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Semi-diamond-educated college student looking for a ring.

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outofthepark44

Rough_Rock
Joined
Apr 15, 2008
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28
I have been doing my research and I think I could hold my own in a jewelery store, however I don''t want to be haggled into buying a diamond I don''t want so I come to you guys seeking guidance so I can go in there with a full arsenal of diamond expertise.

Here is a little background info. I am looking for a diamond (obviously) for my girlfriend''s engagement ring. I am a recent college grad going into grad school and can really only stretch to about 1000-1100 bucks including the setting so 600-700 on the stone. I plan to upgrade once I am out of school in a couple years but still want to get the most for my money. I have been looking at blue nile (which i heard is the best place to get affordable high quality stones) and it looks like I can get a pretty nice .45-.51 carat stone. However, I need to know where it is best to cut corners.

In other words, I need to know which of the stone''s characteristics is best to "skimp" on. For instance, they have a few stones that have great color (E-H range) but lack in the cut (good rating) and clarity (SI1/SI2), then there are some that are ideally cut and have a vs2 rating but J color. Basically I just need to know where I can afford to cut some cost without damaging the look of the stone.

I look forward to any and all replies. Thank you all in advance. If there is any more information you need, just let me know. I will probably be checking this thread every 20 minutes.
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EDIT: more info that I forgot to include originally. I am looking for a round or princess cut stone for this setting:

http://www.bluenile.com/product_details.asp?oid=4123

....actually the more I think about it, I think I like the round look better because it shines more.
 
I''m just passing along info that I''ve read here. Check out www.whiteflash.com to see what kind of diamonds they have in your price range. Round stones of a certain carat will look bigger than princess cut stones of the same carat, but it may be good for you to find out what shape your GF likes. If you''re looking for a solitaire setting, you can get white gold for about $200 - $350. Platinum will run you more in the $600 - $700 range. Good luck!
 
Date: 4/15/2008 6:19:16 PM
Author: nclrgirl
I''m just passing along info that I''ve read here. Check out www.whiteflash.com to see what kind of diamonds they have in your price range. Round stones of a certain carat will look bigger than princess cut stones of the same carat, but it may be good for you to find out what shape your GF likes. If you''re looking for a solitaire setting, you can get white gold for about $200 - $350. Platinum will run you more in the $600 - $700 range. Good luck!
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I agree with everything nclrgirl just said...stick with white gold and a simple setting. Round does face up larger than princess.

Now, you mentioned wondering about clarity, color, etc. If you search the old threads (which I''ve done a lot of) you''ll find a lot of talk about which of the 4Cs is most important. For the most bang for your budget, I would suggest going lower in color (probably J) and clarity (SI1 or SI2)...but you CANNOT SACRIFICE CUT!!! A great cut stone will face up whiter and sparklier and larger than a poor cut stone ALWAYS! Have you searched on Pricescope for diamonds? BlueNile is great, but they don''t have an upgrade policy...if you''re thinking about upgrading after grad school, you may want to stick with a company that will let you trade up in the future.
 
Here''s one that I found when I searched on here...there''s tons, and it''s tough to judge without calling Whiteflash and asking for the certificate...you need to see the pavillion angle and find out whether or not it''s "eye-clean".

http://www.whiteflash.com/round/Round-cut-diamond-836734.htm# : $759 this one has strong blue fluoro which may help the J color face up whiter
 
i echo what others have said. definitely do not skimp on cut and check out vendors that have good upgrade policies. good luck!
 
Thanks for the great replies! I really like the setting I had picked out but I''m strongly considering cutting it back to a cheaper one like you had mentioned to upgrade the stone. I have looked at bluenile, jamesallen, and whiteflash. I''m searching price scope now (love thie site so far by the way!!!) and it is showing prices in the $500 range and then when i click to go see the diamond the prices are totally different. For instance this diamond:

http://www.whiteflash.com/round/Round-cut-diamond-824725.htm

is showing for $585 on the pricescope search. Now I''ve always been told that something that seems too good to be true probably is, so what''s the catch?

Also, where can I find info on the upgrade policies?
 
Date: 4/15/2008 6:34:27 PM
Author: isabel
Here''s one that I found when I searched on here...there''s tons, and it''s tough to judge without calling Whiteflash and asking for the certificate...you need to see the pavillion angle and find out whether or not it''s ''eye-clean''.

http://www.whiteflash.com/round/Round-cut-diamond-836734.htm# : $759 this one has strong blue fluoro which may help the J color face up whiter
Click to expand...
Actually I may have gotten ahead of myself...Whiteflash ranked this very low....there must be some sort of problem that I can''t see...
 
