What do you think of this ring, when should I buy?

[jackk]

Hi, I''m going to Europe with my gf this summer and am thinking about proposing. It would be at least a year before we actually got married but I would like the moment when I ask to her be very memorable and I know I can do that the best this summer in europe. Do you guys think that is too soon to ask? I don''t know much about this type of stuff. I''m almost positive she will say yes because we both know we want to be married (to eachother) someday.

Anyways I know this forum is about rings so I''ll get to that. I am a poor college student and the best I would be able to do before the trip is $1200. Even in the year after the trip my budget would not go up much (thats pushing it as it is).

I found this diamond and ring online,

Diamond Details
Price: $858.00
Item #: 92-3204
Shape: Round
Carat: 0.43
Cut: Ideal
Color: H - near colorless
Clarity: VS2 - very slightly included
GIA Certificate: 13885300
Depth: 61.9%
Table: 55.00%
Symmetry: Very Good
Polish: Good
Girdle: Slightly Thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: Faint
Measurements: 4.80x4.95x3.02


and


Diamond Bridal 1/4 ctw Setting 14K White Gold
Metal: 14k White Gold
Finish: Polished
Thickness: 1.9
$385


Total- $1243

She wears a small ring size for the record.



Do you guys think this is a good deal. Should I sacrifice quality and get a bigger diamond? Thats the best deal I could find in my price range. Also, I do not have all of the money yet. Do you guys think I should wait untill I do or charge it (I can pay it back fine). Do diamond prices go up periodically? Is this such a great deal I should just buy it or should I wait a few months and see what pops up. Also is a .43 pathetic? I don''t even know how big that will actually look. How would this ring compare to something similarly prices at amazon, kohls, or robin brothers? Thanks for any advice!

 

[mercoledi]

I''m by no means an expert, but at a glance I can''t find anything better! The symmetry isn''t super great; do you have more info/pictures on the stone?

This is the only other thing I found in a cursory search JA .43 F SI1 $770. It''s a higher color with good numbers but you''d have call to find out if it was eye-clean. If your stone is from a PS vendor, don''t forget to ask for the discount!

As for the size, it''s a nice size, and right around average for most of the country. A well cut stone will always look bigger than a poorly cut one. Check out this thread to get an idea of scale.

 

[E B]

Hi jackk!

I looked that particular stone up on the GIA website, and it scored a 4.8 on the HCA (a cut tool we like to refer to here at Pricescope). 4.8 rates as "Good- only if price is your main criterion", which isn't really good at all.

As for the size, .43 is not pathetic at all! It's actually quite lovely, especially on a smaller finger. If you want an idea of size, check out this thread:

small budget needs big help

I believe he gave his girlfriend a ring with a .40 ct stone, and pictures are on page 2 & 3.

 

[E B]

This diamond from James Allen is an AGS 0 Ideal, so it''ll probably perform quite a bit better than the one you''d found previously:

.42 ct G, VS2 Ideal

Personally, I''d put it in a classic solitaire without sidestones so that the stone really *POPS*. If she wants diamond accents, maybe you could find a beautiful diamond wedding band to pair it with.

The above diamond, in this setting in 18k WG...

18k White Gold Basket Setting

...puts you at $1180.

 

[bee*]

This one got a 1.6 on the HCA whiteflash ring. I have an I diamond myself and it''s so white so I wouldn''t worry about going down in color at all. Also you can get eyeclean SI diamonds so maybe have a search for those as well. A .43 diamond would be gorgeous!!

 

[marcy]

.43 is not a pathetic size - it''s a very nice size. Bee and EBree found you some great diamonds that come in under budget and I agree you can put an ideal cut diamond by itself in a solitaire and have a stunning ring. Very cool idea to propose on your trip.

 

[jackk]

Thanks for all the help. I really appreciate the advice and the rings you found. Now my one question is should I buy a solitare as some of you have mentioned or buy one with diamond accents. My girlfriend generally wears a plain silver ring. I'd say she definetely would want it simple and cute. I think she would like either the solitare or the diamond accents.

The one with diamond accents I found is $385 and its really pretty. I'd post a picture but I'm having trouble figuring out how i do that.

How much better are the diamonds you found than the one I found? How important is symmetry (I only knew the 4 c's).


Do most girls like solitares or accented? I think she would like either but I'm not sure...

Thanks!


edit- Can anyone help me figure out how to post a picture. I tried attaching a file but it didnt work. It also won't let me put url in for a link. If you go to diamond.com it is listed under 14k white gold and costs 385 on the second page.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

My choice would be to get a plain tiffany style solitaire for the engagement ring so you can put most of the money toward the stone. Then next year when you get married, she can choose a diamond wedding band to go with it. Sometimes diamonds on both rings can be a bit much especially if she doesn''t wear a lot of jewelry.

 

[kellyfish]

Your diamond is the same size as in a bezel pendant I purchased for my Mom'' retiremet a couple of months ago. The brightness of the cut really made the diamond look large--like it produced it''s own light from within like a flashlight. I was very surprised. The ring you are planning will be beautiful.

