Looking for a good alternative to Zales

[Niel]

Wow! So many replies since I stepped away. I will do my best to answer some questions that were raised. In a perfect world, I would love a huge absolutely perfect diamond with the best grade in every category, but sadly I'm not in a position to look for that so I'm trying to be satisfied with the best that we can afford at this time. Several people asked about getting a stone that isn't round, and I would be thrilled to find a cushion or radiant cut stone. I just assumed they would be far more expensive than a simple round.

I suppose it wouldn't be the end of the world if I waited until later to purchase a wedding band, I just know that halos can be tricky when you try to pair them with another band that wasn't made to match. You guys have given me a lot to think about.

Haha yeah its funny! Rounds are the most common and also the most expensive

So step cuts you dont like but a nice sushion or radiant? Any other shape? Oval? Pear? Those actually face up bigger for tje same ctw

ctwand as for the band, youll know where you vought tje setting from, wont be hard to go back in a year and but a matching band

 

[RebelGirl]

Here are the shapes that I would be happy to consider: round, emerald, asscher, oval, and cusion. Basically, I love most of the shapes with the exception of marquise. That shapes just doesn't appeal to me. I was kinda staying away from emeralds only because I know how small they can look, but they are absolutely beautiful to me.

 

[Niel]

Here is a great cushion that would leave you 1200 for a setting
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9745/

Juuuuust under a ct but the cut is just too amazing.
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4859/

This one would only allow for probably a plain shank halo but dang its a nkce radient
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/10221/

 

[Niel]

Haha i love it! Rounds are so typical! Glaid to hear you are open to just about anything!

 

[ChrisES]

Wow! So many replies since I stepped away. I will do my best to answer some questions that were raised. In a perfect world, I would love a huge absolutely perfect diamond with the best grade in every category, but sadly I'm not in a position to look for that so I'm trying to be satisfied with the best that we can afford at this time. Several people asked about getting a stone that isn't round, and I would be thrilled to find a cushion or radiant cut stone. I just assumed they would be far more expensive than a simple round.

I suppose it wouldn't be the end of the world if I waited until later to purchase a wedding band, I just know that halos can be tricky when you try to pair them with another band that wasn't made to match. You guys have given me a lot to think about.

Haha yeah its funny! Rounds are the most common and also the most expensive

So step cuts you dont like but a nice sushion or radiant? Any other shape? Oval? Pear? Those actually face up bigger for tje same ctw

ctwand as for the band, youll know where you vought tje setting from, wont be hard to go back in a year and but a matching band

Mmmm...demand driven economy....we are all each other's enemies!

So it goes.

 

[RebelGirl]

Dang, those look really good! I'm actually starting to have hope again. I honestly prefer the fancy shapes because they are more unique. I just figured they were way out of my budget. So excited now! I can't wait to show my fiance'.

 

[Niel]

Dang, those look really good! I'm actually starting to have hope again. I honestly prefer the fancy shapes because they are more unique. I just figured they were way out of my budget. So excited now! I can't wait to show my fiance'.

Great! Dont grt discouraged well find you something great. You just need to ddcide which shape you like best. Do you like pinpoimt flashes like ovals or radients, or more broad flashes like step cuts. Also, do you want one to elongate your finger like a long cushion, oval, pear, or emerald cut? Something with a lot of face up value like oval or pear? Or do yku have a small finger size where thats not as important?

Figure out what shape you lkke most and we can start from there

 

[bunnycat]

Dang, those look really good! I'm actually starting to have hope again. I honestly prefer the fancy shapes because they are more unique. I just figured they were way out of my budget. So excited now! I can't wait to show my fiance'.

You should also keep in mind that some fancy cuts face up smaller than a round. If you are after carat weight (so you can feel like you have an over 1ct center stone) that is one thing, but if you are after the actual SIZE of what a well cut 1ct round faces (about 6.4-6.5mm) then you should keep that in mind when looking at other shapes. Pears may be a good route to go for face up size, but they don't have the same performance of a round. There's trade off's everywhere.

