Engagement Ring Buying Advice

[4444]

Originally Posted by CRS

How much are you guys spending?!

I'm looking through these posts and when you say budget and I hear stuff like 1.0+ ct I just can't imagine where you're starting your budget at.

3x gross salary.

if you're embarrassed by what you're buying, you will regret it later in life. this is one of the few times I will blow money. thankfully diamonds hold their value, though you can never truly get that value

[DHP 1]

browse thru all 5 pages, and seems like blue nile is the way to go.

anyone have any experience with Lucsus? they are located on hasting. Seems to have great review, and the diamond that im interested in with the exact same spec, 3E, color,clarity, etc came out to be cheaper with lucsus than Bluenile

[dat_steve]

I'm looking at two diamonds, basically same specs except one is VS2 clarity and H colour and the other is SI1 clairy and E colour. Which is "better"?

[DHP 1]

The one with E color will be the better choice
I/H you will see that its a bit yellow when you put it side by side. While clarity you cant really see it with your naked eye unless under a microscope.

[nabs]

Originally Posted by DHP 1

browse thru all 5 pages, and seems like blue nile is the way to go.

anyone have any experience with Lucsus? they are located on hasting. Seems to have great review, and the diamond that im interested in with the exact same spec, 3E, color,clarity, etc came out to be cheaper with lucsus than Bluenile

I went there for a consultation. Pretty nice guy, easy to work with it seems. Only reason I didn't go with Adam is that a friend recommended Lost Angels.

Check out Lost Angels. He has better prices and better diamonds for fully custom orders. Turn around time is about a month.

[nabs]

Originally Posted by dat_steve

I'm looking at two diamonds, basically same specs except one is VS2 clarity and H colour and the other is SI1 clairy and E colour. Which is "better"?

I wouldn't go for either.

H will be yellow, at least i noticed the difference between H and E very visibly when comparing the two side by side.

And I wouldn't even touch/consider SI diamonds.

[RiceIntegraRS]

Originally Posted by dat_steve

I'm looking at two diamonds, basically same specs except one is VS2 clarity and H colour and the other is SI1 clairy and E colour. Which is "better"?

how big is the diamond? it will be very difificult to see any imperfections in the diamond if its under a carat imo.

[DHP 1]

how does blue nile works?

u order the diamond choice of ur own, it comes in a mail.
U can either order the setting you like and have it in come in as a package...or u take the rock and go to your favorite local jewl guy and have them choose or custom a setting for you?


i compared with couple local jewl store, seems like no one can touch blue nile's prices

[dat_steve]

Originally Posted by nabs

I wouldn't go for either.

H will be yellow, at least i noticed the difference between H and E very visibly when comparing the two side by side.

And I wouldn't even touch/consider SI diamonds.

it's a budget thing. an option would be to go down in size to .70 and pick up a VS1 G, but i felt like that was a noticeable difference in size.

Originally Posted by RiceIntegraRS

how big is the diamond? it will be very difificult to see any imperfections in the diamond if its under a carat imo.

both are 0.9

[dat_steve]

Originally Posted by DHP 1

how does blue nile works?

My coworker did just that and picked up a setting locally.

[DHP 1]

funny my fiance is a bit paranoid...

she is worried buying a rock from blue nile comes to a local shop and get them to set it. Meanwhile they MAY swap out the rock and u wouldnt even notice.

E to F...

[DHP 1]

Originally Posted by nabs

I went there for a consultation. Pretty nice guy, easy to work with it seems. Only reason I didn't go with Adam is that a friend recommended Lost Angels.

Check out Lost Angels. He has better prices and better diamonds for fully custom orders. Turn around time is about a month.

whats price like with Lost Angels


Luksus He quoted me $1300 for plat
$1000 for 14k

[Alby]

Originally Posted by DHP 1

funny my fiance is a bit paranoid...

she is worried buying a rock from blue nile comes to a local shop and get them to set it. Meanwhile they MAY swap out the rock and u wouldnt even notice.

E to F...

are diamonds bought from blue niles GIA certified? if so, you would have nothing to worry about as the GIA report will have the laser inscribed serial number on the diamond itself. you would just need to verify after the setting is done that the numbers match.

[Hondaracer]

BlueNile is GIA cert.

their prices though, and the selection of settings, dont know why you wouldnt just get somthing from them, unless you had a setting from a family member etc. to set the diamond into.

