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Proposing next month - Looking for diamond and ring advice!

coldasice88

Rough_Rock
Joined
Feb 16, 2017
Messages
3
Hi Everyone!

First time poster here and I’m reaching out for your advice as I get ready to purchase an engagement ring here in the next couple weeks. I’ve spent the past month or so poring over these threads and can’t thank this community enough for the help you’ve provided to others and me.

In two weeks, I’ll be traveling to Texas for work and while I’m there, I figured it would be fun and beneficial to choose the diamond in person. I plan to visit WF and BGD and am looking for guidance as to what questions to ask and things to look out for/beware of during the in-store experience.

Cut is key for me, so I am set on purchasing a WF-ACA or BGD-Signature or Blue. With these signature super ideals meeting the standards for their name, should I be confident in a purchase regardless? Or do I need to consider depth/table/crown/pavilion specs beyond the HCA?

Secondly, I would love your input on which settings this community prefers from WF and BGD. Through speaking with her friends and family, I have the following guidelines to work with:
• 4 or 6 Prong
• Pave (not in the true meaning necessarily)
• Platinum or White Gold
• “Dainty” (leads me to avoid a channel setting)

She is fairly tall, thin, and early 30’s.

For further help on the setting, I’ve posted links to images from her Pinterest below. Keep in mind, I do not know how long ago these were pinned.

Here are the diamond specs I will be aiming for:
Round
Carat : .9 - 1.1
Color : H – I
Clarity : VS1 – Anything Eye-Clean

While I don’t think she would raise a stink, personally, I’m not sure if I’m OK with an I color yet, will need to see in person and would be more comfortable doing so if a medium-strong flour was involved. Please let me know if an I color would be a concern in a pave setting.

Budget is flexible. If I find the “perfect” diamond (1.0+, H/I, Med-Very Strong Blue Flour, Eye-Clean) I believe that would put me close to $7,500 total with a reasonable setting. I’m fine with spending around $9k though.

Pinterest Links for setting ideas:
http://bit.ly/2nnXEuN
http://bit.ly/2lLW9KB
http://bit.ly/2m9vu62
http://bit.ly/2mKfICr
http://bit.ly/2nnOnDl
http://bit.ly/2nelTwi
http://bit.ly/2no46lG
http://bit.ly/2mbM3Pv

Thank you so much!
 
Re: Proposing next month - Looking for diamond and ring advi

How exciting! Yes, you can be confident with either WF or BG. She is a stack woman! :appl: I'd stick with a solitare setting with either pave or plain shank.
 
Re: Proposing next month - Looking for diamond and ring advi

If you go with Whiteflash, I highly recommend Vatche settings. Look at the Corsica or Caroline. I think both are available with or without pave shank. Very similar to the second to last setting you poSted.

However, those are cathedral settings and the Pinterest pics show a lot of non-cathedral. I think you need to sort this out first. Non cathedral can make the stone look bigger but some people (like me) find the diamond sticking out annoying because it can catch on things.
 
Re: Proposing next month - Looking for diamond and ring advi

Yes, sort the cathedral part out because personally I don't care for cathedral settings, so it can be one of those "either like it or you don't" kind of things.
 
Re: Proposing next month - Looking for diamond and ring advi

Appreciate the feedback! Let's go with non-cathedral, I'm feeling that's more in line with her style.

Thanks!
 
Re: Proposing next month - Looking for diamond and ring advi

You've picked two nice vendors.

I have been to Whiteflash and the folks there are as nice as they can be. Its so hard to tell you what to ask about because their
stones are pre-vetted. You might ask to see the difference between an ACA and a Premium Select/Expert Selection. Some of
the rings your GF posted are rather large so you may want to push size and go with an eye-clean SI1 (so be sure to check out some
of those).

A well cut "I" will face up pretty white...most tint is seen from the side but since you'll be there you can have them show you
a side by side comparison of an H and an I. Look at the "I" by itself first though.

I think a nice pave setting is probably going to take you over $7500. A nice pave will probably run $1500-$2500. Dont go too thin
on the pave if it is something she is going to be wearing every day.

I like these
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/charis-pave-diamond-engagement-ring-by-vatche-1657.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/french-set-diamond-engagement-ring-2548.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/petite-open-cathedral-diamond-engagement-ring-1539.htm

And a couple of halos in case you think she would like a bigger look
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/simon-g-mr2132-passion-diamond-engagement-ring-3370.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/gunievere-pave-diamond-engagement-ring-2099.htm

Have fun in Houston. There are a couple of nice restaurants by Whiteflash...Mexican and Italian. Yummy food!

Oh, call WF and let them know when you are going to be there so they know you are coming...
 
Re: Proposing next month - Looking for diamond and ring advi

Thank you for the tips, tyty333!!

Regarding the setting rec's - I'm drawn towards the Charis and will keep that on the short list. I should have mentioned she's not particular about size and wants something "close to a carat" and would prefer to not have a halo setting.

Diamonds and Tex-Mex - I can't wait!
 
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