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Help me pick out e-ring!

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JD, most of the things your posted were out of price range...
 
Date: 10/31/2005 6:33:00 PM
Author: jessssica
Ebree, and the rest, you are my fairyringmothers!

I think I'm definitely leaning towards the 3 stone 1 carat total princess ring. I would go for higher quality...but honestly, I can't see the difference!
I suggest you look at these stones in multiple kinds of light.

I noticed that the princess stone ring you posted is Platinum? What? For your budget you are much better off going with White gold, it will allow your budget to go much farther.
Gold is about $450 an ounce and Platinum about $920 - there's a big difference there - and undoubtedly you're sacrificing quality in the stones.

I really think even you would notice a difference between an Ideal cut stone and one that is not. I own non-ideal diamonds and ideal ones - and there is a CLEAR difference. The ideals have a lot more life, brillance/fire/scintillation.

Also - for the size stones you're looking in rounds might be a better choice than princess cuts because they are more lively. When you're thinking about smaller stones you really want it to have an impact and stand out in a crowd. Small but powerful.

As you said this is really your first piece of jewelry. It's also quite an important one.
You REALLY want quality here. In ten years you want to look at it and say "wow - I still love it."

Discuss it with your FI. Please give Whiteflash a second/third/and fourth thought.
You won't be sorry.

Just my .02
Where are these rings from?
Aren't you eating away your budget having these rings shipped in and out?


Scintillating...


Jessica - Read this thread by Heartset - it might help you.
 
Date: 10/31/2005 8:43:03 PM
Author: Matatora
JD, most of the things your posted were out of price range...
Actually, her budget is $600 she said later.
 
M - she said they could go up to $600 without a problem, so I was just going up to that...

Edit: (Sorry, posted at the same time :)
 
I was thinking of taxes, sorry.
 
Hi,
About the platinum ring I had posted pictures of...it was $299, so actually of all the rings, it is the cheapest. I''ve been looking at it all day (inside different lights and outside) and honestly, I really like it. However, I know it is not going to work out so I am trying to not get attatched.

Regardless of the diamonds being so-so quality, from what I''ve been looking at, $299 for the platinum alone seems decent, no?

I ordered the ring from Jewelry television..has anyone dealt with them before?

It costs me $5 to ship the ring out and about $5 to ship it back...$10 total per ring. I NEED to see things in person...even if the specs look really great and there is no way I am going to buy anything at a mall store. I''m not factoring this into my budget.

::Sigh:: It''s hard being a student...my fiance is a graduate student and while he receives full tution and $5k grant per year, he still had to take out a loan to cover living expenses. He would love me to have a nicer ring, but I don''t want him to go into any more debt. Of course, when he graduates, he''ll make a very nice living, so we''ll probably upgrade!!!

I should mention I don''t have perfect vision; I don''t need glasses all the time, only for reading...so I guess I don''t notice imperfections.
 
$299 seems extremely decent for the platinum only. Therefore, you know the diamonds are probably less than so-so. I'd say fair at best. If it's too good to be true, it probably is.

If you want my honest opinion, getting more stone and scrimping on quality isn't worth it. If you're ever around a friend with an ideal cut diamond, you'll understand what we're trying to show you. You said you liked the size of the princess cut, and if you choose a round, the same carat size will be larger. If it's an ideal cut, it'll sparkle like nothing you've ever seen. I'd put money on it putting those so-so diamonds to shame.

It's obviously your decision, and you should do what makes you happiest. If I were you, I'd pick the most beautiful stone I could (I did!). If you upgrade one day, you could make your special sparkly diamond into a pendant, or you might want to give it to a future daughter on her 16th birthday.

That's what I recommend. In the end, go with what your heart says.

p.s. I'm in your shoes, too. My boyfriend just graduated from college a year and a half ago, and I still have a year to go (I took a year off). We had a strict budget too, and while my stone isn't huge, it sure is gorgeous.
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Jessica, of course it is up to you to choose, but what the others are telling you is that to see an ideal cut diamond which sparkles even in dim light is a joy to behold! They are so fascinating and magicaL, if you can try to consider some of the suggestions from WF etc, small well cut diamonds can be little firecrackers and I think you might at a later date see one and wish you had one yourself! If the performance of the diamond isn''t that important to you that''s fine, but compare your options carefully. Most online vendors are great and have a good return policy. Good luck.
 
Personally I think you would love the diamonds posted and 1/3ct is nothing to scoff at. There is a thread Under 1 Carat E-Rings

.338 ACA G/SI2 520$ This is a very lovely stone and is what I would choose for myself within your budget.


497$ .34 Round Ideal H/SI1
.33 Round Ideal I/SI1 448$
Both of these are worth asking about as well. Only the top link I posted already had the IS and detail photos up.

Good Luck choosing, I hope this helps.
 
Matatora, you are finding some really good examples to help people out, and I love the lower left and upper right rings, very pretty!
 
Jessica,

I couldn''t recommend getting a Whiteflash solitaire enough. Those 30 point ACA diamonds will look fabulous. I''m in a similar situation where my fiance is a graduate student on a limited income. He bought a .55 ct. ACA diamond and it sparkles like mad! In the back of my mind I know that later down the road we can upgrade to a larger stone, but I''m thrilled with my diamond and the quality for the money.
 
Here''s a picture I meant to attach to the previous post.

jelringweb.jpg
 
Another stunner Jelly, it''s lovely!
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Date: 11/1/2005 2:49:58 AM
Author: Lorelei
Matatora, you are finding some really good examples to help people out, and I love the lower left and upper right rings, very pretty!
Aww Lorelei you made me blush.
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Jelly I love your ring....everytime I come across a picture of it I sigh...it is soo pretty!
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I want it
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.

