questions for first time engagement ring purchase

[sdprice]

My first engagement ring and I have some questions. Please be kind, I am bad at these sort of things.

1. Is it okay to buy from bluenile.com? Suggest alternatives.

2. Is the following from bluenile okay? Which is better, A or B? I think I am going with B, just because girls usually prefer a bigger diamond to a better quality diamond.

Choice Aiamond Information: 0.73-Carat Round Diamond
Shape: Round
Clarity: IF
Color: E
Cut: Ideal Depth/Table: 61.8/55
Polish: EX
Symmetry: EX
Fluorescence: None Price: $6,600

Choice B: Diamond Information: 1.1-Carat Princess Diamond
Shape: Princess
Clarity: VVS1
Color: F
Cut: Very Good Depth/Table: 72.4/71
Polish: VG
Symmetry: VG
Fluorescence: None Price: $6,967

3. How does bluenile ship their items? If I ship it home and my gf is home will she know it''s an engagement ring? I want to ship it to work, but I don''t want colleagues to realize its an engagement ring either.

4. The ring I liked has 1/4ct sidestones. But I can''t figure out the quality of the sidestones. Is that something I need to worry about? Will the sidestones look yellow compared to the main stone or something?

5. I see 10% off coupons on the web for bluenile, but they seem to only take off 10% of the ring price, not the diamond. Am I just using the wrong coupons and it is possible to get 10% off the diamond?

 

[sdprice]

BTW: my budget is around 7k

 

[Ellen]

Hi sd,

There's nothing "wong" with buying from BN, but the reason we would recommend buying from other vendors, is that they give more info. And since you are buying a fancy shape, that becomes really important.

Also, you can lower those specs a tad and still get a stunning diamond. As long as it's eyeclean, with no visable inclusions (and there are many, even at SI1-SI2), it will look just like a VVS1.

Color can at least go to G, but H would be fine for most too.

Going with the amount of your budget, I would suggest one of these. The vendors are great, and they have a lifetime upgrade policy, should you ever want to go that route.


Discount is bankwire price. This one is a great size!

http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/3982/



2% PS discount, need to ask for that.

http://www.whiteflash.com/princess/Princess-cut-diamond-52257.htm#

 

[dockman3]

I second what Ellen said about color and clarity. I find it also very hard to compare round-brilliants with princess cut diamonds. The two are totally different and perform differently as well. You really should decide which shape you want and we can go from there. Good luck with your search!

 

[Ellen]

Date: 7/14/2008 5:01:01 PM
Author: dockman3
I second what Ellen said about color and clarity. I find it also very hard to compare round-brilliants with princess cut diamonds. The two are totally different and perform differently as well. You really should decide which shape you want and we can go from there. Good luck with your search!

Crikey! I saw Princess in the second, and somehow missed round in the first! So definitely ditto, you need to decide which shape first. And please forgive my oversight on the round.

And thanks dockman. *puts on glasses*

 

[dockman3]

Date: 7/14/2008 5:06:07 PM
Author: Ellen

Date: 7/14/2008 5:01:01 PM

Author: dockman3

I second what Ellen said about color and clarity. I find it also very hard to compare round-brilliants with princess cut diamonds. The two are totally different and perform differently as well. You really should decide which shape you want and we can go from there. Good luck with your search!

Crikey! I saw Princess in the second, and somehow missed round in the first! So definitely ditto, you need to decide which shape first. And please forgive my oversight on the round.


And thanks dockman. *puts on glasses*

No problem. That''s why we have more than one person look at these things!

 

[RxTechRN2b]

With your budget you will be able to get a nice size excellent quality stone, there is plenty of advise on how to do that here on PS. As for shipping, if you have it shipped to your office, no one will know what it is, expensive jewelries are usually shipped in huge unmarked boxes to deter theft en route.

