Another engagement ring help request

[tyranide]

Hey guys
Let me begin by thanking this website and people who are selflessly helping out newbies like me.
I am planning a surprise proposal to my girlfriend. All I know is she's a size 7, like three stone settings and want an engraved ring.
Everything I know about diamonds came from internet. I set a budget of 12500 for the center stone and started looking. I want H&A, excellent cut, I am still debating between mind clean vs going for a bigger stone. I could not find bigger eye clean stones in F-G color, VS2 or clearer in my budget.
Here is what I got:
I found these two settings on james allen
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/vintage/platinum-hand-engraved-james-allen-three-stone-brilliant-diamond-engagement-ring-item-49975
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/three-stone/platinum-royal-antique-style-round-shaped-diamond-engagement-ring-item-17719
Images
I like this one better, Royal-antique-style

Platinum-hand-engraved


What do you guys think? Which one will you recommend and why? Is there any other engraved three stone settings that you recommend?
I should mention that she works as a nurse and I don’t know how functional these settings are for such a lifestyle.

The stones I have shortlisted.
#1: http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.35-carat-g-color-vvs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-786048 $11970
SHAPE: ROUND
CARAT WEIGHT: 1.35
COLOR: G
CLARITY: VVS2
CUT: TRUE HEARTSTM IDEAL
POLISH: IDEAL
SYMMETRY: IDEAL
FLUORESCENCE: NONE
L/W/D (MM): 7.10*7.12*4.39

L/W RATIO: 1.00
DEPTH %: 61.70
GIRDLE: THIN - MEDIUM
TABLE %: 56.00
CULET: POINTED
CERTIFICATE: AGS
CROWN ∠: 34.80
CROWN %: 15.30
PAVILION ∠: 40.80

Image


This is my top pick as of now, I spoke to a gemologist, but she could not figure out where the chip mentioned in the certificate is.


#2 http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.31-carat-f-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-872701
$ 13010

Shape: Round
carat weight: 1.31
color: F
clarity: VS2
cut: True HeartsTM Ideal
polish: Ideal
symmetry: Ideal
Fluorescence: None
l/w/d (mm): 7.02*7.04*4.34

l/w ratio: 1.00
depth %: 61.70
girdle: Medium
table %: 55.00
certificate: AGS
crown ∠: 34.30
Here are my other short listed stones. Not copying images because its making this first post super long
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3642153.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3642151.htm

Which one will you recommend? Or can you suggest a bigger stone which is eye clean for the same budget?
White flash will custom design a ring for me in a similar setting as royal antique for $3175 in platinum.
Any opinion is greatly appreciated as I know nothing on these things.

Thanks everyone

 

[tyty333]

What about this one of she likes 3 stones? http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/vintage/14k-white-gold-hand-engraved-james-allen-three-stone-brilliant-diamond-engagement-ring-item-49470

 

[tyranide]

Thanks tyty333, I had the same ring setting in platinum posted on my post earlier today. It is in my shortlist. I am looking to get one in platinum.

 

[tyty333]

What about this one of she likes 3 stones? http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/vintage/14k-white-gold-hand-engraved-james-allen-three-stone-brilliant-diamond-engagement-ring-item-49470

I see in Plat is $4k. I'm kind of confused because I see you posted two pictures. The Royal Antique and then a solitaire ring but
the link you posted is to the one above I posted (except plat). Do you post the wrong picture?


To be honest I dont find the JA Royal Antique all that nice. It has a peg head instead of an integrated head/basket, the milgrain
is not refined and the ring as a whole looks very busy. You are spending a lot of money and I would like to see you get something
nicer looking than this. This setting is made to work with different shapes stones which makes it look less custom.

I personally like the other ring better. It has nicer heads and is more refined. I would ask them to do a different engraving on it
though and find an example that I liked better. This setting only works with round (or roundish) stones therefor more custom looking.

Either of those WF ACAs would be beautiful. Honestly if it were me I would probably go with the 1.35 F because you're not gaining
much size for that extra $1k and you are going down in color (even though G will be plenty white).

OK...so I feel like I've been all over the page. Bottom line is that if you want to stick with the Royal Antique look I would have
Whiteflash do it and make it with more custom baskets/prongs. ACAs are gorgeous stones. If you are not color sensitive you
could probably move into the H zone and not be bothered by it...get a large stone.

If you like the other setting (which I'm partial to), looks like JA does a nice version of that. Let me go see what I can find for JA stones.

 

[tyty333]

Both the JA stones you have short listed are nice...very nice. Again, I would go with the first one due to the lower cost,
and slightly larger size. If you could go to H and $13k you could go for this one. Its a VS2 which normally would be eye-clean from
the top but I would definitely double check that with this stone. I do like the stones you've picked though.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.51-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-1006233

Is there any major jewelry store you could go to and see an AGS000 H to tell whether or not the color would be acceptable
to you or not?

 

[tyranide]

Thanks a lot tyty,

I did indeed post the wrong pic. Trying to get it in before my girlfriend saw what I was doing on the computer.

Thank you for your valuable opinion. I will talk to whiteflash... Do you have any images of the setting suggestions I can give to whiteflash to modify the hand-engraved-JA-three-stone setting? I see your point and I am now leaning towards the setting you are partial to. Is this going to be a high-maintenance setting for day-to-day activities? I read a reply from gypsy about some settings being high-maintenance (gypsy was talking about a pave setting)
Saved a few vintage images from another thread here, but they all look busy.like

Also, I am not color sensitive, and I dont think she's either. I am geographically limited, there is a "kay jeweler" in town, I will hop over to see a H stone. So...I am ok with getting a bigger eye clean H stone.
I will chat with gemologist at JA and find out about that 1.51 H.

