Q&A: Princess or Round for Halo Pave Setting

Hello!
I’m at the very beginning stages of purchasing a diamond engagement ring for my girlfriend and came across this website while trying to educate myself. I’m hopeful you can help! She has semi-wide fingers around 7-7.5 size ring finger so don’t want it to be too tiny. She really liked the halo princess cut with small diamonds on the band when we looked this weekend. It was a small jewelry store in Boston, read good reviews but I want the best my money can buy. I’d be willing to travel to NYC if you suggested I could get a better diamond. My brother did that for his wife and she’s got a 2.05 rock that’s clear as day on her hand!

I can send what she likes if that helps- or do you just help us determine pricing for loose diamonds?

Odd question but is there a good time to buy during the year (as far as value for your money); I don’t plan to propose for another 8-10 months so have time to wait if the market might be more saturated during certain times of year.

Thank you so much, in advance, for your help!!!

Glad to hear that anytime I buy is a good time! I am looking forward to this search (mostly because I am looking forward to marrying my girlfriend more than anything!!)

Ballpark budget is around $5-7k total (would be happier if I could get a gorgeous ring for less of course) and she likes princess cut for sure. We took a look in person and she liked the attached ring (hard to see in this picture, sorry).

Princess with pave (I think?) diamonds around it. And smaller diamonds around the band. I want something VERY sparkly (as nice of a diamond as we can get that looks clear to the eye), and gorgeous for her.

Do you suggest platinum or white gold? What makes one better than the next?

Thank you so much, you have no idea how nice it is to have someone helping me in this process!

Thanks for sending over, Mike.
Blue Nile diamond is a little too pointy and the center diamond is too high. The James Allen is nice but not sure I love the 4 balls at each corner of the center diamond. I know the one I sent you is hard to see in the photo but it is pretty flat/smooth from center diamond to the rest of the ring.

Any suggestion on color/clarity/etc for center diamond given princess cut?

Thanks Mike for the additional recommendations. Trying to keep it in 5-7k range.

What cut would you suggest?

And given my budget how large of a center diamond do you think I can shoot for? In my eyes, it is more important to be very good quality and sparkle than to be large…

Those 2 stones are gorgeous.
Thanks Mike- you seem to recommend James Allen quite a bit, do they offer a better product than my local jewelry store here in Boston? I’m trying to buy the best diamond ring at the best price (of course!)

Also, how does purchase work when you buy a solitary diamond? Would you suggest buying the diamond from JA then bringing it in to a local store to set within ring that fits her likes? Or is purchasing the 2 separate a bad idea? Does it cost more to do it that way?

Surprised I can buy a diamond that large given that I don’t want to cross 7k mark and need bevel center set (I think that’s what it’s called) & pave diamonds around the band.

What is the cut to these rings? I didn’t see one listed- what would you suggest?

I have already begun discussions with someone over at JA who is going to put me in touch with their custom team. I was hoping to get your thoughts on a few other questions if you don’t mind:

1. My girlfriend doesn’t care whether the center stone is round, princess, or cushion cut. I likely want to do something similar to the attached photo where the halo is around the center stone with pave around the band itself. What center stone will sit up and show the best (most sparkle, biggest bang for my buck, etc.)? I am not looking for the 4-pronged setting around the center stone as is in this picture; she wants something that ‘blends’ in a bit more with the halo.

Any suggestions on the center stone? Feel free to choose one from JA as I will likely go with their loose diamond and work with their custom team to design a setting, unless they have something that comes close to this. She wants a lower profile, too – so nothing that sticks up too high from her finger.

2. Do you suggest platinum or white gold? Is platinum worth the extra $$, in your opinion? I would love to engrave something on the inside so please factor that in as well.

3. As far as the pave stones around the band itself, what do you suggest – does the color, etc. need to be higher grade? What should I be looking for – diamond chips or something else? Forgive me if I am using the wrong terminology here, there is so much to learn!

Again, I appreciate all of your help through this process.

Thank you for your email- just one other quick question. If she prefers a round center stone in a ring, what are your suggestions for clarity then?

Also, what diamond clarity for the smaller diamonds that go in the halo and around the band (such as in the photo)?

Thank you again for all of your great help!!!

You can go as low as I in clarity with a round? It also seems pretty included to me for some reason?

I am seeing small nicks on the surface in this one – is this common?

Also Mike – what should the L:W ratio be for rounds? I know you had mentioned it should be 1.04 or less for princess cut.

The princess rings seemed a better bang for your buck as far as size goes – is that typically the case?

That makes sense and I was thinking that as I typed it (duh!)… thanks again for your help Mike.

…….

Mike- so with a round you can go as low as an “I” color, in your opinion?