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Crazy about my girl... but low on dough

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irishboyjason

Rough_Rock
Joined
May 5, 2004
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My girlfriend (of many years) and I have finally decided to get married!! Yay!! The difficult part is we are both students and wrapping up our degrees, and I am pretty tapped out for getting an engagement ring.

I have read some of the diamond forums and people are talking about great deals on $10,000 diamonds and stuff. YIKES!! That is out of my league.

We recently went to our local Robbins Brothers chain store down here, and my girlfriend found an eternity band she really liked for about $1,200. Cool. But I need to get a diamond in it (obviously) and need to stay UNDER $3000. I have also read about the bad quality and prices of diamonds at these chain stores.

Where do I go? Can I buy the ring there and get the diamond somewhere else? Do the high-end, best-quality places have diamonds for like $1,500? What kind of diamond should I expect for that amount of money? Who will put the diamond in the ring?

ANY help or advice would be greatly appreciated. THANKS!
 
Fuzzdawg got a good deal on an engagement ring online at Whiteflash. Here's his story

He was in a similar boat, still in school, not much cash, but he pulled it off!

Contact some of the vendors listed here on Pricescope. Tell them your budget and they'll work with you to find something that will fit.

Good luck and congrats.

PS: Not too many people could shell out $10k. I couldn't. Just think of all the school loans you could pay off instead?
 
I TOTALLY applaud you for having a budget and sticking to it! Frankly, I was bugging my boyfriend (now fiance) for a ring, when he HAD money, but I insisted on a smaler ring, so he could pay off his credit cards first. Instead we just paid them all off, wiated a few more months and finally had the cash to throw down.

I am NEVER a fan of incurring debt for a symbol of love. It's silly. Love has no size or color or clarity. And I can't begin to count how many people I know who got a smaller tasteful e-ring while they were young and poor, and upgraded later on, if necessary...

In the US, so many people start out basically poor (like grad students), but then reach amazing financial proportions later, so they consider the upgrade idea. I say it's a good way to go.

Considering your budget, just get as large a size stone as you can get, and the best color yourbudget allows. Don't get a H&A, but something NEAR it, so the color could be as low as an I or J and still be white and lovely. Clarity would be best at an eye clean SI-1.

Also, have you considered looking around for a similar band, or perhaps having one made for less?

Good luck!!!
 
How about something like this at GoodOldGold.

This one was posted yesterday by someone but similar can be found...

http://www.goodoldgold.com/0_45ct_h_si1_h%26a.htm - almost 5mm across and very well cut which will sparkle like crazy and look bigger and better than it is for only $970

Staying around an H/I in color, SI1 in clarity and under 1 carat you should find a cracking good diamond in your budget. Save money and make the setting relatively simple and put the bulk of your budget into a real nice diamond!

Good luck
 
I'm a fellow student (a week or so away from a Ph.D.), but lucky for me my boyfriend works. However, because of the debt I've got going I refused to spend a ton of extra money on my ring even though he was willing. So, we looked around at the online stores and at Robbins Bros. (I live in San Diego), and discovered that the online stores not only had better diamonds on average, they were TONS cheaper! Here's the catch though--if you tell R.B. the deals you're finding on the internet, they can extend their employee discount to you (getting better, huh?). However, remember that you will still have to pay tax if you buy locally. Considering many internet vendors will ship the diamonds to you for free, you're actually still getting a better deal online. The only other thing I can suggest is to check out a lot of estate jewelers. I found some gorgeous diamonds in both Rancho Santa Fe and Beverly Hills that were surprisingly cheap (definitely contenders).

Other than that, just contact the vendors listed on Price Scope--they're a HUGE help! I have spoken with Jonathan from Good Old Gold, Tony from Union Diamond and Denise from White Flash, and all have been absolutely wonderful!

Good luck in your search!
 
Limey, I think that stone may be being purchased by Mechinyun see his thread

Either way, that looks like a GREAT stone, and maybe just a bit popular!
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I totally think you should get a good SI1, if it's eye clean, and maybe an H or I color would also be just right...
 
There are many vendors here who can put you into a very nice stone for that kind of money. It will be much less expensive than most B&M stores, especially Mall stores.

Do a little reading while you are here and you will see many names mentioned. Visit their web sites and find one that agrees with your style and call them. I am betting that within two or three calls you will find someone who will make you and your budget VERY happy.

