Seeking Advice on Choosing a Graff Engagement Ring

[newtojewels]

I do just want to push back slightly one more time, not to change your mind but because I think that saying some of the jewelers who were mentioned would be equivalent to a Honda and Graff is equivalent to a Porsche or Mercedes really isn't fair. Getting a custom and handmade ring from an expert independent jeweler is still a luxury purchase which is more like a different kind of luxury car than not being a luxury car at all. It isn't a matter of quality difference, it's more like which kind of luxury appeals to you. In purse land, Graff versus one of the hand-forging jewelers might be kind of like comparing a Chanel to a Delvaux.

If you love the idea of trying things on in a beautiful boutique and having that kind of experience, then the Graff or Harry Winston experience might be the right luxury experience for you. The idea of sitting in an office or working with the jeweler remotely or not having beautiful packaging might feel too non-luxurious for you, which is obviously fine. I just want to point out that it isn't the only kind of luxury. For example, although she isn't the right jeweler for your ring, I worked with Cheyenne Weil for a gemstone ring and exchanged over 30 emails with her including drawings of different options, seeing the wax she had hand-carved in various stages of the process so I could weigh in as she went along, having her advise me on the best metal color for my gemstone, and then seeing in-progress photos of the cast ring as it was completed and polished. And my setting was not expensive! It isn't the boutique luxury experience and there was no champagne and no beautiful packaging, but getting to personalize so much and have so much discussion time with the actual jeweler making my ring was a luxury experience of a different kind that I personally prefer to my experience in the Graff boutiques I've been to.

So basically, I think we just want to make sure that you're getting the right experience for you and a beautiful ring in the end that you will look at and love. Most people here find luxury in the diamond itself being perfectly cut to maximize sparkle while being as big and colorless as possible and/or in the handmade custom setting process, especially for an engagement ring where the designer markup is significant, hence the push away from Graff. But if you'll get more joy out of the Graff luxury experience, then obviously that's the experience you should have! Experts here can help you make sure that you get the best diamond you can within that experience because that's what their focus is.

 

[canuk-gal]

I love Graff, and totally understand why you are drawn to them. Have you actually started working with someone there? They have a different business structure than the other big jewelry houses, and actually do not hold to their sticker prices. You can make offers and they'll give pretty hefty discounts once they know you're serious. In my experience, they are actually far better priced than Tiffany, HW, etc, at least in the 3+ ct range. I like their step cuts and their hearts best out of what they offer (and their gorgeous fcds, of course). I hope you find a ring you love!

Good to know! Is this for jewellery as well? Their stuff if gorgeous.

 

[Polabowla]

It's not the same thing because Graff diamonds are at a whole different level. Additionally , they're hand selected for each engagement ring by a member of the Graff family . They have incredible diamonds that they own and aren't using virtual diamonds either.
That's aside from the brand cachet that the name Graff carries.
Frankly, Tiffany diamonds do not compare. They grade their own stones in house btw, so you're subject to their biased judgement on grading. I examined a number of them when I was searching for my ring and was not impressed.
Mishmish, follow your heart and enjoy your special Graff piece

 

[Polabowla]

Good to know! Is this for jewellery as well? Their stuff if gorgeous.

Yes it is , their pieces are not comparable to others

 

[CircularBrilliant]

Good to know! Is this for jewellery as well? Their stuff if gorgeous.

Yes, to my understanding they operate this way generally. They are a wonderful jewelry house! Not only do they have truly stunning pieces, I have found their SAs to be far more knowledgeable than most and very enjoyable to work with. I was pleasantly surprised to find that their prices were quite reasonable, relatively speaking, despite the brand cachet. (I wound up falling in love with a true antique engagement ring, but had I gone with a modern piece, would most likely have gotten a step cut from Graff).

