To upgrade or not....

[Bianca07]

I''m sorry to be a pest, but I have one more question.

I was thinking

and if I''m going to spend 2000 for an eternity band I would rather just put that money toward a bigger rock. I have always wanted a 1.50 carat and currently I have a 1.01 carat round. The jeweler where it was purchased offers 100% for upgrading, but I don''t think my husband will go for anything more than 5000 out of pocket (and that''s if I''m lucky and he doesn''t skin me alive first since I''ve only had my current ring for 2 years.

) Is that feasible for going up a 1/2 carat? My current ring is either H or I color- (I have to check my appraisal) with VS 2 clarity.

The 1/2 carat more really is a lot bigger to me. My ring size is 3 1/2 maybe that''s why I don''t know.

I''m just confused on what to do now. If it would cost over 5000 to upgrade it will be out and the eternity band will be in.

Any opinions or advice?

Thank you in advance for your help

 

[Mara]

Date: 2/2/2006 2:12:41 AM
Author:Bianca07
I''m sorry to be a pest, but I have one more question.

I was thinking

and if I''m going to spend 2000 for an eternity band I would rather just put that money toward a bigger rock. I have always wanted a 1.50 carat and currently I have a 1.01 carat round. The jeweler where it was purchased offers 100% for upgrading, but I don''t think my husband will go for anything more than 5000 out of pocket (and that''s if I''m lucky and he doesn''t skin me alive first since I''ve only had my current ring for 2 years.

) Is that feasible for going up a 1/2 carat? My current ring is either H or I color- (I have to check my appraisal) with VS 2 clarity.

The 1/2 carat more really is a lot bigger to me. My ring size is 3 1/2 maybe that''s why I don''t know.

I''m just confused on what to do now. If it would cost over 5000 to upgrade it will be out and the eternity band will be in.

Any opinions or advice?

Thank you in advance for your help

Hi there...

I did a quick search online and without really knowing what you paid for your 1c...estimating that a 1c H VS2 is something like $6k, you could essentially spend another $5k to get an $11k diamond which would be ~1.5 I VS2/SI1.

If you really want to get size and not break the budget, check out an I SI2 or similar, if you can find one in that size through your jeweler that is well cut, you could probably spend $9-10k rather than $11-12k. If you find an eye-clean SI2.

But then again these are ''online prices'' and not retail B&M so you may have paid more like $8k for your 1c and therefore your upgrade may cost a bit more too. It''s very hard to say. Why don''t you call your jeweler and ask what he thinks a 1.5c H or I VS or SI stone would cost? And if he has any candidates for you to look at. That way you can at least know if you are in or near your $5k or if it''s way out of the ballpark.

I personally am a size gal so I''m a chronic upgrader and I would much rather have a bigger stone than a eternity ring or something, but it''s different strokes for different folks!! Good luck.

 

[Bianca07]

Thanks for the info, Mara.

The diamond was 5100 a few years back-from ...gulp.. Whitehall. I just checked some prices here as well and it looks like online they are going for around 8000-so I''m sure higher at Whitehall...,but I am stuck with them since they''ll give me full credit no matter how much I spend.

I think I will go there this weekend to check prices... Here''s hoping it''s not over 5000. Maybe I could go with the SII.

 

[valeria101]

It could still be a good upgrade if the new stone doesn''t quite register over 1.5 cts. And since 2 years past, you might want to take a look at H&A rounds and see if that makes a difference. That may turn out meaningful (depending how good the cut of your current diamond is), even if the size is about the same. Just an idea.

Otherwise, even if an upgrade doesn''t work out in the end.... eternity ring sounds great!

It may even make more of an impact than a minor upgrade of the current diamond.

My 2c

 

[blodthecat]

I''d try and upgrade to 1.5ct, but that''s just me!

Bloddie