[matthewk]

Originally Posted by Freakazoid

go GIA or don't waste your time.

Would love to hear the rationale why you think GIA is better than AGS. GIA only recently got their head out of the a$$ and realized that light performance is likely the most key factor of a brilliant cut diamond.

[CollinsE90]

I have an uncle who has done custom jewelry here for 30 years, and my cousin is a gemologist now too. Wish I could help, but if you came down here I could refer you to him.(Nothing but high class work)

[matthewk]

Originally Posted by Freakazoid

he's not bad over there, but sometimes he's rather pricey.
But yes the cut means a LOT. If you're looking for like a radiant for example, can't go too wrong with a RCDC (what I ended up getting)

Jonathan will work with you on price if you ask him, but really the only other people in the US that get stones the way Jonathan does who are even remotely approachable in the US are David Cooper of Jeff Cooper Platinum and Brian Gavin aka "Brian the Cutter" (witeflash.com)..

I wholly believe there isn't better value in Jonathan's diamonds. I don't know him personally but I have purchased from him in the past after many industry friends exclusively recommended him..

The problem I have with "branded" e.g. RCDC is that 90% of the time they aren't cut in house so your paying for brand not craftsmanship.

[boymonkey]

I looked briefly at a VVS1 D color 2 carat. $100k LOL. And then I abort mission!

[KingOfJericho]

That's my whole point... nobody will be able to tell the difference save the jeweler. That's literally $85k more than a similarly sized SI1 G color and the difference to the layperson is virtually nil.

[votoc]

Seems like you know your stuff pretty well. What I did was find the exact diamond I want in the system. Then I had one store get the diamond and I inspected it. After I was sure it was exactly what I wanted I got a price from them. I told them I would think about it and after a week they sent it back. Then I went to another store and had them find the exact same diamond and they brought it to their store. I made them beat the price and ended up with a great deal Then I went and had a setting made for her finger (size 3.25)

Good luck!

[BMW335iOn18s]

PM'd.

Oh, and any certificate other than one from the GIA is considered irrelevant. Straight from the dealers mouth.

[Freakazoid]

Originally Posted by matthewk

Would love to hear the rationale why you think GIA is better than AGS. GIA only recently got their head out of the a$$ and realized that light performance is likely the most key factor of a brilliant cut diamond.

good point, I actually forgot about AGS because (at least in my research in this area in stores), AGS certs are really hard to find. You're 100% right though, and thanks for the correct. AGS is as good as, if not better, than the comparable GIA rankings. If I remember right AGS is more european isn't it?

TBH I don't think I even saw a single AGS cert of any of the rings I was looking at.

[Freakazoid]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

That's my whole point... nobody will be able to tell the difference save the jeweler. That's literally $85k more than a similarly sized SI1 G color and the difference to the layperson is virtually nil.

exactly

[Freakazoid]

Originally Posted by matthewk

Jonathan will work with you on price if you ask him, but really the only other people in the US that get stones the way Jonathan does who are even remotely approachable in the US are David Cooper of Jeff Cooper Platinum and Brian Gavin aka "Brian the Cutter" (witeflash.com)..

I wholly believe there isn't better value in Jonathan's diamonds. I don't know him personally but I have purchased from him in the past after many industry friends exclusively recommended him..

The problem I have with "branded" e.g. RCDC is that 90% of the time they aren't cut in house so your paying for brand not craftsmanship.

agreed wholeheartedly across the board. It might have been the stock he had at the time, or who knows what. Definitely good guy and lots of stuff to learn on there. But an example diamond that he has 'featured' that is a turn off to me about his other stock:
http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/7885/
That's virtually a mall store diamond at not much cheaper than a mall price. J and SI1 on an IGI cert. Ugh... guarantee the yellow is QUITE obvious (K or L in GIA) and despite the microscopic picture, I bet you can probably see the inclusion in person.

