Engagement Ring Question - $30k budget in 2.5 to 3.0ct range

[nk416-diamond]

Hi everyone,

I am currently shopping for an engagement ring with the following specs: Classic Tiffany Style Round Cut, $30k budget (give or take a few $k), best bang for the buck I can get (aren't we all?)

I went to Tiffany's and viewed the following diamonds:

2.18ct, H color, VS1 (about $45k)
2.40ct, I color, VS1 (about $40k)
2.24ct, F color, VS1 (about $73k)

To my eyes they all looked more or less the same in beauty. All very sparkly and so forth. I would imagine being tiffany's things such as cut were excellent. That being said, I think I can get way more bang for the buck going with someone like Brian Gavin.

All this being said, I really have no experience with diamonds and have tried to educate myself as much as possibly. I am assuming I can go with a VS1 or 2 diamond, H colour and maybe even move up to 2.7ct or more around my budget and still have a diamond that will look just as good as the Tiffany's diamonds I saw.

What I am wondering is if anyone can comment on the diamonds below and how they would present in the real world. My soon to be fiance (well, at least I hope so) has a very discernable eye. I would like the diamond to be "substantal" (to me that means big, sparkly and something people will notice - I have seen some diamonds that are big but look "cloudy" or "dark"). I also don't really want to "upgrade" in the future. This is a one shot thing for me and I want to get it right.

The diamonds below are the biggest I could find in the range (in ct. weight) that I "think" would meet my parameters above.

2.8ct, H color, SI1, $28k --> http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-details/?product_id=27995525
2.74ct, H color, VS2, $32k --> http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-details/?product_id=25736785
2.71ct, H color, SI1, $29k --> http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-details/?product_id=27765762
2.7ct, H color, VS1, $35k --> http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-details/?product_id=26115065
2.62ct, G color, SI1, $30k --> http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-details/?product_id=22864258

What do you guys think would be my best value bet for the above diamonds? With that being said, should I be moving to a better color (say F) with a smaller ct. weight and potentially VS1 only to get that "sparkly" effect I am hoping for?

Please be easy - I am a newbie and all this research is making my head spin!

 

[slg47]

Re: Engagement Ring Question - $30k budget in 2.5 to 3.0ct r

I would call BGD and ask about the H SI1...if eye-clean that one is the biggest But maybe ask them their opinion?

 

[CharmyPoo]

Re: Engagement Ring Question - $30k budget in 2.5 to 3.0ct r

I rather have H&A than just a huge diamond ..

I pick this one...
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamo ... 4045953026

 

[slg47]

Re: Engagement Ring Question - $30k budget in 2.5 to 3.0ct r

oh ok...I assumed they were all BGD signatures. I would definitely go with one of those.

 

[ValentinesJewelryDesign]

Re: Engagement Ring Question - $30k budget in 2.5 to 3.0ct r

You should be able to get a GIA certed 2.10-2.20ct Ideal cut round F-G VS2-VS1 set in a Platinum tiffany-style solitaire for under $35k. If you want to avoid that "dark look" you need to go with Ideal proportions and G or better color. I hope this helps!

 

[CharmyPoo]

Re: Engagement Ring Question - $30k budget in 2.5 to 3.0ct r

In a smaller diamond, I would be ok with less than perfect H&A but in a diamond over 2ct ... I think it would be important to me. I could be wrong but I think most of the T&CO RBs are H&A diamonds (at least the ones I have seen).

 

[starryeyed]

Re: Engagement Ring Question - $30k budget in 2.5 to 3.0ct r

Hi NK. Just thought I'd help with making these links operable for all of us lazy folks who hate to cut and paste:

2.8ct, H color, SI1, $28k --> http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-details/?product_id=27995525
2.74ct, H color, VS2, $32k --> http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-details/?product_id=25736785
2.71ct, H color, SI1, $29k --> http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-details/?product_id=27765762
2.7ct, H color, VS1, $35k --> http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-details/?product_id=26115065
2.62ct, G color, SI1, $30k --> http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-details/?product_id=22864258

Have you run these through HCA? The first one scores 1.2 and at 9.11-9.13 mm, it seems like the biggest. You'd have to find out if it's eye-clean. From the cert, it has some threads ("twinning wisps"?) under the table. It also has Medium fluorescence, which you have to figure out if you mind.

 

[nk416-diamond]

Re: Engagement Ring Question - $30k budget in 2.5 to 3.0ct r

Hi NK. Just thought I'd help with making these links operable for all of us lazy folks who hate to cut and paste:

Have you run these through HCA? The first one scores 1.2 and at 9.11-9.13 mm, it seems like the biggest. You'd have to find out if it's eye-clean. From the cert, it has some threads ("twinning wisps"?) under the table. It also has Medium fluorescence, which you have to figure out if you mind.

Thanks for this! My newbiness is showing... The HCA values are as follows (I assume anything under 2 I should disgard)...

*HCA - 1.2* -- 2.8ct, H color, SI1, $28k --> http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-details/?product_id=27995525
*HCA - N/A* --2.74ct, H color, VS2, $32k --> http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-details/?product_id=25736785
*HCA - 4.7* --2.71ct, H color, SI1, $29k --> http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-details/?product_id=27765762
*HCA - 1.7* --2.7ct, H color, VS1, $35k --> http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-details/?product_id=26115065
*HCA - 1.0* --2.62ct, G color, SI1, $30k --> http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-details/?product_id=22864258

CharmyPoo's suggestion of the Brain Gavin Signature Diamond -- *HCA - 1.3* -- 2.567ct, H color, SI1, $31khttp://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-104045953026

Based on this, would the 2.62ct diamond seem like the best bang for the buck? It has better color than the Brian Gavin Signature H&A for less price...

