Help me choose an engagement ring!

[Deleted User]

I need an engagement ring! Woohoo. I have done the tedious but necessary research and understand the 4Cs. I would welcome opinions on the following (which represents quite a diverse range...but I'm indecisive :beer: )

After research, buying on the net seems to offer the best price by far (esp. Amazon and ebay) although it's a lot more risky - as you can't see it before you buy....I've also visited Hatton Gardens, HM Samuels, Ernest Jones, Goldsmiths, Argos, Tescos plus a small number of independent jewellers.

These are my current favourites:

Current front runner (no photo, but good price, specs meet my criteria, and I've emailed them to ask for a photo):
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stunning-White-Ladies-Diamond-Brilliant/dp/B0058VA31C/ref=sr_1_69?s=jewelry&ie=UTF8&qid=1337986152&sr=1-69

This is possible, but I'm a bit concerned by their unhelpful (and unenforceable) return policy in case of problems:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-2-ct-Solitaire-Diamond-Engagement-Ring-18k-Gold-Cert-/170593597444?pt=UK_JewelleryWatches_WomensJewellery_Rings_SR&hash=item27b82bb804#ht_6268wt_1155


Tesco's do a nice 18 carat .25 carat ring for £367, but no 4C ratings, and more annoyingly they were reduced to £215 over valentine's day, so I assume they have at least a £100 mark up (so I've basically ruled this one out): http://www.tesco.com/direct/18ct-white-gold-25pt-diamond-solitaire-ring-l/200-3738.prd?skuId=200-3738&pageLevel=

This next one is a HUGE diamond (so large I'm actually suspicious about its authenticity), but it is only rated clarity I2 which is probably too low for me. However HM Samuels have a similarly sized ring for £6000 which is rated I3(i.e. worse(!) than the amazon one), so I am seriously considering this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Classical-Solitaire-Engagement-Diamond-Brilliant/dp/B0064P66R6/ref=sr_1_16?s=jewelry&ie=UTF8&qid=1337984719&sr=1-16

Here is the £6000 HM Samuel one which I think looks pretty similar to the £600 amazon one, am I missing anything: http://www.hsamuel.co.uk/webstore/d/5242347/the+forever+diamond+-+18ct+white+gold+1+carat+diamond+ring/

There are plenty of other similar ones I'm looking at. I also need it in the next few days so blue nile, seventy-seven diamonds.com and the other custom-made online suppliers are probably not viable.

Detailed notes on my preferences:

Colour: not important to me at all...clear or very light yellow? Both are nice!

Clarity: I want something that an average person without a magnifying glass (i.e. me) would think had no obvious flaws, but even I1/I2 rated diamonds can pass this test with ease (maybe I'm just blind). Also, there seems to be no agreement as to the clarity rating process - GIA ratings are higher than others, and some diamond manufacturers "self certify" which I suspect are hugely optimistic.

Cut: I want a round or round brilliant or princess cut.

Carat size: something between 0.6 and 1 carat would be good, although I actually think 0.25 looks more elegant for everyday use, but it doesn't have quite the same "wow" factor.

Price: I've settled on £300-£750...I could afford much more, but just don't buy into the whole silly "spend as much as possible on a stone" de-beers sponsored gumf :-) And I will of course offer my beloved the option of getting anything else she prefers if she doesn't like the one I choose for her :A

daisiegg

Presumably you've looked at rings like this in person? A 1 carat diamond is actually really quite large. The main diamond in my ring is 0.75 carats (F colour, radiant cut, VVSI) and it is surrounded by tiny 0.03 carat diamonds but even without that, the 0.75 carat diamond is pretty big. I don't think I'd want to walk around every day with a 1 carat on my finger!

Some of those online prices do seem unfeasibly low. I'd worry more about the colour than the clarity (as you say, to the naked eye it's hard to tell). Also what about sizing? Do you know her ring size? You've posted rings that are different sizes.

The second Amazon one with the giant diamond is only 9carat gold so that's a difference between it and the H Samuels one.

Personally (and it is very personal) I wouldn't buy something like this online (unless it was buying from a reputable high street jeweler and I'd seen the ring in person anyway). How do you really know what you're getting?

[Deleted User]

daisiegg wrote: »

Do you know her ring size? You've posted rings that are different sizes.

Thanks for the comments. I do know her ring size - the ones I've linked to come in a range of sizes.

daisiegg wrote: »

How do you really know what you're getting?

Well, as long as it looks nice and she can boast about the numbers she'll be happy. Who knows what you're getting with any retailer? Different graders have (very) different grading criteria so there's no consistency as far as I can tell, and rings graded by the shop themselves appear to be very inconsistent.

sugarwalsh

I gotmy wedding ring (originally engagement /wedding until he surprised me with an engagement too) from eBay. Second hand, 1 carat in total, not sure about flaw rating (non visible to naked eye) a row of round cut diamonds in 18 carat gold £330. To me buying second hand meant I got the going I wanted for much, much less and it us beautiful. I went with a top rated seller with thousands of sales.

I would do it again in a heart beat.

Idiophreak

I agree that the 1.25 stone is probably a bit large for most people - not overly practical...And with a stone that size, I really think people would notice the colour (JK is well into the "yellow" camp) and I2 has inclusions that *are* visible to the naked eye
(from wiki):

"category (I) diamonds have obvious inclusions that are clearly visible to a trained grader under 10x magnification.[2] Included diamonds have inclusions that are usually visible without magnification or have inclusions that threaten the durability of the stone. The I category is divided into three grades; I1 denotes a higher clarity grade than I2, which in turn is higher than I3. Inclusions in I1 diamonds often are seen to the unaided eye. I2 inclusions are easily seen"

These two things alone justify a fairly low price - and the quality of the cut isn't mentioned, either...

Remember that there are *four* "numbers" for her to brag about, not just the size.

I'd say the ebay one (.5c, H, SI1) is a much nicer ring, for my taste...but only you know if your girlfriend appreciates quality or quantity more...

wanchai_2

My ring is just under 0.6 carat, VS clarity, round brilliant cut - and this is the crucial thing - D colour. The colour was the most important thing of all to me. It is absolutely colourless and really gleams! I will PM you the price, but let's just say that it wasn't cheap

I would buy from an actual jeweller and not off Amazon, eBay etc. Also, get one that's certified by the GIA.

johannalf88

What is the size of her fingers? It sounds really silly, but I have tiny fingers (i) and .33 c looks quite large. Any bigger and I feel it would over dominate. I would also keep catching it on things.

The cut, colour and clarity is fantastic though, n that's more important to me. And more practical!

Idiophreak

wanchai wrote: »

The

........end?

johannalf88

Second what Wanchai said: definitely get one that is GIA certified. That's the main certifiers... Is that even a word?! :rotfl:

stir_crazy

Mine isnt a diamond ring, but I think if I was to get one, I would prefer to have a smaller gem that was colourless, instead of a large off- white one. Also, (and this is just my opinion) but I work with a lady who has a very large diamond ring, must be around 1.5 ct, and it looks like a piece of cut glass to me, or more like a cocktail rings than an engagement ring. I agree with what wanchai says, look in a jeweller first, I bought mine online (at least, I chose it and OH bought it), but the shop was a shop that I had bought from before, and it was certified.

BugglyB

johannalf88 wrote: »

What is the size of her fingers? It sounds really silly, but I have tiny fingers (i) and .33 c looks quite large. Any bigger and I feel it would over dominate. I would also keep catching it on things.

The cut, colour and clarity is fantastic though, n that's more important to me. And more practical!

Thats true, my finger is size J and anything bigger than .5 looked stupid. Like johanna I settled for .33.