Getting engaged, but need advice on a ring

[NutBucket]

Another thing to do is go to the mall stores and see what these different grades look like. I would start with this.

When I was shopping I was appalled at what mall stores were selling as "premium" or "high end". When I can see inclusions with a naked eye, its crap IMHO. Color is a bit tougher since mall stores have lighting that makes yellow stones appear less yellow. Take it out of the store lighting and it will look bad, generally speaking.

Also, size matters. For example, a 1.4 carat stone will be noticeably cheaper than 1.56 carat stone yet visibly they will be nearly identical. There is definitely some money to be saved here. I think the stone I bought my wife is 1.34 carat or somewhere thereabouts.

 

[alkemyst]

SCAM! Get her a cubic zirconia and don't tell her.

Want to know how big of a scam diamonds are? Try to resell one.

I only had to sell one of my rings, but I was able to recover close to what I paid.

Most think there is a disjunct because they are buying $1500 diamonds for $2500 at a retail store with a $5000 appraisal.

 

[alkemyst]

Another thing to do is go to the mall stores and see what these different grades look like. I would start with this.

When I was shopping I was appalled at what mall stores were selling as "premium" or "high end". When I can see inclusions with a naked eye, its crap IMHO. Color is a bit tougher since mall stores have lighting that makes yellow stones appear less yellow. Take it out of the store lighting and it will look bad, generally speaking.

Also, size matters. For example, a 1.4 carat stone will be noticeably cheaper than 1.56 carat stone yet visibly they will be nearly identical. There is definitely some money to be saved here. I think the stone I bought my wife is 1.34 carat or somewhere thereabouts.

Most retail shops will not carry the premium stones. I think less than 5% of all diamond owners out there own a premium cut diamond. Most are buying average stones at premium pricing.

 

[crab]

You've got some good replies here on the diamond basics, and I'm the last person that should be commenting on cut, clarity, etc lol...but the biggest thing I can recommend is that the size of that diamond as far as numbers go is not what you should concentrate on. Pick a cut size that matches HER. My wife is tiny, and if I had bought a larger rock, it would've just looked silly.

If shes a good girl, she'll just be so damn happy that it looks awesome on her, that she wont care about carats.

 

[alkemyst]

http://www.pricescope.com/

for any tutorials, questions, quotes, etc... I just use them for any questions I had and they were pretty good at answering them. Pick the biggest diamond you can afford.

Best cut would actually be better. A well cut 3/4 carat will look bigger than a dead 1 carat.

The rings that are most noticed are the ones that are cut the best.

Of course if you can still do an excellent cut in the size you want then you can't really lose.

Most sacrifice a good diamond to get a big diamond.

 

[NutBucket]

Most retail shops will not carry the premium stones. I think less than 5% of all diamond owners out there own a premium cut diamond. Most are buying average stones at premium pricing.

True. In the end I took a bit of gamble and figured just buy the best and not regret it. I went for a 1.3 carat E, IF, excellent cut stone. Gets nothing but compliments.

 

[sourceninja]

My wife's engagement ring was $500. She loves it (she better, she picked it out)

 

[Anonemous]

Best cut would actually be better. A well cut 3/4 carat will look bigger than a dead 1 carat.

The rings that are most noticed are the ones that are cut the best.

Of course if you can still do an excellent cut in the size you want then you can't really lose.

Most sacrifice a good diamond to get a big diamond.

I agree. The cut makes a big difference in how big the diamond appears as well as the brilliance/sparkle (a VG-EX GIA graded diamond would be a safe bet). In addition, I used pricescope's HCA tool to check how sparkly the diamond would appear to the eye by plugging in the diamond's stats (cut/table/depth/etc.)

http://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca

In the end, only you know how much you can afford, so get the biggest diamond you can afford.

 

[KentState]

Thanks for all the advice guys and thanks for the links Alky and Gibson.

My budget is $8k for the ring and band, though I wouldn't mind if it was closer to $6k. So far my goal would be cushion cut, platinum thin band, 1.3ct, vg-excellent cut, g-h color, and vs1-vs2 clarity. If that doesn't look good in person, then I can always adjust from there. I will dig through the reading later when she is busy doing work.

 

[Gibson486]

Thanks for all the advice guys and thanks for the links Alky and Gibson.

My budget is $8k for the ring and band, though I wouldn't mind if it was closer to $6k. So far my goal would be cushion cut, platinum thin band, 1.3ct, vg-excellent cut, g-h color, and vs1-vs2 clarity. If that doesn't look good in person, then I can always adjust from there. I will dig through the reading later when she is busy doing work.

