Im shopping about for rings, getting an idea of what Im getting into and about how much I need to save so Im hoping to get a few opinions from anybody out there about diamond shopping.
Ive read through a few online guides to diamond criteria and am now trying to make a decision... Im not wealthy by any means and dont wish to go into debt to buy an expensive ring but I still want to buy something that is beautiful and will make her smile.
K so Im in the market for something in the 0.5-0.75 Ct. If I go 0.5ish I can get a higher quality, VVS1-IF, Colour G, Ideal Cut... Or if I up the Carat weight I will have to sacrifice something in cut/colour,clarity.
So is it better to get something a little bigger with less quality or go smaller but closer to perfect?
I appreciate any help or tips that you can offer... I have no idea what Im doing really (never done this before)
Also, Im looking at buying a diamond loose and having it set by a small business jeweler (we're not into box box stores).
not too crazy about diamonds, so I can't give any advice on that aspect, but, I really do like your idea about getting a loose stone and having it set in a special band of your design, because I was going to suggest looking at the kind of jewelry she wears or favors, and getting an idea of why type of ring to get.
a thought: If you have a particular stone picked out, and you think she'd receive the idea with an open mind, maybe giving her the stone when you propose and asking her to help you design the setting/ring might be an option? I think that's kind of romantic, but I'm sure others have different ideas about having the ring in hand!
__________________ The best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
If you are going to go the "non-certified" diamond route then just be extra cautious about the quality of it (look to see if the diamond is cloudy, ect.)
My ring is 1 carat and it is not certified. However it really looks as though it could be. Nobody would ever be able to tell and I'm perfectly happy with it. I would have rather had my ring then a "perfect" 1/2 carat ring.
I personally like the 3/4 diamond cut. That would be my suggestion. It's up to you whether or not you would want to get her a certified ring. Do you think she would care if you didn't?
Well, I was thinking that I could loose a little on colour as the diamond is smaller thus would it make a difference to the naked eye? (is my logic flawed?)
My logic is this... If I buy a well cut near flawless diamond, I could sacrifice a few notches on colour and size... Id prefer buy a better diamond over a bigger diamond... I wish I could spend 1000s of dollars and buy her a 1.5 Ct Tiffanies Ring but thats not in my range. Im just trying to do the best with what I can afford.
The better the color, the better the cut, the less inclusions, the more it will sparkle... the more it sparkles, the bigger it will look. Each of these factors is equally important.
Do you know for certain she has her heart set on a diamond? Colored stones used to be traditional and are becoming popular again in certain circles. If she's determined on diamonds by all means buy her one, but if she's open minded about it or has legitimate concerns about the diamond industry, you can get a lot more bang for your buck with an emerald, ruby or sapphire, and they are very nearly as hard as a diamond, thus perfectly suitable for everyday wear.
go for something a little smaller that is more perfect.
G colour is still fine, its slightly towards the yellow spectrum, but it wont appear yellow, especially if its set in a white metal.
you can get a certified stone. my H got me a ring on-line where you choose the stone (they give you all the details on colour, cut and clarity) and then you choose the setting and they put it together for you.
Ok, fair enough the settings are quite standard, but you could get the size diamond you want for 1/2 the retail price. so you could get a bigger stone for the same money, or save some money.
My ring cost £400, valued at £1000. and its lovely!
If she likes modern, contemporary settings, then i think this one is fantastic
this site is not where i got mine, but it shows how you can mix and match shapes of diamonds and settings.
you can go modern or traditional.
Too much choice maybe!
I can assure you that you dont have to go into a shop to get a very high quality item. My ring is lovely, no faults at all.
good luck!
__________________
I love life because what more is there? - Anthony Hopkins
Based on your spelling I assume you're in the UK. I'm in the States so I don't know if this will apply to you. I just purchased a ring (proposing over Thanksgiving Holiday). A good friend of mine is the VP of marketing for a national pawn shop. When they retain high end jewelry it's sent to their National Jewelry center in Vegas. He found me a G color Emerald cut 1.72 carat solitaire set in platinum. It's slightly included but you can't notice it with the naked eye. Paid $6000 tax, shipping and all. It appraised for $14000. Great deal. As far as I'm concerned most diamonds are "used" so the source is irrelevant. All I know is my fiancee to be will be sporting one hell of a rock and I didn't have to sell a kidney to get it!
It's my understanding that cut is the most important. Also, if you go with a carat size that isn't round (.75, 1, etc.), you'll get the diamond for much less money and no one but a jeweler would be able to tell the difference.
You sound like you've done a bit of homework already. I think the next step would be to go look at some diamonds. The only way you'll get a sense of what's good is by going into jewelry stores and seeing for yourself and doing some good ol' comparison shopping.
I'd also recommend giving some serious thought to the ring setting. That's going to be holding the diamond after all. I'd get something that will hold the diamond the most securely and show it off the best. If it's within your price range, you may want to consider platinum. It's one of the strongest white metals, and it never loses it's whiteness. There's no point in getting a colorless diamond if the ring is just going to tarnish and reflect color in the diamond.
It also depends on the cut of the diamond, as some cuts show inclusions more than others. For example a round diamond that is slightly flawed will look better than an emerald cut that is equally flawed.
__________________
the problem with logic is there's too many loopholes
and the problem with truth is that it's usually brutal
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