Palladium/WG E-ring questions

Dignity100 · April 2014

@Artbyallie - When I was shopping for diamonds, a big difference in price came from if the store was dealing with diamond distributors or if the store actually went to say Antwerp and purchased the diamonds themselves. If the store was using a distributor - the distributor wanted a cut of the cost as did the store.

@AuroraRose41 - As far as lowest quality that people will notice, that is a loaded question. I am not an expert, but I did A LOT of research and drove myself crazy. The cut of the diamond can hide a lot. If you have an excellent cut, it can make the color look brighter and hide any inclusions affecting the way clarity looks to the naked eye.

As far as color goes, it's going to depend on how sensitive your eye is. To me - J's looked 'dirty' while FI didn't notice the 'yellowed edges'.

I watched a lot of videos put out by 'Good Old Gold' on YouTube and found the information very helpful. They show a lot of side by side comparisons. http://www.youtube.com/user/DiamondInfoMan/featured - you can search his videos for info on things such as 'color' 'excellent vs very good' etc.

In the end - what made me happy was throwing out just about everything I had 'learned' and choosing a diamond that I felt faced up the best. Keep in mind, people are not going to pull out a jewelers loupe and start inspecting your diamond. It took me awhile to realize this, and your post reminds me a lot of when I was looking at diamonds/metals/so forth.

doubleSS07 · April 2014

artbyallie said:

AuroraRose41 said:

Thank you all so much for the input! I definitely have a lot to consider. Oh, and BF is very traditional, so he won't let me pick out the final thing, and won't let me know what he is going to spend on it. He was lost as to what I would want though, so we have been browsing so that I could give him a few options. But, I have been trying to pick out rings under $5k for everything, because any higher is money that I would rather put toward the wedding or our future house. It's also right about where he could just go buy it outright one day and not have to make payments, nor spend all of his savings on it.

FWIW, I like the look of approx. 1CT solitare with either pave or channel set small diamonds on the band. I am also practical and don't need a designer name or a specific metal, but I like the look of something like this:

You're not going to get a 1ct center stone for under $5k unless it's of questionable quality, just to put that out there. 3/4ct, possibly. Though neither of them would be likely to be under 5 grand in platinum. And really, if we're talking rounds, there's going to be a few tenths of a millimeter difference in the diameter between 1ct and 3/4.

I'm not trying to criticize, just letting you know that if he goes to a jeweler looking for a 1ct diamond, he's going to spend more than you're thinking you'd like him to. A diamond that size in the price range you are comfortable with can be found but is not going to look great, realistically speaking.

SITB: I think you can get a great stone in that price range and with good stats. I have just at 1ct with G color and an SI1 clarity and my DH paid well under $5K with the setting. We also refused to buy at a local chain because of the crazy markups. We got my stone loose and paired it with a setting at the SF Jewelry Mart and yes it IS certified...got the fancy documents and everything. OP - you can find something in the price range and size that you are looking for. Is it going to be internally flawless and a D or higher color? Nope, but that is ok. Mine is an SI1 because it has a white inclusion but my jeweler set it so that the prong is hiding it. You just need to do some research and decide what it is that is most important to you. For me personally I wanted the size and a better color so I took a step down in clarity (still eye clean).

Swazzle · April 2014

doubleSS07 said:

artbyallie said:

AuroraRose41 said:

Thank you all so much for the input! I definitely have a lot to consider. Oh, and BF is very traditional, so he won't let me pick out the final thing, and won't let me know what he is going to spend on it. He was lost as to what I would want though, so we have been browsing so that I could give him a few options. But, I have been trying to pick out rings under $5k for everything, because any higher is money that I would rather put toward the wedding or our future house. It's also right about where he could just go buy it outright one day and not have to make payments, nor spend all of his savings on it.

FWIW, I like the look of approx. 1CT solitare with either pave or channel set small diamonds on the band. I am also practical and don't need a designer name or a specific metal, but I like the look of something like this:

You're not going to get a 1ct center stone for under $5k unless it's of questionable quality, just to put that out there. 3/4ct, possibly. Though neither of them would be likely to be under 5 grand in platinum. And really, if we're talking rounds, there's going to be a few tenths of a millimeter difference in the diameter between 1ct and 3/4.

I'm not trying to criticize, just letting you know that if he goes to a jeweler looking for a 1ct diamond, he's going to spend more than you're thinking you'd like him to. A diamond that size in the price range you are comfortable with can be found but is not going to look great, realistically speaking.

SITB: I think you can get a great stone in that price range and with good stats. I have just at 1ct with G color and an SI1 clarity and my DH paid well under $5K with the setting. We also refused to buy at a local chain because of the crazy markups. We got my stone loose and paired it with a setting at the SF Jewelry Mart and yes it IS certified...got the fancy documents and everything. OP - you can find something in the price range and size that you are looking for. Is it going to be internally flawless and a D or higher color? Nope, but that is ok. Mine is an SI1 because it has a white inclusion but my jeweler set it so that the prong is hiding it. You just need to do some research and decide what it is that is most important to you. For me personally I wanted the size and a better color so I took a step down in clarity (still eye clean).

