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Recommendations for a 7k budget

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ippikiokami

Rough_Rock
Joined
Oct 30, 2013
Messages
10
Hello All!

Thank goodness there are sites like this on the internet for people like me. I've done a lot of research in the past 2 weeks and have been to some larger stores already and I feel even more confused than before. From the fact that grading is very eye of the beholder to the different certificates etc.. How do I know what is what?

I have a 7k budget for diamond (my gf fell in love with a Tacori setting that took a third of my overall budget) :(

I want to get her the biggest under 1.5 (even at 1.5 the ring looks huge on her and she actually doesn't want it to be any bigger.. she was even ok with it being around 1.25 since you can barely tell the difference) round brilliant diamond I can get, but I want the obvious eye clean and not discernible yellow color in it. I've recently learned that even if I go down to I/J level if there are florescent it will whiten it up.

What I was hoping to get
GIA or EGL. from everything i've read I don't care what cert. Just needs to be a good diamond.
Round Brilliant
VS2-SI1 Eye Clean
H-J Color
Excellent-Very Good Cut

Again she was willing to go down to 1.25 carat because when the jeweler showed us a 1.25 on the same setting we actually thought she had given us another 1.5. Ideally I would want around 1.3+

What do you guys think? Any help or diamond suggestions would be amazing. I'm looking at the local Solomon Brothers and Online at Genesis Diamonds. I don't care where I get it from already as long as there is a decent warranty.

Thanks ahead of time! I'm actually looking to propose in 2 1/2 weeks!
 
ippikiokami|1383134913|3547342 said:
Hello All!

Thank goodness there are sites like this on the internet for people like me. I've done a lot of research in the past 2 weeks and have been to some larger stores already and I feel even more confused than before. From the fact that grading is very eye of the beholder to the different certificates etc.. How do I know what is what?

I have a 7k budget for diamond (my gf fell in love with a Tacori setting that took a third of my overall budget) :(

I want to get her the biggest under 1.5 (even at 1.5 the ring looks huge on her and she actually doesn't want it to be any bigger.. she was even ok with it being around 1.25 since you can barely tell the difference) round brilliant diamond I can get, but I want the obvious eye clean and not discernible yellow color in it. I've recently learned that even if I go down to I/J level if there are florescent it will whiten it up.

What I was hoping to get
GIA or EGL. from everything i've read I don't care what cert. Just needs to be a good diamond.
Round Brilliant
VS2-SI1 Eye Clean
H-J Color
Excellent-Very Good Cut

Again she was willing to go down to 1.25 carat because when the jeweler showed us a 1.25 on the same setting we actually thought she had given us another 1.5. Ideally I would want around 1.3+

What do you guys think? Any help or diamond suggestions would be amazing. I'm looking at the local Solomon Brothers and Online at Genesis Diamonds. I don't care where I get it from already as long as there is a decent warranty.
Thanks ahead of time! I'm actually looking to propose in 2 1/2 weeks!
Click to expand...

2 1/2 weeks! Well you better get on it!

When you mention you don't care if the cert is from GIA or EGL, you do want to care. There is a big difference between the 2 certs. Often a EGL color grade is graded 2-3 shades lower by GIA. Bottom line, you get what you pay for.
Others will have to comment but I don't think you get a 1.5 carat stone for your budget, especially after the setting you have picked out.
You want to check the website of some of the PS vendors: GOG, WF, BGD, ERD, etc to check prices. Best of luck

edit: If you have $7K and 1/3 went to the setting, you are looking at a stone well under 1 carat. You may need to reset your expectations.
 
You dont want an EGL stone. Not because the stone isnt good, necessarily, but because you dont know what you are getting. And if you dont know what you are getting, how do you know youre paying a fair price.

youll be hard pressed to get a 1.5 for 7k in the specs you want.

First, here are some from places that sell Tacori, so could set it in the setting you want (they can get it even if its not on their site)

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2925701.htm

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/11280/

heres some from vendors that dont - though i dont know if youll have time to get it set

(fair enough price that you could have it set somewhere else )

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.28-carat-j-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-254511

Can you post the Tacori she liked? Maybe there is something similar for cheaper.... also, would you consider buying a less expensive setting for now and upgrading later, you have high expectations, and they could be met if you didnt spend so much on the setting
 
Whoops! Thanks for the quick reply guys!
What I meant to say is I have about 7k left after going about 1/3 in on the setting.
So i roughly 7-8k to spend on the diamond.

