ring-shopping...budget containment!!

[cmpdx]

Hi, i''m new to ps, but i''ve been reading y''all''s posts for some time.
here''s my deal:
i''ve been out ering shopping just to see what looks good on my hands. well, over the course of several weeks i''ve decided that the micro-pave style that Slammie has is just perfect (of course, it''s stunning) with 1 carat in the center.

how and where can i get that look for a total cost of $4000??? this is the budget i''ve been told to work with. can i find a decent 1ct stone under $4k??? let alone the setting??? ugh. very discouraged.

i''ll do anything but buy I2....

thanks for y''all''s input!!! i''m freaking out over here.

 

[Fancy605]

you can find nice 1 carat stones for under $4000--especially if you are willing to look at stones in the .90-.99 range. A lot of times the difference in cost of a .99 and a 1.0 can be several hundred dollars. And most people cannot tell the difference without comparing stones sice by side (and even then a lot of people may not be able to tell).

the budget my b/f is working with is actually very similar to yours and we have found a few Excellent cut .92-.95 SI1 H or G colored stones in the 2900-3200 dollars range. My trouble is that I have this thing for a few pricey settings, so it looks like I'll either get a plain setting with a nearly 1 carat stone, or the beautiful setting I have been eyeing with a slightly smaller stone. Works for me!

Also---If you look at stones with blue floresence, it can cute the price as well as improve the look of your stone.

 

[cmpdx]

thanks for the tips!
this is really encouraging!!

 

[E B]

To be honest, I think even .90-.99s are going to be hard to find in your budget WITH the setting. If you look at .80-.89s, you''d be getting closer (and the size difference is *SO* tiny!).

Let me see what I can find!

 

[E B]

Here's a .90ct I, SI2 from James Allen:

.90ct, I, SI2, 0.7 on the HCA

and www.knoxjewelers.biz makes a ring that looks similar to Slammie's (and they do custom, so I'm sure they can switch out the head if you don't like it):

Pave Crown

Stone + Setting = $3920

Just an example of how far a budget can stretch.

 

[cmpdx]

WOW!! those are great!!
ok...feeling MUCH better.
i''m new to this so this information (and perspective) is GREAT!!
y''all rock.

 

[E B]

Date: 9/10/2006 1:58:59 PM
Author: cmpdx
WOW!! those are great!!

ok...feeling MUCH better.

i''m new to this so this information (and perspective) is GREAT!!

y''all rock.

No problem!

Just make sure that when dealing with a vendor whose stone you can''t see (like James Allen), they confirm that any SI1s or SI2s you''re looking at are "eye-clean". I know you said you''d buy up to an I1, but trust me, when you look down at your beautiful ring, you aren''t going to want to see a big black spot or a distracting crystal.

 

[JulieN]

http://www.winkjones.com/specials/sa_diamonds.php