Four Color Vg

Posted in Comics by admin on January 26, 2011

Is this an excellent engagement ring?

Been with my gf for four years..and am starting the planning for the purchase of an engagement ring. My budget is about 12-13k and that's just for the diamond..excluding the platinum setting I'm putting it in. I looked on Blue Nile for ballpark figures and here is what I've come up with.

Pear diamond
cts. 1.10-1.23
Color - D
Clarity - IF
Symmetry - G/VG
Price - low to high 12k's

Is the symmetry extremely important, especially at diamond grades with such excellent color and clarity? Because excellent symmetry will set me back another six grand. Please help because I wanna take the best approach to getting the best bang for my buck with excellent fire and brilliance..want to blind the girlfriend with the intense sparkle..after all, she'll be wearing it for the rest of her life.

Basically you want to know what you can get for $12-13k.
Answer: Something wonderful, or something not so wonderful.

Here is where the fun begins. There is much for you to research and learn. I suggest best way to start is look on the internet & educate yourself about 'The 4 C's' as this is what it is all about, especially in the money stakes. AND without doubt the CERTIFICATION, you must only accept GIA or HRD. If you take EGL certification, you are risking value of your diamond, as they are notorious for upgrading their diamonds to D, when it is an E, or VVS1 when it borders on a VVS2.

I think $12k for what you describe is a bargain, it must be wholesale, and sounds like an EGL??? As I checked and all GIA's are up around the $18k mark.

Is the 'Pear Diamond' what your girlfriend wants? likes? It is very unusual and not traditional or as popular as the 'Princess cut' or 'Brilliant cut'. Also do you really need ' IF '. You can go down to VVS2, which is amazing in itself, you can't see the flaws anyway (from VVS2-IF) without microscope !! You will saves lots of money.
Another thing, if you are going to spend so much money, you should be looking to ONLY buy 'Triple Excellent' (Cut, Symmetry, Polish). This is what gives the diamond its 'bling'.

Anyway, once you know what (of the) 4 C's you want, then you can start the face-to-face visits with top jewelers who also buy diamonds. NEVER tell them how much you are looking to spend exactly (although they play on this, and say it is like a needle in a hay stack etc..), I suggest you just say ball park sum of $9-10,000 (no more, as it will always cost you more), as you WILL find what you are looking for for that cost.

The trick is you MUST go into the jeweler with EXACTLY what you want in mind. eg; Brilliant cut, D, SI1, Ex, Ex, Ex, (Triple Excellent) etc..
Never let on that you are desperate, as 99% of engagement rings are bought on 'heart over mind', and even they will tell you this! YOu must see at least 5 jewelers to compare & importantly ask what service they offer for ring maintenance (eg; Life time servicing). I would only ever go with a reputable jeweler, and have they been recognised within their profession (they should have merits/awards/certs on their shop walls on display). Preferably one that sells Hearts On Fire.

At the same time you also MUST keep up you online search for 'the' diamond, so you can compare the prices. Following are some great sites I recently used;

http://cerrone.com.au/diamond_search.php
www.diamondexchange.com.au/
http://honeymoons.about.com/cs/valentinesday/a/buyingadiamond.htm

Another thought, when I was looking for my diamond & ring design, I was introduced to 'HEARTS ON FIRE', OMG !! They claim to be 'the worlds most perfect cut diamonds' And they are, they are the most amazing diamonds ever, but very expensive (perhaps in your range). We had budget of $10k all up, our diamond alone cost $9k (1.10ct D, VVS2, Triple Excellent, Brilliant), as you see we went over it.

If you are brave to check it out, here is the Hearts On Fire link ..
www.heartsonfire.com/

Good Luck