She liked the Tacori Dantela setting that runs around 3.6k. Honestly we were both hoping she wouldn't want a designer ring but what she loved about it was the muted halo and the detailing on the side and after going through 2 pretty sizable stores we couldn't find something that had both.

Wow I didn't know EGL made that big of a difference. I was reading the Certification comparison chart that I think this site did in the past and they looked pretty close :(

Again I wouldn't mind dropping it to 1.4~ or even 1.3+ since you can't tell too much difference in size.
 
ippikiokami|1383137936|3547356 said:
Whoops! Thanks for the quick reply guys!
What I meant to say is I have about 7k left after going about 1/3 in on the setting.
So i roughly 7-8k to spend on the diamond.

She liked the Tacori Dantela setting that runs around 3.6k. Honestly we were both hoping she wouldn't want a designer ring but what she loved about it was the muted halo and the detailing on the side and after going through 2 pretty sizable stores we couldn't find something that had both.

Wow I didn't know EGL made that big of a difference. I was reading the Certification comparison chart that I think this site did in the past and they looked pretty close :(

Again I wouldn't mind dropping it to 1.4~ or even 1.3+ since you can't tell too much difference in size.
Click to expand...

I knew what you meant. Still, 1.25 seems like the size in your budget. and Thats a J VS-SI range.

Which setting specifically? im finding a few when i google that name?

Heres a few from whiteflash, they are less than 3.6k, which is good. This one has the side and the halo she liked, but with a plain shank. A good compromise to get more money for the diamond. and i mean, you can always wear a diamond band with it to get the same look for less

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/tacori-2620rdsm-dantela-crown-solitaire-engagement-ring-2716.htm

or this one

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/tacori-39-2-cu-dantela-ribbon-diamond-engagement-ring-2682.htm

this is probably the one your talking about, its 3100 at WF

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/tacori-2620rd-dantela-crown-diamond-engagement-ring-2524.htm

And what is actually your budget? 7 or 8? Whats your actual total budget all in?
 
depending on the setting and your overall budget, this seems like a good option

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2982241.htm

I cant say if that G is a good purchase or not, wed need more of the specs like the depth, table, angles, and so on. Also, as its a SI2, id want to see a picture.

And i assume she theres no way shed drop down to plain shank version of that setting to save money?
 
I just finished shopping for a Tacori set engagement ring.

If you buy in the next week or so, there are a couple of dealers that are doing Tacori promotions where you receive a $400 Amex gift card with a Tacori purchase.

(I ended up with a Tacori 2620 and .86ct center stone)
 
Thanks so much for the whiteflash recommendation. So that kinda yellow you see in the picture on their site. Will it be visible to the eye when it's on the setting?

The chances of her dropping the diamonds on the setting are low. Would the 1k I could get from that make a huge difference in diamond?
 
Wish I could edit after.
After looking at what you were saying I'm going to try to convince her to drop the diamonds on sides of the band. That'll raise my max to 9k

Apologize for the changing max. But the things you all are pointing out make sense.
 
ippikiokami|1383146258|3547479 said:
Wish I could edit after.
After looking at what you were saying I'm going to try to convince her to drop the diamonds on sides of the band. That'll raise my max to 9k

Apologize for the changing max. But the things you all are pointing out make sense.
Click to expand...

If that's really what she wants than that's what she wants and get it for her. But just consider the fact that she will only be wearing it alone for like a year. After that shell be wearing a wedding band with it. And she can pair it with a tacori diamond w band, and get a very similar look, without having to put quite as much toward the setting and away from the diamond.

But again. If you bring it up and she doesn't like it. That's OK.

A j will have more tint than say an I +, which is usually what people say to stay at, but the thing is, cut is the most important thing. Its what makes the diamond sparkle. And if it doesn't sparkle, why wouldnt you just buy a 6ct E color CZ? so if size, eye clarity, and cut are most important, color is going to have to be a compromise.

But if she goes for the plain shank halo, you can probably go up in color.

James Allen would have stone, but I don't know if they would be able to ship it to you, then also have it set by someone else in your short timeline. Do you have a little more time?
 
If she goes for the plain shank. This is under 9k
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/11334/

Should get a PS discount you'd have to ask good old gold.

