Engagement ring help with 10k-15k budget.

[BigBill]

Hello everyone. I need your help to pick out an engagement ring. My budget is between $10,000 and $15,000. The stone will be round brilliant, and my girlfriend likes a simple setting (with a thin band). Thank you very much for any and all suggestions. It is much appreciated!!

 

[Gypsy]

So to translate your request:

Your lady wants a Modern Round Brilliant in an all metal Solitaire Setting with a thin shank (2mm is as thin as I recommend).

Your budget is 10-15k for the whole thing.

Do you have a certain size you want to hit for the center stone?
And does you lady have any preferences as to designs? Four or six prong? Modern, contemporary, vintage.

Where are you located?

What is your lady's preference for priorities: size, color, cut?

 

[tyty333]

Gypsy has asked all the questions we really need answers to in order to help you but I'll throw a few stones out there for example.

Leaving $2k for the setting...

Low end of $10k budget (G/VS2 quality)
James Allen
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/?CaratFrom=1.01&CaratTo=15.00&Color=G&Clarity=VS2&Cut=Ideal,Excellent&PriceFrom=200&PriceTo=8250&Sort=Carat%20asc,%20DefaultOrder&ViewsOptions=Images&TabSelected=3&advancedParameter=Table&showAdvanced=show&DiamondID=280182,298010&Polish=&Symmetry=&Lab=&Flour=&DepthFrom=60.0&DepthTo=62.3&TableFrom=54.1&TableTo=58.0

Whiteflash (had to drop down to eye-clean G/Si1)
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3157622.htm

BGD Blue
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.012-g-si1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104070749009

High end ($15k) leaving $2k for setting.
James Allen ...I think there are nicer stones out there than these 2.
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/?CaratFrom=1.25&CaratTo=15.00&Color=G&Clarity=VS2&Cut=Ideal,Excellent&PriceFrom=200&PriceTo=13000&Sort=Carat%20asc,%20DefaultOrder&ViewsOptions=Images&TabSelected=3&advancedParameter=pn&showAdvanced=show&DiamondID=322168,347617&Polish=&Symmetry=&Lab=&Flour=&DepthFrom=60.0&DepthTo=62.3&TableFrom=54.1&TableTo=58.0

Whiteflash
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3172029.htm

BGD doesnt have much in the $13k range
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.206-g-si1-round-diamond-ags-104072471007

If you drop down to an H/SI1 I think you can get over 1.5 carat if you want to maximize size.
1.6 if you drop to an I color and 1.7 if you drop down to J. Just dont know what your priorities are.

 

[BigBill]

Do you have a certain size you want to hit for the center stone? What is your lady's preference for priorities: size, color, cut?

Thanks you Gypsy. My only preference is for an awesome cut. After reading quite a bit on this forum, I was thinking top of the line cut, G/H, eye-clean SI1, and with my budget, looks like I would be around 1.2 weight?? Does this seem about right?

And does you lady have any preferences as to designs? Four or six prong? Modern, contemporary, vintage.

Not sure about modern, contemporary, or vintage.....or prong number. What is the Tacori 2507RD8...contemporary? She likes that one for letting the center stone be the star. Any suggestions along this line of setting? Thanks again for your help.

 

[BigBill]

I'll throw a few stones out there for example.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm about to spend some time checking out these stones in greater detail. How much difference is there between JA True Hearts and Ideal? BGD Hearts&Arrows vs Signature Round vs Blue? WF Cut Above vs Expert?

I think there are nicer stones out there than these. If you drop down to an H/SI1 I think you can get over 1.5 carat if you want to maximize size. 1.6 if you drop to an I color and 1.7 if you drop down to J. Just dont know what your priorities are.

When you say nicer stones out there, so you mean I need to wait for a while, and hopefully they become available? I probably would rather stay around H, with a slightly smaller stone. Maybe should take my girlfriend out shopping, and see how sensitive she is to color. I know it can vary from person to person. Thanks again for your help!

 

[Gypsy]

ABSOLUTELY take your lady out and see what she likes, what looks good on her hand, and how color sensitive she is.

