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Looking for a RB solitaire

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OutOfTheBlue

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 26, 2014
Messages
11
So first a little backstory. BF recently graduated with his PhD (yay!) and had to move away to get a job in the field. I couldn't move with him because I'm still here finishing up my PhD, so now it's a LDR. He wasn't able to be saving during graduate school but the new job is quite nice. So the current debate is how much to save up for the ring, ie. how long to save up, since there is the trade-off between time and savings.

We know that we want a RB solitaire in platinum (size 4.5). E-G color range (even a G is pushing it for my family), VS2 at the lowest (again, familial reasons), and either AGS 000 (preferably) or a vetted GIA XXX. Preferably no or faint fluorescence. I know the ill effects are rare, I just don't really want my diamond fluorescing when I deal with fluorescence all day at work (laser spectroscopist). The idea of used doesn't bother me at all, but it's hard to find used with those color/clarity specs. The question is size, and therefore budget. The original goal was 1.5 ct G VS2 (so around ~15k) but now I'm starting to get antsy and am thinking I'd rather just move down in size (willing to move down to 0.9 ct) to not be waiting for as long (helped by the fact that he said if I get a 1.5 ct now, no upgrades down the line, but if I get a 1 ct now we'd upgrade down the line and he'd be OK with going to more like 2 for the upgrade). But if we move down in size, I would like to bump up color to at least F (yes, we've gone into stores to compare master stones for all the Cs). So for now thinking maybe bumping the budget cap to more like $10K.

We like the 0.915 on Grace's site but didn't pull the trigger in time. There is another piece (not a solitaire but I like it anyway) we like on her website but we think it's overpriced (I priced out a comparable stone on WF and looked up the setting, and she's asking exactly the cost of the ring brand new).
 
Both I.D. Jewelry and B2C Jewels have helped people find rings on a tighter budget. Maybe contact them when you are ready to buy. You're correct that a secondhand diamond that meets your specs will be both hard to find and also almost as expensive as a new one. Generally a used ring is priced per the center diamond, and the setting is almost a throwaway unless it's a very desirable designer name. You could make an offer on the ring at Grace's site.

You could post a Wanted ad here, on diamondbiatro, LoupeTroop, etc.
 
check with Chris at ERD, they can work with your budget or Leslie at BGD

edit: Wanted to edit my post, I saw your post in reference to the ring sold by Grace to another PSers friend. Sorry you missed it, but the people on the forum really want to help you.

I don't know if you have ever purchased any real estate like a home. Sometimes we find what we think is the dream or perfect home and we lose out because we were outbid or it just sold to someone else. This has happened to me, and you feel heart broken about it. But, you keep looking and find another house, and you end up looking back and saying that you are glad you did not buy the first place, because this new place is perfect and you are happy for the learning experience. Perhaps you can look at this diamond experience the same way. There are a zillion diamonds out there and if you are patient you will find the right deal that makes your heart sing and when you look at that ring on your finger you will laugh that you did not purchase the other one. Best of luck and let the people on the forum help you.
 
Hi, I'm glad to see you post!

So, the first thing you need to do is make some decisions. You need a firm budget and size before you can do anything! You mentioned a few different options, but to help you will need to narrow it down quite a bit!

My suggestion is a .90 ct stone now and get engaged and move on and enjoy life, then get an upgrade later. You can keep your e-ring and make it a three stone or a pendant when you upgrade, if you are sentimental. I usually don't suggest the upgrade route because it can be frustrating not to have what you really want. But I really do not like to see something material like the ring holding up the progress of a relationship. So I do suggest getting engaged when you are ready with whatever ring you can afford.

Otherwise, if you are not opposed to used, then that is definitely the way to go.

So can you narrow it down:

Budget:
Color range:
Clarity range:
Size: big as possible seems right ;))
ETA: And we need to know your desired shape of diamond.
 
Thanks for the posted suggestions!! I'm leaning towards a 0.9 ct for right now (which would later be turned into a bezel set pendant). Still having to do some work on convincing him though.

A question I have is do the WF ACAs really look that much better in person than the JA diamonds, or is it WF's photography? When I see the pictures of the ACAs my hearts sings with those beautiful facet patterns. With the photographs on JA they look beautiful, but not the same. Are the hearts and arrows that much cleaner on the ACA, or are they better photographed?
 
I cannot comment on JA, never did business with them.
As far as WF, have bought them with wonderful experience. Brian Gavin was the designer at WF when he and Leslie were there, then he opened his own store. I have to believe they are using the same specs, have also bought from BGD with wonderful success.
Best of luck.
 
Outoftheblue -

I've bought signature rounds from BGD, JA and Good Old Gold. I think they're all stunning, but for my money, the Good Old Gold stones were a shade more lovely than the others.

Your budget sounds flexible. If it were me, I'd be looking for something in the 1.1 - 1.2ct range - because, even though you might upgrade later, most people don't. So it's a good idea to love what you have from the get-go. So, again, if it were me, I'd call GOG and tell them what I wanted, then let them work their magic. The same is true, though, of BGD, WhiteFlash and James Allen. And, frankly, Blue Nile's Signature range would work for you also. Their signature cut stones are in house, so they can be inspected for you prior to shipping, and their signature range is also guaranteed eye clean - though that's a problem that you shouldn't have with a VS2 anyway (though this is not 100% reliable. generally true, though). So this is a good option if you want to save some money. They have an excellent returns policy, so if you don't like it you can send it back with no provisos. I have a lot of their signature cut stones and, frankly, I find them second only to my GOG stones, and equal to my BGD and JA signature cut stones.

And I agree with the poster who suggested IDJ in New York. They, too, will source a great stone for you if you tell them your parameters. Alternately, if you just talk to Yekutiel and tell him you want a Pricescope quality stone, he'll know where to go with it from there.

Outoftheblue - I hope this helps. Please keep this thread up to date so we can go on this journey with you. :wavey:
 
Outoftheblue - are you still out there? How goes the process?
 
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