Its eye clean.

I'd call them and ask if the whole thing could be done for your budget and your time crunch.
 
First Niel you are awesome. Thanks so much for staying with me on this.

Setting I should be fine. I just checked with Solomon Brothers and I also have a local contact I can pay to do it. The 16th date was because we will be on a vacation on that day and it would be perfect. I hear you on the tight timeline though. I hope to lock down what diamond to buy by this Friday.

So I guess new round up.
9k
1.25-1.4 (seems 1.5 is impossible)
H-J
Si1-Si2
Excellent - Very Good (keeping it at this since as you guys have mentioned, it's part of what you buy a round brilliant)'

Calling up the company you recommended. Is there anyway I can get you some referral credit since you helped me so much?
 
ippikiokami|1383149566|3547520 said:
First Niel you are awesome. Thanks so much for staying with me on this.

Setting I should be fine. I just checked with Solomon Brothers and I also have a local contact I can pay to do it. The 16th date was because we will be on a vacation on that day and it would be perfect. I hear you on the tight timeline though. I hope to lock down what diamond to buy by this Friday.

So I guess new round up.
9k
1.25-1.4 (seems 1.5 is impossible)
H-J
Si1-Si2
Excellent - Very Good (keeping it at this since as you guys have mentioned, it's part of what you buy a round brilliant)'

Calling up the company you recommended. Is there anyway I can get you some referral credit since you helped me so much?
Click to expand...

There are j 1.5s out there as posted from gog or those ones julie found.

No reason to mention me, just here to help. But I WOULD mention Pricescope, see if you get any additional discount.
 
Hello all!

I found what I think is the winner!

1.62 GIA
Color Grade : I

Clarity : Si2 (The inclusions are faint white lines outside of the table) I saw it in person and compared it to a much higher clarity grade diamond and another one at the Si1. I could barely tell the difference between it and the Vs2 straight on .. though if i twisted it around enough I could see some of the white inclusions on the perimeter.

Cut Grade : Excellent
$9000 Flat

What do you guys think??? I could have never came to the conclusions about what to get if it weren't for you guys. I looked at a 1.3 that was about 8500 and I felt the quality on this one was up to par. I didn't chose it just because it was bigger. Also looked at a EGL 1.5, E color vs2 and i didn't feel it was much different.

Tomorrow is judgement day as it's the last day I can choose from my local store and some online stores if they want to get it to me in time.

Thanks againnn. I'll post pics when I can.
 
Do you have a report number?
 
Didn't know you could just look these things up

6157568657
 
ippikiokami|1383234115|3548147 said:
Didn't know you could just look these things up

6157568657
Click to expand...

Ah that stone isn't the best cut, unfortunately. You run it though the HCA you get 3.4

Did you contact good old gold. I know that one was a J but it was a very good cut, which will be more attractive than a more poorly cut I
 
Thanks for the info Niel,

What is the difference between the HCA grade for it and the GIA "Excellent" grade?
 
ippikiokami|1383238672|3548195 said:
Thanks for the info Niel,

What is the difference between the HCA grade for it and the GIA "Excellent" grade?
Click to expand...

The gia X grade is more broad. So you can still have variations in quality. It unfortunately doesn't mean a gia X automatically is the best performing stone. There are variations within the grading.

Just like any other gia grade. For color, take a k for example, not all ks have exactly the same color.

Or clarity. SI1 can be eye clean or not at all.
 
3.4 is a little high but not horrible.
 
From what I saw on online searches the price seems fair but I didn't considering things like the HCA (mainly because I didn't know about it) . Does it seem ok with you guys?
 
If you want the best, keep looking. If you want acceptable, take it.
 
Hello! :wavey:

I was just reading your original post and you indicate that your fiance doesn't want a stone bigger than a 1.5 carat. Maybe I missed this somewhere in the thread but is that how she still feels or no since you're now considering the 1.62? I just thought maybe you can clarify in case you end up not getting that stone...

I hope everything works out great for you!
 
I wouldn't buy the stone from your local vendor. A well cut J will be much whiter and brighter than a poorer cut I. CUT IS KING.
I would go with the J from GOG...or if you want a higher color splurge and get this H

GOG has Tacori and can set it for you as well. Her ring from GOG will be magnificent. Probably not from your local vendor.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/10736/
 
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