Total Noob Here - Engagement Ring Help

[TheHockeyGuy]

Hello all!

As stated above, I am a total noob. I am ready to pop the question, and have been digging over the net the past few weeks, trying to find as much info as possible on getting just the right diamond. I finally found this forum, read through a lot of threads, and feel that this could be a great resource for me. As much as I *feel* I know, I really don't have many people IRL to go to for advice on this subject. Although I am "middle class" I am from a lower income background, and most of my family members just are not well versed in buying diamonds. And, my hopefully soon to be fiance is from another state, and comes from a much more affulent background than I. While $10-20k would be acceptable to them, that's just not in my price range, so I feel a class gap when approaching them for help. Additionally, I have a severe case of SAD, so dealing with brick and mortar stores are a necessary evil, but I hate to walk into these place cold, if that makes sense.

I am looking to spend somewhere in the area of $3500-$4000 for a ring. Of course I would love a 1ct, but would be more than willing to go smaller to ensure better quality. I have been looking at several of the online retailers linked here, but am just unsure about buying something so expensive online.

Any general advice, help with getting the most for my money, helpful hints, or reassurances on one online retailer or another would be greatly appreciated. I see a few I am interested in over at James Allen, but just can't shake my uncertainty for dealing with an online retailer.

Thanks in advance for any help or advice that anyone out there can give. I am very excited, just really out of my depth. Cheers!

 

[akmiss]

Are you looking for a round cut diamond? I saw a few cushions from Good Old Gold that are about a carat in you price range. Definitely worth checking out. Dover Jewelry has a couple complete Daussi rings that are very pretty. Here is one
www.doverjewelry.com/catalog/engagement_rings/daussi_18k_cushion_diamond_gold_engagement_ring1.html

Give us a little more direction and I am sure you will get more help.

 

[Regular Guy]

Despite the datedness of the links below my signature, you might find them helpful.

Locally, find a store that has well cut diamonds...maybe Tiffany or Hearts of Fire, so you have a reference point.

Then, I would seriously consider shopping on line.

Consider using this tool.

WF, GOG, JA all provide options right now, to my view, in the .8, F - H, VS2 - SI1 range you might do well with.

Like this one. Or, sorry...this one showing still for sale...

Then, maybe buy & compare.

Best of wishes,

(edited to add)...and p.s. do look locally for pushing the envelope. If you push to J, you can get .9 carats, like this one (and if you see a J and like it...this one looks pretty good!)...or...again, showing still for sale, this I, but do explore the semi-funky report, but where the diamond may otherwise be yummy, if you believe the IS.

 

[IceExplorer]

Date: 2/26/2010 5:47:58 PM
Author:TheHockeyGuy
Hello all!

I did a quick edit and will add my comments in bold...
Just so you know, I'm not an expert and not long ago I was making my first post, just like you. One of the best things about this forum is that there are many experts but also many people like you and me. The diversity is united by a common bound. Good deals on quality diamonds.

so dealing with brick and mortar stores are a necessary evil, but I hate to walk into these place cold, if that makes sense.

I would highly recommend you spend some time looking at B&M's to help get your eyes trained and allow you to process the knowledge you gain here (there will be LOTS of it too). After absorbing a tremendous amount of information from here, I benefited a lot from being able to look at and see performance and quality differences.

I am looking to spend somewhere in the area of $3500-$4000 for a ring. Of course I would love a 1ct, but would be more than willing to go smaller to ensure better quality. I have been looking at several of the online retailers linked here,

if you post some pictures (or links from the vendors) and more details of what kind of diamond you want, you'll definitely get some assistance here. You'll find that everyone is very helpful and enjoy looking for diamonds

Any details that you've managed to figure out, and you think like, feel free to ask. Shape, color, clarity. The same thing goes for it you like a particular setting. Post as much detail as possible.

but am just unsure about buying something so expensive online.

Ultimately, everyone has their own comfort level. Even if gather as much information as you can here and find a candidate you love from a B&M post the stats here, others do it. The local experts will give you their take on the stone. Mind you, you'll find after reading here, many people have had numerous transactions with the approved online vendors and they are quite happy. Being a newbie, I had a difficult time warming up to the idea, much like you. I eventually chose to have my diamond shipped to a 3rd party appraiser. That way, I didn't have to pay for the diamond ahead of time. If I liked it I could pay for it. If I didn't like it I could ship it back (I'd have to pay for shipping but it's reasonable). Ultimately, it satisfied my reservations. I posted all the stats and images (ideal scope, ASET, hearts and arrows) to have the local experts provide opinions. With their positive feedback, I opted to have it shipped. I purchase the diamond when I saw it.


Any general advice, help with getting the most for my money, helpful hints, or reassurances on one online retailer or another would be greatly appreciated. I see a few I am interested in over at James Allen, but just can't shake my uncertainty for dealing with an online retailer.

You'll find that there are certain sweet spots that lower price but the performance isn't noticeable by the naked eye. Size: A 0.96 carat is cheaper per carat than a 1.02 carat but the .06 points will most likely not be noticed by the naked eye. F color is cheaper than D color. Unless you have ultra great color vision (some people do) you'll never notice it unless it's out of the setting next to a D color (I can't anyway). Those are a couple of examples of finding the sweet spot in purchase point that allow you to have great performance but better buying power.


Thanks in advance for any help or advice that anyone out there can give. I am very excited, just really out of my depth. Cheers!

I know the feeling of being out of depth, you'll find as you move along the process, with the help of pricescope, it won't be long before you start gaining comfort.
Good luck with your search. I hope I answered your questions. I can only answer as a noob because I'm only a little ahead of the process from you. I'll tell you this, after finding pricescope, I went from being overwhelmed with confusion to having an absolute blast with this process. The picture in my avatar is the ASET of the diamond I bought (from an online vendor!)
Cheers!

 

[TheHockeyGuy]

Thanks for taking the time to respond! I was away from my computer this weekend, so I''ll carefully read through the posts and absorb what I can and proceed from there

As for being a little more specific, to be honest, I don''t really know what I''m looking for per se. I know that round is the "standard" but I personally like Princess cut. The problem...I actually don''t know exactly what *she* would like the best, which is kind of important, I know.

I am kind of at a loss on how to figure it out, haha.

I have a ring that my Dad bought my Mom before he died that I am thinking of using for the setting. It is a gold solitaire ring. The diamond is in the .6ct range, but I would like to purchase a new diamond and re-use the setting, so that there is a mix of heirloom and of newness to the ring.

Thanks again everyone, I really appreciate it. I welcome all replies, and will certainly process the replies you''ve already given me and respond as needed.

Cheers!

 

[TheHockeyGuy]

I really like that one. How reputable is the dealer?

The more I look at the cushion diamonds, the more I dig them.

 

[TheHockeyGuy]

Date: 2/26/2010 6:06:59 PM
Author: akmiss
Are you looking for a round cut diamond? I saw a few cushions from Good Old Gold that are about a carat in you price range. Definitely worth checking out. Dover Jewelry has a couple complete Daussi rings that are very pretty. Here is one
www.doverjewelry.com/catalog/engagement_rings/daussi_18k_cushion_diamond_gold_engagement_ring1.html

Give us a little more direction and I am sure you will get more help.

Sorry...in the last post, I was responding to this.

 

[E B]

Hello HockeyGuy!

Does your girlfriend wear other jewelry? What does it look like? Delicate, chunky, plain, engraved, diamond-encrusted, etc.?

Do you know any of her friends/family members well enough to ask them to help you out? Maybe a friend of hers could be sneaky and get some opinions for you without tipping her off.