Looks doable. Try Eternity Diamonds. They have really low prices, but he does not take pics for you. The best you can do is find a diamond you like and see if a place that takes pics of the diamond can source it for you. If you lived in Boston, I would know the guy for you to go to, but he does not do online orders.

 

[GoodRevrnd]

Thanks for all the advice guys and thanks for the links Alky and Gibson.

My budget is $8k for the ring and band, though I wouldn't mind if it was closer to $6k. So far my goal would be cushion cut, platinum thin band, 1.3ct, vg-excellent cut, g-h color, and vs1-vs2 clarity. If that doesn't look good in person, then I can always adjust from there. I will dig through the reading later when she is busy doing work.

Is that actually doable? Whenever I have looked these stats always seemed to be $10k+. Even now if I look on Pricescope that's what I'm getting.

 

[Spooner]

Looks doable. Try Eternity Diamonds. They have really low prices, but he does not take pics for you. The best you can do is find a diamond you like and see if a place that takes pics of the diamond can source it for you. If you lived in Boston, I would know the guy for you to go to, but he does not do online orders.

I live in Boston and might be ring shopping soon - care to elaborate?

 

[Schadenfreude]

Don't know anything about diamonds or rings - I actually discussed what to get w/ my wife at the time, I'm romantic like that - anyhow, congrats on the (pre-)engagement!

Your life is over!

 

[alkemyst]

True. In the end I took a bit of gamble and figured just buy the best and not regret it. I went for a 1.3 carat E, IF, excellent cut stone. Gets nothing but compliments.

As around a $30k+ stone it should.

 

[alkemyst]

Thanks for all the advice guys and thanks for the links Alky and Gibson.

My budget is $8k for the ring and band, though I wouldn't mind if it was closer to $6k. So far my goal would be cushion cut, platinum thin band, 1.3ct, vg-excellent cut, g-h color, and vs1-vs2 clarity. If that doesn't look good in person, then I can always adjust from there. I will dig through the reading later when she is busy doing work.

Good Link with examples linked back to BlueNile

http://www.thediamondbuyingguide.com/cushion_cut_diamond.html

$8000 wouldn't be a realistic budget for that spec. You could go down to 1.2 and make it work. For $6k you are looking at 1 carat.

Cushions are harder to find deals on over the more popular cuts.

 

[KentState]

Good Link with examples linked back to BlueNile

http://www.thediamondbuyingguide.com/cushion_cut_diamond.html

$8000 wouldn't be a realistic budget for that spec. You could go down to 1.2 and make it work. For $6k you are looking at 1 carat.

Cushions are harder to find deals on over the more popular cuts.

Found one at Solomon Brothers which is 1.31ct, H, Vs2, Excellent, GIA, cushion for $6,025 and then a simple platinum band for $1500. That should get me below my budget after tax. Looks like going down to a 1.2ct with the same specs saves about $800-1000. This can also be found on pricescope.com. I really need to see how big of a difference the .1ct makes overall.

http://www.solomonbrothers.com/Diamond_5F644Y38
http://www2.gia.edu/reportcheck/ind...tVerification&reportno=2125664840&weight=1.31

 

[alkemyst]

Found one at Solomon Brothers which is 1.31ct, H, Vs2, Excellent, GIA, cushion for $6,025 and then a simple platinum band for $1500. That should get me below my budget after tax. Looks like going down to a 1.2ct with the same specs saves about $800-1000. This can also be found on pricescope.com. I really need to see how big of a difference the .1ct makes overall.

http://www.solomonbrothers.com/Diamond_5F644Y38
http://www2.gia.edu/reportcheck/ind...tVerification&reportno=2125664840&weight=1.31

The stone measurements are posted. You can draw the "face" on a piece of paper.

That solomon brothers price seems really good...I'd run it by those on DiamondTalk though the dimension of that stone is way different than the other ones on the 1.30-1.31 list there and a $1500 difference in cost (roughly 20&#37...

http://www.solomonbrothers.com/diam...eightMin=1.30&WeightMax=1.31&cookieCheck=true

I am not to familiar with proper dimensions on a cushion cut, but I'd be curious how those numbers being so different in that size played out. The stone appears more like a 'very good' cut based on that GIA cert, it seems the cut grade came from the jeweler.

 

[Gibson486]

The stone measurements are posted. You can draw the "face" on a piece of paper.

That solomon brothers price seems really good...I'd run it by those on DiamondTalk though the dimension of that stone is way different than the other ones on the 1.30-1.31 list there and a $1500 difference in cost (roughly 20%)...

http://www.solomonbrothers.com/diam...eightMin=1.30&WeightMax=1.31&cookieCheck=true

I am not to familiar with proper dimensions on a cushion cut, but I'd be curious how those numbers being so different in that size played out. The stone appears more like a 'very good' cut based on that GIA cert, it seems the cut grade came from the jeweler.

yeah, be wary of this. Lots of times they will advertise the cut by their standards, but then you find out the cut is graded differently by GIA standards when you see the cert. I forgot the company that did this, but I ended up avoiding them in the end.

