You must first be logged in to edit a post.
If you are not registered, please click "Create Account".
| Posted By |
Message |
| Pages: [1] 2 3 |
Ginger123
Sooo happy
Member since 8/07 1235 total posts
Name:
dana
|
Diamond question updated
My best friends FH is asking me what he should do regarding her engagement ring. She wants a 1 carat and he has around 4,000 to spend. What should he sacrafice cut, color or clarity?
Message edited 1/15/2008 12:55:57 PM.
|
Posted 1/14/08 12:14 PM  |
| |
|
Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
MsMBV
:P
Member since 5/05 28602 total posts
Name:
Me
|
Re: Diamond question
oooh that is tough. Maybe start looking at estate sales or for "used" stones. They can still be appraised for their quality and you might save some $$.
Depending on the shape would also help determine what of the 4 C's can be sacrificed...
|
| Posted 1/14/08 12:16 PM |
| |
|
bicosi
life is a carousel
Member since 7/07 14956 total posts
Name:
M
|
Re: Diamond question
Clarity.
|
| Posted 1/14/08 12:17 PM |
| |
|
~Colleen~
my loves...
Member since 5/05 9129 total posts
Name:
guess
|
Re: Diamond question
Posted by MsMBV
Depending on the shape would also help determine what of the 4 C's can be sacrificed...
The metal too. You can get a lesser color and set it in yellow gold and not notice the difference as you would if it were set in white or platinum.
Personally I wouldn't sacrifice cut or clarity if possible. I think those are the 2 most important Cs...
|
| Posted 1/14/08 12:17 PM |
| |
|
KGools
Happy
Member since 9/06 9532 total posts
Name:
Kim
|
Re: Diamond question
What if he got something close to 1 carat, like .75 carats, that way he wouldn't have to sacrifice anything... You can't even tell the difference.
Congrats to your friends though! That's exciting!!!! 
Message edited 1/14/2008 12:22:44 PM.
|
| Posted 1/14/08 12:18 PM |
| |
|
~Colleen~
my loves...
Member since 5/05 9129 total posts
Name:
guess
|
Re: Diamond question
Posted by CoopersMom01
I would say cut... unless she specified what cut she wants.
Cut is different than shape. Cut is how the diamond is cut - the table, how much light is reflected, etc. Shape is the round, square, pear, etc.
|
| Posted 1/14/08 12:20 PM |
| |
|
KGools
Happy
Member since 9/06 9532 total posts
Name:
Kim
|
Re: Diamond question
Posted by ~Colleen~
Posted by CoopersMom01
I would say cut... unless she specified what cut she wants.
Cut is different than shape. Cut is how the diamond is cut - the table, how much light is reflected, etc. Shape is the round, square, pear, etc.
Ya know, after I wrote that, I wondered if I actually knew what cut meant  . THANKS!!!!
|
| Posted 1/14/08 12:22 PM |
| |
|
DML
LIF Adolescent
Member since 5/05 567 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Diamond question
try and find a private smaller jeweler with less mark up. My DH bought my ring for less then that, and I have a very good stone, and it is .90 carats..... it was 5 years ago, but still, I think it is doable.
|
| Posted 1/14/08 12:22 PM |
| |
|
Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
|
Re: Diamond question
Posted by DML
try and find a private smaller jeweler with less mark up. My DH bought my ring for less then that, and I have a very good stone, and it is .90 carats..... it was 5 years ago, but still, I think it is doable.
I agree with this. Even a stone that's 90 pts or 95 pts will have a lower mark up than a stone that's a carat or better. Once you hit the carat mark it goes up.
|
| Posted 1/14/08 12:26 PM |
| |
|
sticklee
LIF Adult
Member since 8/06 2984 total posts
Name:
Stick
|
Re: Diamond question
he should get .9 carat
the markup once you hit 1.0 is higher
plus the fiance probably can't visibly tell the difference between .9 and 1.0
|
| Posted 1/14/08 12:31 PM |
| |
|
MsMBV
:P
Member since 5/05 28602 total posts
Name:
Me
|
Re: Diamond question
Posted by ~Colleen~
Posted by MsMBV
Depending on the shape would also help determine what of the 4 C's can be sacrificed...
The metal too. You can get a lesser color and set it in yellow gold and not notice the difference as you would if it were set in white or platinum.
Personally I wouldn't sacrifice cut or clarity if possible. I think those are the 2 most important Cs...
Good point I did not even think about the metal.
The shape is important IMO b/c if she wants for example an emerald cut (which BTW you probably could not get for 4k, but humor me for the sake of example), then clarity would be the last thing I would sacrifice. I would probably sacrifice cut since the nature of it is not necessarily in the cut. Whereas, if she wants a heart-shaped, then the clarity might not be as big of an issue b/c the facets, being that they are multi-directional might hide a small inclusion very well.
|
| Posted 1/14/08 1:06 PM |
| |
|
Ginger123
Sooo happy
Member since 8/07 1235 total posts
Name:
dana
|
Re: Diamond question
she wants a round or cushion
|
| Posted 1/14/08 1:18 PM |
| |
|
ml110
LIF Adult
Member since 1/06 5435 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Diamond question
i agree with the idea of getting her just under a carot- like .9 or .95 points.... she most likely won't tell the difference and the prices go up so much once you hit the one carot mark. also.. tell him to check out bluenile.com. they have an AMAZING collection of diamonds. i lost my original wedding band and e-ring this summer at the beach... so i had to order new ones. needless to say, i didn't want to spend a ton of money. my friends FI got her ring from blue nile so i decided to check it out. i was able to get a slightly bigger and higher clarity diamond than my original was for less $$. and the delivery and everything was perfect- they have you schedule it when you'll be home and you have to sign for it and everything.... so its very safe. definitely tell him to look into it! heres my rings that i got from there- a little over $4K for both rings... 