My advice is to go to a Hearts on Fire dealer. (Look up on the web where your closest dealer is).

Alternately, let us know where you are and we can suggest good jewelers near you.

The Tacori you mentioned is vintage and has six prongs. And pave... everywhere. And it is a very expensive setting. Is she married to it, or was it an example.

So what she wants is NOT a simple solitaire. She wants a 6 prong solitaire with a pave shank.

So..where are you located again?

 

[BigBill]

ABSOLUTELY take your lady out and see what she likes, what looks good on her hand, and how color sensitive she is. My advice is to go to a Hearts on Fire dealer. (Look up on the web where your closest dealer is). Alternately, let us know where you are and we can suggest good jewelers near you. So..where are you located again?

Gypsy, I'm located in Birmingham, Alabama.

The Tacori you mentioned is vintage and has six prongs. And pave... everywhere. And it is a very expensive setting. Is she married to it, or was it an example.

The Tacori was more of an example, based on a ring she likes (see IPhone picture below). Let me do some additional investigating to come up with more specific examples.

 

[tyty333]

I'll throw a few stones out there for example.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm about to spend some time checking out these stones in greater detail. How much difference is there between JA True Hearts and Ideal? BGD Hearts&Arrows vs Signature Round vs Blue? WF Cut Above vs Expert?

BGD H&As and WF ACAs are top of the line and must meet very specific criteria. These are considered branded cuts like
Hearts on Fire. Most of them are AGS000 stones. Both these types of stone have all the Images (hearts, idealscope and aset)
you need to see that they are very good (the best) performers. Hence, you pay a little more.

JA True Hearts...I think these would also be considered branded. They also have images with them also. Honestly, I dont know as
much about these stones.

I think there are nicer stones out there than these. If you drop down to an H/SI1 I think you can get over 1.5 carat if you want to maximize size. 1.6 if you drop to an I color and 1.7 if you drop down to J. Just dont know what your priorities are.

When you say nicer stones out there, so you mean I need to wait for a while, and hopefully they become available? I probably would rather stay around H, with a slightly smaller stone. Maybe should take my girlfriend out shopping, and see how sensitive she is to color. I know it can vary from person to person. Thanks again for your help!

When I said I think there are nicer stones out there than these 2...I was only talking about those 2 stones listed right below that
statement. Your quote of my statements seems to be messed up. There is no need to wait for nicer stones. There are plenty out
there for you right now.

 

[Gypsy]

Okay so. Alabama is tough in terms of jewelers. See if you can find a local Hearts on Fire dealer and go there. When you make an appointment ask them to make sure they have G-H-I-J colored stones for you to see. Okay?

Also, Brian Gavin has top quality diamonds and the largest selection of settings that are top quality and budget friendly in the pave shank style.

Please send your lady the below links and ask her if she likes any of them, and if so which ones. Okay?

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/pave-and-side-stones/3-row-domed-pave-solitaire-platinum-5545p
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/pave-and-side-stones/six-prong-fishtail-pave-platinum-5509p
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/pave-and-side-stones/the-valentine-micro-pave-2-platinum-5684p
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/pave-and-side-stones/the-valentine-micro-pave-1-platinum-5688p
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/pave-and-side-stones/valentine-regal-ring-pave-platinum-5690p
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/pave-and-side-stones/legera-pave-platinum-5861p
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/pave-and-side-stones/six-prong-regal-truth-platinum-5401p
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/pave-and-side-stones/lace-platinum-5934p-1


That should be a good starting place. If she likes any of these, then you can get the stone from Brian Gavin and it will be one stop shopping with a stone that can compete head to head with a Hearts on Fire stone... without the wallets on fire price tag.

 

[BigBill]

Ok, looks like I need to get to work!! Will gather all the needed info (as slyly as i can) and report back with the specifics. Thanks again for the help. Much appreciated!

 

[Gypsy]

Don't be sly. Just be direct.

Alternately, if you have to be sly. Have her mom, cousin, sister, best friend send those links to her and get her thoughts.