 

[mishmish33]

I love Graff, and totally understand why you are drawn to them. Have you actually started working with someone there? They have a different business structure than the other big jewelry houses, and actually do not hold to their sticker prices. You can make offers and they'll give pretty hefty discounts once they know you're serious. In my experience, they are actually far better priced than Tiffany, HW, etc, at least in the 3+ ct range. I like their step cuts and their hearts best out of what they offer (and their gorgeous fcds, of course). I hope you find a ring you love!

Thank you for sharing your experience and insights about Graff—I really appreciate the information! I’m intrigued by the idea of negotiating with them, but I’m trying to understand how to approach it effectively.

Could you provide more detail about how to ask for a discount and what range I might expect? For example, are we talking about 1-2% or something more substantial, like 10-20%? I’ve heard they’ve become stricter with discounts in recent years, so I’m curious if your experience is recent or from a while ago.

I also wonder how to balance narrowing down my options with negotiating. Would it be better to focus on just one piece I truly love and push for a discount on that, or to present a couple of options I’m considering? For instance, if I’m interested in an 80k piece but would be willing to commit if it were closer to 60k, should I mention that?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the best approach, as I’m definitely planning to try to negotiate if possible. Thanks again for your
help!

 

[Bonfire]

I’m struggling with whether it’s worth paying a premium for color. When I tried to compare different colors in the store, I honestly couldn't see much of a difference. I’m questioning whether I should pay for something I don’t personally notice or if it significantly affects the value and overall quality.

To address your first post, Yes, color effects value. As does size and clarity.
Color is subjective, if you can’t see the difference between high and lower color grades then let your heart guide you.
We can’t decide for you what priorities you value.
Good luck and come back with photos once you decide.

 

[HGar]

For instance, if I’m interested in an 80k piece but would be willing to commit if it were closer to 60k, should I mention that?

Doesn’t matter who you are dealing with, you should never disclose your top price because unsurprisingly they will only ever show you items to that value, not the lesser.

 

[freddyboston]

well you could "play" with them - put them on the defensive - don't let on that you value their brand name so highly... ask them them why they are asking 80k for 2.2ct "Near Colorless" G when you could get a premium cut F from WF for half the price......

let them start the discounting discussion....

 

[canuk-gal]

Yes, to my understanding they operate this way generally. They are a wonderful jewelry house! Not only do they have truly stunning pieces, I have found their SAs to be far more knowledgeable than most and very enjoyable to work with. I was pleasantly surprised to find that their prices were quite reasonable, relatively speaking, despite the brand cachet. (I wound up falling in love with a true antique engagement ring, but had I gone with a modern piece, would most likely have gotten a step cut from Graff).

Graff treated me like royalty. And had I not just bought pair of earrings at Kwiat (an hour earlier LOL) I would have bought something there for sure. And will in future.

Sorry for the hijack OP, back to regular programming

 

[CircularBrilliant]

Thank you for sharing your experience and insights about Graff—I really appreciate the information! I’m intrigued by the idea of negotiating with them, but I’m trying to understand how to approach it effectively.

Could you provide more detail about how to ask for a discount and what range I might expect? For example, are we talking about 1-2% or something more substantial, like 10-20%? I’ve heard they’ve become stricter with discounts in recent years, so I’m curious if your experience is recent or from a while ago.

I also wonder how to balance narrowing down my options with negotiating. Would it be better to focus on just one piece I truly love and push for a discount on that, or to present a couple of options I’m considering? For instance, if I’m interested in an 80k piece but would be willing to commit if it were closer to 60k, should I mention that?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the best approach, as I’m definitely planning to try to negotiate if possible. Thanks again for your
help!

