Engagement ring and diamond questions... Newbie

[Melvis]

Greetings! I've been lurking around the forums for the past few days and decided to bite the bullet. You guys seem to have an amazing wealth of knowledge, I just can't ignore. I love researching and gathering insight from people and was told this forum would be extremely helpful.

My boyfriend and I have recently went ring shopping to begin to get ideas. My dream ring was always going to have colored accents. I'm a may baby, so naturally I get drawn to emeralds.

While looking at green stone engagement rings.. I came across the Kirk Kara Dhalia Tsavorite ring. My first encounter with Tsavorite and I was SOLD. I've compared tsavs vs emeralds and have found that what I really want as my green stone accents is Tsavorite and not emerald ( I feel like Im cheating on my emeralds a little). lol. I have since searched all over for different green stones and durability, Tsavorite seems to keep coming out on top for "sparkle" and clarity.

So.. the ring... please dont laugh.. I've tried looking at custom designs and so many places online..but the one I keep getting drawn back to is a Neil Lane design from kays/Jareds. I know.. some would compare buying from a branded chain like buying a DSLR camera from walmart... Are there any pros/cons to going with them? I know they would provide full warranty but you have to follow it to a T.

What are the benefits of custom design/custom choosing center diamond? If I bought my own diamond would they set it for me? or would I have to have the place I bought the diamond from set it? Will they provide same sort of warranties? Cleaning, ect? While looking at kays/jareds (sister companies as Im sure you all are aware), I recently found out that if you buy any of his-Neil Lane "finished" rings the diamonds are not certified (you can send of for certification but your stuck with what ever diamond you have in there). Or you can hop over to Jareds and put any diamond in the setting.

Some have said I can get the below ring made as a custom piece as well.. but I worry about copyrights? Or is that a non issue in jewelry? What should I be asking the store, looking for in the center stone ect?

The ring I am wanting is the Marquis vintage look... http://www.kay.com/en/kaystore/diamonds---gemstones/diamond-bridal-set-7-8-ct-tw-marquise-cut-14k-white-gold/100020/100020.100023.100051

Side stones would be customized to Tsavorite in a two to one pattern (Two tsavs then one diamond).

Any help would be greatly appreciated.--

 

[04diamond<3]

I would contact BGD www.briangavindiamond.com , ERD www.engagementringsdirect.com , WF www.whiteflash.com or any other of our vendors that do custom work and ask them. I'm more than sure that they'll be able to recreate this ring with any modifications you want and it'd look gorgeous. I'm not sure about the cost, you'd have to ask them. I would not suggest getting this ring from Kay because they have the clarity listed as "SI2 or I1"...I would contact any of our vendors and address your questions to them. I would think they would set your diamond though, but ask them to be sure.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

So they have told you they'd customize it with tsavorite garnets? I'd probably only do the garnets in the circles because it looks like to me in the marquise shapes, there are two round diamonds and if you put green rounds in there, they are not going to have the look of a marquise unless you have marquise garnets specially cut, and in that case, you may as well go custom because you will be increasing the cost.

If that is the setting you want, I don't see a problem buying it with the understanding that you will be limited to the size stone that will exactly fit in that setting. It is easier to buy a diamond and then have the setting made to fit it, but I am betting that setting comes in some specific sizes for center stones. As long as you are careful to get the right size head, then I think you can buy the setting and have the diamond seller set the diamond in it.

I believe that Kirk Cara is a much higher quality ring than the ones at Kay's. That would be my main concern, and also the quality of tsavorites they would use there.

 

[Christina...]

I think I would stick to adding the tsavs in the round bezels and keeping the two diamond melee in the marquise bezels. I think DS is correct that there are two round stones in each marquise and that it could become quite a challenge locating the tsavs in that size and shape. I also think that it could look quite dark if you went with a 2-1 combo. Have you confirmed that you can get tsavorite melee?

 

[Melvis]

Yes, I went to Jareds (since the kay store in town uses them as their 'jeweler' as well) and both stores -obviously, are willing to customize it with Tsavorite. You are correct, the side stones are all rounds (2 in the marquis shape) one round alternating so on... They did say they would recommend staying with round instead of actual marquis Tsav's. Im OK with that but still wondered about the quality of purchasing a center stone from them or buying from a reputable broker online and comparative warranties ect... I believe the stats on the center stone limits were .45 to .68 roughly 5/8 but definitely not 3/4 unless they change the head out.

Personally I think for this ring, 3/4 is just too overpowering.. and I have extremely small hands so im content with 1/2 to 5/8 size center stone. Their .45 was right around 2 grand... certified... uncert 1/2 carat was right at 1 grand. Cant remember who the agency was that they used or the quality but I believe it was fairly 'decent' but now questioning it based on things I've seen/heard about how they may rank it higher than it actually is...

I do like the idea of having marquis Tsavs but not opposed to simply doing a 2 round tsavs-1 diamond -2 tsavs ratio. I dont believe they are quite melee sized, I believe they were slightly larger but I'd have to get the mm size to confirm that.

 

[Lula]

Yes, I went to Jareds (since the kay store in town uses them as their 'jeweler' as well) and both stores -obviously, are willing to customize it with Tsavorite. You are correct, the side stones are all rounds (2 in the marquis shape) one round alternating so on... They did say they would recommend staying with round instead of actual marquis Tsav's. Im OK with that but still wondered about the quality of purchasing a center stone from them or buying from a reputable broker online and comparative warranties ect... I believe the stats on the center stone limits were .45 to .68 roughly 5/8 but definitely not 3/4 unless they change the head out.

Personally I think for this ring, 3/4 is just too overpowering.. and I have extremely small hands so im content with 1/2 to 5/8 size center stone. Their .45 was right around 2 grand... certified... uncert 1/2 carat was right at 1 grand. Cant remember who the agency was that they used or the quality but I believe it was fairly 'decent' but now questioning it based on things I've seen/heard about how they may rank it higher than it actually is...

I do like the idea of having marquis Tsavs but not opposed to simply doing a 2 round tsavs-1 diamond -2 tsavs ratio. I dont believe they are quite melee sized, I believe they were slightly larger but I'd have to get the mm size to confirm that.

Their prices are outrageous for ungraded diamonds. Here is a GIA graded .60 carat, G color VS1 clarity (higher color and much higher clarity than the Jared/Kay's diamond) from James Allen for you to compare. Please do not waste your money on that Kay's/Jared's ring. You can do much better working with an online vendor and either working with them to source a marquis diamond in the size you want, or by buying a loose stone through an online vendor like James Allen and working with an online vendor on a setting for it.
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/Marquise-cut/0.60-carat-G-color-VS1-clarity-sku-140480

 

[Melvis]

Wow that is a nice diamond I will definitely have to keep that in mind and give the bf info database i've been developing for him to have assistance in picking and setting everything together.

 

[Melvis]

Seeing lots of posts about cads and custom design. I am considering going this route with this ring. Any specific experience with a custom cad and who would be preferred? I've seen a price of 150 is that about average or does it vary greatly from designer to designer?

 

[pandabee]

Seeing lots of posts about cads and custom design. I am considering going this route with this ring. Any specific experience with a custom cad and who would be preferred? I've seen a price of 150 is that about average or does it vary greatly from designer to designer?

I am not 100% positive as I have not had CAD work done, but I would say that sounds like a very low estimate? Here is a good thread that talks about the comparison of CAD vs. cast work. [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/custom-jewelry-work-cad-and-cast-psa.175834/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/custom-jewelry-work-cad-and-cast-psa.175834/[/URL]