Engagement Ring - Where to get!

[lastig21]

I see you're from Texas, but don't know which city. I got mine from Whiteflash.com in Houston, TX. Brian Gavin, the guy who actually cut my diamond, showed me several options in my pricerange. It was quite an experience working with someone that could tell you the entire history of the diamond. Whiteflash is well respected on the net, which made it an easy decision for me. If you are near Houston, I suggest you check them out. They work out of building filled with other jewelers, so if they don't work out you might find something else.

If I lived on the east coast, I would have checked out goodoldgold.com. Another well respected jeweler with some amazing rocks.

I finally decided that if I felt good about the diamond/ring that was chosen, then she would too.

 

[Haui]

Originally posted by: PAB

Originally posted by: Haui
Right now, I make $2300 a month after taxes, insurance, 401k and all that BS. I think $3000-3500 is about right.

Don't you?

The amount spent is entirely up to you, I think that the three months salary stuff is all out of line.

And your budget is reasonable. I sold someone a 1.01 stone for $2500 last month, he's having a custom setting built for it and will be into the project for less than $3500 and it will look damn good.

BTW - I sent you a private message. Top left hand corner of the screen.

Replied to your PM's

 

[GrantMeThePower]

Please make sure to purchase a diamond that is certified through the Kimberly Process. And look at diamonds from canada.

It would be better to get a smaller diamond that is pure, if you know what i mean (cuz i'm not talking about clarity)

 

[PAB]

Haui, I got nothing in the inbox.

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Originally posted by: PAB
Haui, I got nothing in the inbox.

Exactly.

 

[Sentinel]

Haven't bought it yet, still up in the air I guess. But when I had planned on purchasing the ring, I was going to spend roughly $2200. The girlfriend decided she wants to move across the country, I don't know if I can do that...but that's yagt territory.

 

[rockyct]

Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor

Originally posted by: PAB
Haui, I got nothing in the inbox.

Exactly.

ouch...



Aren't there some lab created diamonds that only a jeweler can tell are not natural?

 

[ryan256]

Make sure you get a diamond with a certificate! Preferably GIA or AGSL. This will make sure the ring holds its value.

 

[Haui]

What do you think of the following:

This is the ring


This is the diamond


Thoughts? Suggestions? It is a GIA diamond too.

 

[imported_cheapdude]

SI2-clarity mean visible inclusions from naked eye, I would try to avoid that.

 

[shortspanishguy]

Originally posted by: Haui
What do you think of the following:

This is the ring


This is the diamond


Thoughts? Suggestions? It is a GIA diamond too.

Are you sure you want oval cut?

 

[ksaajasto]

wal mart

 

[Haui]

Originally posted by: shortspanishguy

Originally posted by: Haui
What do you think of the following:

This is the ring


This is the diamond


Thoughts? Suggestions? It is a GIA diamond too.

Are you sure you want oval cut?

What do you suggest?

Also, for around $3000, can you guys peice together a diamond and that particular set....help me out here!

 

[DBL]

Originally posted by: Haui
What do you think of the following:

This is the ring


This is the diamond


Thoughts? Suggestions? It is a GIA diamond too.

Are you sure you want an oval? You need to be sure that is what you girlfriend would want.

Go with an ideal cut (or very good cut) or better GIA certed stone. It's the most important factor. Then match the color and clarity (i.e. don't get a F color and SI2 clarity unless you know you girlfriend is very color sensitive).

In your price range i'd go for something more like this..
Option 1
Option 2
This place seems to have better prices than bluenile.

 

[Haui]

Originally posted by: DBL

Originally posted by: Haui
What do you think of the following:

This is the ring


This is the diamond


Thoughts? Suggestions? It is a GIA diamond too.

Are you sure you want an oval? You need to be sure that is what you girlfriend would want.

Go with an ideal cut (or very good cut) or better GIA certed stone. It's the most important factor. Then match the color and clarity (i.e. don't get a F color and SI2 clarity unless you know you girlfriend is very color sensitive).

In your price range i'd go for something more like this..
Option 1
Option 2
This place seems to have better prices than bluenile.

Are they reliable?

 

[DBL]

Originally posted by: Haui

Originally posted by: DBL

Originally posted by: Haui
What do you think of the following:

This is the ring


This is the diamond


Thoughts? Suggestions? It is a GIA diamond too.

Are you sure you want an oval? You need to be sure that is what you girlfriend would want.

Go with an ideal cut (or very good cut) or better GIA certed stone. It's the most important factor. Then match the color and clarity (i.e. don't get a F color and SI2 clarity unless you know you girlfriend is very color sensitive).