In my experience, it was a pretty substantial discount, like 20-30%. When shopping around, I also looked at Tiffany's, Harry Winston, etc, and was so surprised at how much more affordable things were at Graff (at least in the 3ct+ range). I liked Graff's step cuts the best anyhow, so it would have been an easy win-win to go with them. Admittedly, it has been about 5 years since I was last looking at a big piece there, so perhaps things have changed, but it would be a surprise to me if negotiating were actually off the table now. I vaguely remember there being some claim by Trump that Graff had given him an extra special discount on Melania's ring because he's Trump, and Graff publicly refuted that claim--my read on the situation was that he probably did pay a good chunk less than the sticker price, but mistakenly assumed that was due to special treatment for him, instead of just how they do business

My advice would be to try on as much as you can to figure out what you want (and keep in mind, if you like a certain center stone but would like it to be in a different Graff setting, they should be able to make that happen for you too). When you find a ring that really makes your heart flutter, make them a reasonable offer and see what they say. I firmly believe in doing your research and going in informed, but letting your heart choose such a sentimental piece--practical considerations like budget matter, but you should get a ring you truly love!

 

[mishmish33]

Hi Mishmish, I have an engagement ring from Graff so I understand exactly how and why it's important to you; I feel the exact same way!
Mine is an H color and the color doesn't bother me, but I do notice it when it's next to my HW band that has F-G colored stones.
Definitely take your time, and ask them to bring the rings next to the windows so you can get a better feel for the color.
IMO nothing comes close to Graff , I love and treasure my ring from them.

Thank you for your response Polabowla! I'd love too see your ring if you don't mind sharing!
After owning your ring is there anything that you'd choose differently now? E.g. would you go up in color to match better with your HW band?
Your last sentence - completely agree, I might be unable to articulate why but I feel the exact same after I tried their rings on.

 

[mishmish33]

In my experience, it was a pretty substantial discount, like 20-30%. When shopping around, I also looked at Tiffany's, Harry Winston, etc, and was so surprised at how much more affordable things were at Graff (at least in the 3ct+ range). I liked Graff's step cuts the best anyhow, so it would have been an easy win-win to go with them. Admittedly, it has been about 5 years since I was last looking at a big piece there, so perhaps things have changed, but it would be a surprise to me if negotiating were actually off the table now. I vaguely remember there being some claim by Trump that Graff had given him an extra special discount on Melania's ring because he's Trump, and Graff publicly refuted that claim--my read on the situation was that he probably did pay a good chunk less than the sticker price, but mistakenly assumed that was due to special treatment for him, instead of just how they do business

My advice would be to try on as much as you can to figure out what you want (and keep in mind, if you like a certain center stone but would like it to be in a different Graff setting, they should be able to make that happen for you too). When you find a ring that really makes your heart flutter, make them a reasonable offer and see what they say. I firmly believe in doing your research and going in informed, but letting your heart choose such a sentimental piece--practical considerations like budget matter, but you should get a ring you truly love!

Thank you so much for your detailed response!! I'm not used to negotiating prices, so this is super helpful! Tbh I feel a little intimidated by the thought of saying, e.g. I would like to purchase this for $40K (with the sticker price of $50 or $60). Is that how you do it? And I'm not sure how much to push if the SA says - unfortunately we do not offer discounts. Or should I lead with the fact that I know that you provide discounts and I would like to purchase this ring for $XYZ price. I'm sorry for stupid questions, just want to prepare the best I can

Funny story about M's ring lol

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

Thank you so much for your detailed response!! I'm not used to negotiating prices, so this is super helpful! Tbh I feel a little intimidated by the thought of saying, e.g. I would like to purchase this for $40K (with the sticker price of $50 or $60). Is that how you do it? And I'm not sure how much to push if the SA says - unfortunately we do not offer discounts. Or should I lead with the fact that I know that you provide discounts and I would like to purchase this ring for $XYZ price. I'm sorry for stupid questions, just want to prepare the best I can

Funny story about M's ring lol

I'm mostly commenting because I'm dying to see the ring you end up with lol.

But to answer the question on how to negotiate - the way I approach negotiating is to basically say something like "what's the best price you can offer?" and let them set a number on the table first. At my jeweller (who is a local, not a high end designer) I will usually ask him to give me a break up of materials cost vs labour but you can't exactly do that at Graff because their labour cost is naturally going to be crazy high. Still, you should ask them the price for the centre stone vs the setting separately. I'm sure the centre stone is heavily marked up and they may be more willing to take a cut there.