1 word of warning, either make a very good guess or figure out the ring size right off the bat, OR make sure once you have the ring, get a competetant jeweler to size your fiances finger before sending back the ring.

Have had to send back our blue nile order twice now for resizing, first time my original guess was way off, so had to send back. However, used 3 different "chain" jewelers in the mall and they were all off in sizing, ended up she needed another half size smaller, and obviously for a ring youre going to wear forever, its gotta fit perfect.

So about $140 each time to send back insured with Canada post. Blue Nile's service is awsome and their return system is bang on, their return shipping and multiple resizing in the first year is free, but you have to get it to them for resizing

[DHP 1]

^

there is a special design that i really like, thats why i cant get it from bluenile. Now have to get it costumed

And fiance was worried....getting scammed and what not since we are noobs in terms of diamonds/jewelry and what not

[nabs]

Originally Posted by DHP 1

whats price like with Lost Angels


Luksus He quoted me $1300 for plat
$1000 for 14k

Really depends on what you want. Definitely cheaper than Luksus, Adam is one of the more expensive custom guys.

Working with Lee at Lost Angels feels more personal as well, it's a lot more laid back and comfortable. (Unlimited free resizing, lifetime warranty, lifetime cleaning, GIA certificate, and gets it appraised for you and gives you the appraisal certificate). Great customer service, like amazing customer service. Responds to emails and calls right away.

Also instead of going platinum, i would suggest 19K white. It will not scuff up like platinum. And it won't go yellow like 14k white. It's a lot less maintenance and does not need be rhodium plated every few months. A thorough cleaning will get its shine back.

[DHP 1]

^


u mean 18k?

wouldnt 18k be a little...soft?

Not a lot of reviews and links regarding lost angels, I will give him a shout and see what he can do for me. Thanks for the recommendation

[nabs]

I mean 19k white. It is hard as platinum. It's alloyed with nickel.

[DHP 1]

cool i will check it out thx

[hi-revs]

Platinum scratches easily. But the pro side is that it would never lose any of its weight like how gold would. Every time you polish gold, youll literally lose a bit of the weight (gold).
With platinum youre really just remolding it smooth again.

[4444]

just know blue nile doesn't have the best selections for cut / dimensions, but this will be in the high end type diamonds (>2 carat, likely in the $30K+ range) - if you're going in that price range, blue nile isn't the best, but for 90% of buyers, it is the best value for money.

GIA certification is step 1 in buying.
Know your Cs, and go from there.

[frostycc]

Hi guys,

Just wanted to bump this thread with a question.

I'm planning on popping the question in the next few weeks.

I've been dropped hints by my better half that she wants a Tacori designed ring. Now from what I know, Tacori just comes with the setting only.

My options of getting it are either:

Rodan
Harlings
Order online from the Tacori U.S Site.
(Any other local retail store that sells Tacori that I may have missed?)

I haven't narrowed down the particular style yet so I'm not sure if one of the above retailers will be cheaper than the rest or if they should technically be the same/similar price since it would be the same SKU item.

I also plan on getting the diamond seperate (most likely through Blue Nile or James Allen)

My question is:

1) Has anybody dealt with Rodan or Harlings for purchasing settings/rings?

2) If I get the ring from either, do you suggest I go to them respectively to get the diamond placed into the setting as well? I've heard anecdotal evidence that their craftsmanship is not the best.

3)If not or if I order the setting direct from Tacori, should I be going to an independent jeweller that specializes in working with rings? Any recommendations?

4) Anybody know the average turn around time? Risks involved?

5) What is the average charge to place a diamond together with a setting?

I had initially wanted to get a setting/diamond combo for BN/JA but none of the styles seem to be similar to Tacori.

Any other tips/advice/guidance would be appreciated

[dat_steve]

Originally Posted by frostycc

1) Has anybody dealt with Rodan or Harlings for purchasing settings/rings?

my coworker's engagement ring setting was purchased and set at Harlings, with the diamond off bluenile. she seems to be happy with it. I believe they set it for free too.

[truth]

Those who ordered from blue Nile, did you gave any issues receiving a ring sizer from their website? It's been well over a month and I've ordered twice. They suggested we get my fiancée sized locally and call them to start the resizing process.

[RiceIntegraRS]

Before i ordered the ring, i got my fiances finger sized at spence, then told BlueNile the sizing. Easy peasy