Wink
 
I agree with everyone--A nice, well-cut stone with SI and H-I specs would be great and I know you can find one in your budget in a decent size here on pscope. Stick with a simple white or yellow gold setting and it'll be great.

I did a quick search on SI1 - SI2, H-I H &A stones and there were tons anywhere between $780-$1,000+. Good luck & happy hunting!!
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On 5/5/2004 3:31:22 PM irishboyjason wrote:



Do the high-end, best-quality places have diamonds for


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Well, thos epalces have high costs, but not necasarily unatainable quality. Actually, at some point either GOG, Whiteflash and Tiffany have to buy diamonds form a cutter and sometime sit is the same.

It is also hard for me to tell what is "high end" - but much easier to tell what is a good ring !

The 'signature' series at Dirtcheapdiamonds and the "Expert Selection" at Whiteflash and the "Discount Diamonds" at Superbcert definitely go with the definition of "top quality & good buy" I understand.
Also, I am not sure what type setting you are considering, but a very nicely crafted platinum solitaire would go about 1k, with no excuse on quality and no frills on the 'high end' pricing included
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It is not considered 'good manners' for sellers to post offers directly (but PM) around here, but obviously Wink could do more for you than me posting choices...

However, here's one: H-SI, $1.4k and F-SI1, $1.4k

Btw, do you already have the setting ? It may limit the size of stone that goes with it. If you do not... most types are available on order as well, with only a few brands only available in certain stores and hundred of look-alike ones regardless....
 
Thanks everybody for the GREAT advice!! I have already been looking through Whiteflash for a bit. What a great site!!

Couple of things though. If I were to buy the ring at Robbins Brothers (as there is one particular channel cut ring that she LOVES) and the diamond at Whiteflash, how do I get them put together? At a local jewelry shop? Is that costly? I don't believe that Robbins Brothers would do that for me... not sure though.

Lastly, I know cut is most important. So at a site like Whiteflash how big is the difference between "ideal" cut and "very good". Should I stick to ideal?

THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE!!
 
At Whiteflas I woudl definitely look on their "expert selection" - otherwise the "Ideal Cuts" do not come with the load of info explaining where exatcly the stone stands in terms of cut.

And... is there a picture of the setting anywhere online?

If Whiteflash (or any diamond seller, really) can call in the setting to set the stone for you, the process gets easier by a mile or so...
 
Here is the ring. It is a bit of a messy looking picture. But there are diamonds all around, and the ring is VERY slender, which fits my girlfriends fingers well. The maker is Armadani... and I think she is pretty set on it.

I believe it could fit most any size of diamond, but I'll probably be looking at a .60 up to .75 carat diamond to put in it. Not BIG, but not too tiny.

Armadani Set.gif
 
Oh, that's very nice!

It should definitely look right with the respective 5.5-6mm stone.

Armadani settings were listed online at weddingband.com, so it is not unthinkable that they would deliver to some other retailer than RB. I would drop a line/call at weddingband and definitely ask the seller of the stone wether they can source the setting and shorther the "production line" too.

Their site http://www.armadani.com/ is not on yet but does post contact info. I can't believe I do not remember them from Newport!
 
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Lastly, I know cut is most important. So at a site like Whiteflash how big is the difference between 'ideal' cut and 'very good'. Should I stick to ideal?

THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE!!----------------
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Personally, I'd purchase the ideal cut diamond. My husband and I had the same budget when purchasing my eng. ring and bought an ideal cut stone and still today, many years later, I'm totally in love with my diamond. It makes sense to get the best possible because your future wife will be wearing this ring for the rest of her life and this way she'll always be proud of her ring and you'll never question the diamond you picked out
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Plus, the better the cut, the more flexibility you have with color. Diamonds in the H/I range will look whiter and brighter when ideally cut.

I'd pick out the stone and then send the setting to WF and have them set it for you so you don't have to pay a local jeweler to do so. Makes the entire process a bit less of an ordeal
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Good luck. . .the ring you two picked out is beautiful! Be sure to post the final results.

Michelle
 
And a stone:

0.72, G-SI2

I know EGL= "bad" but it actually may not be at all - the discount akes care of the reality check on grades and this piece can come with it's own 'birth cert' including a check on the actual look of that SI2 paper-scare and cut. The proportions sounds ok, and the EGL cert would also include pavilion depth to give an idea on the predictable optics of this one.

A I-VS1 0.65 carats, with close by proportions and price resides on the same page with this one...
 