If they say oh, X is the best price we can offer; then say "oh, okay, what is the price for the setting vs the centre stone?" then have some comp prices in hand - I would also get comps from a high end jeweller like Tiffany and be like, well there was a ring for 0.6X at Tiffany with similar stats, but of course I would prefer to buy from you blah blah so is there any wiggle room on the price?

If you are definitely pushed to name a price I would tell them a price that is approx 40% lower than the quoted price. Let them negotiate you upwards.

 

[Tonks]

Hey!
You are getting some great advice here.

Before you rush into how to negotiate….my advice: slow down. You’ve asked how to determine what color, clarity, and size you should target. These are all SUPER personal decisions. If you are set on a vendor with no upgrade policy, you want to be certain of your preferences before you commit. We talk about stones being “mind clean.” This is important for any purchase but especially for one with no upgrade policy. You need to be certain of your choice, no little voice in the back of your mind second guessing any aspect of it.

I decided that I could learn academically all I wanted about diamonds but that what I really needed was experience with the real things. This is how I went about determining my color preference and size preference.

https://www.pricescope.com/communit...journey-…-from-a-research-perspective.277780/

You don’t have to go to Graff to do this but you should go somewhere where they have a lot of stones you can see, preferably in a store that has a window in the showroom where you can see a mix of natural light and showroom light. I can’t emphasize this enough: color choice is very personal. Some don’t see the differences in color. They simply do not see it. Others see it but are not bothered by it. And for others, they may not see it but to be mind clean it needs to be as white as possible. Or they see it and decide on a stone and thought it wouldn’t bother them but it ends up being too tinted.

Size: look at the mm of the stones, not the carat weight. Invest in a pair of calipers and spend some time in various stores trying on different sizes. Stay a while. Stones shrink alarmingly fast.

Clarity: this is some soul searching and again, viewing tons of stones. Look at stones where you can see an inclusion easily. How does that feel to you? Can you conceptualize it as a freckle or a way to easily ID your stone? Or does it feel flawed?

Hope this is helpful!

 

[Ally T]

In that price range, I think you should consider Victor Canera in LA. Not that there's anything wrong with Whiteflash stones or settings because ACAs are stunning, but Victor Canera hand forges his jewelry which feels very special and high end. Steven Kirsch is another hand-forging jeweler who would set a Whiteflash ACA, but there's an advantage to working all with one jeweler all else being equal

Here's a video of a three-stone ring being hand-forged by a different jeweler, Bobby White. His aethetic is chunkier so don't pay attention to that, just pay attention to the manufacturing prodecure:

Here are two three-stone rings with pears:

Victor Canera

www.victorcanera.com

Victor Canera

www.victorcanera.com

And a 2.22 carat F/VS1: https://www.victorcanera.com/diamonds/GIA6472277538/2.22ct-F-VS1-hearts-arrows-round-natural-diamond



I think that's likely to be under $50k.

Edit: If you're comfortable with an I color, here's a 3.568 carat I/VS2 for $63k, so the whole ring would still be well under $80k:

Victor Canera

www.victorcanera.com

I loved watching this video! Thanks for posting - it was fascinating & it’s such an art form.

