Setting she likes or Bigger Diamond

[Aur]

Hi all,

I''ve been a long time lurker. Now, after some diamond education I''m ready to look seriously, but I have a dilemma.
(BTW some very helpful people on these forums!)

What would you guys/gals do..

Purchase a .8ct - .9 ct RB and afford a setting that the SO likes.
OR
Purchase a 1ct. RB and place it in a solitaire and hold off on the setting.


I think i know what needs to be done, but I want some opinions. The dilemma lays in that she likes the setting, but also likes the 1ct.

AHHHHHHHHHH

 

[baby monster]

Would you consider upgrading the setting, the stone or both in a few years? If you''ll upgrade the setting, then go with bigger stone. If you''ll upgrade the stone, then put less money into the setting.

I personally would go for a nicer setting because there is not that much visual difference between .9 and 1ct.

 

[chrono]

If you get a well cut stone, the 0.8ct or 0.9 ct stone will look very large, like a 1 carat regular quality stone. Seriously, a 0.9 ct measures very close to a 1 ct diamond. Also, can you lower the colour and/or clarity a little? I know there is a price jump at the 1 carat mark. Otherwise, I''d take the 0.9ct stone with her dream setting.

 

[mintve]

I would probably get the setting she loves, as long as you know its her dream setting. the difference in size you mentioned is not too much, especially if you get closer to the .9.

And, if you shop online, you maybe suprised with what you will find.

 

[mirre]

I would also go with the setting she wants and the .9ct diamond.

 

[sweetjettagirl04]

Ditto to what everyone else has said. When browsing for stones, we saw several that were .9 and compared them to 1 ct, and you really can''t tell. Get her the setting she loves, and the slightly smaller stone. No one will be able to tell it''s not a full carat.

 

[Aur]

Thanks for the replies.

As for color and clarity.... I''m looking for G,H,I and SI1.

I''ve looked at and compared some 1cts to ~.9ct. stones . I know a 1ct. is only ~.5mm larger than a ~.9ct.

Its really too bad (for me) that her favorite setting is an expensive verragio.

 

[sera]

I was given this option... I could have had a bigger diamond if I wasn''t so obsessed with a fancy, blingy setting. I would have loved a bigger diamond, but NOT if that meant I had to get a plain, solitaire setting even temporarily. I did consider it, but I just couldn''t do it lol.

And like was mentioned, the size you would get is not like it is a huge difference from the 1ct. A .8 - .9ct is a nice size too.

If she expressed wanting that setting, I would get the setting she wants and look around for the best possible price.

 

[Hera]

If you think your girlfriend would like the definite one carat, I would drop the color down to I or J and get an SI2. I have a gorgeous SI2 with no visible inclusions. Then voila, you''ve hit two birds with one stone!

 

[neatfreak]

I''d get the setting and the .9 stone. As others have mentioned, you might be able to drop the color and clarity a bit to get closer to the 1 ct. mark you''d love to get to.

 

[bee*]

Date: 1/3/2008 5:44:06 PM
Author: neatfreak
I''d get the setting and the .9 stone. As others have mentioned, you might be able to drop the color and clarity a bit to get closer to the 1 ct. mark you''d love to get to.

I agree with this.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I am a setting girl myself so that is what I would suggest.

 

[snuggles1]

Date: 1/3/2008 1:57:08 PM
Author:Aur
Purchase a .8ct - .9 ct RB and afford a setting that the SO likes.

OR

Purchase a 1ct. RB and place it in a solitaire and hold off on the setting.

Have you asked her? Or is this question for us because she likes both. If it is the latter, then I vote for the smaller stone as you won't be able to see the size difference too much.

 

[vespergirl]

If it were me, I''d want to tell people that it''s a one carat stone, so maybe go with the bigger stone in a temp gold setting, and tell her that you will put the stone in the setting that she wants as a wedding gift, or 1st anniversary gift, whatever you can manage. Diamond shrinkage syndrome sets in quickly, and she may be wishing for a bigger diamond in a year. This way, if she already has a big one-carat stone, then yuo can get her the setting that she wants maybe when she''s picking out her wedding ring, or as another occassion gift in a year or two.

 

[tberube]

Date: 1/3/2008 2:14:06 PM
Author: baby monster
Would you consider upgrading the setting, the stone or both in a few years? If you'll upgrade the setting, then go with bigger stone. If you'll upgrade the stone, then put less money into the setting.

I personally would go for a nicer setting because there is not that much visual difference between .9 and 1ct.

I totally agree with baby monster because this is exactly what my fiance did - got the adored setting and the .9 diamond (which is just under the 1 carat price jump, by the way), and I love my ring beyond belief. When people ask I tell them it's "a carat" because it's close enough, and because I always forget that it's "not quite 1 carat."

ETA: I would also like to add that some gals are setting gals and some are more into the diamond. I am more of a setting person - the ring as a whole needs to speak to me, not just the diamond, no matter what size. It sounds like your girlfriend is the same way, so if I were you I'd get her what she wants.

 

[Lynn B]

Date: 1/3/2008 9:02:19 PM
Author: tberube

ETA: I would also like to add that some gals are setting gals and some are more into the diamond. I am more of a setting person - the ring as a whole needs to speak to me, not just the diamond, no matter what size. It sounds like your girlfriend is the same way, so if I were you I'd get her what she wants.

This is so true.

I have a friend who recently chose her ring and she was totally looking for *the perfect setting*. Short of frozen spit, I swear she really didn't care much at all about the diamonds (it's a 3-stone).

I, too, wanted a beautiful setting, but for me it was ALL about the diamond. Crunch the numbers, scrutinize 40x mag photos, IS and H&A images... compare, belabor, split and re-split hairs... yeah, that was me!

 

[Jenn5504]

Date: 1/3/2008 5:42:24 PM
Author: heraanderson
If you think your girlfriend would like the definite one carat, I would drop the color down to I or J and get an SI2. I have a gorgeous SI2 with no visible inclusions. Then voila, you''ve hit two birds with one stone!

Being a J/SI2 owner/lover myself, I''d agree with heraanderson. But I do agree that you should do the setting she likes and the .9 since visually there will be very little difference in a .9 and 1.0 IMO. Can''t wait to see what you get! Will you share what setting she likes with us?

 

[Italiahaircolor]

The difference between the diamonds in size is minimal. If it were me, I would perfer the smaller diamond and the setting I selected.

I think an engagement ring is a "once in a lifetime" purchase. A lot of women upgrade their rings for many reasons--but, I feel that if you can do it right once, than you should. Also, consider that this is a ring she will wear everyday for the rest of her life---if her personal style is reflected in a setting, then really...it''s a no brainer!