That being said, how big will the difference be between a VS1 --> VS2 --> SI1 ... is a 2.5+ct diamond in anything but VS1 asking for trouble?

Thank you so much everyone!

 

[ValentinesJewelryDesign]

Re: Engagement Ring Question - $30k budget in 2.5 to 3.0ct r

I haven't seen medium flour affect a stone in a long time. I wouldn't worry about that. All the best!

 

[stone-cold11]

Re: Engagement Ring Question - $30k budget in 2.5 to 3.0ct r

HCA is a rejection tool not a selection tool, generally 2 is a cut off point, although it can go higher for certain proportions if you have idealscope images.

Medium Fluor is very difficult to see in most lighting conditions.

 

[tyty333]

Re: Engagement Ring Question - $30k budget in 2.5 to 3.0ct r

Its very diffcult for me to comment with out some images (pictures as well as idealscope). I might not have to have a perfect
H&A but I would want to see arrows when I looked at the stone. I *imagine* these stones are pretty nice because BGD
wouldnt have picked them if they werent but I'd really like to see some images (since they arent H&A).

 

[starryeyed]

Re: Engagement Ring Question - $30k budget in 2.5 to 3.0ct r

NK, a VS2 would most likely be totally fine. VS1 comes at a premium that the naked eye probably can't discern. An eye-clean SI-1 is always a great find - good value IF it's eye-clean.

So, you can eliminate the 4.7 HCA most likely. You'll have to ask to see images of the other diamonds - magnified, IS, ASET - to really make a judgment.

Are you sensitive to color in person? Do you know what an H vs. a G vs. an F looks like, in lighting other than Tiffany's? If not, that may be your next step.

 

[CharmyPoo]

Re: Engagement Ring Question - $30k budget in 2.5 to 3.0ct r

The links you posted aren't from BGD's signature collection. This means that those diamonds have not been hand selected or reviewed by them. The one I posted is from their signature line and it is a H&A - this is the main factor that you are missing when comparing with the ones you are picking (even if HCA is below 2).

 

[Dreamer_D]

Re: Engagement Ring Question - $30k budget in 2.5 to 3.0ct r

You need to decide whether having an H&A cut diamond is important to you or not. The ones you selected are not H&A, as reflected in the price. Read up on it. If you want a show stopper that rivals Tiff's, it need not be H&A. I think looking for an H Si1 is a good value for money.

 

[nk416-diamond]

Re: Engagement Ring Question - $30k budget in 2.5 to 3.0ct r

You need to decide whether having an H&A cut diamond is important to you or not. The ones you selected are not H&A, as reflected in the price. Read up on it. If you want a show stopper that rivals Tiff's, it need not be H&A. I think looking for an H Si1 is a good value for money.

I was told all Tiffany's rings are Hearts & Arrows - is that incorrect?

 

[Dreamer_D]

Re: Engagement Ring Question - $30k budget in 2.5 to 3.0ct r

You need to decide whether having an H&A cut diamond is important to you or not. The ones you selected are not H&A, as reflected in the price. Read up on it. If you want a show stopper that rivals Tiff's, it need not be H&A. I think looking for an H Si1 is a good value for money.

I was told all Tiffany's rings are Hearts & Arrows - is that incorrect?

I have no idea. Honestly, most Tiffany diamonds are nice and they sure have good lighting in that store but if you do a little PS research I know you can buy a diamond that will look as good or better than any diamond you buy at Tiffany, and it need not be a branded H&A to accomplish that goal. H&A refers to the symmetry of the cut and it is (arguably perhaps) independent of cut quality in terms of optical performance. You can usually see perfect arrows in an ideally proportioned non-H&A stone too. The thing is, H&A refers to seeing *perfect* arrows with a viewer and *perfect* hearts witha viewer. If you don't look with a viewer, then maybe you won't care about it.

You can read more about H&A stones in the tutorial.

I own a branded H&A from BGD and chose it for various reasons -- upgrade policy, mind clean for cut, hand selected by an expert -- but these are things I personally value that others may not. I am simply pointing out that you need to make your own decision regarding th H&A label and whether it matters to you, independent of any concern about cut quality that you may have, because they are relatively independent considerations.

Once you decide on that we can help you choose a diamond if you like.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Re: Engagement Ring Question - $30k budget in 2.5 to 3.0ct r

NK
if i were you i'd stick with "in house stones" instead of going on a wild goose chase looking for a cyber stone.

 

[nk416-diamond]

Re: Engagement Ring Question - $30k budget in 2.5 to 3.0ct r

You should be able to get a GIA certed 2.10-2.20ct Ideal cut round F-G VS2-VS1 set in a Platinum tiffany-style solitaire for under $35k. If you want to avoid that "dark look" you need to go with Ideal proportions and G or better color. I hope this helps!

Will this diamond have the "dark look" you are talking about?

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-104045953026

 

[tyty333]

Re: Engagement Ring Question - $30k budget in 2.5 to 3.0ct r

You should be able to get a GIA certed 2.10-2.20ct Ideal cut round F-G VS2-VS1 set in a Platinum tiffany-style solitaire for under $35k. If you want to avoid that "dark look" you need to go with Ideal proportions and G or better color. I hope this helps!

Will this diamond have the "dark look" you are talking about?

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-104045953026

No, this stone will not have that "dark look". It is sold though unless you are the one who has it on hold.
This would be a very nice stone.