here I go...

 

[diamonewbie]

I found this for $300 here: http://www.platinum-rings.cc/solitaire_tiff6.asp

This is a nice realization, because I thought platinum rings were more like $1000+. I know you can spend that and more, but this will do just fine! Thanks.

 

[chris-uk04]

Here's a J-VS2 for : $3515
http://www.goodoldgold.com/0_90ct_j_vs2_h%26a.htm

With a $4k budget, I would put as much money into the stone as possible and then you could possibly upgrade the setting later.

 

[diamonewbie]

Hehehehe! I was telling a friend last night of my sudden interest in "shopping for a ring", and he told me his sister works at a wholesaler!!! I haven't spoken with her yet, but he said I should be able to get a 1 carat rock with good clarity, etc., for between $1600-2200!!! I hope this pans out. I guess I should still get an appraiser to look at it after I buy it? I love having friends.

 

[MelanieC]

I would put as much of your budget into the diamond as you can. I did that with my recent anniversary gift. I wanted platinum, but I bought the diamond I wanted first and spent almost all I had. I ended up getting a geourgeous white gold cathederal setting that is 4mm. It beautiful and nice and thick. My friend who recently got engaged has a platinum setting. When she looked at mine she was in shocked. She said it looked just like platinum. I totally agreed. I also had a wedding band that was in platinum next to it and I couldn't tell the two metals apart in the jewelers.

Your setting can be upgraded in a few years, but getting the diamond you want is the most important. At least in my opinion.

Good luck and congratulations on finding your girl.