The Evergrowing/Everblowing Out Budget...

[CassiusNZ]

Evening all,

So I thought I had it all sorted.. 1.61 H/SI2 from GOG Superior Cut in a custom made 1895 setting.. around $17k which is slightly over budget... but I can stretch. So I get a video of this stone.. compared toa 1.54 H/VS2 and 1.61 G/SI1... all's well on first watch and then watching a few more times I notice the small white 'dust' looking particles through the SI2.. and the very fine but small wisps down the bottom of the stone. The Wisps didnt both me.. it was more the specs all through. I know... when I first saw it it'd be fine.. but it'd annoy me over time.. so basically i've said okay nothing but VS2.. im obviously a bit anal about clarity.

So looking into the 1.54 H/VS2 + setting ($4800) im around $20,800... so I keep looking and find this -

http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/2-01ct-i-si1-superior-round-hearts-and-arrows-diamond.html

2.01 I/SI1

and this

2.02 I/SI1

http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/2-02ct-i-si1-superior-round-hearts-and-arrows-diamond.html

now top one is 19,800 and bottom is 20,800... looking at the clarity even though both are graded SI1 the second one (2.02) looks like its closer to a VS2... could someone else look and let me know if you agree?

So I'm thinking rather than get the 5k getting... $20,800 + $1900 simple Platinum Setting

http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/vatche-engagement-ring-49.html

Which brings me to $22k... but its all in the diamond. Also my gf is more sentimental so said she probably doesnt wanna ever upgrade.. and at 2.02 on a size 4... I think that will look plenty big for a long time. Later down the road (once ive recovered from this first one) in 18months - 2years time we can get a custom cut 1895 replica made... question.. can you request instead of F-G color diamonds (which will be too contrasty for I color center)... maybe G-H? or even H-I?


Eager to hear everyones thoughts on this idea.. the clarity gradings from what you can see and even comparaing cut grades of these stones. Also if it sounds like a solid price for a 2.02 I/SI1! Also do you think if I got the platinum band for $2k now.. they would give me any credit on it as a trade towards another custom band in 2years time? one thats around $5k?

Thanks!

 

[CassiusNZ]

Anyone?

 

[Medical]

Personally (and on a non-diamond related note), I'm an advocate of stick within your budget. If you set out with a $17,000 budget (which, by the way, is very impressive!), spend that or less. At the end of the day, how much are the fractions of a millimeter going to really matter? The extra 3-5,000 in savings could be put towards a wonderful vacation or honeymoon, an open bar at the wedding, or just on a special date every single day of the year haha.

That being said- buy a stone you'll be happy with. A size 4 finger is quite small, and a 1.5-2 carat stone will look huge on it! If you're going to spend the rest of your life stressing about whether you can see an inclusion- go with a different stone. Anyway, that's my not-at-all-anywhere-even-close-to-an-expert two cents on the financial stuff. It's human nature to keep creeping up another 500 or 1000 dollars, but eventually you have to know where you absolutely, positively draw the line- and then don't even look at anything above it.

I'll leave the diamond evaluation to the people who know things, haha.

Edit: if you're most bothered by crystals- maybe look for a stone that has mostly feathers/wisps instead for it's clarity grade- just make sure there's no durability issues with the feathers.

 

[VRBeauty]

A size 4 finger is quite small, and a 1.5-2 carat stone will look huge on it!

I agree with this, actually. You know better than we do how comfortably your budget can accommodate that extra 4-5 thousand, but... your original budget is a very healthy budget. You're talking about increasing it by about 25%. Great if you can easily do that, but you certainly don't have to do that in order to present your girlfriend with a beautiful and very substantial ring.

Also, bear in mind that even in the videos, you're seeing a significantly magnified stone. Jonathan states in the video in the video that even the SI2 stone is completely eye-clean... he stated specifically that there is no graining. For your own comfort, you might want to ask what criteria Jonathan is using in calling the stone eye-clean (i.e., at what distance he's viewing them to make that call). BTW I'm probably not the best person to chime in on this issue, but I'm not seeing any clarity issues in the video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuRvqLNbEUk).

 

[CassiusNZ]

That is a really good point.. i guess the worst thing i coulda done today was put a 2ct H/VS2 HOF, a 1.5 CT G/VS1 HOF and a 1ct HOF on her hand.. cause after seeing that 2???!!! The 1.5ct looked so much smaller.. it really did :\ I guess im afraid of my own DSS setting in.. she'll be with whatever.. and right now at this stage of our lives we're making the money to be able to afford to goto $21k... vs the original budget of $15k.

Hmmmmmm thanks for your input though.. I could always goto the 1.53 I/VS2 in a simple setting and be done at $15,500.. get the clarity I want in a VS2... wont notice the color in a I when its not got sidestones.. and be done with it. But the size difference between 1.5 and 2 is SO big.. and if shes never gonna upgrade it.. she'll always have 'just a 1.5ct'... which when you yourself have a almost 70k US watch collection.. just doesnt really seem fair :\

Anyone else on the diamonds would be apprecaited.. thanks all!

 

[LLJsmom]

Go for bigger. You're not expecting her to upgrade and you seem to want to. She's not even bugging you about it. Get a bigger stone in a simple setting. No side stones. Save money there, like u said. She can always change that. Make sure the SI1 is eye clean. She will be thrilled either way. But I think you will be happier with a bigger stone. And it seems you can actually afford it. Post pics when you're done!!

 

[kb1gra]

I think this is really a question for your girlfriend.

I'd be careful with equating the size of the diamond your wife wears with your success. If that's not something that SHE'S into, it's pointless. I come from a very wealthy family and I wear a 1.25ct center stone on a size 5, and if you look through my threads you will see that I actually recently downsized to a .73 from an almost 2ct total weight 3 stone. Sometimes elegant and understated speaks more loudly than conspicuous consumption, you know? It would really depend on how she feels about it. For what it's worth, most of the really wealthy women I know just wear a big eternity band every day. But it's really all about what your girlfriend wants, and if she doesn't mind the smaller stone, I myself would not go bigger just for the sake of it-- but this is only my opinion and I am obviously not a size queen.

I myself would not be upset about my "only 1.5ct" regardless of what watches my husband wants to wear or what cars he wants to drive, because I think bigger than that is too much on my hand (size 4 3/4).

 

[chrono]

I'm a strong advocate for staying within your budget. If the clarity is not mind clean for you, I'd find another stone that is cleaner AND still within budget.

 

[CassiusNZ]

All really good points to take into consideration.. thanks team