 

[NeverEndingUpgrade]

Good advice about lowering the color/clarity to go larger/lower price, however you look at it. Why pay for something you can't even see? I have bought from both BlueNile and GoodOldGold. The BlueNile diamond was great, but you get better info on GoodOldGold. In fact, I sold my BlueNile diamond to get a diamond from GOG!

 

[sdprice]

Thanks for the great advice.

I definitely like the princess cut better. However, I don''t understand the difference. Is it that one cut is more expensive than the other?

It looks like the GoG and whiteflash website provide actual pictures of the diamond and therefore you feel more confidence in buying from them? GoG has xray and microscopic pictures too, so should I trust them more?

I chose higher color and clarity because I thought it would sparkle more. However, I wasn''t sure if reducing the color/clarity and increasing the carat size would have the same effect. Also, since I am buying online, I didn''t want to risk it. Do either GoG or WF let you see the diamonds before you buy? I am in the NYC area.

I believe I like the one from WF (http://www.whiteflash.com/princess/Princess-cut-diamond-52257.htm#) better just because I feel safer that its F rated Color and VS1. Would you say the one from GoG is just as good because it is bigger?

 

[Ellen]

Yes, you will pay more for a better cut, BUT, it is worth it, because that is truly what makes the diamond sparkle! Not clarity (unless you''re talking frozen spit), or color.

Yes, WF and GOG give pics, which are important, especially with fancy cuts. You can trust both these vendors completely. I have bought from both, and they are extremely reputable. But do a search on here, if it might help you feel more comfortable!

If you''re close to GOG (Long Island), you can surely go in to look. Or, you can purchase the stone and have it sent to you. GOG has a 30 day return policy, no questions asked, and WF has a 10 day, same thing.

I like the GOG stone because it is well cut, and bigger, and it''s still not going to show color. G is safe with almost any stone shape, at any size. It''s a great stone!

 

[sdprice]

Date: 7/14/2008 6:54:07 PM
Author: Ellen

I like the GOG stone because it is well cut, and bigger, and it''s still not going to show color. G is safe with almost any stone shape, at any size. It''s a great stone!

How is this diamond http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/3777/ compared to the larger one? I noticed the microscopic pictures look worse?

Also, How much are the settings in GoG? I was going to get a sidestone setting from bluenile http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-engagement-ring-setting-white-gold_4782?metal_filter=white&setting_filter=solitaire,%20sidestone&sort_select=LTHP&filter_id=1&set_shape= for $650.

I couldn''t find something like that in GoG, any suggestions?

 

[kcoursolle]

Sparkle is all about how the diamond is cut, and less to do with color and clarity. Focus on getting a well-cut stone rather than a high color/clarity stone. Ditto the comments above that rounds and princesses have totally different looks. Rounds are slightly more expensive, but they sparkle more and they look slightly larger. I would get whichever one you think your girlfriend would like more rather than which one you like better.

BN is a fine place to buy from, but they don''t have an upgrade policy or provide images of their stones like other vendors such as jamesallen.com, whiteflash.com, goodoldgold.com, etc.

 

[sdprice]

Date: 7/15/2008 3:46:10 PM
Author: sdprice

Date: 7/14/2008 6:54:07 PM

Author: Ellen

I like the GOG stone because it is well cut, and bigger, and it''s still not going to show color. G is safe with almost any stone shape, at any size. It''s a great stone!

How is this diamond http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/3777/ compared to the larger one? I noticed the microscopic pictures look worse?


Also, How much are the settings in GoG? I was going to get a sidestone setting from bluenile http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-engagement-ring-setting-white-gold_4782?metal_filter=white&setting_filter=solitaire,%20sidestone&sort_select=LTHP&filter_id=1&set_shape= for $650.


I couldn''t find something like that in GoG, any suggestions?

Also, does anyoen know if GoG charge sales tax to out of state deliveries, specifically New Jersey?

 

[robh505]

As you are just starting your search, I would highly advise you read the information available on pricescope regarding everything you''d want to know about a diamond. You''ll learn a lot and it''ll help your personal understanding of the diamond selection process.