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What options, what to expect for $2,500 Halo Engagement?

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Berts

Rough_Rock
Joined
Dec 23, 2014
Messages
57
My head is spinning, I've done lots of research but buying a ring is stressful. My ideal budget is $2,500, maybe $3,000. She likes round Halo so I'm looking at that style. Like everyone one else I want the most bank for my buck. Ideally would prefer a .70ct center or bigger diamond but don't want to give up on the other 3 c's. Looks like I can find nice rings with a .50ct center all day long.

At least the Halo makes the ring look bigger so I have that going for me.

Any input you can give I really appreciate.
 
3k is a tight budget for a halo. JA is going to be your best bet. They have a 1200 halo. And 1800 for the stone makes a .7 tight. But you can go down to I Si1 and find the largest stone you can.

What you need to know about the diamonds:
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.
 
Although pretty overwhelming thanks for the information. I'll do some searching on JA.

Why does this have to be so difficult!
 
James Allen is a pretty awesome website, by far the best one I have found. Thanks for leading me that way. I've found a decent setting for $1,375 http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/halo/14k-white-gold-falling-edge-pave-diamond-engagement-ring-item-49492 and what looks like a really good .70ct diamond http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.70-carat-j-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-410073

All for right at $3,000.

Obviously I need to do more research before I pull the trigger but there are lots of options on that site to fit my needs and budget.

Are the pictures on the website the actual diamond? Is that the idealscope you are talking about?

Do these diamond come engraved to match the GIA report?

Thanks for all your help. Maybe I'll start a new thread for people to help me pick the diamond and if there is a better setting for the money.
 
Berts|1419367166|3806658 said:
James Allen is a pretty awesome website, by far the best one I have found. Thanks for leading me that way. I've found a decent setting for $1,375 http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/halo/14k-white-gold-falling-edge-pave-diamond-engagement-ring-item-49492 and what looks like a really good .70ct diamond http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.70-carat-j-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-410073

All for right at $3,000.

Obviously I need to do more research before I pull the trigger but there are lots of options on that site to fit my needs and budget.

Are the pictures on the website the actual diamond? Is that the idealscope you are talking about?

Do these diamond come engraved to match the GIA report?

Thanks for all your help. Maybe I'll start a new thread for people to help me pick the diamond and if there is a better setting for the money.
Click to expand...


the diamond lab report is missing. And with that crown angle, I am pretty sure the HCA is going to be over 2. You need a good HCA score, I know it can be overwhelming, but go back and read what I posted for you okay?
 
I'll dig deep and figure out all this :) Is it all that noticeable? I'm assuming since I'm looking at a smaller diamond the more brilliant it is the bigger will look.

How important are the halo diamonds on the setting? Do people pay that much attention to those?

Thanks and I'll get started on my research.
 
If you click on the lab report, it will list the angles on the diagram.

Stick to SI1 or better in clarity. there is no way that I clarity stone is going to be eyeclean.
 
I just want to put this out there not to add to your hard decision .. But I'd rather have a larger stone .70 in a simple solitaire and save the $1,300 to up grade it at my one year anniversary. I hate to see alot of your budget go to a setting that is just metal. Diamond is thhe key to an ering and alot of us change out minds on settings over days, weeks, years. $1300 is easy to save ...So just an idea to spend the money on an ideal cut diamond g-i color si1 clarity the largest you can afford with a simple tiffany setting for like $500.
 
That's a good idea and I'll ponder that. I never thought about upgrading in the future, I like it.
 
Is the plain shank halo out of the running?
 
Not at all. I personally like the plain shanks better. Maybe that a win win.
 
Berts|1419376029|3806784 said:
Not at all. I personally like the plain shanks better. Maybe that a win win.
Click to expand...
That's what I would do. I mean if she likes a halo, a solitaire may be a disappointment. Plus, if you add a blingy band, you get a very similar look. Plus, give you the flexibility of more bands, and you have less of a need to be "matchy" when you aren't trying to match the shank of the e ring to the w band.
 
 
You've been given great choices. And also vote for the plain shank halo. Size boost, lower cost, and more flexibility with wedding bands.
 
Niel|1419380030|3806806 said:
here are the three stones I would reserve

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.71-carat-j-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-303340

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.70-carat-j-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-357575 (question about if its eye clean or not)

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.70-carat-j-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-400096
Click to expand...

this setting with the discount is 560 isshh?

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/halo/14k-white-gold-pave-halo-engagement-ring-round-center-item-18301

And I think its a lovely halo at the .7 size...
then just make sure you ask for idealscopes when they review your 3 stones, and ask if any of them are not eye clean

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I vote for the plain shank halo too. Then you can pair it with an eternity band for more bling
 
Niel|1419380783|3806814 said:
Niel|1419380030|3806806 said:
here are the three stones I would reserve

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.71-carat-j-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-303340

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.70-carat-j-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-357575 (question about if its eye clean or not)

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.70-carat-j-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-400096
Click to expand...

this setting with the discount is 560 isshh?

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/halo/14k-white-gold-pave-halo-engagement-ring-round-center-item-18301

And I think its a lovely halo at the .7 size...
then just make sure you ask for idealscopes when they review your 3 stones, and ask if any of them are not eye clean
Click to expand...

This would be my choice too. The halo that she wants without putting so much of your budget into the setting. I think it would be a very wise choice and it is a very pretty ring.
 
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