For instance, the asscher posted was about 5.8mm, even though the actual carat weight is over 1ct.

 

[Niel]

Dang, those look really good! I'm actually starting to have hope again. I honestly prefer the fancy shapes because they are more unique. I just figured they were way out of my budget. So excited now! I can't wait to show my fiance'.

You should also keep in mind that some fancy cuts face up smaller than a round. If you are after carat weight (so you can feel like you have an over 1ct center stone) that is one thing, but if you are after the actual SIZE of what a well cut 1ct round faces (about 6.4-6.5mm) then you should keep that in mind when looking at other shapes. Pears may be a good route to go for face up size, but they don't have the same performance of a round. There's trade off's everywhere.

For instance, the asscher posted was about 5.8mm, even though the actual carat weight is over 1ct.

True, but an oval or pear or nice long emerald is going to face up large

 

[bunnycat]

Dang, those look really good! I'm actually starting to have hope again. I honestly prefer the fancy shapes because they are more unique. I just figured they were way out of my budget. So excited now! I can't wait to show my fiance'.

You should also keep in mind that some fancy cuts face up smaller than a round. If you are after carat weight (so you can feel like you have an over 1ct center stone) that is one thing, but if you are after the actual SIZE of what a well cut 1ct round faces (about 6.4-6.5mm) then you should keep that in mind when looking at other shapes. Pears may be a good route to go for face up size, but they don't have the same performance of a round. There's trade off's everywhere.

For instance, the asscher posted was about 5.8mm, even though the actual carat weight is over 1ct.

True, but an oval or pear or nice long emerald is going to face up large

I know. I'm just saying that when you are on a budget, and you are after both physical size and carat weight, something is going to give. A pear (or maybe oval), will face up large, but they aren't going to have the kind of performance a round will, but with the uniqueness factor and adding a halo, I think would cancel some of the less positive aspects out to make up for it. I'm just not sure a lot of people think about that. Over a carat doesn't automatically equal big stone.

 

[Niel]

Dang, those look really good! I'm actually starting to have hope again. I honestly prefer the fancy shapes because they are more unique. I just figured they were way out of my budget. So excited now! I can't wait to show my fiance'.

You should also keep in mind that some fancy cuts face up smaller than a round. If you are after carat weight (so you can feel like you have an over 1ct center stone) that is one thing, but if you are after the actual SIZE of what a well cut 1ct round faces (about 6.4-6.5mm) then you should keep that in mind when looking at other shapes. Pears may be a good route to go for face up size, but they don't have the same performance of a round. There's trade off's everywhere.

For instance, the asscher posted was about 5.8mm, even though the actual carat weight is over 1ct.

True, but an oval or pear or nice long emerald is going to face up large

I know. I'm just saying that when you are on a budget, and you are after both physical size and carat weight, something is going to give. A pear (or maybe oval), will face up large, but they aren't going to have the kind of performance a round will, but with the uniqueness factor and adding a halo, I think would cancel some of the less positive aspects out to make up for it. I'm just not sure a lot of people think about that. Over a carat doesn't automatically equal big stone.

Very true i tbink an oval is a great idea for you. Get a lot of face up size that way, plus it looks bright and its a d!!
Here is an oval i found. If you like it ask them o put it on hold while you look at other options, tjat way you can get an aset and no one with snatch it up
http://www.jamesallen.com/?mobile=off#!/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.03-carat-D-color-VS2-clarity-sku-97528
Would allow for both a setting and the band i bet
http://www.jamesallen.com/?mobile=off#!/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.03-carat-D-color-VS2-clarity-sku-97528

 

[bunnycat]

You might also chek out the pears fan club thread. There's some lovely new ones posted there in halos:

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/pears-fan-club.147386/page-9']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/pears-fan-club.147386/page-9[/URL]