Q&A: Helping a Soldier Buy an Antique-Style Ring for $4000

I have a question I’m hoping you can help me with. I’m currently in Iraq, and searching online for an engagement ring. My goal is to order online so it will be waiting for me next month when I go on r&r, and I can propose. My girlfriend loves antique jewelry, and I found a website, sylviasantiques.com, that has a beautiful ring I’m thinking of buying. However when I called to ask some specifics, she told me that it is not a certified diamond, but does come with a certificate of appraisal from a GIA/AGS certified appraiser. Should the fact that the diamond itself is not certified concern me? It is a vintage ring, and the diamond is old European cut. Is this possibly why it isn’t certified? Also she lists on the website that it was appraised at 6,150, but is selling for 3,895. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks for the quick response, and the words of encouragement. May I just say that it’s so refreshing to find someone as up-front and honest about things as you, especially over the internet. After considering your advice and parousing your website, I think I’ve decided to go with a James Allen ring (with your recommendation, of course). As far as Sylvias, I have to say it definitely raised a flag when she said “not certified.” Thanks for saving me from a possibly huge mistake.

On to the ring. Like I said, a lot of my questions were answered just looking through your site. I saw one guy you helped had asked about which setting to choose, and just the feed between you and him answered more of my questions. However I still have one– I’ve basically narrowed it down to the classic solitaire knife-edge setting, or the rounded French-cut pave setting. My only concern with the pave one is, the stones in it are color G-H. Now from what I read concerning the stone I’ll be buying, I know a color I might be possible. Would having a pave setting with higher color stones than the actual center diamond affect its brilliance or detract from it in any way?

As far as the actual stone goes, I’ll go ahead and give my parameters and budget, but I’d like to ask you to hold off on actually searching until sometime in the first week of September, because I can’t make the purchase until I get paid, and I don’t want to risk you finding a great stone now and it selling before I have a chance to grab it. I’ll keep in touch with you though, and let you know when to start looking.

Basically I have a 4k budget for the stone. Before I got educated via your site, I had lofty ideals when it came to color and clarity. You have already convinced me that a lower color, si1 or si2 stone can be found that will still be beautiful and undetectable to the naked eye. So, basically I want the biggest bang for the buck. It doesn’t have to be a full carat, though I’d like as close to a 1.0 as possible, without sacrificing. I really don’t want to say too much, but rather would just like to let you run free and find me a great deal.

Thanks again for the help. It still feels a little too good to be true, that you would just dispense this knowledge so freely and cheerily. I know you get a commission, but I also know it is highly deserved. Thanks so much in advance.

…….

I know I said to hold off on looking until next week, but I just can’t help myself. Also I think I forgot to mention that I’m looking for a round cut.

I decided against the pave ring, so you can disregard that question. I’m going to go with the classic solitaire setting.

I do have a question regarding the true hearts cut vs. an ideal cut. What’s the main difference? I have to admit, just looking at them myself, they look spectacular. But I’m not sure if I could find an ideal cut that looks just as good. What are your thoughts? Like I said in my previous email, at the outset of my search I had higher standards for color and clarity, because my thinking was that I would rather have a smaller-carat stone that sparkled more brilliantly than a higher-carat stone that looked like garbage. I still feel the same, but once again after extensive reading on your site, I feel like a good balance could be found between a lower color, clarity that is clean to the naked eye, and carat. Also it seems that if the cut is good, then the stone will look better….

I’m sorry if it seems I’m bugging you but like I said I’m just excited about the process! Thanks again

btw heres a couple that I’ve looked at in my price range…..thoughts?

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VVS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1315143.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1315252.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Thanks for the note. The stone you suggested looks great, however I’m still wondering about the difference between a hearts and arrows cut and an ideal cut? Is it more of just a premium label (like the clarity grades), or something that you would actually be able to appreciate? I found a couple that I was looking at…

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1322364.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1306896.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

I couldn’t really find any SI1 that looked eye clean to me. But then again, I’m not the expert. Also I know you say on the site that J colors are ok for a round, but would there be any noticeable difference between an H or an I? Thanks again!

I think I have decided to go with one of those two, and I’m leaning towards the I color one. I just have one question about it– is that an inclusion in the very center, or just a tiny shadow or something? Thanks again for the help.

Just thought you’d like to know I decided on the .95 J color stone. I put the order in today, and the ring will be waiting for me when I get home in 3 weeks. I’m thrilled! I used your coupon code too, so you should get your commission. I can’t say thanks enough for the help, it was truly indispensable. I’ll also be sure to refer anyone I know shopping for a stone to you and your site. Take care!