Date: 4/15/2008 6:36:04 PM
Author: outofthepark44
Thanks for the great replies! I really like the setting I had picked out but I''m strongly considering cutting it back to a cheaper one like you had mentioned to upgrade the stone. I have looked at bluenile, jamesallen, and whiteflash. I''m searching price scope now (love thie site so far by the way!!!) and it is showing prices in the $500 range and then when i click to go see the diamond the prices are totally different. For instance this diamond:

http://www.whiteflash.com/round/Round-cut-diamond-824725.htm

is showing for $585 on the pricescope search. Now I''ve always been told that something that seems too good to be true probably is, so what''s the catch?

Also, where can I find info on the upgrade policies?
Click to expand...
It''s hard to tell about this one...like I said we really need to see the certificates...but the table looks a little on the larger side (usually we like to stay between 53-57%). Also, polish and symmetry are "good". I''m not sure whether or not this would have an effect on how the diamond performs...anyone else know? I know that the eye can''t distinguish between "very good" and "ideal" but I''m not sure about "good".

A great tool on PS is the cut advisor tool...if you plug in the table, depth, crown and pavillion angles it will spit out a number...it''s a good way to rule out poor performers. If it''s below a 2, it''s most likely beautiful.
 
I just remembered that Whiteflash will rate some as one star because they don''t have enough info to judge...so maybe look into that one I gave earlier and also this one:

http://www.whiteflash.com/round/Round-cut-diamond-819791.htm#

Also, if you want to increase size and your girl isn''t as color sensitive, I also know that there are people on PS that have K diamonds...
 
I wasn''t really interested in that exact diamond. I was just trying to ask about the price difference on the two sites.
 
I am also NOT an expert but am passing along info i have learned here!

I also agree with what was said before me.
Many of the vendors listed here on pricescope have excellent upgrade policies!

if you go here you can search for diamonds from pricescope vendors:

http://www.pricescope.com/diamond-prices.aspx

put in your specs and click "search all" to compare the prices- many give pricescope "discounts" (If you stick with a white gold solitaire setting that will leave you about roughly $800 to spend on the actual diamond)

Also as far as what you can sacrifice on with a stone as isabel mentioned CUT is the most important!!! then its really personal preference after that...(on carat, clarity and color)

I suggest looking at this thread to see what a ideal cut "j" colored stone looks like (in platinum)
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/j-color-stones-in-platinum.24731/

I know for my ring we are looking at J colored stones when I originally went out thinking I had to have an F or G!
Best of luck! and dont hesitate to ask more questions, the members here on PS are VERY helpful and friendly!
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My boyfriend recently purchased an ideal cut J from Whiteflash...we haven''t seen it yet, bu the folks there say it shows "no warmth at all"...it''s definately a personal preference when it comes to color and clarity...but definately don''t pay for something you can''t see with your eyes (or at least that''s how I feel)
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You guys in America are so lucky!

US$1000-1500 get nothing good in Australia.....

0.5 white gold would be about A$3500- min ....that is US$3100-

Personally I think go for a 0.5ct SI I or J ..... nice stone, nice size, nice specs.....

Get all this on-line......

ANY SITE OF PRICESCOPE is credible.......
 
Since you want to upgrade down the road, I would suggest WF or JA since bluenile doesn''t have upgrade policies. JA is slightly cheaper, but their upgrade policy is slightly more restrictive than JA. Both are great though! You can safely go down to the I/SI range in my opinion and still have an awesome looking diamond. If your girlfriend isn''t color sensitive, you might even be able to go down to a J. However, color starts to bother me after I. However, as others suggested you should skimp on cut. This is what really makes a diamond sparkle and shine.
 
Date: 4/15/2008 6:55:39 PM
Author: outofthepark44
I wasn''t really interested in that exact diamond. I was just trying to ask about the price difference on the two sites.
Click to expand...


Some vendors offer a discount to members of Pricescope, for Whiteflash I beleive the discount is 5% on their ACA line and 2 or 3% on their Expert Selection diamonds. This could explain the price differences
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HTH!
 
This is a screen shot of the diamond i clicked on...

Ringsearchcopy.jpg
 
And this is the diamond it links to...

