I know guys are suppose to stay out of here, but I really would like some sincere advice on buying an engagement ring. My dilemma is finding the right balance between size and diamond quality.

Obviously, for the same money, the bigger the diamond, the lower the "quality" of the diamond. My g/f is not very big, only 5'2", so I obviously do not want anything huge. But it seems to get exactly what I want (size and quality) is just out of my monetary range. So my question is, which do I sacrifice?

To maybe help your advice, let me give some background about what she wants. Here is the stats of the ring:

Design: 3 stone
Diamond cut: Princess
Band size: 6 3/4
Band color: white gold or platinum (no yellow gold)

Now she did not give me a size, but I was looking at getting a .75 carat center diamond with 2 sides around .35 or so (sizes are approximates). I definitely want a well cut diamond with good color (don't want the yellow showing against the white band).

Anyways, if I go smaller on the diamonds (like .5 carat center), I can afford very high quality diamonds. But I feel like that is just too small. So is my feeling wrong, what would you ladies prefer?

Remember, that even getting the .75 (approx) carat diamond will still have nice stones, they will not be bad by any means. Just not spectacular like I could get if I dropped the stone size. I appreciate the input, I really do not want to ask her what she would prefer b/c I want this to be a surprise.

I know I'm not a woman...lol But I just went through something similar man. I found that she wanted better quality over size. Also if you do chose to go with white gold remember that it will in time start turning yellow, however, you can have it re dipped for a nominal fee. Platnuim however since it is "white" in it's natural state will keep it's color it also harder so if it bumped against something it won't flake like gold will. Also if there is any sort of design (i.e. mill grain) on a gold ring won't last for to long as if were on platinum it would. I went with a .46 carat Clarity: SI2 Color: D instead of a .60 carat Clarity: I2 Color: I...the one she picked was more vibrant (.46) and was over all beautiful. Also some places, like Robbins Brothers where we went, offer an upgrade if later on you want something bigger and better so I would ask about that. She doesn't know I have it :D Here's what it look like.

http://www.robbinsbros.com/images/products/0360778_r_lg.jpg

This one worked out well for me. :) My wife was all into the high quality stones tho......the jeweler brought in about 5 of these from different stores before she found the one with stones she liked.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t60/jdkarafa/000016594.jpg

I got a 3/4 carat for my wife. I had a choice between a "small" 3/4 and a "large" 3/4 for the same money. The small one was higher quality, and I chose it. I haven't regretted it. The difference was pretty clear, and my wife gets lots of compliments on her diamond.

I think you have to be realistic about what "high quality" means. Honestly, at a certain point you're wasting money to get a stone with better clarity. Your goal is to have a diamond with no inclusions that are visible to the naked eye. Who cares if you can see some slight inclusions under the loop? The only value to having the highest quality stone with no inclusions is for resale, and hopefully you and you're fiance won't have to go down that road. In my mind, if you can't see anything with the naked eye, it might as well have no inclusions. Girls can be petty but no girlfriend of my wife's has ever whipped out a loop and asked to examine her ring.

On the issue of band selection, you are getting correct input from other posters about the pro's and con's of white gold and platinum, but again, LET'S BE REALISTIC HERE. Unless someone really, and I mean really, needs a more durable material (because of their occupation or something), can you really justify the outrageous price of platinum??? My wife's a veterinarian (which means she's got her hands in some places that aren't too ring friendly) and she's got a white gold band. If your girl is the type of girl who needs "platinum" so she can tell her girlfriends it's platinum, than carry on. Otherwise, it seemed like a waste of money to me.

In regards to the 4 C's. Don't get overly hung up on color. Everyone focuses on color because they don't want a yellow stone. I agree, you need to get something that is not visibly yellow to the eye or in comparison to the band, but realize that at a certain level the color difference is only noticable when the loose stone is on a piece of white paper or when it's set next to a stone with substantially less color. Again, how often do these scenarios actually take place???

The single most important C is Cut. The proportions of the diamond (depth, table) determines how the diamond reflects light. And boy let me tell you an ideal cut diamond is simply stunning. Call it pop, fire, whatever. All I can say is this is the characteristic that makes women stop my wife at the grocery store to see her ring and it's the one thing that makes my boys say "damn, that must have cost a fortune". Do your best to get close to "ideal". You won't be sorry.

And for what it's worth, my wife has a 1.24 carat, round, ideal cut, ISI1 stone. It's set in a white gold cathedral setting. Simply put, it's f'n awesome. I've never regretted the investment and as gay as it sounds, I actually get some serious satisfaction when others want to gawk at it. As with anything in life, there are bigger and badder ones out there, but my wife's happy and isn't that what it's all about.

For what it's worth, your wife's stature and hand size is relevant to your original question. My wife is also 5'2" and the 1.24 looks pretty frickin big. I wanted bigger, but honestly the 1.5's I was looking at actually looked a little too big. I know, there's probably no such thing as too big, but the smaller hands will help your cause.

Thanks for all the responses. They all make sense and definitely give me something to think about. More input is definitely encouraged...