This exactly.

Let's take our "questionable quality" and "not great looking" diamonds and go home, @doubleSS07.

GoldenPenguin · April 2014

I wonder how shitty my ring will be, as it costs under $1k.

cu97tiger · April 2014

@artbyallie - I think you're being a little presumptious here. You don't know Aurora, so how do you know that a diamond that she thinks 'looks great' might not be available for under $5k? It's fine if you've set a certain line of what color and clarity 'looks great' to you, but you shouldn't assume that everyone feels the same way.

Sakalicious · April 2014

Our marriages are all invalid with our questionable rings.

doubleSS07 · April 2014

@Swazzle - I'd go home with you any day @goldenpenguin - you're screwed, you better get a better ring before your marriage is questionable

KeptInStitches · April 2014

My moissanite definitely makes my engagement invalid. It's not even a diamond.

eilis1228 · April 2014

I just wanted to thank everyone for all of the information, even though I'm not OP. My boyfriend and I have been looking at rings for a few months, and we were pretty confused about the different types of metals. We only recently figured out that white gold is normally made with nickel (which I'm highly allergic to), so this was really informative and helpful

buddysmom80 · April 2014

I wonder how shitty my ring will be, as it costs under $1k.

SITB (FUCK ALWAYS SITB!):

Mine is reallllllly shitty, the diamond was free. #sarcasm.

AuroraRose41 · April 2014

cu97tiger said:

@artbyallie - I think you're being a little presumptious here. You don't know Aurora, so how do you know that a diamond that she thinks 'looks great' might not be available for under $5k? It's fine if you've set a certain line of what color and clarity 'looks great' to you, but you shouldn't assume that everyone feels the same way.

@cu97tiger you hit the nail on the head. I tried on rings that were exactly what I was looking for, GIA certified, and looked nice, clear, and sparkly to me, that were approx. $3k for the center stone, the setting, and the matching wedding band. All I care about is that it looks nice when I am wearing it, even if it isn't perfect if a jeweler were to inspect it. However, I do appreciate the info @artbyallie, @Dignity100, and @DoubleSS07 gave me in terms of one that is "eye clean".

@weewittlewizabeth glad that this is helping you too!

AuroraRose41 · April 2014

Oh also, I don't judge anyone who has something other then a diamond. My best friend has a sapphire engagement ring, and it's gorgeous. It's just that my birthstone is a diamond (April), so that's my preference, since I have never had many pieces of jewelry with my actual birthstone. If it wasn't for the birthstone thing, I would probably consider other gemstones. Just wanted to throw out the disclaimer, since other gemstones are starting to be mentioned.

And since @cu79tiger mentioned Aurora, just another heads up (for privacy reasons due to recent events on TK boards) that it is not my real name, nor is it anywhere similar to my real name, but I do answer to it. It was my camp nickname when I was a camp counselor/archery instructor for a few summers, so feel free to call me that . I do have friends who worked with me at the camp that call me Aurora IRL, and the BF is always so confused for a few moments when I answer to it.

ETA: and Roses are my favorite flower (also not my name).

BreMR · April 2014

I feel exactly the same way about diamonds because it's my birthstone. I don't have any other diamonds, so I thought the most important piece of jewelry should be a diamond

I have a promise ring that is a Sapphire and it's sooo pretty.

AuroraRose41 · April 2014

@BreMR I was always so jealous of my friends growing up who had their actual birthstone jewelry and all I could get were CZ's (like the Birthstone earrings trend that every little girl goes through that are $10 a piece). But yes, I absolutely agree with you!

cu97tiger · April 2014

AuroraRose41 said:

Oh also, I don't judge anyone who has something other then a diamond. My best friend has a sapphire engagement ring, and it's gorgeous. It's just that my birthstone is a diamond (April), so that's my preference, since I have never had many pieces of jewelry with my actual birthstone. If it wasn't for the birthstone thing, I would probably consider other gemstones. Just wanted to throw out the disclaimer, since other gemstones are starting to be mentioned.
And since @cu79tiger mentioned Aurora, just another heads up (for privacy reasons due to recent events on TK boards) that it is not my real name, nor is it anywhere similar to my real name, but I do answer to it. It was my camp nickname when I was a camp counselor/archery instructor for a few summers, so feel free to call me that . I do have friends who worked with me at the camp that call me Aurora IRL, and the BF is always so confused for a few moments when I answer to it.
ETA: and Roses are my favorite flower (also not my name).

Eh, I didn't think it was your real name, I'm just lazy and shorten things.

AuroraRose41 · April 2014

@cu79tiger it was more of a general statement. Just wanted to throw it out there because I do see people who get told to change their username for having their real name on here, and just wanted to prevent that. But, that's why I use it online, because I do answer to it, and people can shorten the entire username to just that

.

GoldenPenguin · April 2014

My birthday is also in April. I feel no attachment to diamonds because it's my birthstone. I might be weird.

artbyallie · April 2014

I'm glad Aurora got that I wasn't being presumptuous. I do come across a lot of people who just don't know what a diamond goes for or who simply don't understand the various factors that go into their price. I like learning, particularly about gemstones, and I like teaching people too.

