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What should my budget be?

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emmamw

Rough_Rock
Joined
Mar 22, 2012
Messages
22
Hi,

I need some budget advice! I am getting a very simple yellow gold single solitaire setting and need some advice about budget and stone size.

I know I want something that is eye clean, and looks white. I am not as educated as most of you, and I guess am not going to be as picky either!!

I would like a 1ct stone, but would be happy with a 0.7 up, and am not sure realistically what my budget should be, and what clarity and color I should look at.

These are the settings I am looking at:

http://au.bluenile.com/solitaire-diamond-engagement-ring-setting_9

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/gold-solitaire-engagement-rings.html

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/classic-tiffany-style-half-round-18k-yellow-gold-5478y18

Thanks!!
 
what can you afford to spend? usually you pick the budget first and then work within your parameters :)
 
:D I read that back and it sounded a little crazy huh?!

I guess a better question is, for a non-picky diamond buyer, what is the range for a 0.7 - 1 ct eye clean, white diamond. I am buying from Australia and our prices are very different :$$):
 
I think you could have a wide range, G-I color, VS1-SI2 (as long as it's eye clean). I'd go for the best possible cut because that will be the focal point (sparkliness, ideal cut helps make stones look whiter, etc.). You really do need to narrow down your own budget, and balance that with your desires.

You could have anything from a .72 H SI2 for $2,510: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1483392.asp

To a 1.09 G VS2 for $11,300: http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.094-g-vs2-round-diamond-ags-104051364022
 
I'm assuming that when you say that your 'not picky' that you still want a beautiful sparkly diamond. If your not particularly diamond savvy and you won't notice or care about the difference between a D color and a J color then I would suggest looking at stones that are ideal or excellent cut (this is what give a diamond it's amazing light performance) but with a lower color and clarity grade. I'd suggest an I SI1 or an eye clean SI2. Most mall stores are selling stones with lower specs than these and people think that they are buying a beautiful diamond, so this combination will still give you a diamond that will out shine and out sparkly 95% of the population and you will probably spend less on it. =)

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1398077.asp
 
Thanks Christina, that was just what I was meaning. I am picky enough to know I don't want what is offered at the mall stores, but not so picky that I can justify an $11,000 diamond (would prefer to put that towards my mortgage!).

I think my budget is more realistically $2000-$3000 for the stone.
 
Will you be purchasing your stone online? We could make some suggestions for you. Wherever you decide to shop you should make sure that you have a good return policy. Also many people these days chose to upgrade their diamonds down the road, maybe for a special anniversary for instance, so if this is something that you may like to do in the future, you should chose a vendor with a good upgrade policy.

Let us know if you would like some suggestions. =)
 
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