 

[freddyboston]

you could use the online sites (BN and JA have great imaging) to compare the different color tones and also get a feel for the market prices of the various color/clarity combinations...

example D vs G

 

[CircularBrilliant]

Thank you so much for your detailed response!! I'm not used to negotiating prices, so this is super helpful! Tbh I feel a little intimidated by the thought of saying, e.g. I would like to purchase this for $40K (with the sticker price of $50 or $60). Is that how you do it? And I'm not sure how much to push if the SA says - unfortunately we do not offer discounts. Or should I lead with the fact that I know that you provide discounts and I would like to purchase this ring for $XYZ price. I'm sorry for stupid questions, just want to prepare the best I can

Funny story about M's ring lol

So I will start by admitting that I am not known to be a great haggler--I'm the person whose cousins tell to keep her mouth shut if we're headed to a market lol. But I also don't think haggling with things like lowball offers to start, trying to pick apart material prices, etc would be the way to go here. This is still a luxury jewelry house. Nor do I think bringing in comps from something like Tiffany's would work--Tiffany's was much more expensive than Graff when I was shopping for rings.

In my case, I had a great relationship with my SA, so I felt comfortable being transparent with her. I contacted her as soon as we started looking for rings, before I narrowed things down. I told her I wanted to explore rings with center stones in the 3-5ct range (I was looking for ~9.5-10mm faceup, but the ct weight necessary for that would be dependent on shape/cut), F-I color, generally open on clarity as long as totally eyeclean. And then I gave her an idea of our price range (i.e., we'd love to find something in the XX-YY range, but could potentially stretch to ZZ for something truly magnificent). She then had that in mind as she brought things in for me to see. Pricing can be mysterious even at a place like Graff, and she actually brought in for me a huuuuge cushion ring near the bottom of our price range. It was like a celebrity-level ring, at a shockingly affordable price. I wound up not going for it because I found it too big and by then was already leaning towards their step cuts, but it would have been quite the steal and I was definitely tempted!

In the end, I wound up finding my true antique ring, and did not go with Graff. But as another plug for how great their SAs are, my SA was absolutely thrilled for me--she knew I also loved antique jewelry, and that it felt kind of kismet to find a ring I loved made by Rubel Freres (given that my husband's first big present to me was a VCA piece). I've had many experiences since of walking into a VCA boutique, having an SA compliment my ring, and then getting a blank stare when I excitedly share that it's Rubel Freres. Despite working for VCA, they have no idea who Rubel Freres was or the historic ties between the houses (Rubel Freres helped VCA get established in the US and was responsible for their famous ballerina brooches). My Graff SA knew though!

 

[mishmish33]

Hey!
You are getting some great advice here.

Before you rush into how to negotiate….my advice: slow down. You’ve asked how to determine what color, clarity, and size you should target. These are all SUPER personal decisions. If you are set on a vendor with no upgrade policy, you want to be certain of your preferences before you commit. We talk about stones being “mind clean.” This is important for any purchase but especially for one with no upgrade policy. You need to be certain of your choice, no little voice in the back of your mind second guessing any aspect of it.

I decided that I could learn academically all I wanted about diamonds but that what I really needed was experience with the real things. This is how I went about determining my color preference and size preference.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/an-upgrade-journey-…-from-a-research-perspective.277780/

You don’t have to go to Graff to do this but you should go somewhere where they have a lot of stones you can see, preferably in a store that has a window in the showroom where you can see a mix of natural light and showroom light. I can’t emphasize this enough: color choice is very personal. Some don’t see the differences in color. They simply do not see it. Others see it but are not bothered by it. And for others, they may not see it but to be mind clean it needs to be as white as possible. Or they see it and decide on a stone and thought it wouldn’t bother them but it ends up being too tinted.

Size: look at the mm of the stones, not the carat weight. Invest in a pair of calipers and spend some time in various stores trying on different sizes. Stay a while. Stones shrink alarmingly fast.

Clarity: this is some soul searching and again, viewing tons of stones. Look at stones where you can see an inclusion easily. How does that feel to you? Can you conceptualize it as a freckle or a way to easily ID your stone? Or does it feel flawed?

Hope this is helpful!

This is great advice, thank you for taking the time to write such detailed post!

I've been thinking a lot about all the variables and I am finding myself leaning towards D just because this will be the only mind clean option, as you said due to no upgrades policy, I want to chose well! However, I do intend to go in and look at different colors by the window just to double check with myself. So far, I have not felt like I care about clarity, but I'd love to actually see the inclusions as you recommended.