I'm glad the OP and others are benefiting from my responses here.

Swazzle · April 2014

artbyallie said:

I'm glad Aurora got that I wasn't being presumptuous. I do come across a lot of people who just don't know what a diamond goes for or who simply don't understand the various factors that go into their price. I like learning, particularly about gemstones, and I like teaching people too. I'm glad the OP and others are benefiting from my responses here.

I found your responses really annoying. You made multiple statements criticizing people's diamonds like you're the end all and be all. I even responded to you, stating my own personal experience and explaining that the diamond in my engagement ring is 1ct, was under $5k and is not "questionable quality" or "not great looking" but you chose to ignore me and continue on making statements like that. Are you an expert on all diamonds of the world? No? Ok then.

buddysmom80 · April 2014

artbyallie said:

I'm glad Aurora got that I wasn't being presumptuous. I do come across a lot of people who just don't know what a diamond goes for or who simply don't understand the various factors that go into their price. I like learning, particularly about gemstones, and I like teaching people too. I'm glad the OP and others are benefiting from my responses here.

It's not what you say, it's how you say it. Like I was really, really offended by your tone. This is 2014 you really don't have to teach anyone anything, they can learn other places. Telling people you're surprised they got a 1 carat diamond under $5000 just rubbed me the wrong way.

cu97tiger · April 2014

artbyallie said:

I'm glad Aurora got that I wasn't being presumptuous. I do come across a lot of people who just don't know what a diamond goes for or who simply don't understand the various factors that go into their price. I like learning, particularly about gemstones, and I like teaching people too. I'm glad the OP and others are benefiting from my responses here.

@artbyallie - Except that you WERE being presumptuous. You presumed to know what others deem 'acceptable' in the color and clarity of their ring. Yes, you presented some good factual information, but you also assumed that your opinion was shared by all others on this board. And it's not.

doubleSS07 · April 2014

I have to agree. Yes you did give some great general guidelines for what to look at when trying to choose a diamond, especially for those who may have never looked previously. Unfortunately that came after you called in to question anyone who may have a diamond that is indeed of good quality, GIA or EGL certified and that was less than $5K. While YOUR store may not offer diamond products below that range, other places DO and what one person deems beautiful and acceptable for their money will always differ from person to person.

lennonkdc · April 2014

Chiming in here to say, why does the diamond have to be 'perfect'? If you like the way it looks and it fits your budget then who cares if its not, strictly speaking, colorless, or ideal cut or even a diamond?

My diamond is 'flawed'- its an estate stone, from an antique ring my dad bought for my mom. There is a small (like you'd never see it unless you REALLY looked for it) chip from a slip made by the guy who cut it. Its because it was cut before lasers or any of that other shit that makes it 'perfect'. This tiny little 'imperfection' causes my ring to catch the light in a unique way and makes me smile when I see it sparkle. I love it even more because its not perfect, it has history.

Swazzle · April 2014

TwoDimes said:

doubleSS07 said:

I have to agree. Yes you did give some great general guidelines for what to look at when trying to choose a diamond, especially for those who may have never looked previously. Unfortunately that came after you called in to question anyone who may have a diamond that is indeed of good quality, GIA or EGL certified and that was less than $5K. While YOUR store may not offer diamond products below that range, other places DO and what one person deems beautiful and acceptable for their money will always differ from person to person.

I still need to find one of these magical "other places" near me! Hopefully I (well, BF) can find one so I can join the club of having an incredible stone that doesn't break the bank.

I know this stuff isn't directed at me, but I just wanted to reiterate that I did not mean to insinuate that anyone's diamond was questionable quality, and I hope that no one felt disrespected by what I posted. I've seen some of your rings, and they are absolutely gorgeous!

The only person that these comments are directed at is the person who stated:

"You're not going to get a 1ct center stone for under $5k unless it's of questionable quality, just to put that out there."

And:

"A diamond that size in the price range you are comfortable with can be found but is not going to look great, realistically speaking."

Both of which implies that if someone has a 1ct diamond that costs less than $5k then it's going to look bad and the quality will be shitty.

AuroraRose41 · April 2014

Honestly I agree with @cu79tiger and @doubleSS07. I appreciated the factual information given to me by @artbyallie, but I was also annoyed that apparently the rings that I did try on that fit my criteria were of questionable quality (even though they were GIA certified....). I was thanking you for the factual information while trying to ignore your other statements, and never said I agreed with everything.

AuroraRose41 · April 2014

Also @TwoDimes what area do you live in? Maybe when I am bored today waiting on my project to be available (others not doing their jobs so I can't effectively do mine...) I can do some research for you (since I have been looking anyways!).

BreMR · April 2014

@Two Dimes I know that there is a diamond exchange in or around Minneapolis, I think it MAY be in Eagan MN.....(just a bit south of MPLS)

BreMR · April 2014

Oh shoot! no problem!!

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