 

[shimmer]

How much better are the diamonds you found than the one I found? How important is symmetry (I only knew the 4 c's).



Hi Jack

The problem that I see with the diamond you chose is that it will not be the prettiest, sparkliest diamond that you can get for your budget and size range. The others posted are similar size and price, but since they are cut within the best parameters of the ideal cuts, they will outshine and outsparkle the one you have chosen.

I have some earrings from Blue Nile that score 4.5 on the HCA tool yet they are still labeled ideal cut, while my engagement ring is a 1.8 on the HCA and ideal cut and I can notice a HUGE difference in sparkle.

I don't mean to offend your diamond choice, if you are happy with it I am sure it will be lovely! However, at the same time I know you can get a better, sparklier diamond for the same price.

ETA: I ditto everyone else on the solitaire setting. You never know what she will like, so it's best to go simple and classic for a ring she will wear forever! I

that James Allen setting posted by Ebree!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Here are a couple of other top quality stones:

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-540855.htm .42 F SI1 $926 or $880 if paid by wire and Pricescope discount

http://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/Round-Ideal-Cut-cut-diamond-5272.htm .43 G VS2 $918 or a couple percent less if paid by wire.

Setting:

http://www.whiteflash.com/golden-wardrobe/Gold_Details.aspx?ItemCode=ST6PW&CategID=13 $195 in 14k white gold

or

http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Solitaire/4-Prong-tiffany-style_994.htm

 

[jackk]

Date: 2/10/2008 10:49:33 PM
Author: shimmer
How much better are the diamonds you found than the one I found? How important is symmetry (I only knew the 4 c's).



Hi Jack

The problem that I see with the diamond you chose is that it will not be the prettiest, sparkliest diamond that you can get for your budget and size range. The others posted are similar size and price, but since they are cut within the best parameters of the ideal cuts, they will outshine and outsparkle the one you have chosen.

I have some earrings from Blue Nile that score 4.5 on the HCA tool yet they are still labeled ideal cut, while my engagement ring is a 1.8 on the HCA and ideal cut and I can notice a HUGE difference in sparkle.

I don't mean to offend your diamond choice, if you are happy with it I am sure it will be lovely! However, at the same time I know you can get a better, sparklier diamond for the same price.

ETA: I ditto everyone else on the solitaire setting. You never know what she will like, so it's best to go simple and classic for a ring she will wear forever! I

that James Allen setting posted by Ebree!

I see, I definately want it to sparkle! I really like the James Allen too. However which solitare should I go with? People seem to like the tiffany style but I dont think James Allen offers that.


thanks

To the poster above- Thank you but I would like something VS2 and ideal for symmetry. I wish that website had something like that because they have the tiffany 6 prong.

 

[E B]

jackk,

It's a matter of personal preference. I think that the tiffany style that most prefer is likely a copy of the actual Tiffany solitaire, which the lower-end tiffany "style" settings don't much resemble. The prongs are a little more severe on the lower-end settings.

One of the great things about the basket setting from JA is that it tapers in toward the diamond, making it look larger.

 

[E B]

This might be another fun option. It's still a classic solitaire, but a twist: surprise diamonds on both sides of the profile!

White Gold "Surprise Diamond" Ring

With this diamond...

.40 ct G, SI1 AGS 0 Ideal

...you'd be at $1240, or if you could pay for the diamond all at once with cash wire, it'd cost $680 and bring you to $1160 total. Just an idea!

 

[bee*]

I personally prefer a solitaire instead of having diamond accents. I think that solitaire settings make the diamond pop.

 

[Cleo]

Don''t be ashamed of your budget.. nor of a 0.43ct diamond ring! This is a lovely size - and buying a really well cut stone makes a huuuuge difference to how spectacular the ring will look.

I found this stone for you:

0.41ct, G SI1, GIA cert, Ex cut, Ex symmetry, Ex polish and scores 1.6 Ex/Ex/Ex/VG on the Holloway Cut Advisor - $807.

You can have this set (at no extra cost) into one of their selection of simple white gold solitaire settings at $250... bringing you a total price of $1057 for a beautiful ring, with a stunning diamond.

x x x

PS. Incidentally, when I got engaged the first time (

) my ring was 0.25 cts...

 

[jackk]

Thanks a lot for all the advice. I think I am going to go with the first one Ebree found. It seems like it is the best quality in my price range.

 

[shimmer]

Yay! Are you going with the basket setting she also posted? I love it! Please post pics when you have it, I am so excited for you!!!!!

 

[jackk]

Date: 2/11/2008 2:36:15 PM
Author: shimmer
Yay! Are you going with the basket setting she also posted? I love it! Please post pics when you have it, I am so excited for you!!!!!

Yes I''m going to go with that exact one. I''m going to buy it in about a month and I will post pictures

. Hopefully they will still have it in stock. Thanks for all the help!

 

[jackk]

I went ahead and bought the ring

. It will be here monday or tuesday and I will post pictures.