|
| Posted 1/14/08 1:20 PM |
| |
|
MsMBV
:P
Member since 5/05 28602 total posts
Name:
Me
|
Re: Diamond question
Posted by Ginger123
she wants a round or cushion
I see. Well I think they have to look at a few diamonds in person to see what she likes, but I think with something like a round or a cushion then Cut should not be sacrificed. It will make a world of difference with the reflection if the cut is good. I might look at clarity if the facets are well placed.
|
| Posted 1/14/08 1:20 PM |
| |
|
LIgrlatheart
LIF Adolescent
Member since 7/06 638 total posts
Name:
christi
|
Re: Diamond question
i have a princess cut around .90 there was one tiny tiny inclusion too (that the prong virtually hid)... we also went to our family jewelr so he was great to work with
also get it set "high" that way it looks bigger
noones the wiser that its less then 1carat and who really cares really
|
| Posted 1/14/08 1:31 PM |
| |
|
|
|
Re: Diamond question
definitely check out bluenile.com
This is where my ring is from 
|
| Posted 1/14/08 1:33 PM |
| |
|
ml110
LIF Adult
Member since 1/06 5435 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Diamond question
Posted by scarletbegonia
definitely check out bluenile.com
This is where my ring is from
yup! i also forgot to say in my post that they come with the appraisal and certification and anything you need like that, too!
|
| Posted 1/14/08 1:40 PM |
| |
|
Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
|
Re: Diamond question
what about size?
a high quality diamond in the right cut will look bigger than it is.
I wouldn't sacrifice anything for size.
|
| Posted 1/14/08 1:45 PM |
| |
|
Shorty
.
Member since 5/05 30390 total posts
Name:
really
|
Re: Diamond question
OK - i highly recommend a "halo" setting... it's the most bling for the buck. he'll be able to get a NICE .75-.90ct stone but he'll have a big bling factor because of the halo. (and more finger-coverage!)
AND if he opts for a bezel set halo (as pictured), you can afford to drop the clarity a little, because you don't view the diamond from the side. He can get a perfectly eye-clean SI1 or SI2 stone (clear/white inclusions only).
eta: he needs to go to the city. and pay cash.
Message edited 1/14/2008 1:50:03 PM.
|
| Posted 1/14/08 1:47 PM |
| |
|
Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
|
Re: Diamond question
Posted by Shorty
eta: he needs to go to the city. and pay cash.
um yeah.
either 47th street or the bowery.
cash is king.
|
| Posted 1/14/08 1:49 PM |
| |
|
JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
|
Re: Diamond question
I have to say I would sacrifice size before the others. The halo setting is a GREAT idea. It makes rings look SOOO much bigger.
Maybe he should bring gf and let her choose her own stone? The jeweler can show different stones in that price range and she can decide after seeing them what she wants to sacrifice. maybe she really won't mind it being under a carat if she sees how much good cut and clarity would make it sparkle.
I might sacrifice color, go to an F or something, it's hard to tell the difference and it doesn't sacrifice sparkle.
|
| Posted 1/15/08 10:14 AM |
| |
|
~Colleen~
my loves...
Member since 5/05 9129 total posts
Name:
guess
|
Re: Diamond question
Posted by JenniferEver
I might sacrifice color, go to an F or something, it's hard to tell the difference and it doesn't sacrifice sparkle.
Going to F isn't much of a sacrifice - it's still considered colorless. Going to an H-I would be more of a sacrifice.
|
| Posted 1/15/08 10:16 AM |
| |
|
JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
|
Re: Diamond question
Posted by ~Colleen~
Posted by JenniferEver
I might sacrifice color, go to an F or something, it's hard to tell the difference and it doesn't sacrifice sparkle.
Going to F isn't much of a sacrifice - it's still considered colorless. Going to an H-I would be more of a sacrifice.
That's a sacrifice I would not be willing to make!
|
| Posted 1/15/08 10:29 AM |
| |
|
Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
|
Re: Diamond question
Posted by JenniferEver
Posted by ~Colleen~
Posted by JenniferEver
I might sacrifice color, go to an F or something, it's hard to tell the difference and it doesn't sacrifice sparkle.
Going to F isn't much of a sacrifice - it's still considered colorless. Going to an H-I would be more of a sacrifice.
That's a sacrifice I would not be willing to make!
Yikes, my stone is H and you never tell the difference to the naked eye..even under a loop many jewelers have mistaken it for a G. It can make a ton of difference in price to drop to near colorless, but I would drop the size rather than any of the 4 Cs.
|
| Posted 1/15/08 10:41 AM |
| |
|
DaniJude
You're My Home <3
Member since 11/06 14815 total posts
Name:
Danielle
|
Re: Diamond question
SHAPE! sacrifice shape!
Round brilliant is by far the most expensive b/c it is the most in demand at the present time - i'm never a believer in sacrificing quality, cut, clarity or color - so, sacrifice the shape! If I could not have gotten my round and had to choose to save money - I would have went with an emerald or some other shape that is not that common but still classic and beautiful.
Also, tell him go to the diamond district or deal with a wholesaler - THAT will get you the best bang for your buck. Infact, if he needs someone that goes to the DD for you (a wholesaler) who deals diamonds direct - I have a family friend - who got me all of my diamonds - and can give you his contact info to give to him.
Tell him, also, to read up on the 4 c's a little so he knows what he is talking about - just background knowledge.
 GL! FM if you have any other questions!
Message edited 1/15/2008 10:51:07 AM.
|
| Posted 1/15/08 10:44 AM |
| |
|
| Pages: [1] 2 3 |