RCDC I ended up getting simply to call it 'safe', and quite honestly for the name on a certain level. I knew there wasn't a chance of it looking like crap in person.

diamondsbylauren.com is another pretty decent one

[KingOfJericho]

That diamond is visibly yellow.

[Rotorocious]

How much are you guys paying approx for an engagement ring? Just curious.
Just seems like an awful lot to just sit on someones hands. I know it symbolizes alot, but just seems like a purse or trophy to me.

[KingOfJericho]

You've pretty much got the concept down.

How much people spend depends HEAVILY on their income. I've heard 2-3 months income as a rule of thumb but you should only spend what you're comfortable with.

That being said, EVERYONE will be asking to see it so I got something that I would be proud to have my chick wearing. If you drive an M3 and your chick is wearing a solitary 0.75 in a yellow gold setting, you look like a douchebag.

[Freakazoid]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

You've pretty much got the concept down.

How much people spend depends HEAVILY on their income. I've heard 2-3 months income as a rule of thumb but you should only spend what you're comfortable with.

That being said, EVERYONE will be asking to see it so I got something that I would be proud to have my chick wearing. If you drive an M3 and your chick is wearing a solitary 0.75 in a yellow gold setting, you look like a douchebag.

I'd go beyond reliant on income, it's more reliant on how you view it.
I went well above and beyond the 2-3 months as its something she'll be wearing for the rest of her life.

This is the key piece to remember here, and I'm sure I'll hear this from someone....this is the one piece of jewelry that she will wear on her hand for the rest of her life. She will CONSTANTLY be asked about it, throughout her entire life and it will constantly become an immediate judgement of you the husband/fiance. Women judge all the time, and this is one of the basis of these judgements.

Unless you're 100% sure that she ACTUALLY doesn't want a larger diamond. Get one on the higher limit of your means. Hell if you really wanna wow her, get a custom made piece, that's what I ended up doing.

Without continuing down the 'gay' path, seriously think about the longevity of this ring. it will outlast EVERY other purchase of your ENTIRE life, *period*

[KingOfJericho]

Isn't that what I just wrote? haha

I blew through my limit by close to $8k and also went fully custom. Hell, it took them 3 weeks just to obtain the right stone as the particular stone I wanted was awaiting GIA approval in Cali.

[KingOfJericho]

Just found this pic from when we were looking in the fall. This is a very similar ring from Harry Winston. This is a 7k stone, we have 1.6k but the general shape is the same with a few changes on some little details (we got radiant cut and the pic is cushion, etc). My chick loathed the conventional look of most engagement rings so we had to go totally custom. Every surface of the ring is covered with diamonds so it really pops.

[Freakazoid]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

Just found this pic from when we were looking in the fall. This is a very similar ring from Harry Winston. This is a 7k stone, we have 1.6k but the general shape is the same with a few changes on some little details (we got radiant cut and the pic is cushion, etc). My chick loathed the conventional look of most engagement rings so we had to go totally custom. Every surface of the ring is covered with diamonds so it really pops.

Attachment 548957

haha I probably did iterate what you said above, I just wanted to stress to me it should be largely separate from what you drive, or your own purchases, or even on a certain level your income.

And who ended up making your ring? KOJ?

[Freakazoid]

also since KOJ posted a pic, I'll toss up one too

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by Freakazoid

And who ended up making your ring? KOJ?

PMed

[Bimmer335i]

f*ck...my next mission...sigh...

[Dave]

I got the car...she got the ring and dog in the divorce. No regrets but make sure you get insurance (only valid with GIA cert)

[Grail05]

ok wish you were in Los Angeles.. cause your 15k ring you can get for 8-9k...

Here is what i got my fiance....

GIA cert 1.92c, vs2, G

EX, EX, EX HEARTS AND ARROWS

$8200 this is only the diamond not including the settings. its another 2k for the settings depends on what you like (or she likes)

BTW this is all in CASH TRANSACTION.. when you start showing cash to persians and chinese... you can deal with them and compare prices i got mine at the jewelry district and it took 2 hours to get the deal i want.