Buying Engagement ring...Please Help!

[BMTMDJ]

Hello All!

I recently started looking for an engagement ring for my long time girlfriend. This forum has been super helpful for me. Was very intimidated with the whole process and at times walked up to jewelry stores and couldn't even get myself to go in. After educating myself through this forum I've visited many stores in my area and have hopefully zeroed in on the type of diamond I'd like to get her.

I would like to stay at or close to $3000. I'm looking to get a round diamond solitaire .80-.85 ct on a yellow gold setting with 6 prong platinum/white gold head. From what I've seen in person I know I want an Ideal/Excellent cut and have been told (since it will be set on yellow gold) that I can afford to go a little lower in color and clarity. I've seen .80-.81 Ideal cut, H-I, and VS1-SI1 diamonds in person in stores, but all end up significantly out of my price range. However, I searched online and put these two diamond on hold thru bluenile...

http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-1-carat-or-less-ideal-cut-i-color-vs2-clarity_LD04260471
http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-1-carat-or-less-ideal-cut-i-color-vs2-clarity_LD04280630
(let me know if my links don't work, I can post the specs in that case)

I'm leaning toward the second one (the .80 ct). Can anyone share their thoughts on these diamonds? I went back to the stores and saw as many diamonds as possible with very similar specs and loved them, but again all out of my price range. From everything I've seen these are the highest quality that I can find in my price range and I know I'm taking a significant risk by not being able to view these in person. Is the risk worth it for either of these? Any suggestions on which is a better choice? Can I do better than these? Can/Should I go bigger than .80?

My second issue is the setting. I know she wants a petite setting (1.5 or 1.85mm). She's a size 5 and has pretty dainty hands. Would a petite setting affect the security of the diamond like some of the sales people in stores have been telling me? I'm looking to get the 1.85mm petite solitaire engagement ring on bluenile (with 6 prongs instead of 4). http://www.bluenile.com/petite-solitiare-ring-18k-yellow-gold_44709 This setting is $670 and is a bit much for my budget. Would I be better off buying the loose diamond and getting it set locally? Or is $670 for 18k gold and platinum 6 prong head pretty much what I'll find elsewhere?

Thank you so much for reading...Sorry for such a long post. Any advice I can get would be much appreciated!

 

[geoffreysnow]

The second diamond scores better (1.9) on the HCA than the first (3.8 ). I also like the small table of the second one so I think the second one should make a nice diamond in that setting. I color is still pretty much colorless, so unless she's super sensitive to colors, that should not be a problem.

I checked James Allen and didn't see diamonds that looked nice in your price range. There are 2 at Ritani where you can request to hold them and have pictures/video taken for free to see how the inclusions look:
http://www.ritani.com/diamonds/round-diamond-0-81-Carat-I-color-GIA-certified/D-MHH27B
http://www.ritani.com/diamonds/round-diamond-0-82-Carat-I-color-GIA-certified/D-MR6WF3


But the blue nile one you linked to should be nice. Ideally, you'd get an ASET test and a pic/video from Blue Nile, similar to James Allen.

Regarding the width of the setting, 1.85 is pretty delicate, but as long as it's a quality piece, it should hold up fine. If your fiance works construction and moves heavy items all day, then maybe you'd want something a little more durable. Buying from local should be ok too, but then you run the risk of damage while they set it, and most places won't take liability for diamonds not purchased through them. Highly unlikely anything will happen though. Either option should be alright. Good luck and let us know what you end up with!

 

[BMTMDJ]

Thanks for the reply giraffecushion! That was also my concern regarding getting it set locally. I've never really bought jewelry so I don't have a jeweler near me that I trust. I'm sure there are many great ones in my area but I'm wondering if the money I'll be saving would be significantly less than the $670 on bluenile. And would it be worth the added risk of damage to the diamond. I'll be shopping around for a similar setting at stores to get an idea of prices when I can sneak way from my girlfriend. Just so I have an idea.. Do you think it's worth the added security for $670 or could I get it significantly cheaper? Thanks again for your thoughts. Super helpful!!

 

[RockyRacoon]

Alright, here are some options:

Get this 6-prong setting - $325 (in yellow, rose or white gold)
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/six-prong-solitaire-14k-white-gold-5351w14


Paired with one of these stones (ask for Pricescope discount for even lower pricing):

.74ct, F, SI1
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.740-f-si1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104067973046

.816ct, K, VS2
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.816-k-vs2-round-diamond-ags-c-104069723039

.704ct, J, VS2
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.704-j-vs2-round-diamond-ags-c-104069378116


If your budget can stretch to that .74ct F, you should go for it. If not, figure out how color-sensitive the recipient is, and opt for the most color tolerable of the other two (both would be under budget, even with the setting I linked).

You'll end up with a great ring - guaranteed!

 

[BMTMDJ]

The second diamond scores better (1.9) on the HCA than the first (3.8 ). I also like the small table of the second one so I think the second one should make a nice diamond in that setting. I color is still pretty much colorless, so unless she's super sensitive to colors, that should not be a problem.

I checked James Allen and didn't see diamonds that looked nice in your price range. There are 2 at Ritani where you can request to hold them and have pictures/video taken for free to see how the inclusions look:
http://www.ritani.com/diamonds/round-diamond-0-81-Carat-I-color-GIA-certified/D-MHH27B
http://www.ritani.com/diamonds/round-diamond-0-82-Carat-I-color-GIA-certified/D-MR6WF3


But the blue nile one you linked to should be nice. Ideally, you'd get an ASET test and a pic/video from Blue Nile, similar to James Allen.

Regarding the width of the setting, 1.85 is pretty delicate, but as long as it's a quality piece, it should hold up fine. If your fiance works construction and moves heavy items all day, then maybe you'd want something a little more durable. Buying from local should be ok too, but then you run the risk of damage while they set it, and most places won't take liability for diamonds not purchased through them. Highly unlikely anything will happen though. Either option should be alright. Good luck and let us know what you end up with!

I was able to get the ASET test and magnified photo of the .80 ct that I listed second from bluenile. Are there any red flags or does anything stand out to you that you could share with me? Especially regarding the ASET image, all I really know is a lot of red is good. I've read that I should see red, blue, and green but in this image I see mostly red and white and some yellow and turquoise. Any help would be great!