Q&A: Clueless about Diamond Shopping for Engagement Ring

I was wondering if you could kindly help/advise me on an engagement ring for my girlfriend. She’s 3 years older than me and she’s always felt a little sensitive about it so I’m not sure on whether Princess or Round or the setting.

I’m looking for a 1.5-2ct and my budget is around 10-15k USD. I think she would pref round but I’m not sure I don’t want to screw this up like I did with the expensive bag I bought her… she’s not a high-maintenance/materialistic girl but I wanted to make her feel special and it backfired big time!

I was looking at a IF [Internally Flawless] on bluenile to be safe but after reading your site, you have a good point about the industry guilt people into overspending even if it won’t be appreciated. Eye-clean is a really strong point but does it matter in terms of the meaning to say it was IF?

Thanks for your help Ira, I hope you can get back to me with your recommendations but even so, your site has been amazingly helpful already!

I’m truly impressed with your site and yourself. I hope your site continues to grow and take off in popularity and I will lend my support 🙂

Glad I found someone who can relate! 🙂

Sorry about the confusion, what I meant was I was looking at getting a IF diamond (esp if it is online). However reading your points about being ‘eye-clean’ makes a lot of sense since our eyes can’t really tell the difference between IF or FL or VVS1 (depending of course on where inclusion is and if it is black etc.)

Then I spoke to my sister and her point was wouldn’t IF be symbolic of our love? What would getting her a flawed diamond say? Or how would she feel if her friends start gossiping/talking about their rings? So I was wondering what’s your take on that and the value/symbolic meaning of getting a IF diamond.

Haha touche!

That’s a very potent point there… thanks for that. Your sarcasm is appreciated.

Well that’s exactly why I would greatly appreciate your recommendations on diamonds here Ira. I don’t feel very confident picking out something eye-clean online.

Wow Ira…

The 2ct VS1 really does stand out!

Not quite sure of the appeal of the 3rd one tho?

I feel convinced about the 2ct princess but I worry because I think she might prefer a round though, are there any other rounds you think are worth looking at?

Thanks for your recommendations Ira. I was wondering what you think about a 2ct round with a lower colour?

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/K-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1333904.asp

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1310668.asp

…….

BTW I referred my colleague (Stanley) at work to your site and explained/shared your excellent points about clarity, eye-clean etc. He’s now going to buy a better valued engagement ring from jamesallen.com rather than bluenile – it’s testament to your excellent site and honest and v.experienced advice…

Thanks again for everything Ira

Wow, its perfect! 😀

I think/feel this is the one 🙂

Unfortunately that diamond was no longer available when they checked 🙁

I’ve been re-looking at diamonds and have spoken to some reps from James Allen.

I was interested in this one:

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1332481.asp

But their gemologist recommends this one over the above:

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1354574.asp

I can’t help but feel uncomfortable with the latter, not just given the inclusions but the fact that it is listed as Ideal on their site yet the GIA says Very Good?

Would appreciate your kind (honest) thoughts.

Thanks for your advice as always!

The reps from James Allen got back to and I’m about to make a decisions on the two and I just realised I actually I got the links mixed up when I asked for your advice! 🙁 so sorry!

The first link, 1332481 is the one that had a Very Good cut grade but was listed as Ideal on the site. This is the one they recommended, which is at 9150 (but I’m told should now be higher given change in Rapport Price Index but since they had it on hold, this has not changed).

The second one, 1354574 is Ideal. But they said had the least colour performance compared. This was priced at 8810, but since Rapport Price Index has changed, now is 9250.

Would be very grateful (as always) for your opinion here Ira… I’m told they both have comparable light performance but I’m concerned about 1332481’s cut grade of Very Good and the numerous inclusions shown in it’s GIA report that are on the face. 1354574 has a feather but this is underneath on the pavilion. 1354574 seems like a better choice but the price is now comparable…

I also checked out something called, Holloway Cut Advisor (http://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca/) and 1354574 scores better than 1332481… Maybe I’m over thinking this? 🙁

I can’t thank you enough already Ira… sorry my case has taken so long… I can’t wait to finally put my diamond purchasing days behind me…

Thanks so much