Thanks

 

[tyty333]

What do you think of this setting? Instead of the baguettes you would have rounds. I think this is a lovely setting. I would have
the center stone/all stones set lower since she is a nurse. This ring belongs to Evangeline...its one of my favorites. It is feminine with
lots of understated character.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/avr-in-dk-tapered-baguette-setting%E2%80%A6and-some-rambling.203748/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/avr-in-dk-tapered-baguette-setting%E2%80%A6and-some-rambling.203748/[/URL]

This is a WF 3 stone engraved but with pears. You could do it with round but dont do the heart, and birds on the basket.
Set the stones lower.

What exactly is your budget? I think we have looked at combinations that have been up to $16/$17k. Depending on your budget
there are other designers that would do a lovely job on an engraved 3 stone. Cassie Van Buren comes to mind. She does antique
type settings with engraving. You can look at her photos on her facebook page. I dont think she has many 3 stones posted though.

https://www.facebook.com/cvbinspired/photos

 

[tyranide]

I love that setting, especially after DK modified it for Evangeline into a low profile setting. I will contact DK and see if he can do it in three round stone setting. I am going to be close to LA next week and if I can get away to LA, I hope to visit his store.
I liked some of the CVB ones. Saved those images.
Budget..Initial was 15k$. Then I started pushing it....Now I am in a conundrum, because looking through PS sent me to Jewelsbygrace and similar vintage stores. I dont know if I should get a RB ACA or True heart vs go for a OEC or transitional cut...save some $ on the stone to use in a custom designed vintage looking setting
So, after hours of online reading today, I have reached nowhere.

Thanks tyty.

 

[tyty333]

Was that a "thanks tyty" or a "thanks for nothin' tyty"?

I know, it can be hard...the more you learn the harder it gets. Is your GF into antique stones (OECs) or know anything about them?

Jewels by grace and love affair diamonds would have old stones to consider. I'm thinking you might just want to stick with well
cut round brilliants because your GF hasnt asked for old stones...but you know better then anyone what she might like.

http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/
http://www.loveaffairdiamonds.com/settings-by-love-affair-and-cvb/ CVB works with love affair diamonds

Those pictures you posted were either by Jewels by Grace or Love Affair Diamonds but I forgot which one. They do lovely settings
but they will cost more. David Klass does really nice work too but most of the design work is left up to you whereas CVB does
the design work. Pricescope can help either way.

If you want to go back to the easier route I would have Whiteflash do the JA setting with notes to use a different scrolling pattern for engraving. They will do CADs for you to approve which you can post on a new thread and
get feedback from Pricescopers. I have been to the Whiteflash office and they are really nice folks. This could fit in your $15k budget depending on what center stone you pick.

This setting is the one I'm talking about...the baskets on this one are nice.
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/vintage/platinum-hand-engraved-james-allen-three-stone-brilliant-diamond-engagement-ring-item-49975

Lots of things to consider!

 

[tyty333]

Was that a "thanks tyty" or a "thanks for nothin' tyty"?

I know, it can be hard...the more you learn the harder it gets. Is your GF into antique stones (OECs) or know anything about them?

Jewels by grace and love affair diamonds would have old stones to consider. I'm thinking you might just want to stick with well
cut round brilliants because your GF hasnt asked for old stones...but you know better then anyone what she might like.

http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/
http://www.loveaffairdiamonds.com/settings-by-love-affair-and-cvb/ CVB works with love affair diamonds

Those pictures you posted were either by Jewels by Grace or Love Affair Diamonds but I forgot which one. They do lovely settings
but they will cost more. David Klass does really nice work too but most of the design work is left up to you whereas CVB does
the design work. Pricescope can help either way.

If you want to go back to the easier route I would have Whiteflash do the JA setting with notes to use a different scrolling pattern for engraving. They will do CADs for you to approve which you can post on a new thread and
get feedback from Pricescopers. I have been to the Whiteflash office and they are really nice folks. This could fit in your $15k budget depending on what center stone you pick.

This setting is the one I'm talking about...the baskets on this one are nice.
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/vintage/platinum-hand-engraved-james-allen-three-stone-brilliant-diamond-engagement-ring-item-49975

Lots of things to consider!

 

[motownmama]

I really LOVE the first setting you posted (although I don't think you're buying it for me )

 

[tyranide]

Ha ha ha..thanks tyty for making me more confused. JKing..You have opened my knowledge to so much more settings. As of now, I feel pretty confident I will try to get a similar setting as Evangeline done by DK
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/avr-in-dk-tapered-baguette-setting%E2%80%A6and-some-rambling.203748/......']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/avr-in-dk-tapered-baguette-setting%E2%80%A6and-some-rambling.203748/........[/URL]. I a, thinking of making slight modifications like having some work done on the prongs similar to this

Or Get whiteflash to do a custom setting similar to http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/three-stone/platinum-royal-antique-style-round-shaped-diamond-engagement-ring-item-17719

Just throwing it out there.. what do you think of this setting ?

To answer your qn: No, she has no idea what OEC means or even what the 4Cs are!
I will take your advice and go with round brilliant. So back to looking at true hearts and ACA and perfection cut or other similar names.

I will post the center stone links to get opinion from PSers.
I went to a local jewelry store (Kay) and got an idea of the sizes. I want above 1.25, preferably around 1.5. And I am color insensitive.

@motownmama...no..not getting it for you but thanks for the opinion.