Looking For A Cathedral Engagement Ring For $3K

“I Am So Glad To Find Your Website — My Time Is Running Out!”

Q:

Hello Liz,

I am so glad to find your website! I am searching online for the best ring for my special someone, and my time is running out. I am planning on proposing on January 4!

My budget is $3,000-$3,500 for the engagement ring (I would like to find an accompanying wedding band for that price, if at all possible). After gleaning the information from your resourceful website, I would like a diamond with the following specifications:

Carat: .5-.75
Cut: Round brilliant (Ideal/Excellent)
Clarity: Eye-clean
Color: H, I, J

Here are some links to what I am seriously considering (couple of diamonds, one wedding set, and one setting).

1. http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.604-i-vs2-round-diamond-ags-c-104068465028

2. http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.720-j-si2-round-diamond-ags-c-104067566010

3. Thinking of this cathedral engagement ring style: http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/pave-and-side-stones/bead-set-cathedral-18k-white-gold-5484w18

Brian Gavin’s gorgeous bead set cathedral engagement ring

My potential fiancé is a nurse, so I am thinking that I would want a deeper diamond setting made of white gold.

Thank you so much for any feedback you can offer.

Happy Holidays,

Brent

A:

Hello Brent,

I think your .604ct I VS2 diamond is beautiful. A very nice super-ideal hearts and arrows diamond that will face-up nice and white. There are few dark crystals located near the edge of the table facet, but these aren’t easily noticeable.

Alternatively the .720ct J SI2: http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.720-j-si2-round-diamond-ags-c-104067566010 is actually cleaner than the above diamond due to the fact that the clarity making inclusion is a large feather. However, if you look at both the magnified image and the HD video you cannot see this feather. Dark crystals are easier to detect than feathers.

But, my diamond recommendation for you would be this .611ct G SI1 for $2,182.00: http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.611-g-si1-round-diamond-ags-c-104068465038

I like this diamond the best because it gives you the carat weight that you are looking for, and is one color grade higher than you had originally requested but still well within your budget. It is a perfectly eye-clean SI1. The inclusion on this diamond is a larger feather located at the 9 o’clock position on the diamond plot diagram (on the AGS grading report). The jeweler will be sure to cover this with a prong and it doesn’t affect the light performance or brilliance in anyway.

I think your chosen Bead Set Cathedral engagement ring setting is beautiful and the above G SI1 would look fantastic in this setting.

Please let me know what you think or if you have any questions.

Kind Regards,

Liz

Q:

Brent’s .611ct G SI1 from Brian Gavin Diamonds

Liz,

Thank you so much for your detailed feedback. I’m moving forward with the diamond you recommended! I’ll be sure to let you know how everything turns out!

Thanks again,

Brent