Great point on getting the calipers. Thanks again!

 

[mishmish33]

So I will start by admitting that I am not known to be a great haggler--I'm the person whose cousins tell to keep her mouth shut if we're headed to a market lol. But I also don't think haggling with things like lowball offers to start, trying to pick apart material prices, etc would be the way to go here. This is still a luxury jewelry house. Nor do I think bringing in comps from something like Tiffany's would work--Tiffany's was much more expensive than Graff when I was shopping for rings.

In my case, I had a great relationship with my SA, so I felt comfortable being transparent with her. I contacted her as soon as we started looking for rings, before I narrowed things down. I told her I wanted to explore rings with center stones in the 3-5ct range (I was looking for ~9.5-10mm faceup, but the ct weight necessary for that would be dependent on shape/cut), F-I color, generally open on clarity as long as totally eyeclean. And then I gave her an idea of our price range (i.e., we'd love to find something in the XX-YY range, but could potentially stretch to ZZ for something truly magnificent). She then had that in mind as she brought things in for me to see. Pricing can be mysterious even at a place like Graff, and she actually brought in for me a huuuuge cushion ring near the bottom of our price range. It was like a celebrity-level ring, at a shockingly affordable price. I wound up not going for it because I found it too big and by then was already leaning towards their step cuts, but it would have been quite the steal and I was definitely tempted!

In the end, I wound up finding my true antique ring, and did not go with Graff. But as another plug for how great their SAs are, my SA was absolutely thrilled for me--she knew I also loved antique jewelry, and that it felt kind of kismet to find a ring I loved made by Rubel Freres (given that my husband's first big present to me was a VCA piece). I've had many experiences since of walking into a VCA boutique, having an SA compliment my ring, and then getting a blank stare when I excitedly share that it's Rubel Freres. Despite working for VCA, they have no idea who Rubel Freres was or the historic ties between the houses (Rubel Freres helped VCA get established in the US and was responsible for their famous ballerina brooches). My Graff SA knew though!

Thank you for your response, great information! I completely agree, I am not comfortable digging into materials vs labor or comparing to non branded stones. I feel like they can always say, sure why don't you go with a non-branded ring then. I think this tactic might work for some, but you need to have the confidence and genuinely believe in what you are saying lol. The SA I had an appointment with seemed nice and I will take your advice and be frank with her.

 

[CircularBrilliant]

Thank you for your response, great information! I completely agree, I am not comfortable digging into materials vs labor or comparing to non branded stones. I feel like they can always say, sure why don't you go with a non-branded ring then. I think this tactic might work for some, but you need to have the confidence and genuinely believe in what you are saying lol. The SA I had an appointment with seemed nice and I will take your advice and be frank with her.

Keep us updated on how it goes! I'm excited to see what you end up with

 

[lulu_ma]

This is great advice, thank you for taking the time to write such detailed post!

I've been thinking a lot about all the variables and I am finding myself leaning towards D just because this will be the only mind clean option, as you said due to no upgrades policy, I want to chose well! However, I do intend to go in and look at different colors by the window just to double check with myself. So far, I have not felt like I care about clarity, but I'd love to actually see the inclusions as you recommended.

Great point on getting the calipers. Thanks again!

If you decide you need colorless, strongly consider F color so you can get a bigger stone.

 

[mishmish33]

If you decide you need colorless, strongly consider F color so you can get a bigger stone.

Thank you for the advice! Do you generally find it difficult to distinguish between D and F grades with the naked eye, or does it depend on the individual stones?

 

[freddyboston]

it's subtle.... mostly from the side view and when you side by side compare... alone by itself an F is pretty colorless

 

[newtojewels]

Basically no one can tell a single grade side-by-side face up, especially when in a setting, and a D to F would be hard for most. An F will absolutely appear colorless face-up in isolation. Someone really color sensitive could maybe see a hint of warmth from the side (or convince themselves that they do, which is what we call being "mind clean"). Differences in cut quality and in size will be much more apparent.