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Personally, I'd purchase the ideal cut diamond. My husband and I had the same budget when purchasing my eng. ring and bought an ideal cut stone and still today, many years later, I'm totally in love with my diamond.
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This is excellent advice. I wish we knew about cut when I got my original stone....
 


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On 5/5/2004 6:40:23 PM Jennifer5973 wrote:





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This is excellent advice. I wish we knew about cut when I got my original stone....
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Don't we all! I agree -- buy the nicest stone you can afford without going over your head. It may end up being the stone she wears for the rest of her life! Going ideal will make it sparkle, and that's what makes it fun
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I'm sure whatever you get....she'll love! Especially since you're still in school. I'm looking now to get a $10,000+ diamond only after two kids and a second marriage. My first diamond was a beauty, less than a carat and with tiny side diamonds, but I LOVED it because it came from the heart. Don't forget, its not how much the diamond cost but what it signifies...
 
You are all very kind, and I am sure she will love the ring in any case... but I am still trying to get something that she can be proud of too.

As I am looking more at these diamonds on line, I have one more question. What would you value more? The quality or the size? When we were at Robbins Brothers and they brought out a "D" colored diamond and it was spectacular. It looked like cool blue ice... but it was very small. I found a nice sized .53 ct, ideal cut, D on Whiteflash for the right price.

Would you prefer a spectacular diamond of this size, or a .75ct of lesser quality?

One thing to note, when we saw the ring in person, we found that it had so many diamond on it that it really didn't seem to need a BIG diamond to look nice. I think she tried it on with a .47ct and it looked good.

Any feedback? Size or Quality?
 
Ahhhh..You've asked one of the favorite questions here!
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I would trade down quality TO A POINT to gain some extra size. If you really like that icy white, stay in the higher colors E-G, trade down clarity (VS2 or SI1, maybe even SI2 -- just make sure it is eye clean), and stay with an ideal cut. Not that .47 isn't nice, but after wearing a ring a while, and adjusting to the look, bigger usually looks better within reason. .75 is a nice size for the longer run.
 
Size... I have small hands (that's 12mm of ring diameter measured on the spot) and 5mm looks great (think flush-set, dome-type ring). I try hard to wear the colored boulders I fall for but they always look foolish and end up taken twice a year out of the drawer.

For me the solution to wear a larger stone while rock climbing and caving was an enduring sapphire cab - but that's no Pricescope e-ring
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I quite liked the proportions of the ring on the picture and it left me wandering what size that stone is. Do you know the width of the band ?
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On 5/5/2004 7:31:46 PM irishboyjason wrote:

As I am looking more at these diamonds on line, I have one more question. What would you value more? The quality or the size? ----------------
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I will give up size for quality ANY day. What's the use of having something big if it's ugly? I think you need to find the balance that's right for you. That's the best part of diamond shopping. You can find the right balance of the 4 C's to fit your budget and your tastes.

One other hint: I would stay away from Robbins Brothers. I went in their store once, stayed for a very short period, and never went back. I was not at all impressed with the quality of goods there. The diamonds were not too great and neither were their rings. Channel sets rings are so popular, I'm sure you can find the same ring elsewhere. I'll be you can get a better quality ring for less money.

Good luck!
 
I would definitely go for the size/quality match. The MOST important spec for me is the cut--if you stick with an ideal cut, you can get a great H color, SI1 clarity stone that will look amazing to you. The only way to tell the difference in color in stones for most people is to have the stone face down on white paper and next to stones with less color. If you find a stone that faces up white and is eye-clean, go for it!

As for RB, they will set your stones there and you can convince them to do it for less than they first suggest. Just make sure they will cover the costs should they chip the stone while setting it. My advice--if you're set on the RB band--is to buy a diamond from an online vendor and have it set locally. When you add in all the shipping costs to send the band from CA to the midwest/east, it really adds a lot to the final $$$.

Please just remember that you can talk the people at RB down TONS by mentioning similar online prices for merchandise AND service (I know because I did it just to see if they could match my internet prices). Tell them you want to get the employee discount, and were told that you could :-)
 
You could totally get a ring for $3,000 dollars by buying a stone from one of the online vendors and then buying a simple setting and having them out together.
Don't worry just start doing your homework now.
 
I agree with Sumi--the maul/chain stores can be tempting as they offer convenience and some attractive sales, but you'll do a lot better finding a reputable private jeweler or using one of the good vendors here.
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