mats224 said:
What about something a little different to a plain diamond? Loose stone purchased off a member here and custom made into a ring and hasn't seen the light of day since completed. If you are after a diamond ring only PM me I have relatives in the jewellery business and have quiet a selection 2nd hand too.
Mats That came out stunning mate, I've been waiting to see how that came out.
Silver Tounge PM me I have helped many friends source there engagement ring (Or at least diamonds for the ring) and believe I can give some good pointers!
Some general info to help.
Clarity-When it comes to Engagement ring diamonds you would be surprised how many people will look intently at the ring so it is important to get a clean diamond. (At least Si2 depending on the type of inclusion it has, a white feather in the corner that would be covered is much better then some carbon spots. (Most chain jewellers only stock I1 diamonds with there better range up to Si1 so be very careful here)
Colour- Stay above I, I know some people would say D-H but I can represent some good value and 99.9% of people wouldn't be able to tell you the difference between an H and an I diamond. It also depends on what metal your setting in as even a J diamond can look pretty good if set in Yellow gold however you would be able to see the tinge in white metral.
Cut- (Not the actual cut name such as round or princess but how the stone is actually cut) It has to be at least a good cut but exceptional is better a poorly cut VVS diamond will still not look as good as a well cut Si diamond. This unfortunately is the most complicated step to judge because it takes experience and looking at Many many stones to be able to see.
Carat- This is still an important C but you have to understand that the shape you pick will give a very different face up size. Therefore a 1 ct asscher cut will probably look the same as an 0.80ct princess as it generally requires more depth (So more of your ct weight is underneath the stone which in the cut gives you better sparkle but faces up smaller)
Other- DO NOT buy the grade, so many people say well my paperwork says its VVS2 but they have been very generous and it is actually only an Si2. Buy the stone, not the grade. As for the comment that the price is 8 to 10 times less then the appraisal this is dependant on the appraiser. In most cases even buying used you will pay 20% of the valuation however once you get above a 1 ct diamond the margins start getting thinner and you will probably end up paying between 25-35% of the Appraised value. (note this is only on used stones, rings buying retail you will always pay more 50-80% of the appraised value normally)
If you decide you want a coloured stone as the centre, make sure that's what your partner wants as some lady's are quite sold on diamond only, others are open to whatever. She has to wear so make sure its something she likes! When you start getting into high grade coloured stones they are not necessarily cheaper then diamonds. This route can open up many more opportunities and custom cuts but won't bother going into that unless you want to know more.
Best luck on your hunt, if you want some pointers PM me!
