trying to choose a ring, help me decide!

[banghart88]

Hi There

I have two engagement rings i'am trying to decide between. I am from Canada and one is from a Canadian jeweller called Spence diamonds. A very large and reputable company. The other a ring from Costco in the U.S. Please keep in mind the ring from Costco will have a 25% increase to the price for the exchange rate but only 5% tax. Canadian tax in Ontario is 13%. Just looking for some feedback to help me make my decision. I appreciate any help or opinions. Thank you.

Spence

https://www.spencediamonds.com/p/s/viewitem.aspx?s=7549&pnl=48#.VNU-LcYXzFI

Costco

http://www.costco.com/Princess-Cut-%2526-Round-Brilliant-1.45-ctw-VS2-Clarity%2c-I-Color-Diamond-Platinum-Wedding-Set.product.100013553.html

 

[SparklySoprano]

To me, the Spence ring is more appealing. I like it because it has more stylistic details and seems more unique. But both are pretty. Again, I'm talking strictly in terms of the setting itself. I'm not familiar with either in terms of quality.

 

[Stive85]

I'm also from Canada and am familiar with the company you listed.

Personally I think you are better to go to a couple higher end jewelers and read on here a bit to get an idea of what you want to look in a diamond. It appears your budget is sizeable enough that you should be able to get awesome one.

People on here could point you in the right direction if your open to it.

 

[Gypsy]

Here is what you need to know:
The entire purpose of faceting a diamond is to reflect light.
How well or how poorly a diamond does this determines how beautiful it is.
How well a diamond performs is determined by the angles and cutting. This is why we say cut is king.
No other factor: not color, not clarity has as much of an impact on the appearance of a diamond as its cut. An ideal H will out white a poorly cut F. And GIA Ex is not enough. And you must stick to GIA and AGS only. EGL is a bad option: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/egl-certification-are-any-of-them-ok.142863/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/egl-certification-are-any-of-them-ok.142863/[/URL]
So how to we ensure that we have the right angles and cutting to get the light performance we want? Well first you want to stick to stones that have a crown angle of 34 (33.5 okay for 60/60 style stones) and over, a pavilion angle of 41 and under, and no deeper than 62.5
https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/diamond-cut
Well one method is to start with a GIA Ex, and then apply the HCA to it. YOU DO NOT USE HCA for AGS0 stones.
https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/holloway-cut-advisor
The HCA is a rejection tool. Not a selection tool. It uses 4 data points to make a rudimentary call on how the diamond may perform.
If the diamond passes then you know that you are in the right zone in terms of angles for light performance. Under 2 is a pass. Under 2.5-2.1 is a maybe. 2.6 and over is a no. No score 2 and under is better than any other.
Is that enough? Not really.
So what you need is a way to check actual light performance of your actual stone.
That's what an idealscope image does. https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/firescope-idealscope
It shows you how and wear your diamond is reflecting light, how well it is going at it, and where you are losing light return. That is why you won't see us recommending Blue Nile, as they do not provide idealscope images for their diamonds. BGD, James Allen, GOG, HPD, ERD and WF do.

The Idealscope is the 'selection tool'. Not the HCA.
So yes, with a GIA stone you need the idealscope images. Or you can buy an idealscope yourself and take it in to the jeweler you are working with to check the stones yourself. Or if you have a good return policy (full refund minimum 7 days) then you can buy the idealscope, buy the stone, and do it at home.


Now if you want to skip all that... stick to AGS0 stones and then all you have to do is pick color and clarity and you know you have a great performing diamond. Because AGS has already done the checking for you. That's why they trade at a premium.

 

[kb1gra]

Gypsy,

He obviously wants a princess, so this copy-paste advice about a round isn't really relevant.

I guess you could keep the last line about sticking to AGS0, but all the rest doesn't mean anything when looking for a princess.

 

[Diamond_Hawk]

Hi There

I have two engagement rings i'am trying to decide between.

If I may take a moment here - before you decide. Have you checked your soon-to-be-fiance's preferences? Stalked her Pinterest page or gone shopping with her? While we can all give you advice on the style we like, the most important consideration has to be what she likes. Variations in the band itself, the type of side stones or melee that is used, the ability to put an additional wedding band, or not, with the engagement ring are all elements that she may want some say-so.

Now, It is possible you have done all that and, after exhaustive contemplation, have ended with these choices. But if not - you may make sure you are getting her something that will live up to all that she has envisioned.