Which price would i be paying?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! That is over a $200 dollar price difference so this can''t be right.

There is something at the top of the page:

Prices marked with * are specials for Pricescope visitors only!
» Pricescope special prices from ANGARA - Use code PS201 at checkout
Tell dealers that you found them on PriceScope!

links to this thing.jpg
 
You''d be getting the less expensive "pricescope" price if you mentioned that you saw it here...
 
I just called wf and the representative told me that it was probably the wire transfer price. Does that sound right?
 
The PS discount at WF is 5% on ACAs, 2.5% on ES, I don't know that it is for just any round (and honestly that doesn't look like a good one). Why don't you just call WF and ask what the discrepancy is?

Also, most if not all vendors will have stock that isn't on the webpage, so they may have something in your size range that you can't see online. You're looking for stones in a pretty common earring size, so there are probably more squirreled away. As others have said, use a vendor with a good upgrade policy, prioritize cut (use the HCA to help evaluate that) and do the best you can within your budget. It looks like JA has a few stones that would work for you if they are eye-clean. Good luck!


ETA: Yeah, there's another discount for wire transfer. I'm surprised it comes to 20% off, but hey- good for you.
 
I''ve found that there is a pretty nice price jump from the .49 stones to the .5 stones so JA doesnt really work for me. I''m going to keep looking around for a while on whiteflash as they seem to be the best for what I''m looking for. Does anyone know if there is anyway to get pictures of the stones from bluenile? I really like their website but I refuse to pay for a stone I''ve never seen!!!
 
Out please use HCA to weed out poor performers. You need to look for the best cut possible. You can search by cut on this site. Try and look for a diamond with a score under 2. If you need a more detailed explanation I am sure someone will help or you can search for more info on this site.
 
Date: 4/15/2008 9:21:17 PM
Author: Kyle921
Out please use HCA to weed out poor performers. You need to look for the best cut possible. You can search by cut on this site. Try and look for a diamond with a score under 2. If you need a more detailed explanation I am sure someone will help or you can search for more info on this site.
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Oh i definitely have been. Its my fault but the example i posted earlier was not an actual contender for the diamond I will be buying, just an example. I appreciate the help though. I have established some contacts at both bluenile and whiteflash. Thanks for everyone''s help!!!!!!!
 
From what I have heard here on PS, Whiteflash will honor the Pricescope price listed, but I do believe you need to pay by wire transfer to get the price that pops up on the Pricescope search. If I were in your shoes, I would go for an inexpensive white gold setting for about $250 and put the most money possible into the diamond.

Also, I personally would not go with James Allen if you plan on upgrading, because their upgrade policy is that you have to spend twice as much money on a diamond in order to upgrade. BlueNile has no upgrade policy and they are really a drop shipper (meaning they don''t actually see the diamonds they''re selling, but they have their suppliers ship the diamonds), so I would also not go with them.

Whiteflash''s upgrade policy is the best, in my opinion. As long as the diamond is recommended to you by them, they will allow you to upgrade as long as you spend more-I think just $1 more. GoodOldGold''s upgrade policy is also good, and says that, as long as the diamond qualifies for their life time guarantee, you just have to spend $500 more to upgrade.

I went with Whiteflash for my engagement ring and for diamond earrings and was extremely happy with the quality of the product and their customer service. (I highly recommend Sheerah as a salesperson if you do contact Whiteflash-she''s the best!)
 
I called whiteflash and bluenile last night with a list of about 3 diamonds each that the reps were supposed to get back to me about today. No response.
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Should I call again or just be patient?

Also, does anyone know what bluenile''s discount is (if any) on pricescope?
 
Here''s another suggestion but it seems like you have a few in the works. James Allen

Call the vendors to speak with them. They are always available on the phone (during business hours) and sometimes emails get buried or these guys get busy. They''ve come on PS and said please call us if we haven''t gotten back to you soon enough.

Make sure you purchase from someplace that has a good upgrade policy. WF has several nice solitaire settings that will keep your costs down.
 
Woo hoo! I think I may have found the stone! Now here is my next question...... If I buy the stone from one place and the setting from another, where do I go to have it set? I want somewhere reliable!!!! Is there a way to have the stone seller ship it direct to the setting seller?
 
So what do you guys think about this diamond.... (i''m in love with it i think...)

.45
J
VS1
Strong Blue Flouro (should help the color right?)
Ideal cut
.8 on the cut advisor
4.91 x 4.88
 
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