In your price range i'd go for something more like this..
Option 1
Option 2
This place seems to have better prices than bluenile.

Are they reliable?

No idea, although they bought or took over (or already owned) the old dirtcheapdiamonds.com website which was reliable. Do some research online. Most of these big online shops all pull from the same inventory which is located in NYC.

 

[coaster831]

Originally posted by: Haui
What do you think of the following:

This is the ring


This is the diamond


Thoughts? Suggestions? It is a GIA diamond too.

Not a bad diamond, not great. I would trade down in color to G or H (color matters less when it is set) and trade up in either size or cut.

Check out this diamond (whiteflash.com is extremely well regarded as an internet dealer). Note they have sarin and idealscope images, which show how much light is actually reflected back from the diamond- something "the 4 C's" alone can't show. Also note this is an ideal cut with good table and depth values (very overlooked, IMO) and almost no fluorescence (not as important, but nice to have):
Diamond

 

[coaster831]

Originally posted by: cheapdude
SI2-clarity mean visible inclusions from naked eye, I would try to avoid that.

SI2 inclusions should NOT be visible with the naked eye.

 

[shortspanishguy]

Originally posted by: Haui

Originally posted by: shortspanishguy

Originally posted by: Haui
What do you think of the following:

This is the ring


This is the diamond


Thoughts? Suggestions? It is a GIA diamond too.

Are you sure you want oval cut?

What do you suggest?

Also, for around $3000, can you guys peice together a diamond and that particular set....help me out here!

Its a matter of opinion but I prefer round as do many girls that I know.

 

[imported_cheapdude]

Originally posted by: coaster831

Originally posted by: cheapdude
SI2-clarity mean visible inclusions from naked eye, I would try to avoid that.

SI2 should NOT be visible with the naked eye.

Thats what people with SI2 grade diamond wants you to believe.
Let's just say that during my hunt for my wife's engagement ring, I have seen many SI2 stones that had visible clouds of inclusions and feather on the stone.

Anyway, don't take my word for it. Go see it in person and compare them yourself.

 

[coaster831]

Originally posted by: cheapdude

Originally posted by: coaster831

Originally posted by: cheapdude
SI2-clarity mean visible inclusions from naked eye, I would try to avoid that.

SI2 should NOT be visible with the naked eye.

Thats what people with SI2 grade diamond wants you to believe.
Let's just say that during my hunt for my wife's engagement ring, I have seen many SI2 stones that had visible clouds of inclusions and feather on the stone.

Anyway, don't take my word for it. Go see it in person and compare them yourself.

If they were IGI certified I could believe it. IGI has a tendency to rate color and clarity higher than it should be- AGS and GIA should not have visible inclusions. That said, you're right in that you shouldn't believe a grading report over your own eyes, and that many people feel that SI1 is that lowest you should go in clarity.

 

[DBL]

Originally posted by: coaster831

Originally posted by: Haui
What do you think of the following:

This is the ring


This is the diamond


Thoughts? Suggestions? It is a GIA diamond too.

Not a bad diamond, not great. I would trade down in color to G or H and trade up in either size or cut.

Check out this diamond (whiteflash.com is extremely well regarded as an internet dealer). Note they have sarin and idealscope images, which show how much light is actually reflected back from the diamond- something "the 4 C's" alone can't show. Also note this is an ideal cut with good table and depth values (very overlooked, IMO) and almost no fluorescence (not as important, but nice to have):
Diamond

Idealscope images only apply to round stones and if the OP is interested in an Oval, then none of that is really applicable. But one of the C's, the cut describes what the idealscope shows (perhaps not in as much detail though). A competent Jeweler or even the consumer is more than capable of rating the cut (when comparing one stone against another) since that is essentially what differentiates a dull diamond from a brilliant diamond. This is specified on the GIA cert.

In these times, since white diamonds are priced so specifically using RAP pricing, Jewelers look for any edge to increase their margin and sell at higher prices. Some choose to use computers to create extra categories around the diamonds cut while others may chose to focus more on colored diamonds (which do not have the same set pricing).

Be careful getting sucked into a lot of this as you may end up paying more for a stone that requires a computer printout to differentiate itself from another stone which is cheaper but just as brilliant to the visible eye.

 

[DieselUV]

my friend's store has a website you can look at. no tax since youre prob not in va. www.questjewelers.com

 

[gilligans]

You only have $3500 to spend and she still will marry you?

 

[Haui]

Originally posted by: gilligans
You only have $3500 to spend and she still will marry you?

That was pretty harsh man...