Please help an idiot

[Dougsgirl]

I sure do wish he'd come back! Because the pricing on the ACA's right now is exceptionally low due to the computer glitch, I would suggest getting this stone instead if he wants G SI1. May as well get the ACA for the tiny price difference. But these prices won't be there in about 24 hours.

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2803946.htm

$27 more for a slightly larger stone and top cut quality. Amazing opportunity!

How do you know there is a computer glitch??

 

[webdiva]

I'm going to add my $0.02 here because you haven't explicitly said she wants to be surprised. Does she want to be surprised? Because if you really have no idea what she'd like other than pave and one comments on a friend's cushion, a $5000 non-refundable ring is probably not the place to try to "guess" her preferences.

Many women wear much different fashion jewelry than the style they would prefer for an engagement ring they're going to wear their whole lives. $5k is a nice budget and I'd hate for anyone to be disappointed. She sounds like an independent woman with a great head on her shoulders who probably has a ring preference even though she hasn't spent years mooning over wedding dresses.

I agree.


Also, if you are in the east bay. I have a couple suggestions. That's where I live. And many Pricescopers live here.

In Campbell there is a great jeweler named Joe Escobar. They have a great selection of settings. And they carry Vatche. And they have the Caroline and you can hold it and see it for yourself.

Also they have a great selection of reasonable settings, in house, in a lot of great styles. Including a very nice version of that plain shank halo, and there's is 1100 or so, which is more than in budget for you.

What I'd do is buy this stone (if eyeclean) from Whiteflash. http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2763666.htm

Then once you get it in, call Joe Escobar and make an appointment with either Mia or Erik. Then take the with you to Joe Escobar, pick out whatever setting you want, and have them set it for you in that setting.

AND if she isn't the surprise type but you are. You can buy the diamond from Whiteflash. Propose with just the diamond. And take her WITH YOU to Joe Escobar and have her pick out her setting. That way you get the best of all worlds. You get the price saving advantages of buying online for the diamond. You get to surprise her. She gets to pick her setting. And you start a relationship with a great local jeweler who can maintain/repair/resize your jewelry for you.

Best of both worlds! Though if she's not in the surprise type, she may also want a different shape of stone. It's possible to propose without a ring (my hubby did) and make the ring selecting experience a wonderful romantic one filled with brunches and jewelry store visits!

 

[theschuss]

They tell you on the phone.

Thanks, I'm still here and the suggestions about "not being a surprise" were dead on, so we spent tonight looking at a lot of settings. She's known that I've wanted to propose for a while, so it's not like it's that huge a surprise (engagement money went into SF apartment deposits and moving across the country).

Gypsy - your suggestions are great, and I think that's the route I'll end up taking.

Still thinking on stones, so we'll see where I end up.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Did you catch that the WF ACA's (their best stones) are priced very low by mistake today and they will honor those prices for about 24 hours after the computer glitch is fixed??? This is an incredible opportunity for you to get a significant discount on a top quality stone! Look at the ACA's and not expert selection!

 

[Gypsy]

Let us know if you have any more questions. Or if she does.

 

[TitanCi]

You did a great job already with the two things you picked out! You told me enough to think you are on the right track. But I am going to show you a setting at WF that I think is MUCH prettier than that one!

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/legato-sleek-line-pave-diamond-engagement-ring-422.htm

If I were you, I'd commit to buy that stone today, because they have a computer glitch that has resulted in pricing errors, but they will probably honor that price today.

DS made an excellent suggestion.


Dude, your first post is funny: room full of cobras? LOL


TBH - the stone you chose (nice!) + this legato setting = nice e-ring. You did great choosing the stone, and for being a real definition of lurker who's learned something (i.e. HCA, IS, AND picking an awesome stone), you're going just fine!!

 

[webdiva]

Yay! Glad it all worked out and you're looking at settings and stones together! Yay! Great job! We'll stand by to throw more advice your way! We love spending other people's money!

 

[theschuss]

OK, sorry to bother you all again, I got the diamond I linked, but still need to choose a setting.

She loves this setting:
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-engagement-ring-setting-platinum_19837

Any reason not to just go with that? Any other comparable settings? I'd prefer to find something somewhat local that I could have set.

 

[maccers]

Did she try on setting IRL? My boyfriend and I have been ring shopping for about a month and there's been a big difference between what I thought I wanted via online versus what I try on in person. Oval cuts are now out, rose gold is out, plain-no-frills setting is out...If you haven't gone together to try stuff on, please do so, it's surprisingly fun. My bf has even found the wedding band he wants.

 

[Gypsy]

OK, sorry to bother you all again, I got the diamond I linked, but still need to choose a setting.

She loves this setting:
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-engagement-ring-setting-platinum_19837

Any reason not to just go with that? Any other comparable settings? I'd prefer to find something somewhat local that I could have set.

I'd get the setting she loves. But Blue Nile doesn't sell their settings without diamonds. Buy the whole thing from them. Stick to Blue Nile Signature. Make sure HCA is under 2. AGS0 and Gia EX only.

 

[theschuss]

Back from the dead. I proposed, she said yes!

Ended up with a Bev K setting after burning through about 5 jewelry stores worth of settings.



Thanks again for all the help, I would not have ended up with the perfect ring without everyones help. Images really don't do this thing justice, it's sparkletown all day!

 

[Enerchi]

BEAUTIFUL! Gorgeous BevK halo and looks HUGE on her hand! congratulations!!! Please post a TON more so we can enjoy the ring from all angles!

 

[theschuss]

Heh, I'll see what I can do. Her words: "It's like a sparkly UFO!"

Also, getting more pics involves somehow getting it off her hand. May have to wait until tonight.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Congratulations!!!! Beautiful ring!!!

 

[Niel]

fabulous!! more pics please

 

[LaraOnline]

Wow ladies!i am seriously impressed.

I agree that it is really super difficult for a man to pick jewellery - especially engagement jewellery!

I am not at all sure I would have come up with that setting based on his description of his love.

Gypsy, based on his description, the Caroline sol seemed a fabulous choice!
And then your rec for a rl jeweller was pure finesse...

Praps all proposal-minded men should read this thread as a primer... Women are very difficult to pick for and shop for, and very especially difficult when it comes to proposal and wedding jewels.

It's on the lady's finger every day of her life, year in and out...big ask to expect a regular guy off the street to get it just right!

Or for regular gal to get right, for that matter! That's where the remodels come in down the track, right PS'ers?

If I had my time again I'd just say to my love (as sweetly as possible): 'Just gimme the diamond!'

 

[LaraOnline]

Heh, I'll see what I can do. Her words: "It's like a sparkly UFO!"

Also, getting more pics involves somehow getting it off her hand. May have to wait until tonight.

I am very, very pleased that your love is happy.
Congratulations on your lovely ring and all the best for your future together!

 

[distracts]

Congratulations! The ring is beautiful! Thank you for coming back with the awesome pic.