Need help looking for a Engagement Diamond Ring

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dayg

Senior member
Feb 20, 2001
872
1
0
Hi all,

The moment has finally arrived. I'm looking for an engagement ring and need some help. I started to shop for the ring this afternoon. Had no idea the darn ring can be that expensive. Here is what I saw at the local mall (Short Hills Mall in NJ) Tiffany & Co and Cartier store:

Tiffany has a .82 carat, F grade, VVS1 on a Platinum ring for over $10,820.00
Cartier has a .73 carat, E grade, VS1 on a Platinum ring for $8,700.00

Ok, I like to keep the budget under $8,500.00 if I can. :D The size of the rock should be between .73 ~ 1.00 carat, grade D,E, or F, with VVS1 or VS1, not sure how to measure the cut.

Questions:

1. For my budget, what's the best combination of the 4 Cs I should be looking?
2. Do women perfer size over quality? :D
3. Does it matter where or what store you bought the diamond from? Does the certificate really means anything?
4. Is there a big difference in Color between D and F grade?
5. Any jewelry store I should aviod going in Tristate area? (rip offs) :D
 
J

JaneJane

Member
Nov 17, 2002
131
0
0
I think size is most important as we women like to rate our men by the size of ring they give us.

The ring should be moderateraly clear to the naked eye, we dont care about imperfections no-one can see.

I would sacrifice a few more carbon specks for another half carrat or so. I have close to a 1 carrot now and it could be larger.

Good Luck!
 
Garion

Garion

Platinum Member
Apr 23, 2001
2,331
7
81
OK, this might sound wierd, but go check out Costco. They have some REALLY great prices on diamond rings. A very limited selection, but there really aren't that many kinds of solitaires out there. They used to have a policy that if it didn't appraise for 200% the value you bought it for they'd take it back and give you 110% of the purchase price.

IMHO, if I was paying $8.5K for a rock, I'd see if I could get the store to ante up the cost of an independant appraisal, so you can be sure you're getting what it's worth. Definitely have Costco do that - Talk to the store manager and see if he will make you a deal, or at least hold your $$ in the store, so if you pay, get it appraised, and aren't happy with it, you can take it back and get your money returned immediately.

- G
 
O

optoman

Diamond Member
Nov 15, 1999
4,181
0
0
Tiffany has a .82 carat, F grade, VVS1 on a Platinum ring for over $10,820.00
Cartier has a .73 carat, E grade, VS1 on a Platinum ring for $8,700.00
Click to expand...

They are out of their mind if they are trying to sell it for that much. I got a .77, E, VS1, girdle being very tiny (almost non exsistant), symmetry being excellent (round diamond), table being as close to perfect as you can get (55%) for around $5K. It was a gold band but the platinum would of been about $500 more.

Shop around and find yourself a good dealer. My diamond was made by Lazar Diamond. It looks like a carat because of the way the diamond shines. At night, in the total dark the diamond still glows.
 
D

dayg

Senior member
Feb 20, 2001
872
1
0
optoman,
That's an excellent price. Did it came with a certificate? Do u live around NYC?
I plan on shopping at Fortunoff today. Keep you all updated. :)

 
vi edit

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,345
126
Good grief that's a lot of f'n bank to spend on a ring.
 
iamwiz82

iamwiz82

Lifer
Jan 10, 2001
30,772
13
81
Originally posted by: vi_edit
Good grief that's a lot of f'n bank to spend on a ring.
Click to expand...


its also incredibilly stupid, IMHO, unless you are very well off. I'm sure my girlfriend would appreciate a house more than a ring and $10,000 is a nice addition to a down payment.
 
Deeko

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,213
12
81
my (ex?)girlfriend has told me several times that while size is VERY important in diamonds, quality is more important...so basically, ya gotta get something big, AND good.
 
vi edit

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,345
126
Originally posted by: Deeko
my (ex?)girlfriend has told me several times that while size is VERY important in diamonds, quality is more important...so basically, ya gotta get something big, AND good.
Click to expand...

Same way my fiance is. I went smaller (.45 carrat) but went very high quality on color and clarity so that thing glitters and sparkles like no tomorrow. A year later and she's still getting compliments.

BTW - you'll do much better if you go to a loose diamond sale and pick your own diamond. Sometimes stores will set a diamond with flaws at the bottom of the setting so you don't see them. Buying a loose diamond lets you see it before it's set, and you'll get better choices of diamonds that way.
 
D

dayg

Senior member
Feb 20, 2001
872
1
0
Guys,
I couldn't agree with you more about spending the money on a down payment of a co op/condo. But on the other hand, we need to safe face. You see, women LOVE to brag and compare who has the biggest/badass rock with their friends. It's either that or I won't be getting any at night as I liked to be. :D

As for me, looks like the condo will have to wait. But at least I'll sleep better at night. :D

Now, I just have to find a store where I can get the rock at a very resonable price. Anyone?
 
vi edit

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,345
126
I couldn't agree with you more about spending the money on a down payment of a co op/condo. But on the other hand, we need to safe face. You see, women LOVE to brag and compare who has the biggest/badass rock with their friends. It's either that or I won't be getting any at night as I liked to be.
Click to expand...

If it takes an $8,500 rock for your woman to bang you, then you're up for a rough marriage.
 
J

jeffrey

Golden Member
Jun 7, 2000
1,790
0
0
To find the best combination of the four C's go to the diamond dealer Blue Nile and search the diamond database. You can sort the ring database with sliders for each of the four C's.
I can't really recommend this enough!

Go now..
 
O

optoman

Diamond Member
Nov 15, 1999
4,181
0
0
I actually bought the diamond from Manns Jewelers in Rochester NY. One of the things that was mentioned was to by the diamond loose. I totally agree with that because it gives you the chance to look at the whole diamond with a loop. I bought the diamond about three years ago so the prices shouldn't of changed to much.

My wife is a nurse and still gets compliments about how her diamond sparkles.

One thing I would like to point out is that if the woman you want to marry bitches about the size of the ring or the quality then she is not the one for you. I was very picky when I bought the ring because that is the kind of person that I am. Some people can't afford to by a $5K ring and some can. It was actually way out of my budget when I lived Rochester, NY but when I moved to MA, it was nothing.

Good Luck and don't forget to haggle!
 
B

bmacd

Lifer
Jan 15, 2001
10,869
1
0
This might sound crazy, but check out Kmart. Right now, they are having 70% off all jewelery (excluding costume jewelery) and they have some really nice stuff there. Granted, i've looked at some of the diamonds and some are cloudy, but we do get a lot of really nice pieces in.

-=bmacd=-
 
D

dayg

Senior member
Feb 20, 2001
872
1
0
Ok, does anyone know the importance of the certificate?
I was shopping online... http://www.diamonds-usa.com (they seemed to have nice prices BTW) and there are 2 kinds.
GIA and EGL. I think EGL is from European. Does it matter which certificate that came with the rock? Is one better than the other in terms of authenticity and value?

Any help is appreciated.
 
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