And we are students too, I understand the whole budget thing. I told V I would rather have a smaller ring and no debt. Debt is scary
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.
 
Aw shucks Mat I didn''t mean to do that, but you ARE finding some great stuff which really helps folk!
 
Jessica...I''m with the others.

Please consider the white flash route.

The diamond links suggested to you are sure things...these are not so-so stones...they are knock-your-socks-off stones. You will be amazed by the sparkles and you will have something truly valuable and fabuluos...not bad for ''on a budget''

You''re stone will look bigger than what it is because the cut will maximize light return even alond the perimeter...the edges of the stone will sparkle...It''s crazy...my white flash stone blows my mind.

Good luck and congratulations!!

Oh, and that last Faye Cullen is mine once the wedding is payed for ...I love that ring!
 
I know you've got lots of suggestions and rings thrown at you and your head is probably spinning! The first ring is definitely prettier in person (the latter photos of it on your hand) so if it is your fave and they can order it in your size then I'd go for it. As far as the saphire ebay eternity band you liked, I'm pretty sure the guy that runs Oxford Diamond Co. could custom make or order one in your size. He said that he could custom adjust a band for my fiance if I needed him to. It may cost $50-100 more for the custom order, but since his prices are so good to begin with it is still worth it. It is possible that he wouldn't charge any more or maybe even less since there would be less stones used. He is very flexible and I think they manufacture their products themselves or work very closely with their manufacturers. If you are seriously interested in it I would go to the "ask seller a question" on the listing page and ask him what he can do for you. He is pretty quick at answering emails. His prices are hard to beat and you get designer looks for much less!. People have mistaken my ring for a Tacori that costs well over 5,000 when mine cost 500! I also had it appraised at a reputable local jeweler and it appraised for much more than we paid for it.

You could also go with a solitaire from one of the other reccomendations (whiteflash, james allen, diamondcutters) and then get something like the saphire/diamond eternity band for your wedding band.
 
Date: 11/1/2005 2:46:48 AM
Author: Matatora

.338 ACA G/SI2 520$ This is a very lovely stone and is what I would choose for myself within your budget.
Isn''t that stone gorgeous? It about knocked me out when I opened it. The idealscope is fabulous!
 
If I were you and on a budget, I would go with the stone Matatora posted. It''s a winner and WF has a trade up policy which is all the better for later on.
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Ok, I think I am going to go for the Whiteflash H&A somewhere in the .3-.33 range with a white gold Tiffany setting. I''ll probably eventually go to .75 with the trade up policy because I''m very active and anything bigger would get knocked around.

And in the next year I think I will add two little Sapphire accent stones to either side to fill it out.

I''m sooo excited!

Thanks so much! All of this was very helpful to an extreme novice like myself.

-Jessica
 
I am sure you won''t regret it, once you have the ring we would love some pics please!
 
that sounds like a wonderful plan. please post pics once you get it all squared away
 
Will do!
I was inspired looking at the under 1 carat thread...diamond princess has hands that look just like mine and the same ring size (4.5) and her .27 looked very beautiful and proportional on her.
 
Date: 11/1/2005 12:37:39 PM
Author: kaleigh
If I were you and on a budget, I would go with the stone Matatora posted. It''s a winner and WF has a trade up policy which is all the better for later on.
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Kaleigh you are right ON! I forgot about the trade-up bonus ... perfect!

Ebree, Mat ...you guys are killer. SO MANY incredible options for the $500-600 budget mark, any of which I''d be proud to own. I think this should be an article for The Knot or something! With knock-out pix of all those rings along side.

And Jesssica: go glad you''re going with the Whiteflash option. I think when you see that stone in your solitare setting, it''ll blow you, your fiance & all your friends away. Just ''cause the current budget doesn''t allow for fireworks, doesn''t mean you can''t sport a real firecracker!
 
Yay, Jessica! You've made the right choice. Whiteflash has an excellent return policy if you don't just love your diamond, but I know you will. Please, be sure to post pictures!
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Deco: All of you were so helpful when I was searching for my perfect diamond. It's only fair that I join the team!
 
Date: 10/31/2005 6:33:00 PM
Author: jessssica

I loooove that sapphire and diamond eternity band, (from ebay) and it''s a great price...but all of those rings were 6.5 and I am assuming it would be a pain and a half to downsize to a 4.5
If you really love that ring, (personally, I think it''s beautiful too!), try contacting the seller to see if they could make a new ring for you in your size. Fay Cullen has a lot of pretty eternity bands too.

Congrats on your engagement, by the way!
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Date: 11/1/2005 2:08:57 PM
Author: jessssica
Ok, I think I am going to go for the Whiteflash H&A somewhere in the .3-.33 range with a white gold Tiffany setting.
I''m sooo excited!

YEAY! That''s wonderful. A good trade up policy rocks!
Let us know which stones you are considering.
If I haven''t said it yet - Congratulations on your engagement!

Scintillating...
 
Jessica, I am so excited for you!
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I was trying to find this thread today and I kept getting sidetracked. There are so many Whiteflash satisfied customers on this thread that I really don''t think you can go wrong.

I can''t wait to see the ring! Again, congratulations!
 
Date: 11/1/2005 2:08:57 PM
Author: jessssica
Ok, I think I am going to go for the Whiteflash H&A somewhere in the .3-.33 range with a white gold Tiffany setting. I''ll probably eventually go to .75 with the trade up policy because I''m very active and anything bigger would get knocked around.

And in the next year I think I will add two little Sapphire accent stones to either side to fill it out.

I''m sooo excited!

Thanks so much! All of this was very helpful to an extreme novice like myself.

-Jessica

I think that is a great idea (sapphires...ooohhh...) I am a ring size 4.5 also and you are right, diamonds look bigger!
 
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