 

[Wreckem]

First question is why does she want a cushion cut? Are you sure she wants a cushion cut?

A high quality cushion VS2 G runs about $6-7k for 1ct. So I can say with 100% certainty that the 1.3ct for $6000 isn't a very good performer.

Cushions are hard to judge on quality. And cannot be done based on numbers. In fact, the only cut that can really be judged somewhat on numbers are rounds.

IF you are going with a cushion cut you need to go to a site that specializes in cushions.

Here are two different sites that specialize in cushions and are highly reputable. These sites actually have the stones in their possession and can tell how they perform.

Engagement Rings Direct. Look at their A Cut Beyond Cushions
http://www.engagementringsdirect.com

Good Old Gold(excuse their shitty website, but they are highly reputable) look at their August Vintage Cushions or their Hearts & Arrows Cushions
http://www.goodoldgold.com

 

[alkemyst]

yeah, be wary of this. Lots of times they will advertise the cut by their standards, but then you find out the cut is graded differently by GIA standards when you see the cert. I forgot the company that did this, but I ended up avoiding them in the end.

That is also one of the only stones I clicked on that the full GIA report wasn't available for viewing.

I'd be leary of that one OP...ask for a copy of the GIA Cert (the full cert not that abbreviated one you linked) and run that by the experts on DiamondTalk.

 

[Gibson486]

First question is why does she want a cushion cut? Are you sure she wants a cushion cut?

Cushions are hard to judge on quality. And cannot be done based on numbers. In fact, the only cut that can really be judged somewhat on numbers are rounds.

I can say with 100% certainty that the 1.3ct for $6000 isn't a very good performer. A high quality cushion VS2 H runs about $7k for 1ct.

IF you are going with a cushion cut you need to go to a site the specializes in cushions.

Here are two different sites that specialize in cushions and are highly reputable.

Engagement Rings Direct. Look at their A Cut Beyond Cushions
http://www.engagementringsdirect.com

Good Old Gold(excuse their shitty website, but they are highly reputable) look at their August Vintage Cushions or their Hearts & Arrows Cushions
http://www.goodoldgold.com

Hahahaha....GoodOldGold. I love that place. Considering the quality of service (and the guarantee they give), the price increase is well worth it.

 

[KentState]

The stone measurements are posted. You can draw the "face" on a piece of paper.

That solomon brothers price seems really good...I'd run it by those on DiamondTalk though the dimension of that stone is way different than the other ones on the 1.30-1.31 list there and a $1500 difference in cost (roughly 20&#37...

http://www.solomonbrothers.com/diam...eightMin=1.30&WeightMax=1.31&cookieCheck=true

I am not to familiar with proper dimensions on a cushion cut, but I'd be curious how those numbers being so different in that size played out. The stone appears more like a 'very good' cut based on that GIA cert, it seems the cut grade came from the jeweler.

I think you are right. There are some that are closer to 1.26/1.28 with the same specs but have a higher overall depth in that same price range. These have actual certs:

http://www.solomonbrothers.com/Dial...et.com/userfolders/43225/Certs/2135796782.jpg

http://www.solomonbrothers.com/Dial...et.com/userfolders/46498/Certs/2131529277.jpg

 

[alkemyst]

Cushions are hard to judge on quality. And cannot be done based on numbers. In fact, the only cut that can really be judged somewhat on numbers are rounds.

Not entirely true...David Atlas has had some charts up a long time that were pretty accurate. The charts are down but replaced with a calculator:

http://datlas.com/AGA_NAJA_Cut_Class_grader/index.php

That stone got an overall 4A rating which is below average.

1A-1B are American Ideal Cuts
2A-2B are International Fine Trade Cut
3A-3B are US Domestic Average Cut
4A-4B are Below Average Cut

There is A LOT of good information on that site.

 

[alkemyst]

I think you are right. There are some that are closer to 1.26/1.28 with the same specs but have a higher overall depth in that same price range. These have actual certs:

http://www.solomonbrothers.com/Dial...et.com/userfolders/43225/Certs/2135796782.jpg

http://www.solomonbrothers.com/Dial...et.com/userfolders/46498/Certs/2131529277.jpg

Those also scored 4A.

 

[alkemyst]

That GoodOleGold site has a pretty good review of their stones, idealscope images, microscope, loupe, all angles and measurements.