 

[0-0-0]

Keep in mind that color differences become more visible as carat size increases and in cuts with less optical symmetry, so it’s really important to compare similarly cut and sized diamonds in person to figure out your personal preferences.

For H&A rounds, with the naked eye, I have trouble distinguishing between D and G below 1 carat, between D and F below 2 carats, and between D and E below 3 carats. YMMV of course.

 

[Tonks]

Thank you for the advice! Do you generally find it difficult to distinguish between D and F grades with the naked eye, or does it depend on the individual stones?

This is where YOU need to go look at stones. Determine your own color preferences (both what you can see and what you prefer to see). I cannot tell the difference between a D and F. I couldn’t tell between a D and a G when I was doing my experiment to find out my color tolerance! But on the other end of the spectrum, @RunningwithScissors is an artist and has the best eye for color around and can distinguish between a D and an E.

This is where it pays to figure out what your eyes can see. Weirdly we are all different in that department.

 

[Dreamer_D]

How experienced are you as a diamond buyer and wearer?

How experienced are your friends and your family as diamond buyers and wearers?

What size, color, clarity diamonds do your friends and family wear?

Do you come from a culture that has particular values about diamond colour and clarity?

How important is diamond size to you? Have you dreamed of a big honking rock for a long time or would you prefer something smaller and more practical to wear?

These are really important questions that I would like to know the answer to before I could offer any advice to you about how to balance questions of colour clarity and size.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Please all remember that face up a better cut can make a big difference.
And D-F - I can not tell face up in a clean ring a 1ct, I can in some 2cts and mostly in 3cts (always looking from the side, and never can tell face on in a well cut stone).
Also FYI - some of these high end companies go up to medium fluorescence and as long as they screened the stones (not all do) you will get a whiter and BRIGHTER diamond.
I hope some of you in this thread read my chapter in my book about fluorescence?

 

[mishmish33]

How experienced are you as a diamond buyer and wearer?

How experienced are your friends and your family as diamond buyers and wearers?

What size, color, clarity diamonds do your friends and family wear?

Do you come from a culture that has particular values about diamond colour and clarity?

How important is diamond size to you? Have you dreamed of a big honking rock for a long time or would you prefer something smaller and more practical to wear?

These are really important questions that I would like to know the answer to before I could offer any advice to you about how to balance questions of colour clarity and size.

Sure, answering your questions below. Thank you for taking the time to ask!

Buying stones: I don’t have any personal experience. Some of my married friends have limited experience (primarily with engagement rings).

Wearing diamonds: I wear branded jewelry with smaller diamonds, though not every day. My usual everyday jewelry is also branded but typically without diamonds. This isn’t intentional—I don’t mind diamonds for everyday wear. My engagement ring will definitely be the largest diamond I’ll own.

Size, color, and clarity of diamonds worn by friends and family: I’m not sure about their color or clarity. Sizes seem to range from 1 to 4 carats.

Cultural considerations: There’s nothing specific about my culture that influences my choice. I value items I love to look at and wear often. I only experience buyer’s remorse for things I rarely wear.

Importance of size: Getting the size just right is very important to me. I don’t like the look of a massive stone. Ideally, the diamond will be sizeable enough to stand out (to me) while still being appropriate for everyday wear. I know this is very subjective, but from my brief exploration, my ideal size seems to fall between 1.5 and 3 carats. I’m leaning toward the smaller end but giving myself some wiggle room just in case of "diamond shrinkage." Basically, I want to look down at my finger and be mesmerized every time!

After watching countless videos of myself trying on rings, I noticed that I love the crispness and brightness of a D color diamond—it really stands out to me. That said, I’m aware I might be biased because I know which ones were D color and which weren’t. Maybe I’m imagining it… but I can’t unsee it now!