You wan't advice? DON'T DO IT!!! :spit

You wan't advice? DON'T DO IT!!! :spit
:lol :lol

I agree that depending on your ladie's stature a stone may appear too big and overbearing. My wife is 5'4" and very slim/athletic and I bought her a 1.13 CT stone and it looks just right. I looked at a 2CT, 1.75, and 1.5 and they all looked too big, almost like costume jewelry. Be careful though b/c what the sales people will do is find the biggest boned girl that works in the store who has chubby little hotdog fingers and slap a 2 Ct rock on her hand and say, see it looks perfect. then they'll put a 1 CT on there and be like, oh no that's way too small. True it is to small, but you aren't buying it for Jabba the Hut, you're buying it for your lady and have to consider how its size correlates to her size. That's like a bike dealer having a salesman that's 6'10" get on a 600 to show you its "too small" for you, even though you may only be 5'7".

i went with this design mine was 1.75 carats not quite as clear but you can harldy tell
http://www.zales.com/largeImage/index.jsp?PID=2085286

My fiance is about the same size and I went with two carats. It actually looks huge on her, so I'm glad I didn't do something liek the 3 stone. Go wholesale or to a diamond dealer. You can buy your diamond then find the setting. This beats out a lot of the retail problems and you get a MUCH better deal on somthing that may cost you more somewhere else. The other thing is . . . low quality looks bad if it's big. No one wants three "yellow clouds" in a three stone. Go for quality. Remember: The ring represents you, and your commitment. You want to have her look at it and know you made a sacrafice. Good luck!

My best advice I could offer would be to get a ring with the best quality, in my opinion I would be more pleased knowing the quality of the diamond as opposed to having a bigger diamond of lesser quality not to mention bigger diamonds dont always look that great if the ring looks too big for her hand....I like the 3 stone princess cut personally myself also so I'd go with the best quality and the biggest diamond you think that would look right for her hand as well as your wallet lol Good luck and Congrats treat her well!!!

...treat her well!!!

I have been for 5 1/2 years, but she deserves all of it :)

Thanks again everyone for the info. I think a .75 center stone will fit her hand well with the two sides stones, so I will probably try to stay around that size and get the best diamonds I can afford.

I think it comes to a point that once you hit certain ratings, you can't tell the difference with the naked eye, so why pay for the super high end. I think when I start looking, I will go in with the following ratings:

Cut: Ideal/very good (this is the most important to me)
Clarity: SI1 or higher
Color: F or higher
Carat: .75 approx (+/- .05), .35 approx side stones

I think if I meet those requirements, should be a nice ring. Anyone have any idea what something like this should cost me? Also, I have heard that you buy a ring like a car, never pay sticker price...any feedback on that?

I know this sounds kinda sneaky but you could go to the pawn shop, pick up a used diamond cheap and have it reset. Hee hee. She'll never know!

I know this sounds kinda sneaky but you could go to the pawn shop, pick up a used diamond cheap and have it reset. Hee hee. She'll never know!

i remember readin about this site...finally found it....:cheers

http://www.idonowidont.com/auction/

Stupid proxy keeps erasing my post....

Ok, here is my $.02, shortened since my eloquant response got axed.

I am practical, I had my man buy me my bike instead of a flashy rock because to me it made more sense. He wants me to have a ring so I researched them and found what are called Appollow diamonds. These are a huge breakthrough in the semiconductor industry and the worst thing to ever happen to debeers. They are 100% REAL diamonds, only man made. The only way you can tell them from a mined diamond is that they are too perfect, not one flaw, and no mined diamond is that perfect, otherwise no machine in the world can truly detect these, though Debeers is trying. They are still trying to get past hte last batch of Fakes that require some assanign machine to detect.

There are two companies that make them, and I can't remember the second. You have to contact Appollo about making and engagement ring and I am not sure if they make the smaller carats yet, but its wroth looking into, you get 10 times the rock for half the price. IF your woman can get over the fact that it is a flawless yet man made rock you should be golden.

If you google Appollo diamond you should find the other company that makes them. (*copies post in case of server error*)

who cares if its a "cultured diamond" its still a REAL diamond!!!!

:cheers That is what I am screamin! Not only is it real, its better than "real" because its flawless, not practically flawless, 100% flawless! I love these things.... If she wants to be trendy or something you could through the blood diamond crap down her throat, make her feel like she is following Angelina!

why is there no option for " larger daimontes and a nice set of marchesinis" on the poll??

;)

where in PA you located?


btw, I was in your sitiuation almost a year ago, I learned alot from going to a real Jewlery Store, not one of those mall dumps. I say Go for quality, they look better to the eye.

btw, here is the one I bought

http://aycu04.webshots.com/image/3163/2001359763520849378_fs.jpg

http://aycu29.webshots.com/image/4228/2001314759897872434_fs.jpg


the main stone is 1.25cwt, and is VVS2 in clarity, and D in color. The side stones are .37cwt each, and vvs1 in clairty and E good luck :cheers

looks tight bro....what'd HE say when u gave it to him?!

looks tight bro....what'd HE say when u gave it to him?!


:spit :spit :lol :lol

you fucking cum dumpster :flipoff