ring shopping timeline?

[peonies]

Being the control freak / perfectionist I am, my boyfriend has given me the go ahead to choose a diamond and setting for myself. I am 98% determined on getting a Good Old Gold AVC and putting it in Brian Gavin's "Novela" (which is about $1,000 cheaper than GOG's novo replica).

Because my budget is smallish, I know that finding the biggest possible stone with a high color grade but low-ish clarity grade is going to be difficult and possibly take some time. BF and I have decided not to get engaged until March 2011 at the earliest, and we are in Australia until January.

So my question is, when should I contact GOG and tell them what specs I am looking for and start having them look for a stone? Obviously I want to start as soon as possible but I am trying to avoid being ridiculous, and I don't want to make a full purchase until I get home in January. Does anyone have any advice?

 

[Supers]

Great choices on the AVC and Novela!

I imagine December would be a busy month for all vendors with Christmas presents... so maybe start looking late November. That then gives you a few months before March.

 

[TruLuv858]

Agreed, start in the October/November timeline...Cushions have their own personalities, and the hunt may take a little longer than you had originally anticipated, plus you will need to give yourself 4-6 weeks to get the ring set. I started 2 months ago, and more seriously 1 month ago...My FF is now in charge of the project and is in buying mode, but our specs are so tight (even though we have a healthy budget) it can be tedious.