A big THANK YOU to pricescope members! - Plus a fun Poll!

[Monpetitbijoux]

This is my very first post as a pricescope member. I stumbled onto this site after my fiance and I purchased my "blue" sapphire engagement ring from a reputable Canadian jewellery company ''Birks''. It was a TOTAL DISASTER to say the least, the stone had a huge window in it and it looked like an aquamarine without any colour in the centre of the stone. When I complained to the manager at Birks, the response I got was "what do you expect for a $3,900 ring?" - I quickly realized that we could not just rely on a brand name for quality, we would have to do the research ourselves.

I have spent a substantial amount of time pouring over the posts and pictures on pricescope, and armed with this knowledge, we are now working with a trusted jeweller and are in the process of creating my dream sapphire engagement ring. I will make sure to post pictures as soon as it is finished!

I just wanted to say that this site has provided me with knowledge about gemstones that would have been extremely difficult to obtain anywhere else, and I really wanted to thank you guys for creating such a wonderful online community!

So far, I have purchased two tourmalines (pink and green/blue) from Barry Bridgestock and a red spinel from Gene from Precision Gem. After playing around on photoshop today I thought I might ask you guys what you think.

I would like to purchase a LOGR setting for my 7.2mm BB tourmaline. I took the vendor photos and pictures of settings found on pricescope to try to determine which is the best setting for the stone. I would LOVVVEE your opinions!

 

[Monpetitbijoux]

Or this one?

 

[Monpetitbijoux]

this one...

 

[Monpetitbijoux]

Or finally this one?

 

[chictomato]

Hi there! Personally, I like the first one better, I can''t tell the difference between the 1st and 3rd pict though. I prefer a larger looking ring. I thought a 7.2mm round is a little too delicate to sits on its own, without a halo around it. But well, its all up to individual preference you might prefer a more delicate looking ring!

 

[movie zombie]

my choices are as follows:
first choice: photo 4, ring w/o halo on left. elegant.
second choice: photo 3 with square halo.

mz

 

[Monpetitbijoux]

Thanks Movie Zombie and Chictomato for your great feedback!!!

 

[T L]

What a sweet post, and I''m so glad that Pricescope really lives up to it''s fine reputation for informing the customer and providing a great education for consumers.

I would like it in the square legacy because I love round stones in square halos, very art deco inspired.

 

[baby nurse]

Beautiful stone!

My first choice is photo 1.
My second choice is photo 4, the setting on the left.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Ditto, I vote option 1 as well. If you like halos, then I think the round-in-cushion halo look is very stylish and sophisticated!

 

[cellentani]

Sounds like you''ve gotten some great stones - I wish I''d known about cutters like Barry and Gene when I first started colllecting! Are you set on using the green tourmaline? What about the pink?

As for the settings you''ve posted, I''m a huge fan of round gems in cushion halos, so I like the first and third photos best. I don''t think the ring in the third photo is an LOGR, but it does look similar to their legacy-style setting. Actually, I think that one was custom made in Canada!

 

[VapidLapid]

I love success stories like this!
Your stone is wonderful.
I''m surprised to hear myself say this but I like the round in cushion halo the best!

 

[marcy]

I like # 1 the best.

 

[BWise]

1 or 3, but I personally like 3 better. Can''t go wrong with it!

 

[Arcadian]

#3 on the left (I have that one its a great setting)

#1 is pretty and classic and I don't think you can go wrong with it at all.

-A

 

[Barrett]

Screw Birks..you will just take the many thousands of dollars you are going to spend in the next however many years and spend it where the quality is better and you are not treated so rudely..a $3900 windowed sapphire?? i wonder what the mark up was on that..good luck and happy hunting

 

[Cehrabehra]

I like the first one

 

[oddoneout]

That''s horrible that Birks treated you like that. Good for you for educating yourself and getting your dream ring. As for the tourmaline I like settings 1 and 2.

 

[chrono]

$4K should get you an awesomely coloured sapphire in a very beautiful setting, which I disagree with Birks. As for the setting for your new tourmaline, I like the first and the 4th (?) which is the non-halo with bezeled melee.

 

[soberguy]

I like the first one too!

 

[Stone Hunter]

If you plan to halo it I like the first one. I really like the look of a squareish halo with a round stone.

Congrats on getting the ering of your dreams. Good job not settling for what the MAUL store thought you should.

 

[Monpetitbijoux]

WOW!!! - thanks guys sooo much for your support and feedback. I can''t say it enough that I am so happy that I found this forum, I am convinced my horrible experience with Birks was actually a blessing in disguise because I have learned so much from all of your posts! (but mostly I learned that I have a whole lot to learn...if that makes sense)

Crazy, but you all seemed to pick my top two (which is the 1st picture and the 4th picture (w/o halo on left).


I have decided to choose setting #1. I am also going to upgrade the diamonds (most have recommended doing this on PS) and was debating upgrading to 18k white gold as well.

I am also thinking about which setting I should choose for my 6.1 mm pink tourmaline. Any thoughts?

 

[chictomato]

Date: 5/10/2010 9:59:05 PM
Author: Monpetitbijoux
WOW!!! - thanks guys sooo much for your support and feedback. I can't say it enough that I am so happy that I found this forum, I am convinced my horrible experience with Birks was actually a blessing in disguise because I have learned so much from all of your posts! (but mostly I learned that I have a whole lot to learn...if that makes sense)


Crazy, but you all seemed to pick my top two (which is the 1st picture and the 4th picture (w/o halo on left).



I have decided to choose setting #1. I am also going to upgrade the diamonds (most have recommended doing this on PS) and was debating upgrading to 18k white gold as well.


I am also thinking about which setting I should choose for my 6.1 mm pink tourmaline. Any thoughts?

Since you like the 1st and 4th, why don't you set the pink tourmaline in the 4th setting (w/o halo)? You might want to try upgrading to 18k gold for the halo setting and maybe do w/o upgrade for the 4th setting.

 

[Monpetitbijoux]

[/quote]


Since you like the 1st and 4th, why don''t you set the pink tourmaline in the 4th setting (w/o halo)? You might want to try upgrading to 18k gold for the halo setting and maybe do w/o upgrade for the 4th setting.

[/quote]
Chicotomato - I think I will do that actually! the only concern I had is that my pink toumaline is only 6.1mm. Do you think that it will still look good as a solitaire?